15 Ways To Save Money By Making Your Own Bath & Body Products

Are you tired of wasting money on store-bought bath and body products that aren’t serving you? Would you like to make your own to help reduce waste financially and otherwise? 
Angela Wills - Savvy Homemade
by Angela Wills
Updated Aug 29, 2024

Woman making natural soap, beauty, bath, body products

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Are you tired of wasting money on store-bought bath and body products that aren’t serving you? Would you like to make your own to help reduce waste financially and otherwise? 

You may notice savings in some instances, if not when you make a direct comparison, such as how much the bulk ingredients cost to make your shampoo vs. buying a bottle. However, most of the ingredients you purchase for DIY bath and body products can be used for multiple purposes. Plus, there won’t be as much waste associated with trial and error of expensive store-bought products that don’t work for you.

There are many other benefits to making your own skincare and body care goods, including keeping plastic waste out of landfills and knowing precisely what you’re putting on your body. You can enjoy me-time with these DIY self-care products without the guilt!

1. Makeup

diy makeup recipes
Photo Credit: SavvyHomemade

DIY makeup is becoming more popular due to the rising prices of goods, and people are becoming more aware of what they ingest and put on their bodies. Creating your own makeup at home is not only eco-friendly, but it’s also better for your skin.

Gone is the misconception that homemade makeup can’t look as good as store-bought products. In fact, DIY makeup allows you to customize the shade or color of each item to your personal taste much more closely than you can get at the store.

Get The Recipes: Natural DIY Makeup Recipes From Home

2. Perfume

Eau de parfum, sitting next to some wood

Tired of buying expensive perfumes that don’t quite smell the way you wish they would? Or maybe you’re worried about the long list of ingredients on your perfume bottle, questioning whether it’s safe to put on your skin.

Whether you wear perfume every day or for special occasions, what you put on your skin matters. And creating your own perfume is the safest way to control what you’re spritzing on. Plus, you can use essential oils to customize exactly how you’d like to smell!

Get The Recipes: DIY Perfume Recipes You Can Make At Home

3. Hair Treatments

mature beautiful 40-year-old blond hair woman
Image Credit: Shutterstock

Do you ever wonder what types of toxins are in hair dye and other hair treatments that can seep in through your scalp? It may be time to ditch your store-bought or salon products and switch to a more natural, homemade process. 

Naturally coloring and treating hair works differently than chemical filled products and helps to strengthen or condition your hair while it dyes it. This is typically done with a homemade recipe that uses henna as a base.

Get The Recipes: DIY Hair Care Products & Treatments

4. Shampoo

diy clarifying shampoo
Photo Credit: SavvyHomemade

Have you ever noticed that you run out of shampoo much quicker than conditioner if you buy it in a set? Or is your shampoo leaving your hair feeling greasy and never exceptionally clean? 

Consider learning to create your own shampoo or bar that will be more effective and kinder to your hair. Shampoo bars are also a great idea for reducing waste, as no plastic container is involved.

Get The Recipes: DIY Shampoo Recipes

5. Hair Conditioner

A pot of homemade deep conditioner for damaged hair
Image Credit: Shutterstock

Like shampoo, conditioner typically comes in a plastic container full of questionable ingredients and preservatives. Whether you condition every day or on a sporadic schedule, a homemade deep conditioner can help revive your hair.

Consider making a deep conditioner at home to restore your hair to a softer state. You can even create a leave-in conditioner for extra moisture. 

Get The Recipes: DIY Hair Conditioners

6. Moisturizing Lotions & Butters

DIY chocolate body butter
Photo Credit: SavvyHomemade

Your body requires a lot more moisture than you may realize. You shouldn’t only put lotion on dry spots, like elbows, or after a shower. Regularly applying proper moisture is essential for the health and appearance of your skin and to reduce signs of aging.

Lotion can get expensive, even if you buy it in bulk. Instead, learn to make your own body lotion to keep your skin happy and moisturized. In addition to saving money, you will know what is going into your products and keep more plastic out of landfills.

Get The Recipes: DIY Body Care Products

7. Face Creams

homemade anti wrinkle cream

Don’t forget your face when thinking about moisturizing! In addition to wearing sunscreen daily, you should apply some moisturizer to your face. Your hands will also appreciate the extra attention, especially if you’ve not moisturized them lately.

It is also important to know what ingredients are in the lotion you apply to your face and hands. You may want to make a different type of cream or lotion for specific body areas, such as one for your body, one for the face, and one for the hands. At the end of the day, everyone is different, so you can experiment and figure out what works for you.

Get The Recipes: DIY Face Moisturizers

8. Face Masks

mature women using green face mask
Image Credit: Shutterstock

Face masks are one of the top products associated with relaxation and luxury. You can buy many types of face masks at the store, including sheet masks, clay masks, and other concoctions that promise to leave your skin refreshed. 

Many of these store-bought products are full of preservatives and chemicals that can dry out your skin and cause reactions, especially if you are sensitive. You can create various face masks at home using natural ingredients like eggs, lemon, and oatmeal.

9. Dry Shampoo

arrowroot powder dry shampoo

Dry shampoo that comes in an aerosol bottle typically doesn’t last long and is terrible for the environment, too. Save your wallet and your hair by making your own oil-absorbing powder that can reduce greasiness without all of the toxins.

A few recipes for making your own dry shampoo use ingredients like baby powder, cornstarch, or unsweetened cocoa powder for the dark-haired ladies.

Get The Recipes: Easy DIY Dry Shampoo Recipes

10. Body Scrub

brown sugar and honey body scrub

Is your skin starting to feel a bit dry? That may be the answer if you haven’t exfoliated in a while. Although you could buy expensive products that offer exfoliation from the store, you could also make your own version that’s healthier for your skin and just as effective.

Depending on what you have on hand, you may already have some of the ingredients needed for a salt or sugar scrub. Plus, with essential oils, you can customize it to the scent of your choice.

Get The Recipes: How To Make A Homemade Body Scrub

11. Foot Scrub

diy scrub

Your feet work hard to carry you around all day, especially if you have a job where you’re often on your feet. If you don’t have the money or time to get a pedicure regularly, consider ways to take care of your feet. 

One way is to apply lotion regularly to your toes and feet. Another is to make your own foot scrub, which you can use on your feet to remove dead skin and keep them feeling fresh. 

Get The Recipe: Kiwi Burst – A DIY Foot Scrub

12. Face Serum

Rosehip & Camellia Hydration Serum Recipe

Face serums are currently all the rage and usually come ripe with promises to rejuvenate, hydrate, and reduce signs of aging. Face serums are often nothing more than an expensive bottle of water that smells nice. 

If you check the ingredients in your serums, you may realize you aren’t getting as much benefit as possible. Making your own serum means you can control what goes into it and get the most out of your routine with hydrating ingredients. 

Get The Recipe: How To Make A Natural DIY Face Serum

13. Lip Products

homemade lip balms

Looking for ways to take care of you from head to toe? Don’t forget to exfoliate and moisturize your lips! While lipstick may look beautiful, it typically dries out your lips. You would probably be horrified to know how much lipstick and lip products we ingest while wearing it.

Do your lips a favor and make your own lip scrub, lip balm, and lip color. You can customize these products to your taste and feel better about what you put on your skin and potentially ingest.

Get The Recipes: DIY Lip Balms & Scrubs

14. Bath Bombs

basic diy bath bombs

Who doesn’t love to treat themselves to a bath with a lovely scent and even a foaming bath bomb? Bath bombs can seem frivolous to some, but they add fun and relaxation that can’t be mimicked with another product, like bath oil.

If you love bath bombs but don’t love the high price tag that usually comes with them, try creating your own. You may need to pick up a few supplies, but your skin will likely thank you for switching to a DIY recipe.

Get The Recipes: A DIY Bath Bomb Recipe For Maximum Benefits & Fizz

15. Bath Salts

diy bath salts

Bath salts are a great addition to any relaxing bath, especially if you like to be surrounded by fragrance when you bathe. But have you ever looked at the list of ingredients for your bath products? Many store-bought products, even from big, name-brand companies, are full of toxins, preservatives, and additives that are bad for your skin and body.

Bath salts are relatively easy to make, especially using Epsom salts as a base. You can customize the bath salt recipe to your taste, such as by the scent of the essential oils you include.

Get The Recipes: 10 Gorgeous DIY Bath Salt Recipes For A Lovely Relaxing Soak

How To Make DIY Face Cream: New Recipe For 2024

natural DIY face cream
Photo Credit: SavvyHomemade

Here’s how to create your own natural, homemade face moisturizer! Each time I take a pass at this formula, I do my best to improve it. New ingredients, new benefits, new skins! Or at least that’s my mantra. Say goodbye to expensive store-bought creams & hello to a natural, healthy glow!
Get The Recipe: How To Make My Brand New DIY Face Cream

An Essential Oil Use Guide & Free eBook

essential oils
Image Credit: Shutterstock

Here, you will find a free download and list of essential oils and their uses, along with some detailed information on more than forty of the most popular oils to explore; I have listed their properties along with pairings, substitutes, descriptions, and my recommended choice.
Let’s dive in and look at: The Essential Oil Use Guide & eBook

This article originally appeared on Savvy Homemade

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Angela Wills

Angela is the founder and driving force behind Savvy Homemade. With over fifteen years experience in DIY home crafts, and a Diploma in skincare formulation, Angela brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to every post she writes. She is fearlessly dedicated to creating tried, tested recipes & products that will work for everyone, and she infuses each DIY product with her passion and expertise.

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Angela Wills - Savvy Homemade

Hi, I’m Angela Wills, founder of SavvyHomemade.com. For two decades I’ve been creating natural skincare, soaps, and DIY recipes that are easy, affordable, and fun to make. My mission is to help you craft products you’ll love – straight from your own home.

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