DIY Vegan Lotion

If you follow me on Twitter you'll have seen by now my experiments making cosmetics and other typically store bought items in my own kitchen. Well, it's been a few months of trial and error on a number of things and I've decided I'm finally ready to start sharing my vegan DIY recipes with you!

I thought I would start with the simplest of my new favorite solutions. I have suffered from oily skin with dry patches for what seems like forever. It is an absolute nightmare of mine when I find a vegan facial lotion that I like and then the store I got it from stops carrying it. Ugh! For me, many lotions that are made for sensitive skin aren't moisturizing enough, and regular ones are often too greasy. Fortunately, I have discovered a stupidly simple solution. The following is now my go-to moisturizing method.

Step One
Obtain 100% coconut oil from your grocery or natural foods store. Also acquire a canister to store your DIY lotion in. I like to use glass when storing anything long term. I purchased a little mason jar from World Market and have been using that, though any small glass vessel with an airtight lid will suffice.

Step Two
Scoop some of the coconut oil from its bottle and place it in your jar. Tighten the lid. Set on your bathroom counter. In warmer climates, the oil will soften and become nearly 100% liquid, which is perfectly acceptable.

Step Three
Dip a finger or two into the softened oil and gently massage onto your skin. And that is IT. Yes, 100% coconut oil is great as a moisturizer. I have been using it once per day for the past two months and have noticed a considerable difference in my skin tone, such as:

• Less acne
• No more dry skin on my problem areas
• My makeup cakes less as the day goes on
• I'm spending a lot less money because just a bit of oil goes a lot further than all-natural lotion

Every morning, I dab the coconut oil on various areas of my face and smooth it into my skin. I then pat dry any excess that may be left before applying my liquid foundation, concealer, and powder.

I'm not the only one who is doing things like this, either! A ton of recipes have been popping up using coconut oil as a health and beauty aide. For instance, you can use it:

• To Make Deodorant
• As a Hair Treatment
• In Making Vegan Lip Balm

And the health wagon is jumping on using coconut oil in cooking, too. Some doctors and nutritionists have been going back and forth on whether or not it is any better for you than other fats and oils, so I'll let you be the judge. Here are some good references:

• The Surprising Health Benefits of Coconut Oil by Dr. Oz
• New View of Coconut Oil? by Dr. Weil
• The Truth About Coconut Oil by Dr. Kathleen M. Zelman

I haven't been using it in recipes yet, but if you'd like to give it a shot (which I will be doing soon, with vegan cheese)  this overview may be helpful to you!

• How to Bake with Coconut Oil

In my next DIY post, I'll share with you the recipe I've been using for homemade makeup powder. In the meantime, have you been using coconut oil in any DIY remedies at home? Or do you have any great vegan DIY resources you'd like to share? Feel free to drop me a line in the comments, or by filling out the form at the bottom of this page. Thanks for reading!