If you’d rather watch than read, you can watch my how-to video for these three recipes on YouTube here or in the embedded player at the end of this post.
I haven’t revisited my clear skin journey in a while, but here’s the basic overview: I never had any skin problems or acne until I turned 22, when painful, hormonal, cystic acne began to plague my face. I tried everything natural to clear it up (dietary changes, vitamins, etc.), and while I saw some improvement here or there, it wouldn’t go away. I ultimately went to the dermatologist, got on a low dose antibiotic, and started using various medicated creams, gels, and face washes to eradicate my acne. It worked, but all of those super strong treatments negatively affected the quality of my skin. It wasn’t spotted with pimples, but it was dry, dull, and rough.
When I went back to the dermatologist to address this new issue, it was recommended that I purchase an almost $200 face cream. I bought it reluctantly, hoping it would restore my skin. A couple of months and $200 later, my skin was softer and less dull, but I knew that I wasn’t up for spending $1200 a year on face cream. That’s when I started researching other options.
Since I’ve been into essential oils lately (read more here), I decided to try my hand at making my own skincare system with them and other natural ingredients. I wanted to know exactly what I was putting on my face each day in an attempt to soften, brighten, and even out my skin. After spending hours reading countless articles and blog posts about homemade skincare, I combined ideas and came up with the recipes below. Because I’ve seen such great results, I’m sharing my recipes with you! This post contains affiliate links.
Rosemary Lavender Foaming Face Wash
- Glass dispenser with foaming pump
- 1 C distilled water (or steeped green tea)
- 1/4 C unscented castile soap
- 5 TBSP jojoba oil
- 15 drops lavender essential oil
- 15 drops frankincense essential oil
- 15 drops rosemary essential oil
I love the way this face wash smells and feels. It’s foaming, so it feels great on my skin. The lavender is very calming, especially for reducing redness, and it does a great job cleaning my face and removing makeup and dirt. Frankincense helps protect skin cells, reduce acne scars, reduce the appearance of large pores, and prevent wrinkles. Rosemary helps even out tone, prevent acne, and eliminate dryness. Because it has jojoba oil in it, this face wash doesn’t strip my skin. I love using this so much! (If you make this, be sure to shake before use. Otherwise the oil will sit at the top!) I use 2-3 pumps each time I wash my face.
Apple Cider Vingear Toner
- Glass container
- 1 part distilled water
- 1 part raw apple cider vinegar (you can use more/less)
This toner is a total game-changer! It works really well, keeps my face clear, and makes my skin super smooth and balanced, but beware that apple cider vinegar is pungent. If you can’t stand the smell of vinegar, start by using a small amount at first and working your way up. The smell of the ACV dissipates once it dries, and I hardly notice it anymore, but I’m giving you fair warning–it takes a hot second to adjust to it. Once you see the results, though, I think you’ll be sold! (I used these super soft cotton pads to apply this toner.)
Jojoba Oil Moisturizer
- Small glass dropper bottle
- Organic jojoba oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops frankincense essential oil
- 5 drops rosemary essential oil
Easiest moisturizer ever! In the morning, I mix 3 drops with my Juice Beauty CC Cream, and at night I use 3-5 drops plain to moisturize my face. Jojoba oil is non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores unlike other oils (like coconut). Using this to moisturize has completely naturalized my facial oil production. I used to get oily in my t-zone about an hour after putting on my makeup, but I don’t anymore. It’s so awesome! If fact, it’s 3pm right now, and I applied my makeup around 8am. My face, including my t-zone, isn’t oily at all. It feels exactly like the skin on the rest of my body. This is a huge win!
Other Oils to Add
You could also add tea tree oil to help with acne, chamomile essential oil to calm skin, geranium essential oil to help balance oil production, or rose essential oil for dry skin. Read more on The Nourished Life here. Additionally, if you Google “face wash recipe,” “toner recipe,” or “moisturizer recipe,” you can find a plethora of information and resources to help you craft your own three step skincare system based on your individualized skin needs and goals.
Occasional Clay Face Mask
Occasionally, I do a bentonite clay face mask to “vacuum my pores.” This helps clear out the stubborn clogged pores on my nose and chin. I’ve written about using bentonite clay as a face mask here if you’re interested! You can purchase bentonite clay here.
Lip Moisturizer
I ditched chapstick and vaseline and all that, and I use pure lanolin to moisturize my lips now. I put on a layer each night before bed, and it works so well that I almost never need to apply anything to my lips during the day. I’ve written all about using lanolin in my post, “The Cure for Chapped Lips.” You can purchase lanolin here.
Purchasing High Quality Essential Oils
If you’re interested in learning more about Young Living essential oils (what I use), and/or if you’d like to purchase some, you can contact Kelsi at [email protected]. She’s my go-to girl and has been so amazing and helpful to me, and she’s totally willing to Skype, email, and chat with you about oils to help you learn and take advantage of all of their benefits! I can’t recommend working with her enough. She’s absolutely awesome! I feel like having an oil mentor is imperative to really understanding the oils and their uses and benefits. (I don’t “get” anything from you contacting or purchasing oils through Kelsi, I just really like and recommend her. 🙂 )
Watch “How to Make Your Own Face Wash, Toner, + Moisturizer”
// Have you ever made any facial products? Have you ever considered it?
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I think I am going to try making your face wash. I use YL oils as well, and I have a slight case of rosacea so it caught my attention when you said lavender reduces redness. I love lavender but did not know it did that. Thanks for the post!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this post!!! I’m going to have to try these recipes out ASAP! You and your blog are such an inspiration to me!
I love this post! I also love essential oils and I’ve been getting into natural skin care. I haven’t thought about adding jojoba to Juice CC Cream. I do agree that it is super thick and hard to rub in… Have you heard anything about glycerin on the face? I heard its a good primer if mixed with rosewater!
Sweetly, Sally // http://www.sweetlsally.com
My skin has been driving me crazy since moving to CO – crazy break outs, super dry but then super oily, so weird! I’m making these skin care products as I type this and can’t wait to begin trying them out this week – I’ll let you know how it goes 🙂
How often do you use the toner? Where is the Juice CC Cream sold?
Hey Christa! I use the toner every morning and evening. The Juice CC cream is sold on juicebeauty.com and on Amazon! xo
Nice Post…
Hey Blair! I’m with you on the frustrations of hormonal acne! I just made the toner last night and gave it a try. I agree that it’s a bit smelly but I’m hopeful it helps my skin. My acupuncturist actually recommended the same idea, so I figured it was worth a try!
Good luck, Claire! I hope it works for you!!
Hello! I’ve followed your recipes and made the three step skincare system! Approximately how long did it take to start seeing good results? I’ve used it for a few days now and haven’t seen much progress (or my face possibly getting a little worse) but figured I needed a longer trial run. Thanks!
Hey Lauren! It probably took a good 6 weeks before my skin really leveled off and started looking and feeling great. Definitely give it more time. Although nothing is for everyone when it comes to skincare, I hope this system works out for you! 🙂 xo
Hi Blair,
Great video and I loved all the recipes…
can’t wait to try it myself…
I have a question… can u add vitamin E oil to any of these recipes?? If yes then for which one???
And also I have really dry skin… any tips for that.
Pls let me know. Thanks
How many ml does the cleanser yield? Around 300ml?
Thank you so much I think I’m gonna try it, but I have to buy everything first. I was wondering, how long can you keep these products? Do you have to put them somewhere in particular?
Hey Blaire! I love this post, and can’t wait to make it! I was wondering how long is the cleaner good for after I make it?
Hi Blair! Loved the post. I already use the toner with Apple cider vinegar, bit I’d like to try the face wash. Do you have any alternatives to the Castile soap? It doesn’t Even exist in Argentina. How could I replace it? Thanks!
Do you use the foaming cleanser to remove eye liner and mascara? Or do you have something else you use?
Hello Blaire! I really love the simplicity of your recipes. I wanna ask about the face wash recipe. What other oils can you recommend aside from jojoba oil? Jojoba oil is pretty expensive from where I live. Can I use Sweet almond oil for this? Please let me know.
Kris. Xx
Hi! I just watched your youtube video and I am so ezcited to tey out the face wash! I actually just made an ACV toner last night Im hoping it helps with my pires and blackheads like it did dor you! Just wondering what is the importance of having distilled water? Thank you!
Hi Blair! I was curious if you’re still using these recipes and methods, and how long it took to see results? I am 23 and suffering from hormonal, cystic acne and have tried so many things! I just recently started using essential oils, and I’m hoping they will help my skin too!
How do you travel with the face wash?
Is there a specific reason that the containers need to be glass?
Ps it sounds like a great recipe and im def making this! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Yes, the smell of apple cider vinegar is so strong! But I love the ideas of using oils for skincare!
Is the toner ok to be kept in the bathroom, or should it be left in the fridge?
Bathroom is fine!
Hi Blair, can I use the face wash in a non-foaming fispenser?
Hi, liked your facial recepies!
Wanted to add that to that boild water is not the same as destilled water, when you boil water it still contains debris, when destilled it is totalt clean and the debris is separated from it. If you still want to use tap water i recommend boiling it for a couple of minutes.
Minor addition, even if using actual distilled water (which, as stated by Maria above, is not the same as boiled water), unless you’re gonna add a broad spectrum preservative, the products containing water should be stored in the fridge and used up within a short time span (like 1-2 weeks at max). Otherwise you’re basically rubbing germs on your face and not the good kind.
Other than that, I love the recipes and tips 🙂
Jojoba oil made my skin too oily. Can I use grape seed oil and can I lessen the amount to 2.5 tbsp?
I made this but is it ok to just put 2tbsp of the oil? It made my face super oily . Also I am using grapseed oil instead. Works better for my aging skin and since I have oily skin.
Do we have to use the essential oils?