Home-made Beauty Supplies?

[codemonkey]

Does anyone make their own beauty supplies? (Shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, etc). I'm thinking it would be cool and save a lot of money to make my own but I'm not sure how.

[computergirl]

I make practically everything, but I am not sure it is a money saver. I started out thinking I could get great, high quality stuff for cheap this way and I think I spent more than if I would have just bought from an etailer. Also I spent so much time researching recipes and frankly have become addicted to the process.

To wash my face/remove make-up I use olive oil with a little rosemary essential oil and steam it off with a wash cloth

I can make soap, but I don't because of the lye fumes in my little tiny apartment

I make body butter and scent it with fragrance oil

I make my own conditioner, not from scratch though, I use a base and add in shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and jojoba oil

Most of the time I use coconut oil on my hair instead of conditioner and leave it in.

Eventually I would like to create a good shapoo recipe, but I have so many good solid ones to use up that it may take a while.

I use witch hazel as toner

When I don't feel like using body butter I have an oil mix that I use which currently is sweet almond oil and grapeseed oil with some fragrance oil added

Then, of course there's bath bombs and lotion bars and tons of other stuff.

If I could reccomend one thing it would be unrefined (fair-trade) shea butter. I use it on my hair, my lips, my skin, etc. It is fantastic stuff.

[codemonkey]

Is there a good book or website to get recipes from?

[computergirl]

There are so many websites you would not believe it. A good place to start, though is the soap dish forum http://www.soapdishforum.com/forum/ Nearly everything of value I know, I learned from this site. It is so much more than soap, believe me.

I am typing this at school so as soon as I get home I'll find some more links as well as some book suggestions. I should tell you this is a very addictive hobby, don't say I didn't warn you ;)

[happy cricket]

I hear coconut oil is pretty awesome.

[computergirl]

Thanks Happy Cricket for bumping this, I completely forgot to come back and post.

Well, sadly I have not loved any of the B&B books I have found, the recipes are just too...much. I really love that forum I gave a link to, though. It's from there that I found great recipes and learned how to formulate some for myself, that was the fun part.

[nwysca]

I use epsom salts with olive oil to exfoliate in the shower.. coffee grounds are good too and the caffeine is good for cellulite (if you have any... lol)

[Beachbnny]

I use epsom salts with olive oil to exfoliate in the shower.. coffee grounds are good too and the caffeine is good for cellulite (if you have any... lol)

Seriously? I never would have thought of that. Coffee grounds that have been brewed or not? I've been using sugar with my face wash to exfoliate but this sounds kinda fun, even if messy :)

[Dutchabbey]

Seriously? I never would have thought of that. Coffee grounds that have been brewed or not? I've been using sugar with my face wash to exfoliate but this sounds kinda fun, even if messy :)

You can recycle the brewed ones to make a cellulite scrub. You just have to let them dry out first. In fact recycled grounds are useful for tons of stuff including plant fertilizer, as a boost to compost piles and even for covering scratches in dark furniture. I've heard that some people also use them after shampooing to strengthen dark hair highlights although I've never tried that one myself.

[MissMavyn]

I agree with Computergirl - sometimes it does seem that it's cheaper just to buy pre-made products. Long term it's likely that you save money, but the upfront costs to get all of the different ingredients for your product producing pantry can be prohibitive for some folks.

Some products - like toothpaste - are really easy and really cheap to make, while others - like conditioner - can be pricier. However, aside from knowing my products weren't tested on animals and that I control exactly what goes in the product, I also really like the idea that I am limiting packaging waste since I can reuse the same container indefinitely when I make the products myself.

I wouldn't bother buying a book for recipes; there is so much information online that one could become completely overwhelmed by it. So, you really don't need to spend the money on a book. Particularly since, in my experience, the information I have learned from books wasn't any more valuable or accurate than what I can find online for free.

Anyways, I would say start small and easy (like making your own toothpaste, bath salts or bath oil) and gather supplies as you go. It's also a lot easier and less time consuming if you learn and master one new product at a time.

I hope that helps =)

[nwysca]

Seriously? I never would have thought of that. Coffee grounds that have been brewed or not? I've been using sugar with my face wash to exfoliate but this sounds kinda fun, even if messy :)

Seriously! Ones that have been brewed.. and it's good to warm them up first too! :)

[Beachbnny]

You can recycle the brewed ones to make a cellulite scrub. You just have to let them dry out first. In fact recycled grounds are useful for tons of stuff including plant fertilizer, as a boost to compost piles and even for covering scratches in dark furniture. I've heard that some people also use them after shampooing to strengthen dark hair highlights although I've never tried that one myself.

Now how's that going to work to cover scratches in furniture? I could probably use a lil boost in cellulite fighting. My 25 year old butt doesn't look like it did when I was 18. :D


Seriously! Ones that have been brewed.. and it's good to warm them up first too! :)

With my sugar and coffee in the shower already maybe I should just grab the soy milk too and have my morning coffee in there lol. I'll have to try this scrub. So convenient. Thanks for the idea! :)

Edit: Just thought of this because of Heather's thread about her shower. Can I do this in the shower? Or can they not go down the drain? If not how's that work?

[ripvanfish]

Can anyone suggest some essential items you need to be stocked in to create home-made beauty supplies?

[MissMavyn]

Can anyone suggest some essential items you need to be stocked in to create home-made beauty supplies?

It kind of depends on which beauty products you will be making, but here are a few really useful things that you can use in a number of products...

corn starch

baking soda

coconut oil

carrier oil - grapeseed, jojoba, almond, etc

essential oils - for example: wintergreen or peppermint for toothpaste, lavender for body powder, etc

witch hazel

sea salt

maybe vegetable glycerin depending on what you plan to make

hope that helps!

[pinkwolf]

Shampoo - I boil herbs (thyme, nettle, amla, etc) in water and let it sit overnight. I add 3 tbs. of castile soap. The best homemade shampoo ever. I don't use any other shampoos.

Conditioner - I condition my hair with EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) or 100% organic coconut oil. I leave this in for 1-2 hours and rinse out. However, when I'm pressed for time I use ABBA conditioner (100% natural, vegan, & cruelty-free).

Leave-in - I use aloe vera juice from mmy plant outside. lol I get hold for my curly hair and it doesn't feel weighed down.

Hair & Body Moisturizer - SHEA BUTTER all the way. :rockon: I make my own whipped shea butter which includes jasmine oil, aloe vera juce, and a few drops of lavender oil.

Face Exfoliator - I use the juice of half a lemon and 1-2 tps. of sugar. I mix this up scrub my face. My skin comes out glowing and soooo soft.

[hollywoodveg]

A great hair mask is 1 raw egg, 1 avocado (mashed), and 1/2 c. mayo. Mix it all together and cover your hair and then cover your head in saran wrap, then go to bed. Wake up wash hair normally, voila the softest hairs eva'!