Shaving cream is a great product to keep in the shower, for men and women. Unfortunately, in my experience, many shaving creams leave my skin feeling dry. There are also a lot of ingredients in conventional shaving cream that I can’t pronounce, which usually means they aren’t good for my skin. This homemade shaving cream is easy to make, only requires a few ingredients, and leaves your skin feeling soft. 

Ingredients for Homemade Shaving Cream

• Shea Butter
• Coconut Oil
• Sweet Almond Oil
• Baking Soda
• Essential Oils

This recipe is a DIY shaving cream with baking soda, If your skin is sensitive to baking soda, feel free to leave that ingredient out. If you choose to omit the baking soda, the mixture will feel more like a lotion or body butter. The homemade shaving cream will work the same, the texture will just be different.

Why Make Your Own Shaving Cream?

Most store-bought shaving creams have some less-than-ideal ingredients. With our skin being the largest organ, we must pay attention to what is being absorbed into our bodies. Many skin care products contain ingredients you can’t pronounce, and unfortunately, a lot of these ingredients can be hormone disruptors.

How to Use DIY Shaving Cream?

Apply a small amount of homemade shaving cream to the area you plan on shaving, gently rubbing the shaving cream in. Shave as normal, rinse with body wash. If you are sensitive to baking soda in your deodorant, it is best to omit the baking soda in this recipe. If you do not react to baking soda in your deodorant (most of them have it), then this homemade shaving cream recipe is safe to use anywhere on the body. 

Since this shaving cream has two different types of oils, coconut oil, and sweet almond oil, it can leave your skin feeling oily. The simple fix to getting rid of an oily feeling on your skin is to wash with soap after using your homemade shaving cream. I have a Green Tea Soap Bar Recipe you can check out that makes a great soapy body wash. 

Shaving Cream with Shea Butter

Shea butter is one of my favorite ingredients to use in homemade skincare products. The texture of shea butter is in the name, it feels like butter. Shea butter is also moisturizing the skin which is a benefit of using it in your homemade shaving cream. Another benefit to using shea butter in any recipe you plan on whipping, shea butter whips up beautifully. 

Shaving Cream with Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is very beneficial when used on the skin. DIY shaving cream with coconut oil is moisturizing, soothing on the skin, and leaves your skin feeling soft.

If you want to learn more about the benefits of coconut oil for skin, check out this article.

Sweet Almond Oil for Skin

Almond oil is a great addition to homemade shaving cream. There are so many benefits to using sweet almond oil on your skin. One great benefit of almond oil is it moisturizes the skin, leaving it feeling soft and rejuvenated.

Sweet almond oil is known for calming skin irritation. If you deal with general skin irritation or even a more complicated form of skin irritation like psoriasis or eczema, almond oil can be beneficial to reduce redness and itching.

Baking Soda in Shaving Cream

Baking soda, typically not thought of as a beneficial ingredient for the skin, does have some benefits when used in a DIY shaving cream recipe. The main benefit of adding baking soda to shaving cream, besides the texture it gives, is the ability to help reduce skin irritation. Baking soda is particularly great for rashes, such as eczema or psoriasis.

Essential Oils in Homemade Shaving Cream for Women

• Soft Skin Blend
• Frankincense Blend
• Lavender
• Tea Tree
• Bergamot

Essential Oils in Men’s Shaving Cream

• Balsam Fir
• Peppermint
• Eucalyptus
• Cedarwood

How to store homemade shaving cream

The best method of storing homemade skincare products is to use a glass container. I always prefer small mason jars because of the wide mouth, making them easily accessible in the jar. 

Store a glass container with the homemade shaving cream recipe in your shower, with a lid on, for 1 month. Due to this being a DIY shaving cream without chemicals, the natural ingredients tend to age over time much faster than any store-bought shaving cream which contains preservatives. 

Save it on Pinterest!

How to Make Homemade Shaving Cream

Ingredients: 

• 1/4 Cup Shea Butter
• 1/4 Cup Coconut Oil

• 1.5 Teaspoons Baking Soda
• 20-30 Drops Essential Oils, I use this one.

Instructions:

1. Begin by setting up a double boiler. This is a pot of water, filled 1/4-1/3 of the way up and brought to a boil on the stove. Once boiling, add a heat-safe bowl on top of the pot.
2. When the double boiler is ready to go, add your shea butter and coconut oil to the bowl. Stirring often, allow these two ingredients to melt completely.
3. Once the shea butter and coconut oil have melted, turn off the heat.
4. With the heat off, add in your remaining ingredients and mix.
5. Allow the bowl to cool slight before setting in the freezer (a hot bowl in the freezer will shatter). You just want the mixture to be cool enough to touch, but not solid. 
6. Add the mixture into a stand mixer with a whisk attachment or use a hand mixer to whip up the homemade shaving cream. 
7. Transfer the DIY shaving cream into a glass container of your choice, I like these ones the best.
8. Store with the lid on, in your shower, for 1 month. 

Watch the video tutorial for this easy homemade shaving cream recipe!

https://youtu.be/T3uuhOBNm7c

Check out these other recipes!

Green Tea Soap Bar Recipe

DIY Bug Repellent Lotion

How to Make Face Serum with SPF

This post may contain affiliate links, I may receive commissions for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. 

Self-care is usually something we all need, but don’t get enough of. As a mother of many, self-care is a rare activity I get to do. However, when I do get the occasional opportunity to indulge in some alone time, any one of these 10 DIY self-care products is my go-to. From a relaxing bath to taking a shower with my homemade shampoo bar and one of the sugar scrub recipes, self-care is never boring, that’s for sure!

In This Article:

Self-Care: Bath Time

• Lavender Rose Bath Soak Recipe
• Herbal Bath Bombs

Self-Care: Shower Products

• Brown Sugar + Vanilla Body Scrub
• Green Tea Soap Bar Recipe
• Homemade Shampoo Bar
• Coconut Milk Conditioner

Self-Care: Skincare

• Face Toner for Glowing Skin
• Anti-Aging Eye Cream
• Charcoal Face Mask

Self-Care: Bath Time

Lavender Rose Bath Soak Recipe

Equipment

• Mixing Bowl
• Measuring Cups
• Spoon

Materials

• 2 ½ Cups Epsom Salt
• ¼ Cup Sweet Almond Oil
• 1 Tablespoon Dried Rose Buds (see notes for substitution)
• 1 Tablespoon Dried Rose Petals
• 10 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
• 5 Drops Rose Essential Oil (Optional, see notes)

Instructions

• Add the Epsom salt to a clean bowl
• Add the sweet almond oil + essential oils
• Mix the Epsom salt and oils until the Epsom salt has been covered in oil
• Grind the dried flowers in a mortar and pestle until they become fine, you do not want any chunks. 
• If using dried flowers, add those in and mix.

Notes

• If you do not want dried roses in your bath you could simply take those out of the recipe and substitute another 5 drops of rose essential oil.

Herbal Bath Bombs

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Baking Soda
• ½ Cup Citric Acid
• ½ Cup Epsom Salt
• ½ Cup Cornstarch
• 2 Tablespoons Almond Oil
• 2 Tablespoons Water
• 10-15 Drops Essential Oils I used Lavender and Clary Sage
• 1 Tablespoon Dried Herbs

Instructions

• Add the dry ingredients (Baking Soda, Cornstarch, Epsom Salt, Citric Acid, and Dried Herbs) to a large mixing bowl.
• Next, add the wet ingredients (Almond Oil, Essential Oils, Water).
• Mix until you can squeeze the mixture in your hand without it crumbling, similar to the texture of sand.
• Once the mixture has reached the right texture, pack it into the molds. I used silicone cupcake liners because it is what I already have on hand. If you want to use real bath bomb molds to make a sphere, check these out 
• Pack the mixture tightly into the mold, being sure not to overfill the molds as the mixture will get larger as it sits. 
• Let the herbal bath bombs sit out at room temperature for at least 12 hours. The bath bombs should be completely dry once they have been set. 
• When the herbal bath bombs are dry, take them out of the molds and store them in a container. Use as often as you please! 

Notes

You can watch the video tutorial for these herbal bath bombs right here to see what the proper consistency is.

Self-Care: Shower Products

Brown Sugar + Vanilla Body Scrub

What You Need:

• 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1/4 Cup Almond Oil
• 5 Drops of Vanilla Essential Oil

Instructions: 

Add all of the ingredients to a bowl.

Mix until sugar and oil are completely combined.

Rose Sugar Scrub

Ingredients

• ½ Cup Sugar
• ¼ Cup Almond Oil
• 3 Drops Clary Sage Essential Oil
• 2 Drops Rose Essential Oil

Instructions

• Add all of the ingredients to a bowl.
• Mix until sugar and oil are completely combined.

Green Tea Soap Bar Recipe

Equipment

• 1 Silicone Soap Bar Molds

Materials

• 1 pound Shea Butter Melt + Pour Soap Base
• ¼ Tsp Vitamin E Oil
• 2 Packets Green Tea Packets
• 10 Drops Soft Skin Essential Oil Blend
• Dye (Optional)

Instructions

• Set up a double boiler by boiling 1 cup of water in a pot with a glass, heat-safe, bowl on top. 
• Cut melt + pour soap base into approximately 1-inch cubes.
• Add soap base into the glass bowl and begin to stir until soap has melted.
• Once melted, turn off the heat, and add the remaining ingredients (vitamin E oil, green tea packet, dye, and essential oil). Mix in thoroughly.
• Immediately pour soap mix into molds. I use these simple silicone soap bar molds.
• Allow sitting for 4 hours until the bar has completely set. 

Notes

• This green tea soap bar recipe can be used on the face or body. When choosing an essential oil it is best to consider which purpose the soap bar will be used for. For example, using the Anti Age essential oil blend for a body soap bar would be fine, but the benefits of the essential oil would be better reaped if used in a face soap bar. 
• If you do not use a dye in the soap, it will turn brown when it is dry. There is nothing wrong with the soap, it is a normal process.

Homemade Shampoo Bar

Equipment

• Pot
• Glass Bowl
• Wooden Spoon or Rubber Spatula
• Silicone Molds

Materials

• 1 Cup Beeswax
• ¼ Cup Shea Butter
• 1 Tsp Vitamin E Oil
• ⅓ Cup Unscented Liquid Castile Soap
• 15 Drops Lavender Essential Oil

Instructions

• Start by creating a double boiler, this is a pot of water boiling on the stove (not too much water, I use about 2 cups), with a glass bowl set on top of the pot. 
• Add your beeswax and shea butter to the glass bowl, using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, mix every few minutes to ensure these ingredients are melting. 
• Once the beeswax and shea butter are completely melted, turn off the heat.
• Add the vitamin E oil, unscented liquid Castile soap, and essential oils while the glass bowl is still on top of the pot with the stove turned off.  The Castile soap will instantly turn into a solid, just stir it vigorously until it melts and mixes in with the other ingredients. 
• Working quickly, take a small measuring cup and pour the mixture into your molds. I used these silicone cupcake liners, filling them 1/3 of the way up, but you can also use this soap bar mold.
• Once the mixture is in the molds you will notice it immediately starts to firm up. Allow the bars to cool for at least 1-2 hours to ensure they are completely set.
• When set, they are ready to use. See notes for how to store the extra homemade shampoo bars.

Notes

This recipe makes 6 shampoo bars for me, I typically take 1 bar to my shower and leave the rest in plastic bags in the freezer. When I need another one I will simply take it out of the freezer and begin using it immediately.

You could easily double this recipe to make a large batch that will last a while.

If using a different mold than what I used, you will get a different number of shampoo bars in the end, whether that is more or less.

Coconut Milk Conditioner

Equipment

• Mixing Bowl
• Whisk
• Measuring Cups/Spoons

Materials

• 1 Can Full Fat Coconut Milk
• ¼ Cup Liquid Unscented Castile Soap
• 1 Teaspoon Sweet Almond Oil
• 20 Drops Essential Oils

Instructions

• If your can of coconut milk is in the fridge, take it out and allow it to come to room temperature. Once at room temperature, shake your can of coconut milk really well to ensure it is somewhat mixed.
• Add the entire can of coconut milk to a mixing bowl along with the rest of the ingredients.
• Once all ingredients have been added to the bowl, whisk vigorously until everything is mixed together and there are no clumps of coconut milk.
• Pour this into a container and set it in your shower. This will last 1-2 months in the shower, just make sure to check periodically to make sure there is no mold since coconut milk is technically a food product. 

Notes

• It is important to use full-fat coconut milk in order to get a thick conditioner. If you were to use regular coconut milk that comes in a half-gallon contained at the store the mixture will be pure liquid and nearly impossible to use. 
• I prefer sweet almond oil due to its benefits for hair however there are many other oils that can be used in place of this. A few great oils for hair are argan oil and jojoba oil.

Self-Care: Skincare

Face Toner for Glowing Skin

Equipment

• Mixing Bowl
• Spoon
• Small Spray Bottle

Materials

• 1 Cup Green Tea (See Notes)
• 1 Tablespoon Pure Aloe Vera (See Notes)
• 3 Drops Vitamin E Oil
• 2 Drops Soft Skin Essential Oil (See Notes)

Instructions

• Start by brewing a bag of green tea, I used matcha green tea because that is what I had on hand but any green tea will work. Once your cup of tea is done, allow it to cool completely before starting the rest of the process.
• When the cup of tea is cooled, add all of the remaining ingredients into a jar or bowl and mix. 
• With everything mixed, add it into a spray bottle (I like these ones).

Notes

• If you have the powdered bright green matcha tea, not in bags, it might change the outcome of this recipe. The matcha green tea I used to make this was in individual bags so I did not have to deal with the powder itself. You can try brewing the matcha as normal and using it or putting the matcha in tea bags to brew. 
• It is important to use pure aloe vera, many aloe vera gels you typically see in the store are bright green and filled with artificial colors and chemicals. The gel I always use can be bought here, or you can make your own by cutting open the leaf of an aloe vera plant, scraping out the clear gel, and blending it, or using a fork to mix it so it is easier to manage. Aloe vera juice would also work for this recipe.
• There are many different essential oils you can use in this recipe, just be sure to keep it to 2 drops total no matter which ones you choose to use. Having essential oils diluted properly is important, especially when being used on the skin.

Anti-Aging Eye Cream

Equipment

• Glass Bowl heat safe
• Large Pot
• Small Jar
• Whisk

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Shea Butter
• 1 Tablespoon Sweet Almond Oil
• 5 Drops Vitamin E Oil
• 1 Packet Green Tea See Notes
• 1 Drop Essential Oil of Choice Optional

Instructions

• Create a double boiler, this is just a pot of water filled 1/4 of the way full. Let the water come to a boil and set a glass, heat-safe, bowl on top of the pot.
• Add shea butter into the glass bowl, whisking to ensure it melts.
• Once the shea butter is melted, turn off the heat and add the remaining ingredients. Whisk until fully combined. You want to work quickly on this part so the shea butter does not solidify before transferring the mixture into your eye cream container.
• When everything is well mixed, transfer the eye cream into whatever air-tight container you have chosen to use. Let it cool for 2-3 hours until fully set.
• You can use this as a part of your nightly skincare routine!

Notes

I used matcha green tea in my eye cream because that is usually what I have in my cupboards however what type of green tea you use does not matter, as long as it is green tea without any other teas mixed in. I tested this recipe using brewed green tea and the final product was never set so it is important to use the dried tea inside the packet directly into the eye cream. 

If the green tea is a loose leaf, meaning it hasn’t been ground into a powder, it is best that you grind the tea in a small blender or mortar and pestle, otherwise you will be spreading large chunks of tea onto your face which is no fun!

You will see small flecks of tea in the finished product, even if using a ground green tea powder.

Charcoal Face Mask

Equipment

• 1 Glass Jar with Lid
• Mixing Spoon
• Measuring Spoons

Materials

• 2 Tablespoons Aloe Vera See Notes
• 1 Tablespoon Raw Honey See Notes
• ½ Teaspoon Vitamin E Oil
• ½ Teaspoon Activated Charcoal Powder
• 4 Drops Soft Skin Essential Oil

Instructions

• Mix all of the ingredients together until the mixture is smooth. 
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Notes

• IMPORTANT! Rinse off the charcoal face mask with whatever facial soap you use. Charcoal is black and can stick if not rinsed off with soap
• If you have an aloe vera plant in your home, you could simply open up a leaf, scoop out the aloe vera gel and use that. If it is too sticky just blend the gel until it’s a smooth consistency.
• The honey does not have to be raw however, raw honey has much more micronutrients and antioxidants that are beneficial to the skin.

Want More Self-Care Ideas? Check This Out!

How to Make Antibacterial Hand Soap with Essential Oils

This post may contain affiliate links, I may receive commissions for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. 

Green tea can oftentimes be an underrated ingredient in beauty products. There are some great benefits to incorporating green tea into anyone’s skincare routine. This green tea soap bar recipe is an easy start if you’re new to making your skincare products. If making skincare products is not new to you, the green tea soap bar recipe is simple and quick making it a good addition to your homemade skincare collection. 

Green Tea Soap Bar Recipe Ingredients:

• Melt + Pour Shea Butter Soap Base
• Vitamin E Oil
• Green Tea Packets
• Soft Skin Essential Oil
• Green Tea Benefits for Skin

Green tea is great for anti-inflammatory purposes. If dealing with skin irritation, skin redness, or acne, adding green tea into your skincare routine can be very beneficial. According to this article, “Green tea is a powerful antibacterial agent for treating acne and unclogging pores. Polyphenols in green tea damage bacterial membranes and fight against infection, meaning that it’s a useful tool for treating the bacterial growth that causes acne. It helps kill systemic bacterial inflammation for calm, clear skin.”

Vitamin E Oil for Skin

Vitamin E Oil can provide many benefits to our skin when used topically. The main benefit often associated with vitamin E oil is its ability to reduce appearance and prevent fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin E oil is also very moisturizing which helps with creating that “glowing” look. 

Shea Butter for Skin Benefits

If you’ve ever used body butter, it probably had shea butter in it. Shea butter, once set, truly feels like the texture of butter. I love the feeling of rubbing a product with shea butter on it my skin, it always leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturized without looking oily. There are a few different types of soap bases that can be used however, I prefer the shea butter soap base for its buttery texture and benefits. 

According to this article, “Shea butter has significant levels of vitamins A and E, which means it promotes strong antioxidant activity. Antioxidants are important anti-aging agents. They protect your skin cells from free radicals that can lead to premature aging and dull-looking skin.”

Essential Oils for Soap Making

I love to add essential oils to any skincare product I’m making. There are a lot of benefits depending on which oil you choose.

Here are a few oils I would recommend adding to your green tea soap bar recipe:

Essential Oil Blends for Skincare

Soft Skin Blend

The perfect blend for achieving soft and glowing skin. This essential oil blend is great for use on the face or body. 

Anti Age Blend

This blend is best when the green tea soap bar recipe is intended to be used as a face wash. I love using this blend in the soap bar I use on my face every night for the benefits it brings, such as reducing the appearance of fine lines and leaving my skin feeling refreshed. 

Frankincense Oils Blend

Frankincense is oftentimes used for the skin. This blend combines a few different types of frankincense oils making it a great addition to the green tea soap bar recipe.

Zit Fighter Blend

The zit fighter blend is for all my fellow humans who deal with acne, like myself. I like to put this blend in a soap bar and use it during “that time of the month” when I tend to break out more. 

Essential Oil Singles for Skincare

Lavender

Rose

Tea Tree

Frankincense

Copaiba

How to Make: Green Tea Soap Bar Recipe

What You Need:

• Shea Butter Melt + Pour Soap Base
• Vitamin E Oil
• Green Tea Packets
• Essential Oil of Choice (I used this one)
• Dye (optional)

Instructions:

• Set up a double boiler by boiling 1 cup of water in a pot with a glass, heat safe, bowl on top. 
• Cut melt + pour soap base into approximately 1 inch cubes.
• Add soap base into glass bowl and begin to stir until soap has melted.
• Once melted, turn off the heat, and add the remaining ingredients (vitamin E oil, green tea packet, dye, and essential oil). Mix in thoroughly.
• Immediately pour soap mix into molds. I use these simple silicone soap bar molds.
• Allow to sit for 4 hours until bar has completely set. 

Notes: This green tea soap bar recipe can be used on the face or body. When choosing an essential oil it is best to consider which purpose the soap bar will be used for. For example, using the Anti Age essential oil blend for a body soap bar would be fine, but the benefits of the essential oil would be better reaped if used in a face soap bar. 

If you do not use a dye in the soap, it will turn brown when it is dry. There is nothing wrong with the soap, it is a normal process.

Check out these other essential oil recipes!

8 Essential Oil Diffuser Blends for Summer

This post may contain affiliate links, I may receive commissions for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. 

Bath bombs can be a fun addition to any bath! Instead of adding bubble bath to the water, use one of these herbal bath bombs for a unique and relaxing experience. Similar to using bubble bath, bath bombs fizz up in the water and release the ingredients put in them, in this case; herbs and essential oils. 

Making bath bombs is a surprisingly simple process requiring only a few ingredients. They can also be made with different add-ins depending on what you have or what experience you are trying to create. I like adding herbs to my bath bombs as well as essential oils.

Herbs for Bath Bombs

Lavender

Lavender is known for helping with relaxation. This is a great herb to add to bath bombs if your goal is to wind down and relax at the end of the day (or any time of day). 

Calendula

Calendula is a great herb for physical healing. If you are dealing with a physical ailment such as a wound (make sure it is not an open wound) or a simple burn, adding ground calendula to your herbal bath bombs can aid in faster healing. 

Rose

Rose petals are another great addition to herbal bath bombs if you are looking to relax. Rose petals can also be great at helping with menstrual cramps. 

Chamomile

Chamomile is an herb that has been used for centuries. The healing properties of chamomile are vast but one of the main uses of this herb is for anti-inflammatory purposes. If you have an issue with inflammation, adding chamomile to the herbal bath bombs is a great idea. 

Essential Oils for Bath Bombs

Essential oils are a wonderful addition to herbal bath bombs. Which essential oil you choose to use can depend on the herbs you have used. I like to pair herbs and essential oils dependent on their similar abilities. For example, if using dried lavender as your herb, adding in lavender essential oil can enhance the benefits even more.

Essential Oil Singles for Bath 

• Lavender
• Clary Sage
• Tea Tree
• Chamomile
• Ylang Ylang
• Palo Santo

Essential Oil Blends for Bath

• Self-Care Blend 
• Blues Buster Blend (for when you’re feeling low-spirited)
• Chill-Out Blend
• Relax Blend
• Sleep Tight Blend

How to Make Bath Bombs

Ingredients:

• Baking Soda
• Cornstarch
• Epsom Salt
• Citric Acid
• Almond Oil
• Dried Herbs
• Essential Oils
• Water

Directions:

• Add the dry ingredients (Baking Soda, Cornstarch, Epsom Salt, Citric Acid, Dried Herbs) to a large mixing bowl.
• Next, add the wet ingredients (Almond Oil, Essential Oils, Water).
• Mix until you can squeeze the mixture in your hand without it crumbling, similar to the texture of sand.
• You can watch the video tutorial for these herbal bath bombs right here to see what the proper consistency is.
• Once the mixture has reached the right texture, pack it into the molds. I used silicone cupcake liners because it is what I already have on hand. If you want to use real bath bomb molds to make a sphere, check these out. 
• Pack the mixture tightly into the mold, being sure not to overfill the molds as the mixture will get larger as it sits. 
• Let the herbal bath bombs sit out at room temperature for at least 12 hours. The bath bombs should be completely dry once they have set. 
• When the herbal bath bombs are dry, take them out of the molds and store in a container. Use as often as you please! 

Note:

If using dried herbs, be sure to grind them very fine. I use a mortar and pestle like this one. You could also blend them in a blender if that is easier for you. 

How to use Bath Bombs

Using bath bombs is truly a simple process. Similar to bubble bath, you drop the bath bomb into the warm bathwater. The herbal bath bombs will fizz and disintegrate into the bathwater. Take your bath as usual. There might be a few pieces of the dried herbs at the bottom of the bathtub after you have drained the bathwater, just rinse these out with more water. With the herbs being ground fine it should not affect the drain/plumbing at all. 

Check Out These for more Essential Oil Recipes!

Natural Sunburn Cream

Anti-Aging Green Tea Eye Cream

Homemade Diaper Rash Cream

This post may contain affiliate links, I may receive commissions for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.