Body & beauty

What Happened When…I made my beauty products

Editorial assistant Harri Murrison looked no further than her kitchen cupboard for penny-saving DIY beauty fixes. Here’s what happened when she went back to basics

You’ll often find there are two types of beauty enthusiasts. Those who champion the all-natural, zero chemical and preservatives lifestyle – and those who aimlessly wander through the beauty aisles, filling up their basket without a care in the world. I used to fall deep into the latter camp. If it helped reduce blemishes or smooth textured skin, without question, I’d slather it on my face like there was no tomorrow – I didn’t care what was in it. Now though, it’s a different story and my bathroom cabinet is bulging with natural delights. However, when I was asked to try making my own skincare for this issue of Natural Health, I initially felt apprehensive. How would my sensitive skin react to certain ingredients? Would those pesky spots I endlessly try to keep at bay resurface? But, setting my ego aside, I brushed away my insecurities and decided that it was the perfect time to mix things up a little.

To understand more about the benefits involved in concocting lotions and potions at home, I spoke to Holly Zoccolan – a holistic health coach who is passionate about teaching her clients how to become the best version of themselves with a focus on their whole lifestyle. “There’s no denying it, the beauty industry is a major contributor to plastic pollution,” she explained. “Its packaging can end up in landfill or the ocean – not to mention the toxic chemicals that swirl down our drains.” According to the United Nations over eight million tonnes of plastic enter the world’s seas each year. A trend, which if continued, will mean we’ll have more plastic floating around our waters than fish by 2050.

“Making your own skincare products has a positive effect on the environment as you’re encouraged to decant your DIY creations into reusable glass jars, plus you’ll know exactly what you’re layering onto your skin, and you needn’t worry about the toxic ingredients filtering through your drain.”

Things got messy

I’ll be honest, scouring the internet for recipes felt a little overwhelming. Thankfully, my editor left a DIY matcha-lime face mask recipe on my desk to help get me started. Rich in antioxidants and healthy acids, I was thrilled to see, alongside matcha, that coconut oil was one of the main components. I was instructed to mix the coconut oil, matcha powder, and coconut sugar until smooth, then add a splash of lime juice at the end. Naturally, I remember thinking to myself: ‘sounds easy enough!’ But this feeling of ease and ideology soon turned me into a green faced Shrek lookalike and the coconut oil had started to slide off my face and onto my top!

Desperately trying to forget my first attempt, I decided to give the Royal Rejuvenating Oatmeal Face Mask from All Natural Beauty by Karin Berndl and Nici Hofer (Hardie Grant, £12.99) a go. Although the mixture didn’t look particularly appealing, I experienced a strange sense of achievement. After 30 minutes I washed the mask off, and as I was gently patting my face dry, I began to remember why I fell in love with skincare and make-up in the first place.

Beauty addict

Shortly after leaving the protective bubble of education, I felt lost. Somehow, along the way, a little piece of ‘me’ had been left behind. I had always been known as ‘Happy Harri’ but this certainly wasn’t the case back then. I was lacking confidence and direction. I realised, for as long as I could remember I had always loved all things beauty related – some would say I’m addicted. So I began to slowly adjust my routine and started making time for myself. I’d apply the occasional hair or face mask and even something as simple as brushing clear polish across my nails brought a smile to my face. I am a true believer that beauty isn’t just about products. It can empower, transform and improve your overall mental health and wellbeing. Too often we allow the stresses of everyday life to consume us. We end up forgetting to look after number one because we think selfcare or having the occasional pamper is selfish. I’m here to tell you it’s OK to put yourself first every once in a while. It helped me get out of a rut I thought had consumed me. So next time you feel overwhelmed or you just need a little ‘me time’, try this recipe from All Natural Beauty. Your bank balance, skin and mind will thank you for it – plus you might even enjoy it!