One of the things I love is mixing my own skincare products - It started as a cost-saving initiative, costing about $50 every 6 months and at most, I’d spend an hour or 2 a month to mix it but the benefits are substantially higher than that - as it's more natural, healthier and you get to customize for sensitive skin.

I'm not an apothecary, but if you love natural skincare products, I’d love to know your skincare mixology.

Here’s some of my mix

Ingredients :

Hydration /humectant : Hyaluronic acid, vegetable glycerine, aloe Vera gel, aloe (real plant)

Carrier oil : Sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, castor oil (Castor oil, coconut oil has high comedogenic properties and can clog pores hence has to be used sparingly. Almond, grapeseed, jojoba has non comedogenic properties )

Essential oils :Ylang ylang, tea tree, neem, prickly pear, cactus oil

Antioxidant :Vitamin C, green tea extract

Vitamins :Vitamin E

Water component :Distilled water or rose water

Emollient :Unrefined Shea butter

Actives :retinol, niacinamide

Preservative :grape seed fruit extract

Recipes :

Face mist toner :

water component 40%,

hydration 40%

Carrier oil 10%

Essential oil 5%

Antioxidant 2%

Vitamins 2%

Preservatives 1%

Face moisturizer :

Carrier oil : 30%

Emollient : 10%

Hydration : 30%

Vitamins : 5%

Essential oils : 5%

Face serum :

Carrier oil : 80%

Essential oil : 5%

Vitamins : 5%

Hydration : 10%

(I’d use this 2x - 3x a week only)

Night ice cube :

Hydration : 65%

Carrier oil : 20%

Essential : 5%

Antioxidant : 5%

Vitamins 5%

Night cream

Active : 10%

Hydration : 90%

Vitamins : 10%

Hair serum

Carrier oil 80%

Hydration 10%

Vitamin 5%

Essential oil 5%

Gua sha massage - non comedogenic carrier oil

Healthier eyebrow, removal of skin tags, pigments - castor oil

Other stuff such as body scrubs, scalp scrub, face masks often times just comes from the kitchen :

- coffee scrubs with honey,

- sugar scrub with coconut oil / avocado oil,

- face masks with yogurt, aloe and honey as base.

- Hair masks with egg yolk, coconut oil

Stuff off the counters I love are hydration masks and the gold eye masks.

The above might sound like a lot, but it has way less products and chemicals compared to store purchased goods, and a fraction of the money spent.

If you have a natural skincare routine, I would love to know more !