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.
Hello Kristin! I am a degree student currently doing my final year project about caffeine. So I would like to ask, do you think it is possible to mix the caffeine extract with the moisturizer ingredient you mentioned before? Caffeine itself a polar substance.
Hi Syaza,
Thank you for your comment. Kristin is in Paris with her family until the new year. She will reply once she returns! 🙂
I don’t know, Syaza.
what is a good substitute for the vitamine E
Hi Rischa,
Kristin is currently out of the country, but I’ll make sure to let her know of your comment so she can respond when she returns. ~Rachel
Hey rischa, There really isn’t one. You could skip it.
Can I use olive oil instead of Coconut oil? I saw on various different websites that olive oil is great for your skin, but I thought it might effect the texture of the moisturizer? I would love to make homemade foundation and wear it to school! The foundation powder is amazing, and I saw a recipe for foundation using foundation powder mixed with facial moisturizer; Will this moisturizer work for that recipe as well? Thanks!
Can I add Carrot Seed Oil for SPF protection during the day ?
Hey Kip, Sure, I’m not sure how much you would need to get adequate protection.
Hey, where do you find little jars? Love this idea!
I love this recipe so much. It just smells so awesome! About 2 months since I started using this on my face, I started breaking out and getting more acne. Do you think it could be because of this? I found this one website that claims people who have acne should not use coconut oil. Has anyone else had this happen? This is the website I’m talking about https://www.acneeinstein.com/coconut-oil-acne/
Hey Lisbeth, Yes, coconut oil isn’t for everyone’s face. It can cause some people to break out. I wrote about this over here: https://livesimply.me/2014/04/16/homemade-moisturizing-lotion-recipe-no-coconut-oil/.
Hi Kristin! Could I use dried chamoline tea instead of lavender or vitamin e?
Hey Gabby, The tea will greatly shorten the shelf-life (it will only last a few days), and it will be hard to blend the chamomile tea (water based) and oil together. You could try just using coconut oil–that’s what many folks use and love it.
Okay, thank you for responding so quickly! 🙂
I know this may be a little late for Gabby, buy you can add chamomile essential oil to the recipe to get the soothing results.
Great tip!
Hey Kristin! I’m excited to try this recipe. I bought some oils that I read mentioned in this article and would like your advice on how to mix it and if I’m missing anything. I have the coconut oil, carrot seed oil, Sea Buckthorn Seed oil, vitamin E oil, avocado oil, and frankincense oil. How would you recommend I mix these? I looked up the conversion for drops and read that 1 tsp is approximately 80 drops. Thanks for your advice 🙂
Hey Angel, Its generally recommended to dilute a few drops (about 6 drops) of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil (coconut oil, olive oil, etc.). I’d use the coconut oil and avocado oil as your carrier oils, adding a few drops of sea buckthorn and then dilute the essential oils in this carrier oils, along with a few drops of vitamin E.
Thanks! I will make a 4 ounce jar and let you know how it works out 🙂
Hi, is this one of those recipes that you can add arrowroot flour to? To make it less “greasy”? I love this recipe for nighttime, but it tends to be too oily to apply makeup over. Thanks 🙂
Hey Justine, You could definitely give it a try. Coconut is one of those oils that feels greasy and slowly absorbs into the skin.
Hi, brilliant recipe but after only one month stored in a glass jar in a dark cupboard at room temp of about 18c it has gone hard. How can I prevent this as it now cannot be used
Hey Emma, Thank you. Coconut oil will harden when the outside temperature cools, and then melt when it’s warmer. You could try placing the jar in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes before use, or allowing the jar to sit out while you take a warm shower. The coconut oil should also begin to soften in your hand–if it’s “scoopable.” Unfortunately, there’s really no way to prevent this, just tricks to use the hard coconut oil.
Thanks
will try almond oil then and see.
Hi,
Since this is an all natural product….how long will it last at room temperature?
Thank you
Hey Kristi, This will last the life of your coconut oil, about 12 months.
Hi
I hav got a dry skin condition . Because of which got black patches . Would love to try this moisturiser.
Would you suggest it for me??
Thanks
Hey Nivedita, Everyone’s skin is so different, so I’m not sure if this will work for you. I really like this one, or even 100% almond oil (which I’m currently using): https://livesimply.me/2016/04/15/2-ingredient-aloe-facial-moisturizer/.
Thank you and I love it.
Hi Kristin, I just made the face moisturizer but it doesn’t look like the picture of the one you made, it’s just oil. the coconut oil I used did not have the white cream, it’s that was is missing. I put it in the fridge to make it hard. what went wrong. HELP.
Hey Maria, Coconut oil will look creamy and thick when the outside temperature is cool, and will be completely liquid when the outside temperature is hot. I’m guessing that your coconut oil is in a liquid state. You can use the moisturizer just like that, or stick it in the fridge for a few minutes to make it solid.
I just made this moisturizer & it smells great. I have combo skin & I’m using the oil cleanser for my face morning & night (castor & virgino olive oils). Using this moisturizer on top of my oil cleanse willike it be too much? I don’t want to break out. If so should I switch to a different type of cleanse for spring/summer?
Thanks you
Can you use fractionated coconut oil instead of vitamin e?
Hey Wendy, I haven’t tried fractionated coconut oil. It’s worth a shot since it will probably help keep the moisturizer soft when the outside temp is cold.
Hello!
I would love to try this, but when I tried organic coconut oil cold pressed version, my skin produced more oil. I have oily skin in the T zone only.
Is there any other product I could use instead of coconut oil? I’m afraid if jojoba oil would do the same.
Hey Si, Coconut oil definitely doesn’t work for everyone’s skin. Here are a couple of other options:
1. Moisturizing Lotion (shea butter and coconut-oil free): https://livesimply.me/2014/04/16/homemade-moisturizing-lotion-recipe-no-coconut-oil/.
2. Oil-Based Serum: https://livesimply.me/2015/01/18/diy-homemade-facial-serum/.
Thank you very much. I’ll try those instead 🙂
hi,.. nice recipe,.. may i ask if virgin coconut oil will do? since i dont have any available cocconut oi
Yep, Bella, virgin coconut oil is perfect.
Hi Kristin, I just love your simple recipes. I have been using Avana night moisturizer but am definitely going to try this, though my skin is very sensitive to change. I hope it works coz this seems cheaper. Al come back to post how it goes.
Hey Christiana, Thank you! Let me know how it goes! 🙂