The Guide to Natural Homemade Cosmetics

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Taken from the Greek “kosmêtikos” meaning “relating to adornment”, cosmetics are used by everyone to maintain in good condition, protect and modify the appearance of the superficial parts of the body. Due to pollution, unwanted ingredients and unpleasant surprises, more and more of us are tempted to create our own homemade cosmetics that meet our needs and respect the environment. In order to make your own products (and cleaner products), Compagnie des Sens provides you with natural raw materials, recipes and advice that respect both your skin and Mother Nature.

This article was updated on 04/08/2023

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Why get into natural homemade cosmetics?

Economy and ecology

Homemade cosmetics allow you to completely control the composition of your products and thus use ingredients that are completely adapted to you, it's truly tailor-made! The choice of ingredients and their quality is an essential step in creating homemade products. By focusing on the use of certified organic products, you are assured of the absence of synthetic chemical contaminants that could be toxic or GMOs that could present health risks. Please note that the AB label can only appear on potentially ingestible products, as is the case for certain essential oils or other ingredients such as honey, for example. For others, these are cosmetic labels that must be considered such as COSMOS, Cosmebio certified by Ecocert or the Nature et Progrès label. Obviously, the choice of ingredients is essential, but that of the material and packaging used is just as important... So many parameters to consider for an eco-responsible approach!

Price-wise, making your own cosmetics is rather economical. In less than 15 minutes you can most often make a cream or a treatment and only the ingredients will cost you. Without the cost of advertising, the latest packaging and the magnificent design of the label, the expense is much lower! Another advantage, you will be able to make the quantity of product you want and thus vary the pleasures according to the seasons, by adapting the ingredients according to your desires. So it’s well worth a few minutes of pampering!

Homemade cosmetics VS store-bought cosmetics?

Between a homemade cosmetic and a commercial one, it is the quantities of ingredients incorporated that are truly a mark of distinction. A commercial product often describes its composition in the form of an INCI list but without actually giving a dosage. Please note that these ingredients are listed in descending order. Thus, the further down the list we go, the less the ingredient will be dosed. The natural ingredients, of superior quality if they are certified organic, used for homemade cosmetics, are generally the same as those offered in industrial cosmetics. However, by making your own recipes, it is possible to adapt the dosage, that is all the difference! So, the whole point is to have the choice of introducing active ingredients at their highest recommended concentration into your recipe by choosing suitable combinations. Only the question of comfort of use/application can sometimes prove annoying, but it will only be a question of habit you will see. Too bad if your toothpaste doesn't foam, as long as it's effective, right?

Natural cosmetic raw materials

Body, face and hair care

Clays

Clays are the main constituents of soils. They come from rocky sediments rich in particular minerals. Belonging to the Phyllosilicates family, they have different adsorbent and absorbent powers depending on their origin and composition. The elements present in each clay give it its color and are responsible for its properties. These soils used in natural cosmetics derive their benefits from minerals involved in the hydration state of the skin and the strengthening of the hair fiber.

Benefits:
Adsorbent
Absorbent
Purifying
Cleaner
Detoxifying

Uses in natural cosmetics:
Sensitive skin - Redness
Acne - Oily skin
Blemished skin - Irritated skin
Sensitive scalp - Oily hair

Body, face and hair care

Vegetable butters

Plant butters are extracted from almonds, fruits or seeds of many plants. They differ from vegetable oils in that they are in solid form at room temperature. Used in cosmetics for a very long time, they are renowned for their nourishing and restorative properties. They contain characteristic fatty acids which are responsible for their effectiveness in skin and hair care.

Benefits:
Protective
Moisturizer
Softener
Antioxidant
Skin regenerating

Uses in natural cosmetics:
Dry skin - Sensitive skin
Dry hair - Damaged hair
Cellulite - Tan extender

Body - face - hair - bath treatments

Essential oils

The organic essential oils that we offer at Compagnie des Sens will bring their benefits even to your care and beauty rituals. Coming from many aromatic plants, essential oils logically find their place in natural cosmetics. The powerful molecules they contain will allow you to add active elements and fragrances according to your needs and desires. To be used with caution, they will be diluted in neutral bases and applied to the skin or hair in order to provide their benefits.

Benefits:
Anti-aging
Antioxidant
Seboregulator
Moisturizer
Detoxifying
Purifying

Uses in natural cosmetics:
Dry skin - Oily skin
Dry hair - oily hair
Redness - Acne
Cellulite - Scars

Body care - face - baths

Salts

Cosmetic salts are different from those found on our plates. They also contain minerals and trace elements such as calcium, iron, magnesium and many others. They come from salt lakes, inland seas or even underground deposits formed following their evaporation. In natural cosmetics, their particular composition makes them excellent moisturizers, exfoliants and will dissolve in your relaxing baths.

Benefits:
Moisturizer
Exfoliant
Relaxing
Remineralizing
Detoxifying

Uses in natural cosmetics:
Exfoliation - cellulite - detox
Acne - Eczema
Relaxation - Stress

Body, face and hair care

Vegetal oils

Vegetable oils are extracted from the fruits, seeds or flowers of oilseed plants. A very good alternative to fatty substances derived from petrochemicals which overload conventional cosmetics, vegetable oils naturally have nourishing, moisturizing and protective qualities for the skin and hair. Adapted to everyone, the different active ingredients they contain are essential in the formula of your homemade products.

Benefits:
Moisturizer
Feeding
Softener
Seboregulator
Fortifying
Antioxidant

Uses in natural cosmetics:
Dry skin - Oily skin
Dry hair - oily hair
Skin aging - Dark circles

Body - face - hair - bath treatments

Hydrosols

Hydrosols such as Damascus Rose or Orange Blossom water have long been known in natural cosmetics as active ingredients to resolve skin and hair problems. Recovered during the distillation of aromatic or non-aromatic plants, they are weakly concentrated in active molecules but have a high quantity of water which allows them to be used more widely and simply than essential oils. Used alone, in your homemade products and in your bubble baths, floral waters will also give you their characteristic scent.

Benefits:
Detoxifying
Purifying
Healing
Soothing
Skin regenerating

Uses in natural cosmetics:
Dry skin - Oily skin
Mature skin - Dull hair
Dandruff - Acne

Body, face and hair care

Aloe Vera

Rather spicy in appearance, Aloe Vera is a plant native to North Africa known for more than 5000 years for its therapeutic and cosmetic properties. The gel contained inside its leaves has a high water content which will hydrate and soften the skin. Used in natural cosmetics as an active ingredient, the minerals, enzymes, vitamins and antioxidants it contains will also stimulate cell regeneration, repair and strengthen your hair.

Benefits:
Antioxidant
Moisturizer
Softener
Refreshing
Feeding

Uses in natural cosmetics:
Dry skin
Split ends
Scars
Sun burn

Face care - teeth - makeup

Activated vegetable charcoal

Activated vegetable charcoal is a black powder composed in its purest form of carbon atoms only. It initially comes from the calcination of plant materials rich in carbon (wood, fruit shells, stones) then is activated in order to increase its adsorbent power. This raw material has made a comeback in recent years for its use in natural cosmetics. Its adsorption power helps purify the skin and have a whitening action on the teeth. Added to your cosmetic preparations, it can also play a role as a pigment in eyeshadows, kohls and mascaras.

Benefits:
Purifying
Detoxifying
Dye
Adsorbent

Uses in natural cosmetics:
Oily skin - Acne
White teeth
Makeup

Hair care - coloring

Henna

Introduced by the Egyptians and made famous by Eastern culture, henna has been known for thousands of years for its use in natural cosmetics. It is made from dried leaves which will then be pulverized to obtain a powder. The most common are neutral henna and natural henna from two different plants. It is natural henna which will be used the most because it contains the biochemical coloring molecule: lawsone. Depending on the country of production, it will offer different reflections and can be combined with other dye powders depending on the expected result. Neutral henna is used for its natural care qualities.

Benefits:
Dye
Exfoliant
Anti dandruff
Bug spray

Uses in natural cosmetics:
Coloring - oily hair
Lice - Dandruff
Exfoliation - Tattoo

Body, face and hair care

Vegetal glycerine

Glycerin is a molecule appreciated for its moisturizing and softening qualities, it is widely used in conventional cosmetics. To qualify as plant-based, it must be produced following a saponification reaction between a base and a fat of plant origin. In natural cosmetics, you can use it in small quantities. It will act as a humectant to reduce concerns about dehydrated skin and hair while leaving a soft film on their surface. It also serves as a thickener and stabilizer in your aqueous preparations.

Benefits:
Moisturizer
Softener
Emollient
Thickening
Solvent

Uses in natural cosmetics:
Dry skin
Dry hair

Body and face care

Donkey female milk

It is very important to check the origin of donkey milk to ensure that its producers are concerned about their animals and particularly the donkeys for whom the mother's milk should be intended in the first place. Tonic, skin softener and anti-aging, donkey milk has found its place in beauty rituals since its use by Cleopatra herself and thanks to its richness in vitamins, trace elements and essential fatty acids.

Benefits:
Softener
Feeding
Moisturizer
Anti-aging

Uses in natural cosmetics:
Dry skin
Sensitive skin
Skin aging

Body care - Face

Alum stone

Alum stone is an ore extracted from alunite, a rock native to Syria. Used since Antiquity by the Greeks and then the Romans, it is appreciated in natural cosmetics for its astringent, healing and hemostatic properties. They allow it to be used primarily as a natural alternative to conventional commercial deodorants. Its ability to reduce pores makes it a care product for oily, acne-prone skin as well as a solution to soothe razor burn or hair removal. You can find it in stick or powder to use in your preparations but check its composition carefully.

Benefits :
Astringent
Healing
Hemostatic

Use in natural cosmetics
Sweat
Oily and acne-prone skin
After shaving - Hair removal

Some homemade cosmetic recipes

Shower gels

Cleaning the skin is crucial for hygiene and keeping it in good condition. As commercial shower gels can be irritating and unsuitable for your skin type, we suggest you make your own cleansing products. Using a neutral foaming gel carefully selected for its softness, you can personalize your shower gel with essential oils according to your mood and your needs.

Bath salts

Essential oils are not diluted in water but it is possible to benefit from their benefits even in your bath using salts. Long appreciated for their therapeutic or cosmetic virtues or simply the well-being they provide, essential oil baths are easy to make and use.

Body care

To take care of your body every day, natural ingredients respect your wallet, your skin and the environment as a bonus. It's easy to make your own rituals in a Do It Yourself version by following clear, short and fun recipes suitable for the whole family based on plant essential oils and quality products, create the treatment you need.

Hair care

How to find an organic shampoo or treatment adapted to your hair type, economical and without parabens, silicones and others? Just do it yourself. Natural raw materials have significant qualities to solve your hair problems or simply take care of your hair on a daily basis.

Facial care

The skin of the face is the most exposed to external aggressions: UV, pollution, temperature, makeup, etc. To take care of it in home cosmetics, many natural raw materials can be used depending on your skin type. dry, combination, oily or problematic. Discover our recipes based on organic essential and vegetable oils.

Body butters

Renowned for their moisturizing and nourishing properties, vegetable butters constitute the ideal bases for your solid cosmetic products. Melting on contact with the skin, they preserve the qualities of the ingredients with which they can be combined depending on the intended use. With our recipes based on Shea butter and essential or vegetable oils, make your own homemade body butters.

Lip balms

As with body butters, using Shea butter in your preparations guarantees optimal hydration for the most sensitive skin. Lips, whose skin is relatively thin, require special care which can be supplemented with gentler essential oils. Plumping, hydrating or repairing, here are our recipes to create your own lip balm.

Perfumes

The more or less pleasant scents that your nose detects in perfumes are all provided by aromatic molecules. Hence the use of the word aroma when referring to substances emanating a characteristic odor. In natural homemade cosmetics, it is possible to use essential oils to perfume yourself simply while avoiding allergic reactions that can occur with the use of synthetic aromatic components.