How to Make Your Own Beauty Products

The cost of beauty products has gotten quite high these days, and it is probably only going to get worse. Additionally, store-bought beauty products contain many harsh ingredients that our bodies simply do not need. Luckily you can make your own beauty products at home, usually for much less money than you would pay in a store. Not only will you save money, but you will have peace of mind knowing what ingredients are going into your products. Making your own beauty products can be fun and simple, and the results will amaze you.

Shampoo

It is really quite easy to make your own shampoo at home. If you are looking for a basic shampoo recipe for normal hair, all you need is 1/4 cup distilled water, 1/4 cup liquid castile soap, and 1/2 teaspoon jojoba or grapeseed oil. Mix the ingredients well and store in a tightly-capped bottle. Use this as you would any other shampoo. You will need to shake this shampoo before each use, as it is thinner than other shampoos. Although it is thinner, this shampoo will lather well and leave your hair squeaky clean and full of shine.

If you would like to customize your shampoo to fit your needs, adding a few drops of essential oil can do so. Tea tree oil is great if you suffer from scalp issues or dandruff, and is also quite refreshing. Lavender oil is also a great choice, as it is fragrant, gentle, and soothing to the hair and scalp. Peppermint and lemon oils are invigorating and will wake up your senses.

Conditioner

Most people like to use a conditioner after shampooing, because it detangles and softens the hair. Conditioner usually adds moisture to hair as well, which is great if your hair is on the dryer side. A great recipe for conditioner uses 2 ounces aloe vera gel, 1/2 teaspoon olive oil, 2 ounces apple cider vinegar, and 1 ounce powdered milk. Just combine all the ingredients in a bowl or mixing bottle, and apply to clean, shampooed hair. Leave on for up to 15 minutes, and rinse well. You will want to make this conditioner in small batches, as it can spoil quickly. The aloe vera gel and olive oil are natural moisturizers, and the vinegar is a natural detangler. Your hair will be soft and shiny after using this conditioner. If you would like to add fragrance, feel free to experiment with the essential oils of your choice.

Body Wash

If you would like to make your own body wash, it is really an easy process. All you need is a cup of liquid soap base, such as liquid castile soap or an inexpensive, unscented shampoo. You can add an ingredient known as xanthan gum to your base to give it a thicker consistency. Usually all it takes is 1/2 teaspoon of xanthan gum per cup of body wash, but experiment until you are happy with the results. Add 15-20 drops of your favorite essential oil to the base, and your simple, homemade body wash is complete. Rosemary and peppermint oils are refreshing, tea tree and lavender oils have antibacterial properties, and vanilla oil is very calming. These are all great choices to add your body wash, but you can use whatever oil you prefer. Store your body wash in opaque bottles and use it within 6 months. Also, give your body wash a good shake before each use to make sure all the ingredients are properly blended.

You may think that making your own beauty products is time-consuming and difficult, but it is really quite the opposite. All you need is a few ingredients, which can all be found at drugstores or natural food and health stores, and a small amount of time. Once you try your homemade beauty products, you will be very happy you did.