I’ve done a few book signings recently and have met some of the most inspiring women. At nearly every signing I do, there’s at least one mom with an angelic little baby all wrapped up in a sling. I get a warm shiver up my spine, as I know that these cool moms who are passionate about the whole green thing, will give the most incredible gift to their kids. I’ve noticed, however, that a few of you are a little hesitant about diving in to make your own skin care products, because it seems expensive and and a bit complicated – what with the bottles and funnels that you need. Let me attempt to make this really simple for you, because it’s an opportunity that you cannot miss – you will end up saving so much money in the long run, that you need to get started right away!
So let’s take one of the pricier recipes in “Do It Gorgeously” – The Geranium & Apricot Face Cream (which I cannot live without). I priced up the ingredients and if you buy the smallest size of everything from Mountain Rose Herbs, it will come to about $80.00. This is excluding the jar, which you
can either throw in with your order or even better, use any old glass jar that you or a friend might have hanging around. Here’s the kicker: You will get about 10 2oz jars of cream from this one order and you’ll still have tons of essential oil left. So that works out at $10.00 a jar. I can promise you, you’ll never find a jar of anti-aging cream of this kind of quality for under fifty bucks! So it’s win/win. If you can’t initially afford to fork out the eighty bucks, split an order with one or two friends and you’ll each go home with a couple of jars.
Other recipes like the Vitamin C serum and all the toners, will cost an average of 50 cents a bottle, as does the mouthwash, toothpaste and all the cleaners – so you’ll wind up saving a lot all the way around.
Another question: Is it time consuming? The Vitamin C serum takes all of 30 seconds to make, as does the India Rose Face Oil and all the cleaners, and the creams and lotions will take you 1/2 hour tops. Creams and lotions require a heating of waxes and butters, so think of it as following an easy cooking recipe.
Final question: I get confused about all the bottles and jars that I’ll need – how can you make it simpler for me? I specify that you need to try to use 
dark, glass jars – this is because many of your precious oils and butters are sensitive to light and you don’t want them to degrade or lose their potency. If, however, you have an old plastic of clear glass jar hanging around, use that instead and just keep your product in the fridge. For recipes like the Vitamin C serum, use an old lip balm pot, and for your mouthwash, use an old jelly jar!
FINAL TIP: IF YOU GO TO EDEN BOTANICALS, YOU CAN ORDER A SAMPLE SIZE OF ANY ESSENTIAL OIL YOU WANT! This is great because you only need a few drops for each recipe, so this tiny size will probably suffice and will only cost you two or three bucks.
So go on girls – have a go and don’t be afraid to DO IT GORGEOUSLY!
I tried making the vanilla body cream and it’s really runny. Can I add anything to it to make it thicker. I must say buying all the ingredients and oils is very expensive. I’ve already spent over $250 and don’t even have all the stuff I need.
Young Living essential oils are the best I have found out there. Wondered why you didn’t mention them?
Hi Cricket
The Vanilla Body Cream gets runny when it’s warm outside as it contains coconut oil. Just keep it in the fridge and it’ll get really firm.
Haven’t tried Young Living OIls, so we’ll check them out.
I did check out Young Living Oils, but they are really expensive. Compare their Frankincense oil to the Aura Cacia oil in my store
http://gorgeouslygreen.openskystore.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=39&product_id=92
OK, thanks, what can I substitute for the rose absolute oil in the india rose oil….soooo expensive. So far I’ve made that, minus the rose oil, the gentle exfoliating scrub..kind of messy, but I like it and the cellulite oil…love that stuff!
Hi Sophie! I can’t wait to get your new book. I have been using the facial oil recipe in your first book for the last year and love it. I get compliments on my skin regularly. Buying the initial ingredients IS expensive, but I have learned to use them for cleaning products, in the bath, all over the house. It has been well worth the investment.
Hi, Sophie. I bought your book and I love it. Drugstore.com had some good sales on aura cacia essential oils plus free shipping. I am finding that the vit c serum is helping acne scars diminish. So grateful for that! Any good recipes for homemade soaps for adults?
I have bought everything I need for all of the recipes in Do It Gorgeously that I would like to make, that is almost all of them (minus the baby stuff because I don’t have children yet and Roman Chamomile is really expensive- eden botanicals is less than mountainroseherbs.com). I bought all of the essential oils and other oils off mountainroseherbs.com for $102.16. I bought buckwheat hulls for less than $40 from buckwheathull.com (which also promotes jobs for people with mental disabilities). My bottles were from specialtybottle.com, which cost less than $30. I got old newspapers from a friend for the compost, had an old plastic tote for that as well. Instead of giving away my old clothes I used scraps to make other things not in the book (like a braided rug…). My husband is very much like Sophie’s in the sense that he teases me about the way I have been trying to get absolutely everyone around me to be more aware about what they are buying and throwing away. I have offered to recycle for many people (including my boss, who has no time to even bring in returnables). I am trying to get people to compost as well, especially those who garden. I am planning on growing my vegetables this summer (on the beautiful bare porch, that my husband wants to stay that way- bare!)As far as garbage, we recycle (which takes up hardly any space and only take 5 minutes to throw into the recycling center once I get there) and compost and I swear we have 1/3 of the garbage that I used to have (before I moved in with my husband- he started recycling before we met!) and you can have even less trash and get money back if you aren’t already returning bottles.
The supplies cost $117.16 (which I spent out of my tax return), included shipping costs. I also bought some extra supplies from the grocery store and walmart that cost less than $30 (borax, washing soda crystals, Fels-Naptha, aloe vera juice…). Less trash saves me money on the cost of disposal and trash bags. I reuse plastic bags for cleaning out my rabbits cage and I plan on making a doggy and kitty bed with the rest (instructions found in Do It Gorgeously). I am using reusable bags from now on for any shopping. I will save money on compost by making my own. I will save money on vegetables by growing my own. I use rags instead of paper towels and plan on investing in cloth napkins. We use cold water to clean the laundry (also something my husband got me to do- I’ll note that he never considered himself “green”, just sensible). There are many ways to conserve and save money at the same time and DIY is another great way to do that. I want to mention that I work full time, take care of my household (including a cat, dog, rabbit, husband and step son), go to College part time, and have time to do and make things myself. I just got married, so this has also been a huge transition. Also, I live in an apartment. If I can do it and it makes me feel happy, I believe almost anyone else can do it.