How to make your own cleansing balm

What should you use?

Choose pure, unrefined, cold pressed coconut oil. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature and turns liquid when heated. You can use the oil itself rather than making a mixture. This is a makeup removal option, not a recipe for a blended cleansing balm.1

Coconut oil is generally not recommended for facial use, especially on oily or acne prone skin. It can cause breakouts, blackheads and whiteheads. It can also cause milia, small white or yellow bumps, particularly where skin is thinner, such as under the eyes. Its usefulness for dry body skin does not make it a good everyday face moisturizer.1

How do you use it to remove makeup?

1. 1Wash your hands before handling the oil, especially if you need to dip into a container.
2. 2Apply a little coconut oil with a cotton ball or pad to remove the first layer of makeup.
3. 3Follow with a gentle water based cleanser and rinse thoroughly to remove the oil and remaining makeup.

Should you mix a whole jar?

A homemade cleanser is still a cosmetic, even if its manufacturing department is your kitchen. Making cosmetics at home is permitted, but the preparation environment and packaging must not make the product unsafe. The same safety requirements apply whether the ingredients are described as natural or otherwise.3

Do not improvise a water containing blend without addressing preservation. Water containing cosmetics use antimicrobial preservatives to prevent bacterial or fungal growth. Antioxidants serve a different purpose: they help prevent the breakdown of unsaturated fatty acids. Adding an antioxidant is not the same job as controlling microbes.4

Keep containers clean, do not share the product, and do not add water or saliva. Contamination can come from ingredients, poor preparation, inadequate packaging or fingers dipped into a jar. Warm or damp storage can encourage some microorganisms to grow. A bad smell can signal contamination; do not keep using a product that shows signs of it.2

Test it before using it on your face

Apply the normal amount to a quarter sized spot on the underside of your arm or bend of your elbow twice daily for seven to 10 days. For a cleanser, leave it on for five minutes before washing it off. If there is no redness, itching or swelling after the testing period, you can start using it.5

If a reaction develops, gently wash the product off and stop using it. A cool compress or petroleum jelly can help relieve the skin. See a dermatologist if the reaction is severe and those measures do not help, or if you cannot identify what caused it.5

How do you make your own lip balm?

For a single ingredient option, use a little coconut oil on your lips. Simple petroleum based products also keep lips moist and help prevent chapping.16

For very dry, cracked lips, white petroleum jelly seals in water longer than waxes or oils. Avoid fragrance and irritating flavors while lips are chapped, and stop any product that burns or stings. Apply a nonirritating balm several times daily and before bed. Outdoors, use a lip balm with SPF 30 or higher and reapply every two hours. See a dermatologist if chapping has not improved within two to three weeks.7