(I use DeepL translator for some words and sentences, because I don't know how to phrase them in english, just incase some sentences seem weird. Always open for corrections!)
For all the ingredients I use in my DIY selfcare, I usually try to go for ones that are organic or naturally sourced. It just feels safer for my skin, because fewer residues like pesticides or other chemicals are ending up where they donât belong.
Aloe Vera Gel (Desert Lily)
The gel inside aloe vera leaves is full of good stuff. itâs refreshing, moisturizing, and really smooths the skin.
If you have a plant at home thatâs at least three years old, you can even make the gel yourself:
Twist or cut off a large lower leaf from a healthy plant.
Stand it upright in a glass, cut side down, so the yellowish sap can drain.
Peel off the outer leaf layer (a veggie peeler works well) and scoop out the gel with a spoon.
If you want it extra smooth, blend it with a hand mixer or regular blender.
The gel is already great on its own. I use it as a moisturizer, a shaving gel, or on insect bites. It keeps in the fridge for about two weeks.
If you stir in roughly 1âŻg of vitamin C powder per 100âŻg of gel, it can last 4-6 weeks in the fridge. Vitamin C is strongly antioxidant, so it helps slow down the gelâs natural oxidation when it meets air.
Beeswax works mainly as a thickener and can act as a kind of pseudo- or co-emulsifier in body care. I like that itâs something you can often get locally, straight from beekeepers nearby.
If you prefer plant-based options, there are alternatives like rose wax, berry wax, or carnauba wax. Just keep in mind that most of these have a higher melting point, which can change the texture and feel of the final product.
Essential oils arenât fully studied, but some of them can have antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, or astringent effects. They might even reduce sweating a little.
A quick note: âaroma oilsâ or âfragrance oilsâ can look like essential oils, but theyâre usually synthetic and donât have the same healing or skin-nourishing properties.
Theyâre also lovely for scenting DIY body care. I like smells like clary sage, lavender, mint, citrus, vanilla, cedar, cypress, sandalwood, or patchouli.
Because essential oils are very concentrated, they can cause allergic reactions if used incorrectly. A good rule is about 1âŻmL of essential oil per 100âŻmL of carrier oil. To be safe, test a drop of diluted oil on a small patch of skin first and check for redness.
A few extra precautions: if youâre pregnant, nursing, epileptic, or giving these to kids, itâs best to check with a doctor, midwife, or qualified professional before use.
Healing Clay (Heilerde in german, unsure of it's english term!)
Natural healing clay is approved as a medicinal product for both internal and external use. What sets it apart from other clays is its high mineral content â things like calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, and sodium â as well as trace elements such as copper, manganese, nickel, selenium, and zinc.
Vinegar / Apple Cider Vinegar
Cloudy, unfiltered apple cider vinegar contains a lot of beneficial components that can be supportive for the body. The kind sold as regular table vinegar usually has around 5% acetic acid, which is enough for use in body care.
Stronger concentrations, like vinegar essence, arenât recommended. Theyâre easy to overdose and can irritate or damage the skin pretty quickly.
Pure Soap (Kernseife ('Core Soap') in German, unsure if it exists in english)
Pure soap works as a surfactant, meaning it can bind fats and water and is great for cleaning. Compared to many natural soaps, plain Kernseife doesnât contain excess oils, fragrances, or colorants. Itâs hard, lightly porous, and very straightforward.
It can be used on its own for a lot of things, but itâs also a really useful base ingredient in body care and cleaning products.
Cocoa butter melts at body temperature, which makes it especially nice for salves, cream sticks, and solid body butters. It absorbs slowly but deeply into the skin and is very rich and nourishing.
Another thing to keep in mind is that products made with cocoa butter take their time to fully set. The final consistency usually shows up after about two to three days.
Baking Soda / Sodium Bicarbonate (Natron)
Baking soda has antibacterial properties, neutralizes odors, and has a mild whitening effect. For body care, it works best as a fine powder.
The naming can get confusing between German and English, so it helps to check the chemical name: sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate. Thatâs the kind I mean here. In English, itâs often sold as baking soda â not to be confused with baking powder, which contains additional ingredients.
Coconut oil isnât regional for me, but itâs still very useful. Itâs rich in lauric acid, which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and can help protect against bacteria, germs, and fungi.
It melts at around 25 °C and, like cocoa butter, works well in creams and salves. Just make sure not to confuse it with refined coconut fat - the kind sold in solid blocks - which has had many of its nourishing components removed.
Lanolin, also called wool wax or wool fat, is a natural secretion from sheep thatâs obtained when wool is washed.
When buying it, itâs worth checking that itâs a pure product labeled lanolin anhydrous, without mineral oils or other additives.
Lanolin can be used as an emulsifier in mixtures with at least 50% fat content. It has anti-inflammatory properties, makes the skin soft, and gives creams and salves a really smooth, easy-to-spread texture.
Tegomuls is a plant-based emulsifier thatâs easy to work with in creams and lotions. Because it can bind a relatively large amount of water, it helps create creams that absorb well into the skin instead of just sitting on top.
The white powder melts at around 60 °C, so itâs usually melted together with the liquid oils early on in the process.
Shea butter is a plant-based fat made from the nuts of the shea (karitĂŠ) tree. Itâs a rich ingredient for creams, salves, and lotions, since it contains a lot of nourishing components and melts at around 35-42 °C. It helps regulate skin moisture and has a strong moisturizing, protective effect.
Shea butter is rich in phytosterols as well as vitamin E and vitamin A. It shouldnât be overheated, because that can damage some of its beneficial properties. Youâll usually find it either refined (lighter to white) or unrefined (more yellowish). Unrefined shea butter generally retains more of its natural components.
A natural polysaccharide (a type of sugar) thatâs used in both organic foods and cosmetics as a thickener or gelling agent. Itâs great for giving creams and lotions a nice texture without synthetic additives.
A sugar alternative that oral bacteria canât metabolize, which helps prevent acid formation and may reduce cavities. Its mild sweetness makes it a perfect addition to homemade toothpastes and mouthwashes.
Important: Xylitol is toxic to (Biological) dogs, rabbits, and some other pets, so keep it and any products containing it well out of reach.
Tocopherol (Vitamin E Oil)
Tocopherol refers to various forms of vitamin E found in plant oils. It is cell-renewing, anti-inflammatory, and a strong antioxidant.
Pure vitamin E oil is available for purchase and can be added to creams and salves as they cool. It gives them nourishing properties and helps slow down rancidity in the fats. About 0.2 percent tocopherol is needed for this purpose. Do not exceed 2 to 3 percent of the total mixture.
