Learn how to make the simplest homemade moisturizer. Plus, the 5 best homemade face moisturizer recipes and the 8 best store-bought (natural) moisturizers to use on your face for glowing, moisturized skin.
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I love simplicity.
What’s the opposite of simplicity?
Complicated.
Who’s got time for complicated?
Certainly not this mom.
I take this simple philosophy when it comes to my kitchen. I try to keep things simple and stress-free while still nourishing my family with the very best real food. This year I decided this approach to simplicity needed to transfer to more than just my kitchen. After all, I do write a blog called Live Simply. Simply being a key word.
I’ve been busy applying my goal of getting back to simplicity in all areas of life. If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I am on quite a kick with this new endeavor. If it goes on my body, I am determined there must be an effective, clean, and simple solution.
So far natural face cleansers, homemade foundation powder, natural shampoo and conditioner, homemade deodorant, and a luxurious body wash have been easy clean beauty swaps. Trust me there have been many failures. Body odor and greasy hair are no laughing matters.
Don’t worry.
I only share the products that leave me feeling civilized, clean, and amazing. No greasy hair here.
I’ve learned simplicity is usually the very best recipe one can find. Simplicity has been the name of the game for thousands of years, long before our modern age of complicated lists of ingredients which do more harm than good.
So, in the name of simplicity, I bring you a new tried-and-true beauty recipe, a homemade moisturizer for the body. One which will leave you smelling of sweet lavender while at the same time moisturizes and heals your skin. This homemade moisturizer consists of a mere three ingredients. Yes, you heard that right. Three ingredients. And the best part? This recipe takes only seconds to whip up. Simplicity has never been, well, simpler.
Simplifying simplicity.
And smelling good while doing it.
There are many different ways to make your own homemade face moisturizer. If you’re looking for a great moisturizer to use on your face, here are my favorite recipes.
If homemade isn’t your thing. Here are the best natural store-bought moisturizers. Learn about each of the 8 best natural moisturizers here.
Simple Homemade Moisturizer
Equipment
- 1 storage container with a lid (if using coconut oil) or dropper bottle (if using jojoba oil)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup coconut oil or jojoba oil
- 1 tsp vitamin E oil
- 6 drops lavender essential oil and/or essential tea tree oil
Instructions
- Combine the coconut oil or jojoba oil, vitamin E or tea tree oil, and lavender in a storage container. Now mix. That's it. If you're using this on your face, I recommend using jojoba oil (and a dropper bottle); not coconut oil-see notes below.
- Apply the moisturizer to the skin after cleansing and using a toner (here are the best natural face cleansers).
- Store at room temperature, for up to 6 months, between uses.
Notes
SKINCARE
Free Natural Skincare Starter Guide
How to create your own natural skincare with essential skincare swaps that nourish the skin and give you a healthy glow without toxins.
Hi, I have been using this morning and night for about a fortnight and noticed that the skin feels moisturized for 4-5 hours but after that it kinda gets dry as i have a very dry skin.Is there anything i can add to make it better ? Thank you
Hey Suresh, You could try adding shea butter to the coconut oil. Shea butter is pretty hard, so you may want to melt it first and then whip the coconut oil and shea butter together (with a mixer). Another option is to add a nourishing oil, such as: avocado, apricot, or jojoba oil to the coconut oil.
Hi I used this recipe and loved it! However it’s been a couple months and I am noticing that it doesn’t smell too great anymore. How long is one mix good for?
Hey Lynn, I’m so glad you liked it. As long as water doesn’t enter the lotion (bacteria growth concerns) the lotion should last around 12 months. What kind of smell does it have now?
Hello, just wondering if you use this as a day and night face cream or if you do something a little different for the day? I have combination skin and I will be using coconut oil, vitamin e oil, lavander, tea tree oil and frankensence. What would you recommend for day versus night cream? Thanks !
Hey Briagh, At the moment I use this lotion during the day: https://livesimply.me/2014/04/16/homemade-moisturizing-lotion-recipe-no-coconut-oil/ and a facial serum (https://livesimply.me/2015/01/18/diy-homemade-facial-serum/) at night. When I was using this moisturizer (which is fabulous, I just needed a change) I used it at night and never really needed a daytime moisturizer.
Hi can this be used as a body moisturiser as well ?
Hey Suresh, Yes, it can :). I would skip the essential oils until your little one is a bit older.
I have been following you for awhile and love everything I have tried from your site. You truly make things simple! I was wondering though, I would like to try the acne fighter blend you mentioned above. Would you reccommed adding it to a carrier oil and using it like your facial serum or is there some other way I should go about it? Thanks so much!
Hey Joy,
Thank you so much.
I’m looking at the acne fighter directions right now. Plant Therapy recommends, “To use apply directly to each acne spot using a cotton swab.” I add the oil to my facial serum, but (according to the directions) you can also use the oil directly on pimples for a spot treatment.
Hello. I love this post, it was really helpful.
I have been suffering from moderate acne for over a year now, and it is hormonal. Im on meds right now and ive been trying so many different things. Im so happy i stumbled upon essential oils for acne a few days ago. Im so excited to go ahead and order them and get started, I just want ot make sure I am getting the right stuff. I know for sure that I want Clary sage, and Tea tree, but im not sure what else to get. Also, I read somewhere that castor oil is good for acne as a carrier oil. I have decently oily skin during the day, but It dries out easily. Im also 20, if it makes any difference. Any suggestions?
Hey Lavender,
Clary sage and tea tree are great! Castor oil can be a great carrier oil. For really sensitive skin I like squalene or argan oil (I use these carrier oils for my serum recipe: https://livesimply.me/2015/01/18/diy-homemade-facial-serum/). Plant Therapy also makes an all in one blend called, “Acne Fighter.” I also enjoy frankincense and geranium, but not mixed with Acne Fighter.
Hi Kristin,
Thanks for sharing this. Sounds good. How long does this recipe last til it goes bad? Does it have expiry date?
Would appreciate if you could answer please. 🙂 Thanks again!
Hey Jenny, The moisturizer will last about 12 months due to the essential oils. Enjoy!!
Hi,
I have super crazy oily skin, isn’t this going to be way too greasy?
Also, I have coconut oil at home but, at room temperature, it is rock solid… can I use that one? Will it get a little smoother, once mixed with the oils?
I really want to try this but my face is always so oily and shiny that I’m afraid of everything I put on it :\
Thanks
Hey Elsa, I have super oily skin too. I used this moisturizer for a couple of years (and loved it), but after a while my oily skin needed a change. I switched to a shea butter based lotion (recipe here) and a facial serum. For super oily skin the facial serum may be your best product because it absorbs into the skin very quickly.
The coconut oil will harden when it’s cold. If you decide to make this moisturizer you’ll need to melt the coconut oil with heat (microwave/stovetop), then add the oils. You can also whip the melted coconut oil and oils with a mixer to return the oil back to a solid, but whipped and spreadable consistency.
I am going to make this soon. I am thinking of leaving out the tea tree because tea tree smells a little powerful for me. Can you still smell the tea tree once everything is combined? Will it still function properly without the tea tree oil? That is, do properties of the tea tree oil balance the mixture and would leaving it out leave the mixture out of balance? Thank you in advance. I am excited to try it.
Hey Jenna, The tea tree can be left out. This recipe works very well as a base recipe on which you can build and add other oils, as needed. Bergamot and/or geranium are also great for the skin!
I made it and it’s lovely! Thanks for sharing this great idea.
Thank you for sharing, Jenna! I’m so glad you like the moisturizer.
Do I have to use vitamin E to make this?
Hi Virginia, You can leave it out and still create a great moisturizer. The vitamin E adds extra nourishment and moisture for the skin.
This sounds just what I am looking for. Am a new mommy and trying to find natural products for me and my newbie 🙂 Just one question that I didn’t exactly see an answer for. I know lemon is a natural antibacterial so I was wondering if I squeeze fresh lemon juice in the coconut oil will that be ok? I so, do you know how much lemon juice I should use with the coconut oil. Thank you so much and I am so excited to see what other natural products you have that I can make.
Hey Jennifer, Congrats on being a new mommy!! After my first child, I began exploring natural products too…and well, here I am today ;). Lemon is great for the skin! The only caution is that citrus will make your skin light sensitive, so the lemon may be a better option for an evening or night moisturizer versus during the day. I would start with a small amount of lemon juice, around 1 teaspoon. If you’re using lemon essential oil, I would use a 2 drops, a little bit goes a long way! If you desire more, you can add it later. Enjoy!!
Thank you so much for the insight. I might try the tea tree oil then, that has a pleasant smell. Thank you again 🙂
I love this moisturizer recipe–so far I’ve only used the tea tree oil since I didn’t have lavender oil. But doesn’t this make your pillow greasy during the night?
Hey Kathy, I’m so glad you like it! I’d recommend using a little bit less (if possible) and allowing the moisturizer to absorb into your skin before laying down for the night. That will probably help with the pillow situation :).
I just purchased some Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Frankincense essential oil. I have been looking for a recipe for an anti aging moisturizer to use morning and evening. What ratio would you suggest and could I use all these together? I also have Lavender. I can’t wait to make it and try it. Thanks so much.
Hey Trudy, Is the Vitamin C in powder or liquid form? If liquid, I don’t personally have experience using it in homemade moisturizer, but I would probably start with 1/2 tsp for this recipe (it’s better to use less than more in the beginning). I personally would use the same ratio for lavender and vitamin E as called for in the recipe and 5 drops of frankincense.
Wish I found this recipe sooner! How would you suggest I harder this moisturizer? I live in the Caribbean so the oil would be liquid over here!
Hey Simone, The moisturizer will be soft/liquid in the heat. It will still be good for using on your face and skin, as it will melt with your body temp anyway. The only option for creating a hard moisturizer in the heat is keeping it in the fridge (but then it will be very hard!).
I was using vitamin E in my creams before, usually not more than 6-8 drops, and the result was greasy and hard to absorb in the skin. You recommend 1 teaspoon … that sounds way too much. Do i do something wrong?
Hey Gabriela, The oil used with the Vitamin E can make a difference in absorption. You’re welcome to leave it out of this recipe if your skin doesn’t absorb it well, it’s used for extra moisture.
I actually use coconut oil in my hair. It’s the only product I use. I have curly/coarse hair and it took me 34 years to figure out this was the best thing for my hair.
I am interested in trying this on my face as well.
Bethany, I may have to try coconut oil on my daughter’s hair. She has very curly/coarse hair too. Let me know how you like it on your face :).
Hi! Is it possible not using Virgin Coconut Oil? Because the Virgin one still has coconut meat in it so I feel like it will not be as smooth when applying on face. Thanks so much for this post. I have never used DIY moisturizer so such a simple recipe is a big help.
Hey Rose, Yes, virgin coconut oil is perfect! Enjoy!!
Need to know if recipe has to be refrigerated after you make it. And how long is the shelf life? Thanks so much!
Hey Jacqui, The moisturizer will last at a year when stored in glass on the counter (no need for refrigeration.) It could probably last even longer, but essential oils are generally only “good” for a year.
Hi I am just wondering is this just a face moisturiser or a body one as well.
Also, if it can be used for the body, would it work with a few drops of vanilla for a lovely coconut and vanilla scent?
Look forward to trying it and thanks in advanced 🙂
Hey Sharon,
This recipe can be used for the whole body. Some people desire a thicker lotion for the body, but this recipe is definitely safe if you like it as a whole body moisturizer.
I think vanilla would be a great addition to this recipe! You’ll smell delicious :). Enjoy!!
Oh, I love this moisturizer! Thank you so much…I made some for a friend and loves it too! I truly see a difference in my skin when I use this diligently every night on my face. I have also used it on my baby’s bottom and it worked and on my husband’s dry feet. Thanks again for sharing, this recipe is fabulous!!!
Hey Vicky, I’m so glad you love this moisturizer! Hooray for natural remedies that work! Thank you so much for sharing.