It’s been a while since I did a purely practical post, so I thought I would introduce you to my latest DIY project: homemade facial (or body, if you like) moisturizer. It has no synthetic chemicals or preservatives, can be customized to your preferences, works out to be very inexpensive, absorbs nicely, and seems to work with most skin types — even mine, which breaks out if you so much as look at it the wrong way.
I was originally leery about putting oil on my already oily skin, but having tried several facial oils, including My Skin and Bones and By Nieves, I’ve found that they work a lot better than all the anti-oil products I tried for years. This is the poor man’s version. (If you do have the money, I totally recommend the two I already mentioned.)
Here’s what you need:
- Jojoba oil. Trader Joe’s $7 for 4 oz, slightly more for organic at Whole Foods. Jojoba is a shelf-stable liquid wax that resembles human sebum (the oil produced by our skin). It absorbs quickly and does not clog pores.
- A dark glass bottle (any size between 15ml and 50ml) with a dropper lid or pump.
- Skin-safe essential oils such as lavender (anti-bacterial, mild astringent), chamomile (calming, de-puffing), geranium (balancing), rose (moisturizing). Different essential oils are supposed to be good for different things. If you don’t want to bother looking into it, just pick one or two of your favorites. Be cautious with the citrus oils, which are mildly phototoxic, and don’t go near the ‘fragrance’ oils, which may not be skin safe and can contain all sorts of synthetic chemicals.
If you’re re-using the glass bottle, sterilize it, the lid, and the dropper in boiling water for several minutes. After everything has dried and cooled, add about 1 drop essential oil for every 3-4 ml that your bottle holds, e.g. no more than 5 drops of essential oil for a 15ml bottle. If you have very sensitive skin or are trying a new essential oil, add less. You can customize it to your favorite essential oil or create your own special blend. Fill up the rest of the bottle with jojoba and shake. Allow it to sit for a few hours.
When you’re ready to use your new moisturizer, massage 2-3 drops on damp, clean skin. It will absorb quickly with little or no greasiness. I prefer to make small batches to keep any chance of contamination down, but since there is no water in this moisturizer, it’s unlikely to spoil and doesn’t need a preservative. Microbes love water, not oil.
Total investment for about a year’s supply: about $15-$20, depending on the essential oils you use. Sounds good to me. My next DIY project is going to be a thick body butter for my dried out potter’s hands. What are your favorite DIY skin and body products?
It's Not Easy To Be Green 
Posted by Andrea on 03/31/2011 at 10:14
Good timing, Jennifer! I am in the process of running out of my facial moisturizer. Though it contains no nasty ingredients, I’d still prefer to make my own – that’s one less bottle to buy, right?
What kinds of stores sell the dark glass bottle I’d need for this project?
Posted by Jennifer on 03/31/2011 at 10:43
Hi Andrea! Sometimes I’m good like that. I think you might be able to find the bottles in a beauty supply shop (or — just thought of this — maybe you could reuse a vanilla or peppermint extract bottle), but they might not be necessary if you have a dark, cool place to store the stuff.
Posted by Jackie Burns on 12/10/2011 at 13:21
I found one at Whole Foods.
Posted by ericavee on 12/12/2011 at 19:42
Yup, I keep my facial oil blend in a bottle just like the one pictured and I got it at Whole Foods.
Posted by Bridget on 03/31/2011 at 12:21
Oh my gosh – so simple and inexpensive! I hate spending lots of money on skin care & yet want to take care of my skin too.
Curious, what do you use to cleanse & what do you use for sunscreen?
Posted by Jennifer on 03/31/2011 at 13:38
Hi Bridget!
If you have drier skin, you could try mixing the jojoba with richer oils, like almond, kukui, or avocado. Some people swear by sea buckthorn and argan, but those are definitely pricier.
I use Blissoma’s Fresh cleanser (I blogged about it maybe a month ago), which isn’t cheap or DIY but makes my skin happy. Some people have good luck using a diluted castille soap with essential oils. For sunscreen, I often go without; I’m indoors most of the time, so I figure I need the vitamin D. I wear mineral makeup, which blocks some rays. When I really need sunscreen, I use one with titanium dioxide by Alba.
Posted by Mrs Green @littlegreenblog.com on 03/31/2011 at 12:53
Love it, this is exactly what I use – jojoba oil with some rose, benzoin and lemon essential oils. It works beautifully and I like to think my skin looks good on it 😉
Posted by Jennifer on 03/31/2011 at 13:41
Hi Mrs. Green! I should have guessed you’d already discovered this for yourself. 🙂 I’m not familiar with benzoin, but my last mix had lavender, rosewood, and a little lemon, and I enjoyed both the scent and the DIY-ness of it all.
Posted by karen on 03/31/2011 at 14:09
I use organic olive oil for everything. As a cleanser, as a moisturizer, as lotion, etc… Just adjust the amount, depending on what you are using it for or where. Never thought of jojoba oil though. Sounds like it could be an alternative if I want change.
Posted by Jennifer on 03/31/2011 at 14:55
Hi Karen! Glad my comment box is behaving for you again. I haven’t tried putting olive oil on my face, but I’m guessing that the jojoba is lighter and absorbs faster. Maybe it would be good for summer or when you need a lighter moisturizer.
Curious: how do you cleanse with olive oil?
Posted by Paranoia Cardenas (@favillesco) on 05/27/2012 at 15:51
I’m guessing she uses the Olive Oil and Castor Oil method (OCM). :3
Posted by Trina on 10/07/2012 at 21:51
DHC has a pure virgin olive oil for skin moisturizing. Another product they sell is an oil cleanser which works exceptionally well and removes make-up too. the best,CPTG (certified pure therapeutic grade) essential oils are doTERRA. a wonderful oil, completley pure. One drop of the cinnamon in my homemade cider-BLISS. One drop of the grapefruit oil in water, Mmm! you’ll drink more water, which is essential for healthy skin,too. i am interested in making my own products so I know what is in them. I did, one year for christmas gifts and they were a hit. made lip balms and salt scrubs. Now that I have doTERRA I would like to try again. Also, aromatools.com for all the bottles, sprayers, roll-ons, droppers, etc!
Posted by Crafty Green Poet on 04/01/2011 at 00:05
I really should try this, I’m lazy with the DIY approach to skincare, unless its really simple!
Posted by Jennifer on 04/01/2011 at 08:34
Thanks for stopping by, Juliet. I love the image you have at the top of your blog — I’ll swing by soon for an extended visit. I’m a fellow lazy DIY-er. We should start a club or something. 🙂
Posted by Cristina | Positively Beauty on 04/01/2011 at 07:36
I tried the jojoba oil on my face – pure, with no essential oils – but my skin got even drier than it originally was…???
I might try the argan oil, it’s supposed to do wonders for the skin.
My recipe is for a body scrub:
Fill a small jar for 2/3 with fine sea salt, then add oil – jojoba oil, almond oil or more often a mix of several oils – until the salt is all wet with the oil. Add a few drops of essential oils – I like rose & frankincense – and stir. If the mix is too oily, add more salt. If it’s too dry, add more oil.
I use it under the shower, first I wet my skin, then scrub, then wet again with very warm water. When I dry myself with a towel, I do it gently, just patting the skin dry. This way my skin is smooth and soft, I don’t even need a moisturiser 🙂
Posted by Jennifer on 04/01/2011 at 08:30
Thanks so much for the scrub recipe, Cristina! I’ve used sugar scrubs but not salt ones, so I’ll give that a try next time.
I’m sorry the jojoba didn’t work out for you. My current facial oil By Nieves is quite a bit thicker — the top two ingredients are organic primrose seed oil and organic sesame seed oil. Maybe that blend would work better for you? I’ve also heard excellent things about argan oil, but price-wise, it’s way off my radar.
Posted by lorialper on 04/04/2011 at 12:02
What a simple DIY-one I can certainly handle! I really need a good moisturizer. I’m going to give this a try. I really need to find one with sunscreen. Any ideas?
Posted by Jennifer on 04/06/2011 at 07:55
I don’t use sunscreen unless I’m actually going to be out in the sun for a prolonged time. I figure I’m probably vitamin D deficient anyway from spending so much time indoors. I’ve heard that mineral makeup, which I use, offers light protection against the sun, and a hat is of course chemical and irritant free. 🙂 If you still want sunscreen, I’ve read that the physical ones (containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide) are safer than the chemical ones (oxybenzone, etc.). The Skin Deep database has given high safety ratings to one by Badger Balm, but I haven’t tried it. Hope this helps!
Posted by Colleen on 02/09/2012 at 07:39
I read a great book called Super Natural Home by Beth Greer and she has a nice recipe for a sunscreen. Its just distilled water and ascorbic acid powder. I bought the Now brand because I didn’t have a whole foods or trader joe’s near by. Her book also has some other good DIY ideas. I also read another book that has alot of ideas as well and one in particular was a bug repellant. that book is 1001 all-natural secrets to a pest free property. Great for home gardeners.
Posted by Jennifer on 02/09/2012 at 08:50
Hi Colleen,
I didn’t know ascorbic acid was a sunscreen (vitamin C?). I use mineral makeup that contains titanium dioxide for just a little protection from the sun, but I figure I probably need the vitamin D more than I need sunscreen. Thanks for the book recommendation!
Posted by Emmy on 05/15/2017 at 15:37
I much prefer inftrmaoive articles like this to that high brow literature.
Posted by http://goanalyze.info/chinayes.com on 05/31/2017 at 10:45
The kind of men and women have a temporary cash advance? Will it be people that require take advantage an urgent situation? Well, this might be what the majority of people think.
Posted by Small Footprints on 04/04/2011 at 14:05
Oh nice … I bet it feels great. My grandmother used olive oil in her cooking and, before putting the bottle away, would drizzle a little in her hands and then rub it into her face, arms and hands. She had the most beautiful skin until the day she died (at age 96). I use witch hazel to cleanse then follow it with shea butter … but it can be a little shiny … so I think your moisturizer would be great. Thanks for sharing your recipe! 🙂
Posted by angie on 04/05/2011 at 11:50
This one is too easy not to try! And so economical too. Thanks!
Posted by Erica on 04/08/2011 at 08:34
Interesting article. Just remember not all all essential oils are the same. Most in the stores are not high quality. Double check you are getting Therapeutic Grade, which are more expensive. And only by organic or wildcrafted. The product http://www.myskinandbones.com you mention looks like a great value based on the ingredients.
Posted by Jennifer on 04/08/2011 at 08:48
Thanks for the head’s up. I buy most of my essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs, and they’re pretty reputable as a source. I liked My Skin and Bones a lot and recognize that the price comes from the expense of the essential oils involved, but it’s still quite a bit out of my budget.
Posted by Trina on 10/07/2012 at 21:55
DoTERRA oils are 100% CPTG (certified pure therapeutic grade) awesome products and service.
Posted by Easy DIY: homemade lip balm & giveaway « It's Not Easy To Be Green on 05/27/2011 at 21:54
[…] use already, I don’t know. Excess isn’t green. But I figure that my predilection for lotions and potions is a fairly minor eco-sin in the greater scheme of things, and it’s good to know how to make […]
Posted by The real cost of being green: time. And energy. « It's Not Easy To Be Green on 06/29/2011 at 07:38
[…] my preference has always been for the latter. I cook my food from scratch, line dry my clothes, mix up my own moisturizers, bake my own bread, and even fold my own kitty litter bags out of old […]
Posted by Best Moisturizer With SPFCrib on 08/21/2011 at 21:09
So easy! How long will the keep?
Posted by Jennifer on 08/21/2011 at 21:12
Jojoba oil and essential oils are both very shelf stable, so at least a year if you use a dropper lid and don’t get bacteria into it. Oils are not very conducive to bacterial growth, so that helps.
Posted by All Natural Homemade Facial Cleanser « It's Not Easy To Be Green on 08/30/2011 at 09:14
[…] ($1 a box) and jojoba oil ($6 for 4 oz at Trader Joe’s). Instead of straight jojoba, I use my homemade facial moisturizer, which is just jojoba oil and a few essential oils (lavender, rosewood, lemon) so I can incorporate […]
Posted by Norma J. Canham on 12/17/2011 at 19:10
Thanks for all the info and comments. My particular problem is that what seems to work fine for the lower part of my face will irritate my eyes, even if I avoid putting the moisturizer near the eyes. Mineral oil for me is the worst eye irritant.
Normac
Posted by J on 02/02/2012 at 09:54
I mix up a similar recipe for my hair; jojoba, almond, and some yummy scented oil. It does double duty as a deep heat conditioner (just apply in a larger amount, wrap with plastic and leave until you’re ready to shower and shampoo the excess out) and as a leave in conditioner to eliminate frizz. After I wash my hair I towel dry it and then rub a few drops of the oil between my hands to warm it up and then quickly run my fingers through my hair to distribute the oil. It smells nice, gives my hair a nice sheen, and really cuts down on frizz. Plus, it’s much cheaper than all the commercial hair products and works much better for me (with super sensitive skin, I don’t have to worry about what I’m putting on my body). You don’t need much either; with chin length hair (but very thick), I use maybe two to three drops, sometimes four at the most.
I don’t even buy the bottles; I reused a glass vanilla extract bottle for my first batch.
Posted by Colleen on 02/09/2012 at 07:57
I read and have tried this great bath for detox. it’s basically 2-3cups epsom salt, celtic or hymilean sea salt, if you don’t have a water purification system use a cup of baking soda to neutralize the chemicals in your tap water. You can also add fresh ground ginger or ginger spice (a tablespoon) it’s recommended to do a dry skin brushing before the detox bath. also drink plenty of water before during and after the bath. Sit for 20 or for max benefits 40 minutes. This is the website I got this from http://www.whole-body-detox-diet.com/detox-bath.html
The reason I posted this is because it was also recommended to use either olive oil or coconut oil (extra virgin, raw, unfiltered, organic, cold pressed) on your skin right after the bath. i have not done this bath in a while but my friend always uses coconut oil on her skin and even in her hair. she has great skin. I will be trying this now that I am off the HCG diet and can use the coconut oil again.
Good Luck
Posted by Jill on 02/22/2012 at 16:05
Great article! Very well written and informative! If you are still hunting for a good thick body butter for your hands, check out my product, it’s called SoftShell and it works GREAT on crusty feet, elbows, hands, you name it!! I make it myself and just started selling it in November of last year. Here is the link to my Etsy page. Thanks!! =)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SoftShellBodyButter
Posted by Helena Butters (@HelenaMarie) on 02/23/2012 at 21:34
I’m buying chamomile oil now! Thanks!
Posted by cheryl rodriguez on 03/01/2012 at 08:19
Do u have other ideas? I love this kinda stuff! My skin has been horrible l8tly! I used honey n stuff n its coming out great! All the products at the store irritate my skin 😦
Posted by Jennifer on 03/01/2012 at 08:35
Hi Cheryl,
You should check out crunchybetty.com — a whole site dedicated to DIY cosmetics and goodies.
Posted by DK on 07/04/2012 at 19:32
Try Shea Butter for sunscreen.. Per Wiki; Shea butter is used as a base for medicinal ointments. Some of the isolated chemical constituents are reported to have anti-inflammatory, emollient and humectant properties.[6] Shea butter has been used as a sunblocking lotion and has a limited capacity to absorb ultraviolet radiation.
Posted by harvokse on 07/15/2012 at 21:26
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation
but I find this matter to be really something that I think I would never
understand. It seems too complicated and extremely broad for me.
I am looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
Posted by Kyndal on 08/02/2012 at 02:25
Sea buckthorn seed oil has been my favorite/best moisturizer for quite a while now. However, it’s a pain to get because not only is it 16 bucks, but i have to order it, and pay shipping and everything.
I really want to try using Olive oil as my main moisturizer from now on.
I have an important question though: Is olive oil safe as an eye moisturizer? cuz i rub my eyes a lot, and I know my moisturizer is going in there.
All advice is greatly appreciated. (because my skin has been heinous lately)
Posted by Jennifer on 08/02/2012 at 09:07
Hi Kyndal,
I’m guessing that getting oils into your eyes isn’t really ideal, but I doubt the amount going into yours is an issue. I’ve heard lots of people remove eye makeup with olive oil, and that hasn’t seemed to produce any problems. Just make sure the olive oil isn’t rancid. 🙂 And I wouldn’t put oil directly into your eyes unless you hear otherwise from a reputable doctor.
Posted by www.timeforasmile.com on 09/05/2012 at 08:54
Hey there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers?
My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing a
few months of hard work due to no back up. Do you have any solutions to protect
against hackers?
Posted by sizegenetics review forum on 12/18/2012 at 11:30
Interesting blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it
from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple tweeks would
really make my blog shine. Please let me know where you got your design.
Appreciate it
Posted by Violet on 03/24/2013 at 08:51
Have any of you tried using organic canola oil? I’ve heard it is lighter than olive oil (and cheaper, too), but I’ve never tried it myself.
Posted by Live The Life You Want: DIY Make-Over | justb. on 05/12/2013 at 14:08
[…] Make your own bath fizzies DIY foot soak Make your own lip balm Homemade solid perfume DIY face wash Make your own foot scrub Homemade deodorant Banana and orange facial DIY eye soothers Natural DIY breath fresheners Make your own skin toner Homemade moisturiser […]
Posted by Tyrone on 07/06/2013 at 15:19
Hey. I noticed your website title, “DIY Thursday: Homemade Facial Moisturizer | It’s Not Easy To Be Green”
does not really reflect the content of your internet site.
When creating your website title, do you think it’s most beneficial to write it for Search engine optimization or for your readers? This is something I’ve
been struggling with simply because I want great search rankings but at the
same time I want the best quality for my visitors.
Posted by ways to get abs on 07/08/2013 at 11:03
Nice blog here! Also your web site loads up fast!
What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate
link to your host? I wish my website loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Posted by 24 hour appliance repair on 07/09/2013 at 17:57
I am starting up a new internet blog directory and was wanting to
know if I can submit your site? I’m hoping to mature my directory little by little by hand so that it maintains high quality. I’ll make sure and put your blog in the appropriate category and
I’ll also use, “DIY Thursday: Homemade Facial Moisturizer | It’s Not Easy To Be Green” as your anchor text. Please make sure to let me know if this is acceptable with you by e-mailing me at: alfonso-ritter@freenet.de. Thanks
Posted by global knife block on 07/19/2013 at 04:07
Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads up.
The words in your article seem to be running off the screen in Safari.
I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with web browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know.
The layout look great though! Hope you get the problem solved soon.
Kudos
Posted by Brandie on 05/15/2017 at 14:42
This site is like a closrsaom, except I don’t hate it. lol
Posted by http://goanalyze.info/freshmenu.com on 05/31/2017 at 10:58
Many thanks for making the effort to talk about this, I feel strongly about this and love studying a great deal more on this subject. If feasible, as you gain knowledge, would you mind updating your website with a great deal more info? It’s really useful for me.
Posted by ebay wedding dresses on 07/26/2013 at 06:02
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was curious what all is needed to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?
I’m not very internet savvy so I’m not 100% sure.
Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Posted by cashback credit card on 08/01/2013 at 06:37
I was more than happy to discover this page. I wanted to
thank you for your time for this particularly wonderful read!
! I definitely liked every part of it and I have you bookmarked to see new stuff on
your web site.
Posted by craigslist Tucson short term rentals on 08/05/2013 at 22:05
With havin so much content do you ever run into any problems of plagorism or copyright violation?
My blog has a lot of unique content I’ve either written myself or outsourced but it looks like a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my permission. Do you know any methods to help protect against content from being ripped off? I’d genuinely appreciate it.
Posted by Chester on 08/08/2013 at 14:33
I want to to thank you for this very good read!!
I certainly loved every little bit of it. I have got
you book marked to check out new things you post…
Posted by free dvd software on 08/10/2013 at 01:34
It’s hard to find experienced people on this topic, however, you sound like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks
Posted by holy trinity school on 08/10/2013 at 16:29
Everything is very open with a very clear
description of the issues. It was truly informative.
Your site is very helpful. Many thanks for sharing!
Posted by kitchen appliances on 10/01/2013 at 06:57
My programmer is trying to persuade me to move to .net from PHP.
I have always disliked the idea because of the expenses.
But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using Movable-type on numerous websites for
about a year and am nervous about switching to another platform.
I have heard very good things about blogengine.net.
Is there a way I can import all my wordpress content into it?
Any kind of help would be greatly appreciated!
Posted by The AMAZING Chapped Skin Remedy That Will Get You Through The Winter – xoJane | skintreatmentfaq on 11/27/2013 at 17:35
[…] DIY Thursday: Homemade Facial Moisturizer | It's Not Easy To Be … […]
Posted by Mark Lowrance on 01/12/2014 at 02:13
People nowadays are so much interested on argan oil uses .It is a great one for personal use.
Posted by A whole bunch of DIY beauty fixes | Kidspot on 03/19/2014 at 12:15
[…] Make your own bath fizzies DIY foot soak Make your own lip balm Homemade solid perfume DIY face wash Make your own foot scrub Homemade deodorant Banana and orange facial DIY eye soothers Natural DIY breath fresheners Make your own skin toner Homemade moisturiser […]
Posted by Http://ikiteboarding.com on 05/04/2014 at 20:10
I’m really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your weblog.
Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself?
Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it is
rare to see a great blog like this one these days.
Posted by billig forbrukslån on 07/06/2014 at 08:49
Yes! Finally someone writes about wordpress.
Posted by League Of Legends Hack Method on 08/29/2014 at 15:12
Excellent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely excellent.
I actually like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you are saying and the
way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care
of to keep it wise. I can not wait to read far more from you.
This is actually a great website.
Posted by https://penzu.com/p on 09/18/2014 at 22:42
I’ve been browsing on-line more than 3 hours these days, but I never found any attention-grabbing article like yours.
It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all webmasters and bloggers made just right content as you probably did,
the net can be a lot more helpful than ever before.
Posted by Diy Face Moisturizer - jual.bid on 03/24/2016 at 07:20
[…] DIY Thursday: Homemade Facial Moisturizer […]
Posted by خرید vpn on 04/09/2016 at 05:39
Thank You