Embrace natural beauty

Is the stuff you slather on your skin every day full of natural ingredients or does the bottle read like a science lesson?

If you make your own skincare products you’ll know exactly what’s going on your face and body AND it will save you a lot of money.

Here are a few recipes, you’ll find some of the ingredients in your kitchen cupboards and the rest can be bought easily at the supermarket or chemist.

Lip balm

1. Use a clean old lip balm pot.
2. Place a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water and melt equal measures of castor oil, coconut oil and grated beeswax (I grated a pure beeswax candle).
3. One teaspoon of each ingredient is enough to make one average sized lip balm pot, but you may as well make a few while you’re at it. Just save up your pots!
4. When the ingredients have melted, pour them into the lip balm pot and add a couple of drops of peppermint or lemon essential oil, if you fancy it. The liquid will set within a couple of minutes.

Eye make-up remover

This is so good at removing waterproof mascara and moisturises your lashes at the same time.

1. Pour equal measures of olive oil, rapeseed oil and castor oil into a clean bottle.
2. Give it a shake to mix up the oil and you’re good to go!
3. Just pour a little onto a cotton wool pad and it seconds you’ll have clean, soft, eyelids and lashes.

Body scrub

1. Mix two parts granulated sugar (yep, the kind you put in your tea) with one part olive oil and add a few drops of your favourite essential oil.
2. Slather the scrub on your body and you’ll step out of the shower glowing.
3. Just take care because it’s very slippery stuff!

If these recipes have sparked your interest in making more of your own skincare products, take a look at Natural Beauty at Home by Janice Cox. It’s packed with recipes, ideas and tips for everything you can imagine – from making your own shampoo to face masks.

These recipes should be safe for most people but if you think you might react badly to any of the ingredients please don’t use them.

Find beautiful gifts, art, accessories and decorations handmade by Gabrielle at thegreengables.co.uk.