Simple DIY Skincare Recipes
All month I’m showing you how to make 1-3 ingredient skincare recipes. They're super simple but targeted ingredients that we also use inside the Serum Maker Eye Cream Course.
This is a great way to test these ingredients and see how simple they are to make powerful DIY skincare products. We mix them with active ingredients in the Serum Maker courses and make creams, serums and balms using high concentrations of the good stuff that you normally pay a lot for.
Follow along for fun, easy dupes and learn how to make products that actually work - without paying the markup.
DIY #1 - Caffeine Eye Cubes
Brew strong coffee → freeze in ice cube trays.
Wrap 1 cube in a thin cloth → press under your eyes for 30 sec.
De-puff + refresh in seconds.
Ice Trays: https://amzn.to/3VNMQbM
Coffee Bean Oil: https://amzn.to/4eF9qMb
Heads up! A few of these are affiliate links, which means I might earn a tiny commission if you purchase through them (no extra cost to you). I’m not partnered with these brands—just sharing what works for me and what I personally use in my serums and creams.
Serum Maker Recipes that Include Caffeine:
DIY #2 - (3) Ingredient Glow Mask
1 tsp Castor Oil
1 tsp Aloe Vera gel
l½ tsp Honey
Mix well and apply to face immediately. Chillax for 15-20 minutes, and rinse with warm water. Dispose of mixture.
Don’t have these ingredients? I get them off Amazon:
Aloe Vera Gel https://amzn.to/3KzprZ8
Castor Oil: https://amzn.to/3Ijy350
Honey: Any market
Heads up! A few of these are affiliate links, which means I might earn a tiny commission if you purchase through them (no extra cost to you). I’m not partnered with these brands—just sharing what works for me and what I personally use in my serums and creams.
Serum Maker Recipes that Include Castor Oil:
DIY #3 - (3) Ingredient Lash Growth Serum
1 tsp Castor Oil
2 drops Rosemary
1 drop Lavendar
Mix well and pour into mascara tube. You can use any container and use a cotton swab until you find the right fit for you.
Don’t have these ingredients? I get them off Amazon:
Rosemary: https://amzn.to/3Gzitli
Castor Oil: https://amzn.to/3Ijy350
Lavendar: (8-pack Pack Essential Oils) https://amzn.to/4gQzeWI
Heads up! A few of these are affiliate links, which means I might earn a tiny commission if you purchase through them (no extra cost to you). I’m not partnered with these brands—just sharing what works for me and what I personally use in my serums and creams.
Serum Maker Recipes that Include these Ingredients:
DIY #4 - (3) Ingredient Lifting Gel
½ tsp brewed coffee*
2 Drops Vitamin E
1 tbsp Aloe Vera
* 2 drops of coffee bean oil (it will be thicker) can be used in place of 1/2 tsp brewed coffee
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Mix the 3 ingredients together to form a gel.
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Apply under eyes, to your neck, and any place you want to quickly tighten.
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Let the gel sit on your skin for up to 15-30 minutes.
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Rinse well and follow with your favorite moisturizer to lock in the delicious moisture you just created. ;)
Don’t have these ingredients? I get them off Amazon:
Coffee Drops*: https://amzn.to/4eF9qMb
Vitamin E: https://amzn.to/4lMyXpm
Aloe Vera: https://amzn.to/3KzprZ8
Heads up! A few of these are affiliate links, which means I might earn a tiny commission if you purchase through them (no extra cost to you). I’m not partnered with these brands—just sharing what works for me and what I personally use in my serums and creams.
Serum Maker Recipes that Include these Ingredients:
DIY #5: 2-3 Ingredient Sugar Body Scrub
½ cup granulated sugar (or fine sea salt)
¼ cup sweet almond oil*
(Optional) 3–5 drops lavender or vanilla essential oil
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Mix sugar and almond oil until the texture resembles wet sand.
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Add essential oil if desired.
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Gently massage onto damp skin in circular motions.
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Rinse thoroughly and pat dry.
Why it works:
Sugar naturally exfoliates while sweet almond oil softens and locks in moisture.
This simple scrub leaves skin smooth, hydrated, and glowing. No synthetic fillers needed.
Don’t have these ingredients? I get them off Amazon:
Heads up! A few of these are affiliate links, which means I might earn a tiny commission if you purchase through them (no extra cost to you). I’m not partnered with these brands—just sharing what works for me and what I personally use in my serums and creams.
Serum Maker Recipes that Include these Ingredients:
You can make this with almost any oil you have — olive, grapeseed, even coconut oil works in a pinch.
But if you want that soft, not-greasy feel, sweet almond oil is my go-to
Sweet Almond Oil (Best feel )
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Lightweight, absorbs well.
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Great for all skin types, leaves a satin finish.
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Smells neutral, won’t clog pores.
✅ Best for polished, non-greasy results.
Olive Oil (Pantry option)
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Absolutely fine to use!
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Richer and heavier, may leave a slight residue (some love it, some don’t).
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Has natural antioxidants and vitamins A & E.
⚠️ Can feel “slippery” on skin or shower floor → note that for safety.
Baby Oil (Not ideal)
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It works physically (it’ll mix with sugar), but it’s mineral oil-based — not nourishing like plant oils.
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It just sits on the skin instead of absorbing.
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Safe, but doesn’t provide any nutrients or hydration benefits.
🚫 Okay in a pinch, but not recommended long term.
Other Safe Oils You May Have
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Coconut oil – nice scent, solid at room temp, leaves a glow (but can clog pores).
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Jojoba or Grapeseed – both are light and silky.
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Sunflower oil – very mild and affordable; great neutral option.
DIY #6: Hyaluronic Acid Gel Base
Mix & Chill:
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2 tsp Distilled Water
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1/4 tsp Hyaluronic Acid
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2 drops Preservative
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Stir until well combined. Let it sit 2 hours to hydrate into a gel.
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Apply to clean, damp skin and always follow with moisturizer to seal in hydration.*
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*YOU MUST use moisturizer over the gel, or it will pull moisture from your skin. You have to give it something to “draw from,” so give it a nice cream to pull in;)
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Store in the fridge up to 7 days.
Don’t have these ingredients? I get them off Amazon:
Hyaluronic Acid: https://amzn.to/4nWxQEL
Preservative: https://amzn.to/44OiYBj
Vitamin C: https://amzn.to/4li4QGe
Vitamin K Liposomes: https://www.formulatorsampleshop.com/fss-vitamin-k-liposome.html
Palmitoyle Tripeptide 5: https://www.rainshadowlabs.com/products/palmitoyl-tripeptide-5?_pos=1&_sid=22e4d66ca&_ss=r
Panthenol: https://amzn.to/3IbsdCW
Heads up! A few of these are affiliate links, which means I might earn a tiny commission if you purchase through them (no extra cost to you). I’m not partnered with these brands—just sharing what works for me and what I personally use in my serums and creams.
DIY #7: Eczema-Calming Lavender Serum
Mix and Chill in refrigerator:
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2 tsp Distilled Water
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1/4 tsp Hyaluronic Acid
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2 drops Preservative
ADD
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1 tsp Distilled Water
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½ tsp Glycerin (optional, for smooth texture)
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3 drops Lavender Essential Oil
Stir until well combined. Let it sit 20 minutes to hydrate into a gel.
Apply to clean, damp skin and always follow with moisturizer to seal in hydration. *
*YOU MUST use moisturizer over the gel, or it will pull moisture from your skin. You have to give it something to “draw from,” so give it a nice cream to pull in;)
Store in the fridge up to 7 days.
Don’t have these ingredients? I get them off Amazon:
Hyaluronic Acid: https://amzn.to/4nWxQEL
Preservative: https://amzn.to/44OiYBj
Lavender Essential Oil: https://amzn.to/4gQzeWI
Glycerin: https://amzn.to/3U2asIJ
DIY #8: Sweet Orange Glow Serum
Mix and Chill in refrigerator:
2 tsp Distilled Water
1/4 tsp Hyaluronic Acid
2 drops Preservative
Stir until well combined. Let it sit 2 hours to hydrate into a gel.
ADD
1 tsp Distilled Water
½ tsp Glycerin (optional for silky texture)
2 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil (Citrus sinensis)
2 drop Frankincense Essential Oil (optional but amazing for firmness)
Apply to clean, damp skin and always follow with moisturizer to seal in hydration. *
*YOU MUST use moisturizer over the gel, or it will pull moisture from your skin. You have to give it something to “draw from,” so give it a nice cream to pull in;)
Store in the fridge up to 7 days.
Don’t have these ingredients? I get them off Amazon:
Hyaluronic Acid: https://amzn.to/4nWxQEL
Preservative: https://amzn.to/44OiYBj
Essential Oils: https://amzn.to/4gQzeWI
Glycerin: https://amzn.to/3U2asIJ
DIY #9: Clear Skin Simple Serum (for Acne-Prone Skin)
Mix and Chill in refrigerator:
2 tsp Distilled Water
1/4 tsp Hyaluronic Acid
2 drops Preservative
Stir until well combined. Let it refrigerate 2 hours to hydrate into a gel.
ADD:
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1 tsp Distilled Water
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½ tsp Glycerin (optional, for smooth texture and balance)
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2 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
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1 drop Eucalyptus Essential Oil
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(Optional) 1 drop Lemongrass Essential Oil – for extra astringent, pore-tightening effect
Stir until evenly blended.
Let sit 20 minutes to thicken and marry the oils into the gel.
Apply to clean, damp skin and always follow with moisturizer to seal in hydration. *
*YOU MUST use moisturizer over the gel, or it will pull moisture from your skin. You have to give it something to “draw from,” so give it a nice cream to pull in;)
Store in the fridge up to 7 days.
Don’t have these ingredients? I get them off Amazon:
Hyaluronic Acid: https://amzn.to/4nWxQEL
Preservative: https://amzn.to/44OiYBj
Essential Oils: https://amzn.to/4gQzeWI
Glycerin: https://amzn.to/3U2asIJ