Was there ever a super cheap, all-in-one moisturiser that was easier to make than a sandwich? This recipe would be it. This moisturiser repairs skin, treats acne and is anti-ageing. There are many ways to moisturise your skin that are even simpler than this recipe. For example, you can just apply olive or coconut oil as it is to your skin. But if you are looking for a little bit more than just ‘moisturising’, then this recipe will nourish, heal and protect your skin with its few additional ingredients.
Simple coconut oil moisturiser
Ingredients
- 125ml Organic coconut oil (1/2 cup)
- 15ml Natural, unrefined bees wax (1 Tablespoon) (Vegan substitute: Soy wax or Carnauba wax
- 10ml Vitamin E oil (2 teaspoons, OR 2 soft-gel capsules)
- 20 drops Lavender essential oil
- 10 drops Tea tree essential oil* (optional for treating & preventing acne)
Instructions
- Makes 125ml.
- Over a double boiler, add the beeswax and a tablespoon of the coconut oil. If you have solid bees wax chunks (instead of pellets), grate the bees wax so that it melts quicker.
- As soon as all the bees wax has melted, add the remaining coconut oil and vitamin E oil. Some of the beeswax may re-harden when you do this. Simply keep mixing until the texture is a uniform liquid (without any hard clumps). Be careful not to overheat, as you will destroy the nutrients of the oils - you just want everything to be melted, not boiling hot.
- Pour the warm oil mixture into your desired container, and immediately stir in your essential oils while the oil is still warm. The mixture will harden as it cools, so you must add the essential oils quickly.
- Product is ready to use when it has cooled completely.
Notes
1.) How to make your own double boiler: You need a pot and a heat proof bowl, or two pots. Fill a pot about half way with water. Once the water has come to a boil, place your heat-proof bowl on top of the pot of water. Leave the stove on a low heat. Place your ingredients in the suspended bowl. The hot steam will heat the bowl and gently melt the ingredients. It's that simple. It's the same concept as melting chocolate.
2.) Do not ingest tea tree oil, or any essential oil for that matter. Read how to use essential oils safely.
Recipe Variations & Substitutions
You can simply substitute the coconut oil for any nourishing oil (eg. olive oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil etc.). However, if you are substituting in a liquid oil, you will need the bees wax to achieve a firm texture. You cannot exclude it, otherwise it will just be like a liquid massage oil. If you live in a cold climate (below 24 degrees Celsius), then you can exclude the bees wax, because the coconut oil will remain solid and firm without the need for wax. If you are vegan, you may substitute soy wax or carnauba wax instead of bees wax. You can use any essential oils in this recipe. It’s totally customisable.
COST & SHELF LIFE
Cost price: R17.48 per 125ml.
Lasted me about: 3 months (using every day).
Estimated shelf life: 1 year if stored away from direct sunlight and moisture.
*Costs accurate at time of writing, and based on best retail prices I’ve found.
CHALLENGE
- Texture may be too hard if you live in a cold climate: South Africa is generally a warm country , with temperatures often being over 24 degrees Celsius. That’s the melting point of coconut oil, so that’s why I’ve included bees wax in this recipe to keep the texture firm. However, if you live in a cold climate or if it’s winter, adding the beeswax will result in a rock-hard product. To fix this, simply exclude the bees wax in this recipe.
- Not a good hand cream: You may find that it doesn’t absorb well into the hands to be an effective hand cream. If so, I suggest making my nourishing hand cream recipe.
- Oily texture: The primary ingredient is coconut oil after all, so naturally, you can expect an oily residue. If this is not for you, then I recommend making a true lotion – which is an emulsion of water and oil. It’s more complicated, but the end product absorbs completely into your skin without any oily residue. Here’s my lotion recipe.
CHERRY ON TOP
- Super cheap, yet effective anti-ageing cream with a very long shelf life.
- This is the quickest and simplest natural moisturiser recipe. Nothing complicated to it at all (unlike emulsions).
- Customisable: You can use this as a base for your essential oils to make an ailment specific topical treatment. For example, for an insect repellent lotion add citronella essential oil to the coconut oil & vitamin e mixture. The essential oils used in this specific recipe work well for anti-ageing and also treats skin prone to breakouts.
INGREDIENT BENEFITS
- Organic coconut oil: Anti-ageing, rich in proteins which repair damaged tissues (buy here).
- Vitamin E oil: Blocks free radical damage, boosts collagen production, speeds up cell regeneration. (buy here)
- Lavender essential oil: Treats acne, reduces scars, soothes skin aggravated by stress and treats wrinkles. (buy here)
- Tea tree essential oil (optional for acne-prone skin): Reduces sebum production on the skin, and is anti-bacterial. (buy here)
Need help finding these ingredients? My shopping guide may help you. Are you new to essential oils? Please read how to use them safely.
What do you use to moisturise your skin naturally? Please share in the comments below.
I’m a keen gardener. Please share a good, rich and nourishing hand cream with us. – something that can help with our nails as well. Gardeners don’t like wearing cloves 🙂
I really enjoy your recipes –
Thank you so much
Hello =) Thank you for your suggestion. It’s always good to know what recipes you’d like to see. I’ve got a wonderful hand cream recipe, which I will definitely share with you. It’s perfect for gardeners like yourself. You can find it here: https://naturalnerd.co.za/hand-cream/
I’m happy you’re enjoying my recipes. Thank you for your support.
Hi Christina
What a great blog, thanks for sharing. I am in the process of making my owns ;goodies; but have reached a dead-end regarding containers for these products. I am in Cape Town – please can you let me know where I can buy in smaller quantities for all my products?
Suppliers asks huge demands re quantities – just not possible.
Many thanks again for sharing your information.
Regards
Amanda
Hi Amanda
Thank you for your comment. I’m so happy to hear that you are in the process of making your own products. There are quite a few places that will allow smaller orders, and they deliver nationwide too. I personally buy from “The Bottle Store” in Port Elizabeth. This is a small business, but they have competitive prices and can courier my orders. They also supply those plastic bottle pumps, which make everything easier. Here is the link to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/The-Bottle-Store-Port-Elizabeth-191495974225336/timeline/
Other options to consider are:
That Little Shop – http://www.thatlittleshop.co.za/product-category/event-decor/glassware/glass-bottles/
Consol (Stellenbosch) – http://www.consol.co.za/about/overview/the-consol-shop
I hope that helps you, and that you are able to start making all your products soon!
Regards
Christina
Hi Amanda, I’m also starting to make my own lotions and body butters. I popped in at Bonpak at 21 Mocke Road Diep River yesterday, to buy small quantities of plastic containers. Try them out.
Warm regards,
Michelle
Hi, you can also find glass yars ect at Soap Barn http://www.soapbarn.co.za/cart/mobile.php?glass-jars,52
and Fun with Soap https://www.funwithsoap.co.za/product-category/cosmetic-packaging/
I’ve ordered from both online stores and they are great
Hi Christina, where do I get Vitamin E oil?
Hi Chelsea,
Thank you for your question. My first recommendation is that you buy the normal Vitamin E capsules that you normally see at chemists, which are sold as supplements. I buy Vitaforce’s 1000 i.u Vitamin E. Then instead of taking the vitamin as a supplement, you just pop the capsule and use it in your recipe. This is my personal recommendation because it offers a pure form of Vitamin E without additives, and you get between 400 and 1000 i.u. This is obviously the more expensive option, but the results are definitely worth it. You can also buy a less pure Vitamin E oil from Dischem. The brand name is “Brunel Laboratoria” and it comes in a dark brown glass bottle (50ml). This product offers 100 i.u of Vitamin E, but is diluted in liquid paraffin which is not ideal in my opinion. Although it is far cheaper than buying pure vitamin supplements (R40 vs. R120).
I hope that helps.
Hi there
Thank you for this very informative and useful South African website! I am enjoying it very much! I am new to the homemade body and home products lifestyle and I am keen to try out many of the recipes on your site. With regards to a facial moisturiser, I have seen that many people also enjoy using just straight Jojoba or Argan oil on their skin. Have you every tried this and/or could you recommend it? I have a combination skin but I am in my early 40’s so I am aware that good moisturising is becoming more and more essential! I am also interested to hear what you would suggest in terms of a good facial sunscreen – I have fair, freckly skin, already marked with sun spots and I am VERY strict about using as high a sunscreen as possible every day, but with my currently “prone to oily skin” I am so nervous to try out a new natural cream!
Hi Lenti. Thank you for your positive comment, and welcome to the natural DIY lifestyle! To answer your questions – Yes, you can use oil straight on your skin. Jojoba and Argan oil are both excellent choices for more mature skin – of the two, I would recommend Argan oil for your skin type because of its higher vitamin E content. But pure Argan oil is very expensive. It is also just as good to use a good quality olive oil. Whichever oil you decide to use, I would strongly recommend adding vitamin E oil. It’s the anti-aging miracle ingredient! Sometimes when I’m too lazy to make cream, I just add a combination of good oils in a little squeeze bottle, add vitamin e and use that until I’m in the mood to make a new batch of cream =P The oils I normally combine are sweet almond, olive, jojoba and argan oil. You may also be interested in my anti-aging night cream recipe. Bottom line: Your skin’s most basic need is oil (of any kind) and sun protection – thereafter, anything you add is added nutrients – like vitamin e or essential oils. In terms of natural sunscreens, I personally use and strongly recommend the Oh Lief brand. I also have fair combination skin, and I never breakout when I use it, and find that it absorbs quite well. The ingredients are amazing – no junk. The sunscreen itself is food for your skin! I do not suggest making your own sunscreen at home – you’d be putting yourself at risk. Without a lab, you just cannot guarantee the sun protection factor. This is one thing I tell everyone to buy. I don’t joke around when it comes to sun protection, so investing in a natural or organic, lab-tested sunscreen is the safest option in my opinion. Good luck on your homemaking adventure and do feel free to give me feedback if you attempt one of my recipes. I’d love to know how it worked out for you. I hope I’ve helped answer your questions.
Hello. I would like know whether we first apply sunscreen then followed with moisturiser or we start with moisturiser then followed with sunscreen. Can I use the simple coconut moisturiser during the day then at night the antiaging cream?
Hi Nombeko. Thank you for your comment. I strongly recommend applying sunscreen at least 5 minutes before using the coconut oil moisturiser. This will allow the sunscreen to absorb into the deeper layers of your skin for protection. Then you can apply the simple coconut oil moisturiser which will create a barrier to keep your skin moisturised during the day. If you are outdoors all day though, I would recommend that you re-apply your sunscreen regularly. Yes, the anti-ageing cream is perfect as a night cream. I hope you enjoy using these recipes – I know your skin will love you for it.
Kind regards
Christina