Feature image courtesy of Annouk. Originally published on December 19, , this article was updated in April Chrystal Johnson, publisher of Happy Mothering , founder of Green Moms Media and essential oil fanatic, is a mother of two sweet girls who believes in living a simple, natural lifestyle.

A former corporate marketing communication manager, Chrystal spends her time researching green and eco-friendly alternatives to improve her family's life.

Skip to content. Cosmetics and beauty products are a major source of chemical exposure for most people. An average beauty product contains dozens of harmful chemicals, many of which have not even been tested for safety in humans!

Fortunately, there are natural alternatives for every beauty product, and most work better than the chemical-laden alternatives. I have made hundreds of natural beauty and personal care recipes over the years — from shampoo and conditioner to mascara and foundation!

Natural ingredients cost more upfront but save us money in the long run because they are so versatile and can be used in multiple recipes. I order these products once or twice a year at most and we have smooth, healthy skin all year! I order Gold Label Coconut Oil in five gallon buckets from Tropical Traditions.

This is by far my favorite coconut oil and I can tell a difference in taste and quality. We save a lot by buying in bulk, and since we use it to cook, in recipes and as a skin lotion by itself, it never goes to waste!

It also comes in smaller quantities! We will only use Unrefined, organic coconut oil in cooking, but a cheaper expeller pressed oil could be used in skin recipes to save money though by ordering in bulk, we still get the good stuff for cheaper than the expeller pressed in the long run!

For those sensitive to coconut, grass fed organic beef tallow can also be used and it is great for the skin, though you will need to add essential oils to cover the mild scent. We get our tallow in five gallon buckets here.

Our most used natural beauty ingredient after coconut oil. Organic unrefined shea butter has a naturally nutty, earthy smell very mild and is incredibly nourishing for the skin! It has natural antibacterial properties and is great for preventing stretch marks, for wound healing, and as an anti-aging treatment for skin.

It naturally has an SPF of about 5 and can be used as a daily sunscreen. I use shea butter in my lotion, lotion bars, deodorant, face cream, baby lotion, diaper cream and many other recipes! It is also an ingredient in organic homemade chocolate recipe soon!

It imparts a delicate chocolate scent, and I love it mixed with mint or citrus in lotion bars, lotion or face cream. It can be used interchangeably with Shea Butter, though I find that my favorite recipes include Shea butter, Cocoa Butter , and Coconut Oil.

Beeswax is a great natural thickening agent, and high quality versions have a gently honey sent. I use beeswax in lotions, lotion bars, baby care recipes, lip balm, foot cream, etc.

Only a little is usually needed to thicken recipes, and a pound lasts us for at least six months. Recipes like smoother lotions, baby oil, salves, and after-shave balms often need to be thinner than coconut oil and the butters will allow.

In these cases, I use a liquid carrier oil. Most often, I use olive oil, almond oil, or apricot kernel oil my favorite. Apricot Kernel has the most gentle scent and almond oil is also relatively unscented. I keep Arrowroot on hand for thickening sauces when cooking and it also gets added to a lot of natural recipes like deodorant, baby powder, diaper cream, dry shampoo, etc.

I also use it in my homemade makeup recipes. Mix all the ingredients in a glass bowl and store the mixture in an airtight container. I prefer to store my scrubs in glass mason jars. Your homemade facial sugar scrub is ready to be used! Take a small amount in your hands and lightly massage the scrub on your body, face, and neck.

Avoid the eye area. Rinse your face and neck with warm water and pat dry. Stir in the olive oil and a few drops of essential oils. Pour into tins or jars, and let cool on the counter overnight. Oatmeal face mask — Oats are a healthful ingredient for both inside and outside your body. They also contain a property called beta-glucan that can form a fine film on the skin, which helps clean the skin while locking in deep moisture.

Use the back of a fork to mash and blend everything into a paste. Apply to the face and neck, and leave on for 15 minutes.