Why I’m Finally Sold On DIY and Clean Beauty Products

Do you use DIY or clean beauty products? I’ve incorporated more clean products in many aspects of life, but I’ve been hesitant to fully jump on the clean beauty bandwagon. I know it’s probably better for my body and my health, but it always felt so overwhelming. I had no idea where to start. However, I think I’m finally sold (at least in part). Read on to find it what finally made me a believer. 

When it comes to clean beauty products, the market is vast and, at least to me, totally confusing. Reading ingredients in beauty products leaves me utterly baffled. I have no idea what things are, how they impact my body and the environment, or why I should care or not care about them. I can do research, but it’s still not always clear and results not always definitive.

I still haven’t concluded on my stance about preservatives in make up, for example. I don’t want all sorts of crazy chemicals in my makeup, but I also don’t want a build up of dirty bacteria festering in the products either. Some of those products last many months and the preservatives serve a purpose… right?

Paralyzed by the seemingly endless options, as well as combination skin with a tendency for acne, I stood on the sidelines of the clean beauty movement. I didn’t know where to start or what to try. I was afraid that products wouldn’t work for my skin, and I’d be left with ruthless breakouts as well as a bathroom drawer full of products I hated.

While I still don’t have favorite clean beauty commercial brands, I’m finally hoping on the DIY beauty product bandwagon. Thank you coconut oil.

Coconut Oil In Our Health and Beauty Routines

Over the last year or so, I’ve tried a handful of DIY beauty and skin care products. Some have worked and others left something to desire. Three of the DIY concoctions, however, have been big successes for me, and they all include coconut oil as the primary ingredient. The third times’ the charm, I guess, and now I’m a big fan of coconut oil. Further, seeing that simple swaps really can work, I am on the hunt for more clean DIY beauty products that work for my skin.

Coconut Oil Bath Bombs

I first experienced DIY success with coconut oil while making bath bombs with the boys.  It started as a simple creative project for the boys to occupy a rainy day. They used the bath bombs in the bath tub that evening and emerged with the smoothest skin ever. I quickly realized the coconut oil was such a great moisturizer for their skin. I’ve heard it touted as a great moisturizer, but it feels a little greasy when applied directly to the skin, so I wasn’t initially convinced it was a good alternative. Using it in the bathtub or shower, however, it absorbs nicely into skin and leaves skin feeling so moist and clean.

One of my boys has particularly dry skin, and we’ve had trouble finding a good product or lotion to help with the dryness. Just a little bit of coconut oil in these bath bombs made his skin so soft and cleared up just about all of the dryness, even during the dry winter months. If you want to check it out, I shared more about it on the blog a while back and it’s been one of my most popular posts ever. As an aside, you can also just drop a dollop of coconut oil in the bath water for the same benefit.

Coconut Oil Sugar Scrub

Inspired by the success of the bath bombs, I wanted to explore how coconut oil could help my skin as well. I made a simple, 3-ingredient DIY sugar scrub that’s perfect for the shower. The sugar adds a bit of exfoliation, which I’ve relied on to replace my loofah. I’ve been really happy with the results and appreciate the little zero waste swap to get rid of the loofah as well.

I shared the sugar scrub recipe on the blog a while back as well. I also included the recipe in a list of zero waste bathroom swaps that just about any family can employ, if you’re really feeling ambitious.

Even with these two moisturizing uses of coconut oil under my belt, I still felt intimidated by the clean beauty scene. There are so many brands, chemicals, commercial products and DIYs that just don’t work or aren’t really much better than the traditional alternatives. Thus, I haden’t been willing to invest too much money or energy exploring all the options.

Then I changed my tune.

Coconut Oil as Eye Makeup Remover

A few months ago, I ran out of the eye makeup remover I’d been using for years. I heard that coconut oil was an effective makeup remover, and I was a skeptic, to say the least. After all, how does coconut oil take off makeup that’s been designed to last all day and even be waterproof?!

Too lazy to order new eye makeup remover, I headed to my kitchen to test out the coconut oil that was already sitting in my cabinet. Maybe it could hold me over for a few days or a week until I had a chance to replace my standard eye makeup remover? Low and behold, it worked like a charm. I was pretty surprised that coconut oil alone could remove mascara, eyeliner and eye shadow just as well as a commercial product loaded with chemicals that I couldn’t pronounce.

This third experience led me to become a believer in the quality, effectiveness and value of clean beauty products. To those who are long-time clean beauty product users, this might sound silly, but it’s been a big change in perspective for me.

If you’re interested in trying coconut oil as eye makeup remover, it’s really simple. I put about 2 tablespoons of coconut oil in a small mason jar (though any container will work). I keep it separate from my full jar of coconut oil so it doesn’t go bad before I use it all up and I don’t contaminate the full jar.

Each night, I use a small dollop, about half the size of a pea, and rub it over both of my eyes. I use a cotton pad to wipe both eyes clean, and my eye makeup comes off with no issue. I try not to dip my finger back in the coconut oil after I’ve started rubbing it on my eyes to avoid getting makeup in the coconut oil.

Slow and Incremental Transitions to Better Beauty Products

I still use plenty of standard commercial products. I’m slowly trying new things to see how they work for me. I haven’t yet found a host of products that work and can fully replace all the products I’ve traditionally used. However, I do have a changed mindset, and I’m willing to explore more DIYs that might work for me and help keep chemicals off and out of my body. As an added benefit, I expect I might save some serious money.

Transitioning to a fully green and clean beauty routine takes time. Everyone’s skin is different. There are lots of products on the market with mixed messaging and varied accuracy or clarity about the purity of their products. There are too many claims that products are pure yet they still include an array  of ingredients I can’t pronounce. I know the transition to better products will take a while and come with successes and failures. However, the coconut oil successes have proven to be enough to encourage me to further explore other alternatives.

Do you have any favorite clean beauty products or DIYs? If so, tell me about them in the comments, and leave a link in the comments. I am definitely interested in trying to incorporate more of them into my routine!