With cooler weather on its way, stay warm and take care of your skin!
In this post we want to share our favourite DIY recipes thoughtfully formulated and perfected by our self-care expert NUbie Rebecca!
Why DIY? First, the fun! Doing and making is both playful and relaxing.
Second, the cost. When buying your ingredients zero waste and in bulk, you not only avoid wasteful packaging, but also save money by buying only the quantity you need for your recipe.
Third, the health benefits. You have full control over what goes into your final product. You pick natural ingredients with proven benefits and avoid harsh chemicals or additives that can be found in most ready-made beauty products.
Fourth, the results. These products work. You will feel the difference and enjoy the sensation of balanced and smooth skin and hair.
All Natural Whipped Body Butter
- ¾ cup shea butter
- ¼ cup coconut oil
Melt all ingredients together on a low heat until liquid. Once melted and mixed, set aside to cool to a room temperature. You can whisk it or whip it with a hand mixer for a fluffy consistency, or transfer in a jar and use as it. This is an easy DIY recipe and a base for various moisturizing recipes! You can play with it by adding your favourite essential oil or keep it simple and unscented for daily use.
Tiger Balm for muscle & joint pain
- ½ cup coconut oil
- 4 tbsp shea butter (or beeswax)
- 2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 5 drops peppermint oil
- Cheese cloth or nut milk bag to strain
The base of this product is a body butter, so follow the above-mentioned instructions with the addition of cayenne pepper. Before adding the essential oil, strain the cooled-down mass through a cheesecloth or a nut milk bag to remove the cayenne pepper.
This is a helpful recipe, especially in the cold months - soothing but also quite warming!
Ubtan Clay Mask for bright, glowing skin
- 1 tbsp chickpea flour
- 1 tbsp french green clay
- 1 tbsp yogurt (or vegan yogurt)
- 1 tsp turmeric
Mix all ingredients together into a thick paste and apply a coat to your face. If the paste is too thin, add more chickpea flour, if the paste is too thick add more yogurt. Let it sit on your face for 10-15 min until the mask starts to feel dry. Rub it off to exfoliate and wash off with a warm cloth. You may use a light cleanser and moisturizer afterwards. Extra product can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days, but as with any natural recipe it’s better to use it up right away and prepare a fresh batch each time.
The French clay is rich in minerals, leaving the skin refreshed and toned. Alongside the chickpea flour, it is also cleansing and exfoliating. Turmeric packs a punch, so it’s important to not go over the recommended dosage. That being said, when used sparingly, it brightens the skin, leaves a beautiful glow and also has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The yogurt is not only softening on the skin, it’s also packed with probiotics that help balance your skin’s pH.
Moisturizing Matcha Face Mask
- 1 tsp matcha powder
- 1 tbsp kaolin clay
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp coconut yogurt
- few drops of jojoba oil
Similar to any face mask, mix all ingredients together into a thick paste and apply a coat to your face with clean hands. This mask is a touch thinner than the Ubtan mask, but you can adjust the amount of yoghurt to get the consistency that suits you best. Let sit for 10-15 min and wash off with a warm cloth.
The mask offers a much needed refreshed and soothing feeling to your skin. A perfect weekend ritual!
Lip balm
Let’s face it, this year our lips need much more attention - hours of wearing a mask and cold humid weather. The next two recipes will add a bit of extra care for your lips.
- 2 tsp jojoba oil
- 2 tbsp shea butter
- 2 tsp beeswax
Very similar to the body butter, mix ingredients together in a pot and melt it over a low heat. Once liquid, cool it and poor it in a small jar or reuse your lip balm container!
It’s a super quick and easy 3-ingredient recipe! Shea butter helps prevent chapped and dry lips, beeswax helps protect them from the elements and jojoba oil has a moisturizing property. All will feel nice and soothing on your lips.
Honey lip scrub
- 1 tsp of honey
- 2 tbsp of brown sugar
- 1 tsp coconut oil or jojoba oil
Mix ingredients together until you get a smooth consistency, while still slightly grainy (from the sugar). Gently rub on your lips with clean hands and either lick off or remove with a washcloth. Follow up with your favourite lip balm.
This is definitely a recipe that calls for simple kitchen ingredients. The scrub is enough for 2-3 uses, but you can up the amount while still keeping the 1:2 ratio and store for future use. Also, the honey can be substituted for coconut oil, or any softening oil, for those that can’t use it. As long as you follow up with a good lip balm, or even a simple application of coconut oil, this is something you can do daily!
Honey-oat Scrub for soft skin:
- 1 cup of coarse ground oats or quick oats
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp of raw honey
- 2 tbsp of oat milk
- 1 tbsp of castile soap
Mix together in a bowl and lightly whisk so that everything is evenly blended into a paste-like consistency. Store in a jar or squeeze-bottle.
This scrub is full of goodness! Raw honey is antibacterial, so it is very helpful to not only cleanse the skin but also zap away any acne or impurities. A few other ingredients might be new to some folks. Castile soap is a natural and biodegradable multipurpose soap that can be used to wash the face and body. Similar to honey, castile soap is antibacterial but can also be used on sensitive skin types, such as eczema or acne-prone skin. The oats and oat milk mix are very moisturizing and nourishing on the skin. The partially ground oats that aren’t absorbed by the water act as a slight, gentle exfoliant for the skin, ensuring the softest skin possible!
Apply this scrub on your body on your spa day or before going into the shower. No need to leave it on, just rub the mixture in to exfoliate and smoothen the skin.
Rose Water Toner
- 2 tbsp rose petals
- 1 cup water
- Spray bottle
Add the rose petals in the cold or room-temperature water. Let the rose petals settle and let them steep for about an hour (just like tea!). Strain it and pour it in a spray bottle.
It’s a simple 2-ingredient recipe! You can use it as a rejuvenating toner for your face or spray it around your work space, in your bedroom or on your pillow as a calming aromatherapy.
And that’s a wrap! All these recipes are quick and easy. You don’t have to be an expert or need a lot of time out of your busy schedule to make them. All the ingredients are easily available in bulk at both stores (NU Wellington and NU Main) or on our online store!