Lately we’ve been going all natural when it comes be being au natural. Not only are we avoiding tons of ingredients we can’t pronounce (check out a list of the worst offenders) but we’re saving some big bucks while we’re at it. Read on for some of our favorite blogger home recipes and build your own DIY beauty arsenal to stay toxin-free. Oh ya, did we mention that every recipe is 5 ingredients or less? Grab your Urban Market Bags, take notes on some key ingredients below and head to the nearest natural food store.


For Your Face
The fresh-faced “no makeup” look that we all crave is much easier to accomplish when we use natural products that don’t upset our skin’s ecosystem. We love vitamin E oil, a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals. Rosewater (rumored to be used by Cleopatra) soothes and moisturizes skin with its anti-inflammatory properties making it especially useful for those battling acne, eczema, or other skin irritations.

Cinnamon Lip Plumperby Barbie’s Beauty Bits

• 1 tbsp. Vaseline or vitamin E (moisturizing base)
• 1-3 drops of cinnamon essential oil

Add one drop of cinnamon essential oil to your base and test on your hand. The cinnamon oil will increase blood flow to the skin so expect it to tingle a bit. Add more cinnamon oil as needed. Be sure to test on your skin first since your lips are much more sensitive. Use a Q-tip or your finger to apply to lips. Leave on your lips for several minutes for a plumping effect.

Simple Face Powderby the Pistachio Project

• 2 tbsp. arrowroot powder
• Light: ½ tsp. cocoa powder, Medium: 1½ tsp. cocoa powder, Dark: 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
• ¼ tsp. cinnamon

Mix ingredients in a bowl and sift out any clumps. Start with a base shade and add more arrowroot or cocoa powder as needed. Store in an airtight jar. Lightly dust on face to absorb oil and set makeup. Cinnamon is used here to make your skin look plump and supple by stimulating blood vessels near the surface in the same way that it works to plump your lips.

Makeup Removerby You Beauty

• Microfiber cloth or other reusable cloth
• Coconut oil

Coconut oil is a great makeup remover (even for waterproof mascara). Slather on, wipe away makeup and cleanse face as usual.

Vitamin E Face Creamby The Freshanista

• 3 tbsp. cocoa butter
• 4 tbsp. coconut oil
• 1 tbsp. vitamin E oil
• 4 drops of your favorite essential oil

Melt coconut oil and cocoa butter in a double broiler and whisk together. Let cool and whisk in vitamin E oil and essential oil of your choice. Refrigerate for an hour. Once the cream has cooled, whisk vigorously. Refrigerate again for half an hour and whisk cream again until light and fluffy. Store in an airtight jar and apply before bed.

Lash Serumby DIY Beauty

• 1 tbsp. castor oil
• ½ tbsp. almond oil
• ½ tsp. sweet almond oil
• ½ tsp. vitamin E oil

Fill a clean tube or small jar with all four ingredients in the order listed. Secure jar and shake ingredients. Apply to lash line before bed. Cleanse your face in the morning prior to applying makeup.

Refreshing Rose Face Mistby Free People

• 2 parts rose water (as pure and organic as possible or try making your own)
• 1 part vegetable glycerin
• 1 part sweet almond oil (or body oil of choice—jojoba works well too)
• Essential oils (optional)

Mix ingredients in a reusable mist bottle and spritz often for mega moisture. Rosewater is known to reduce inflammation and anxiety so this mist is especially useful when you wake up feeling less than your best. Looking to combat other issues? Jojoba oil helps with collagen production and lemongrass can help firm the skin. Read up on face mist ingredients demystified and become a master mixologist.


For Your Body
Banish dry skin with a few simple ingredients that are likely already in your kitchen. If you’re trying to avoid sugar, these body scrubs are the best way to get your fix without breaking your diet. Have a favorite dessert you can’t get enough of? You can probably turn it into a scrub! Take a look at our Pinterest page for more inspiration.

Cucumber Mint Sugar Scrubby Creations by Kara

• ¼ cucumber, unpeeled (about 4 slices)
• ¾ cup white sugar
• 2 tbsp. coconut oil, softened
• 8-10 drops peppermint essential oil

Puree the cucumber, add sugar and coconut oil and blend until oil is absorbed. Stir in the peppermint oil. Keep fresh by storing in the refrigerator.

Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrubby Somewhat Simple

• 1 cup brown sugar
• ½ cup oil (almond, olive or coconut work best)
• ½ tsp. vitamin E oil
• 1 tsp. real vanilla extract

Mix and enjoy! Store in an airtight container. Best used within two months.

Pink Grapefruit & Thyme Sugar Scrubby Fall for DIY

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 tbsp. coconut oil
• Juice from half a grapefruit
• Fresh thyme leaves

Warm coconut oil and mix with sugar and grapefruit juice. Pulp is optional and will give your scrub more texture if you choose to leave it in. Detach thyme leaves from their stem and add to the citrus scrub.

Rose Sugar Scrubby Smart School House

• 1½ cups white sugar
• ¼ cup of baby oil or coconut oil
• 12 rose petals

Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend. For a fluffier scrub, use less oil. For a super smooth scrub add a bit more oil.

Coffee Body Scrubby Aisle 9

• 1 cup pre-ground coffee
• ¾ cup white or brown sugar
• ½ cup coconut oil (liquified)
• ¼ cup olive oil

Mix ingredients together until your scrub is a thick paste. Apply in the shower, being careful to wash the excess off the tub so it doesn’t leave a stain. Enjoy a little extra post-shower glow.


Bath
Treat yourself to a relaxing bath with a floral bath bomb or soothing oatmeal soak. Oatmeal is inexpensive yet super effective at calming irritated skin. Best of all, it’s natural so your body doesn’t have to take on an additional toxic load when treating conditions like eczema, bug bites, acne and rashes. Do you know someone that could use an hour of quiet to themselves? Mix up one of the below and package it up as a gift along with Urban Market Bags.

Natural Bath Bombsby Lovely Greens

• ½ cup citric acid
• 1 cup baking soda
• ¼ cup quick oats
• ¼ tsp. lavender essential oil
• ⅛ tsp. rose-geranium essential oil
• Spray bottle of witch hazel for wetting & molding mixture
• Bath bomb mold (clear ornament balls—can be found at most craft stores)

We went a little beyond our 5 ingredient promise but this recipe is just too good to leave out. Sift citric acid and baking soda. Drizzle essential oils and mix well. Stir in oats. Next, you will need to wet the mixture by spraying it with witch hazel. Mix and spray until you can clump together like wet sand to build a sand castle. If you have decorative items like dried rose or lavender, place those items in your bath bomb mold. Fill each side of the mold with your mixture and compress. Add more of the mixture to each side and fit the sides of the mold together and compress. Carefully remove mold and let bombs dry in a safe place for 24 hours. For more detailed instructions (and pictures) take a look at this tutorial.

Soothing Lavender Vanilla Oatmeal Bath Soakby The Kitchy Kitchen

• 1 cup oatmeal
• 2 tbsp. lavender
• 1 cup epsom salt
• 2 drops lavender oil
• 2 drops vanilla extract

This one is easy. Place oatmeal in a food processor and pulse until fine. Combine ingredients and mix well.


Looking for more inspiration? Check out our Pinterest page for more recipes to transition to a natural beauty routine—all made by you!