I used to think that body oils were something icky. In my mind, the oil made the skin slippery and shiny, just like those wrestlers smearing themselves with oil. I imagined that oil would never fully absorb on the skin making it impractical for daily use. I’m glad I was wrong. I was surprised how readily a body oil can absorb into the skin, with no residues. There’s no ickiness and no signs of that wrestler-look. After discovering the joys and benefits of making my own all-natural and toxin-free body oil, I have ditched shop-bought body lotions and butters completely.
Making your own body oil is a great way to tailor a skincare product to specific skin needs, scent preferences, season of the year (cold vs. hot weather), or even mood. The beauty of making your own body oil is the ability to experiment with different carrier oils, essential oils, and other additives to create the perfect blend for you. And the best thing is you know exactly what goes to your skin – no nasties, no toxins!
So where to start, how to formulate a recipe? If you’re a beginner in the DIY cosmetics, I would suggest to follow my strategy for the composition:
Base oil (min. 50% of the total ingredients) + 1-2 supporting oils (20% each) + active ingredient (2-3%) + scent (1-2% each essential oil).
For the base oil I always choose a versatile and mild all-rounder which absorbs well – like sweet almond oil. Supporting oils are mainly chosen based on the skin concern (i.e. dry, sensitive, mature), but I always make sure they compliment one or more of the therapeutic effects of the base oil. The active ingredient (I usually choose a CO2 extract) is chosen for targeted skin problem (i.e. anti-aging). For the scent I use a blend of essential oils and never fragrance oils. Why? You can read more about it from here! Essential oils can also offer therapeutic benefits – not only for the skin but in terms of aromatherapy, for example to relax, invigorate, or calm.
When using essential oils and CO2 extracts, it is important to keep in mind they are highly concentrated and potent. Never apply them directly to the skin. You should always dilute them first to a carrier oil, gel, balm or similar.
Let’s take a closer look into the ingredients in this recipe:
- Sweet almond oil (base oil)
- Jojoba oil (supporting oil)
- Hemp seed oil (supporting oil)
- Rosehip seed CO2 extract (active ingredient)
- Vanilla “essential oil” (scent) – why in brackets? read below!
- Vitamin E (preserving agent) – natural one derived from soy bean
Sweet almond oil is a versatile oil pressed from the almond nuts that can help a wide range of skin types and conditions. It is used even in the baby products due to its gentle nature for the most delicate skin. Sweet almond oil is a highly emollient oil that is easily absorbed into the skin. It helps to soothe and hydrate dry, rough, or flaky skin, leaving it soft and supple. Sweet almond oil is very high in vitamin E. This vitamin is an anti-oxidant that helps fight the effects of free radicals on the skin.
Jojoba oil has a composition closely mimicking the skin’s natural oils (sebum). Jojoba oil acts as a natural humectant, attracting moisture to the skin, making it deeply hydrating without feeling greasy. It forms a protective layer that helps prevent moisture loss. Jojoba oil boosts the skin’s natural elasticity, making it softer, smoother, and more resilient over time. This helps in the prevention of stretch marks.
Hemp seed oil is gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive skin. The omega-6 fatty acid in hemp seed oil, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), has powerful anti-inflammatory properties helping to soothe skin conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea. Hemp seed oil has been found to calm redness. It reduces irritation and swelling of the skin. This makes it a great choice for winter skin products.
Rosehip seed CO2 extract is high in vitamin A and GLA, making it excellent ingredient for maturing, sensitive or dry skin. Rosehip seed oil is a popular anti-aging ingredient. The CO2 extract provides a powerful punch of therapeutic effects in a more concentrated form. Rosehip seed CO2 extract has also healing properties, helping to fix damaged skin tissue.
Vanilla essential oil is not actually an essential oil. The beans of the vanilla planifolia plant do not produce essential oil. Still, it is often sold under the name of essential oil. I call it one as well to separate it from the vanilla extract used in the kitchen. Don’t be tempted to use that stuff from your baking cupboard, it may contain ingredients not suitable for the skin. Vanilla used in the cosmetics can be an oleoresin (diluted in alcohol solvent), CO2 extract (diluted in carrier oil) or absolute (diluted in synthetic solvent) – I use organic extract. In my body oil, vanilla is purely used for the nose-pleasing scent, but it also has calming and mood-lifting properties.
Vitamin E in this recipe is for preservative purposes, yet it is not officially considered as one. However, vitamin E is a powerful anti-oxidant, meaning a longer shelf life for a cosmetic product. This makes it a popular ingredient in natural cosmetics.
Almond body oil for dry/maturing skin
Measurements in this recipe are only provided by weight (grams). This is the most precise and safest way to make any cosmetics. This applies whether they are for sale or personal use.
Equipment
- 4 measuring cups; 1 larger (min. volume 400ml to avoid spills while mixing)
- Rubber/silicone spatula
- Aluminum/glass/plastic bottle (min. volume 120ml) with cap or pump
- A funnel (check the fit to bottle neck)
- Kitchen scale
Ingredients
- Sweet almond oil 50g
- Hemp seed oil 20g
- Jojoba oil 20g
- Rosehip CO2 extract 2g
- Vanilla essential oil 3g
- Tocopherol (vitamin E) 2g (optional)
STEP 1. Measure all ingredients in separate cups, almond oil in the largest one. Vanilla essential oil, rosehip extract, and vitamin E (if used) can be measured together due to small volumes. You would find it hard to get all those precious drops out from the measuring cups if measured individually!
STEP 2. Add the hemp and jojoba oils to the almond oil and stir well together.
STEP 3. Add the vanilla essential oil, rosehip extract and vitamin E (if used). Stir well together with the base oils until all streaks disappear.
STEP 4. Use a funnel to pour the body oil into a clean and dry bottle of your chosen material. I always recommend reusing any old cosmetic bottles. Make sure they are washed and dried first, of course. Close the cap well and give the bottle a little shake as a final mix.
Store away from any heat sources and direct sun light. Apply onto skin straight after shower or bath when the pores are still open, this helps the oil to absorb faster. Remember, a little goes a long way with the oils. First, apply a small amount to see how much more your skin needs.
With love and lots of goodness of Mother Nature,
Lulu
Disclaimer: these blog posts are not medical advisory. All ingredient descriptions are based on commonly available information. The benefits described are based on academic research studies. If you suffer from any skin condition or allergies, always consult first your GP/medical practitioner before trying new treatments on your skin.
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