10 Relaxing Ways to Use Homemade Skincare

Whether you’ve had a very stressful day or want to establish a routine to keep stress away, here are 10 ways you can add some relaxing me time into your day.

Warm Face Wash

Warm face wash. There are many lovely ingredients you could use like oatmeal, honey, or oil. Here’s a versatile face wash you can customize to your skin’s needs. You could use rice water, green tea, or just distilled water. You can change the oil or the essential oils to suit your needs. Here are some essential oil blends for mature skin and some for eczema.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup liquid castile soap
• 1/4 cup rose water (cooled)
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon grapeseed oil or jojoba oil
• 5-10 drops of rose essential oil
• 5-10 drops of frankincense essential oil
• 5-10 drops of geranium essential oil

Instructions:

1. Make your rose water and allow it to cool to room temperature.
2. In a small bowl, mix the liquid castile soap, rose water, honey, and grapeseed oil or jojoba oil.
3. Add the essential oils to the mixture.
4. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
5. Transfer the face wash to a pump bottle or squeeze bottle for easy use.
6. To use, apply a small amount of the face wash to wet skin, lather, and then rinse thoroughly with water. Avoid contact with eyes.

Soothing Face Mask

Use ingredients like honey, yogurt, chamomile, cucumber, or aloe.

Yogurt and Honey Mask

To begin making this face mask, place half a cup of thick yogurt in a bowl. Mix in 2 teaspoons of honey. With a spoon, mix them to make a thick, smooth paste. Use this face mask to your face and neck. Allow to dry for 20 mins before washing with warm water.

Exfoliating Scrub

Create an exfoliating scrub made with a base of salt, sugar, or coffee grounds. Add your favorite oil and essential oils.

Aromatherapy Bath

Add essential oils like lavender, chamomile, or eucalyptus to your bath water to help reduce stress and promote relaxation. Add a few drops to a tablespoon of carrier oil and put them in the bath water.

Foot Soak

To help your tired and aching feet, soak them in a warm foot bath with Epsom salts and essential oils.

A foot soak with baking soda can help soften your feet, relieve odors, make your feet more comfortable, and it’s relaxing! Baking soda is known for its mild exfoliating and odor-neutralizing properties.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup of baking soda
• 1-2 gallons of warm water (enough to fill a basin or foot spa)
• Optional:
  • Epsom salt for added relaxation and foot pain relief
  • A few drops of essential oils like peppermint, lavender, or tea tree
  • Dried botanicals

Instructions:

1. Grab a Basin: Find a basin or a foot spa large enough to comfortably immerse your feet in.
2. Fill the Basin with Warm Water: Fill the basin with 1-2 gallons of warm water.
3. Add Baking Soda: Pour 1/4 cup of baking soda into the warm water. Stir to ensure it dissolves and mixes evenly.
4. Add Epsom Salts or Essential oils.
5. Soak Your Feet: Soak your feet and relax for about 15-20 minutes.
6. Gently Scrub and Exfoliate (Optional): You might like to use a foot scrub or a soft brush to gently exfoliate your feet to remove dead skin. You can try mixing some extra baking soda with a water to create a paste and use it to scrub your feet.
7. Rinse and Pat Dry.
8. Moisturize.

Hair Mask

There are many different ingredients you could use for a hair mask such as avocado oil or argan oil. Leave the oil on 30 minutes before washing. If you have more time, here is a cucumber hair mask.

Cucumber Hair Mask

Ingredients:

1 cucumber

1 egg

1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions: Put the cucumber in a blender and blend it until it is smooth. Mix in the egg and olive oil. Apply the mixture to your hair and scalp. Leave it on for 30 minutes. Then wash your hair normally with shampoo.

Hand Massage

Try a relaxing hand massage using a homemade cream. If you’d like to know more about self-massage, you might like this article.

Moisturizer

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp grapeseed oil
• 1 tbsp shea butter
• 1 tsp vitamin E oil (optional)

Feel free to use whatever oils you have on hand.

Directions: Melt the shea butter in a double boiler. Add in the oils and mix. Let the mixture cool and whip (optional) if you like the whipped texture.

Body Scrub

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup mango butter
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 cup granulated or brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon jojoba oil
• 1 tablespoon rosehip seed oil
• 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil (optional)
• 10 drops essential oil of your choice (optional)

Directions: Melt mango butter and coconut oil in a double boiler. Remove from heat and stir in oils and essential oils. Add the sugar and mix well. If you would like it whipped, you can let it cool in the refrigerator a little while and whip it with a mixer. This is not necessary. Keep your body scrub in an airtight container.

Eye Compress

To help reduce puffiness and fatigue, place a cool damp cloth on your eyes for 10 to 15 minutes.

Lip Balm

Create a soothing lip balm with olive oil, coconut oil, and beeswax.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon beeswax

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons coconut oil

Directions:

Melt ingredients in a double boiler. Pour into tins, jars, plastic containers, or lip balm tubes using plastic pipettes. Apply it to your lips throughout the day to keep them hydrated and soft.

If you enjoyed these ideas, find recipes and other self-care ideas on my substack publication