Deciding to DIY your skincare can be a stressful endeavor. You start out strong, committed to using all-natural ingredients. You think, My skin will thank me! My wallet will thank me! But then you start researching, and it’s all downhill: A double boiler? A blended emulsion? Special waxes? Forget it. That’s how I felt when I entered the crazy (but awesome) world of DIY. But it’s not all as challenging as you might believe. In fact, the best DIY skin-care recipes are easy to make and have just a few high-quality ingredients—like the three olive oil-based projects below. Organic, cold-pressed olive oil is rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids, is antimicrobial, and is a fantastic moisturizer. Plus, you probably already have it on hand!
- Super-Rich Cream
Shea butter improves virtually every skin ailment and cocoa butter is very moisturizing and gentle. Olive oil makes this cream just a touch less rich, so it’s easier to spread around. The result is a super-luxurious staple that is also a powerful moisturizer and skin treatment.
Melt ¼ cup shea butter and ¼ cup cocoa butter in a small pot on the stovetop until completely liquefied, stirring well. Remove from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons olive oil. Cool completely, then cover and refrigerate to solidify, 1 to 2 hours. Give it a stir—the texture should be like butter. Transfer to a lidded jar and use within 6 to 8 months.
- Dessert Mask
Cocoa powder helps repair and prevent cell damage because it is full of antioxidants. Sea salt kills bacteria and is great for blemishes. The olive oil will make the salt and cocoa gentler on your skin, while also leaving you moisturized after the exfoliation.
Mix 4 teaspoons cocoa powder and ½ teaspoon sea salt in a small bowl then stir in 2 teaspoons olive oil to create a paste. Apply with your fingers and leave on for as long as you’d like. The sea salt may start to sting as it works its magic. Rinse carefully—this mask will stain a washcloth. Makes 1 to 2 masks and can sit out on your counter for a few days.
- Reparative Oat-Berry Cookie Exfoliant
This recipe is great for all skin types because it is very gentle, yet just abrasive enough to provide a deep clean. Olive oil and oats offer all kinds of benefits for your skin and berries are full of potent antioxidants and collagen-boosting and skin-repairing vitamin C. Coconut flour (available at most health-food stores or gluten-free sections of grocery stores) soothes and smoothes.
Using a small bowl and the back of a fork, or a mortar and pestle, mash 3 strawberries and 10 raspberries together. In a separate bowl, combine 1 teaspoon oat flour and ¼ cup coconut flour. Stir 2 tablespoons olive oil into the flours, then add the mashed berries. This recipe makes a good amount, but it will spoil quickly, so try to use it all at once with your friends, partner, or kids. You will smell delicious. Store leftovers in the fridge and toss after a couple of days.
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Recipes by Adina Grigore, owner of S.W. Basics and author of Skin Cleanse: The Simple, All-Natural Program For Clear, Calm, Happy Skin.
Illustration by Joanna Barnum
This article originally appeared in the October/November print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!
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