Crafting Cosmetics at Home: Essential Ingredients Shopping List
Embarking on the journey of making cosmetics at home is an exciting endeavor that offers a sense of creativity, customization, and control over the products you use on your skin. Whether you’re interested in whipping up luxurious creams, soothing balms, or vibrant lipsticks, having the right ingredients on hand is essential for successful formulations. Here’s a comprehensive shopping list of essential ingredients to kickstart your DIY cosmetic crafting journey:
Don’t get overwhelmed with this list, this is only an example. You can buy lots more and lots less too. I began my making cosmetic journey with 10 ingredients and could make lots of good products.
- Carrier Oils:
- Jojoba Oil
- Sweet Almond Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Argan Oil
- Rosehip Seed Oil
- Butters:
- Shea Butter
- Cocoa Butter
- Mango Butter
- Kokum Butter
- Emulsifiers:
- Beeswax
- Candelilla Wax (for vegan formulations)
- Emulsifying Wax NF – synthetic
- Olivem 1000- natural
- Humectants and Moisturizers:
- Glycerin
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Aloe Vera Gel
- Vegetable Glycerin
- Honey
- Active Ingredients:
- Vitamin E Oil- Tocopherol
- Vitamin C Powder
- Retinol (Vitamin A)
- Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
- Green Tea Extract
- Essential Oils:
- Lavender
- Tea Tree
- Rosemary
- Peppermint
- Frankincense
- Natural Exfoliants:
- Sugar (White or Brown)
- Sea Salt
- Ground Coffee
- Oatmeal
- Preservatives:
- Optiphen – synthetic
- Germaben II-synthetic
- Leucidal Liquid SF (for natural formulations)
- Geogard Ultra (for eco-friendly formulations)
- Natural Colorants:
- Beetroot Powder (for pink/red hues)
- Spirulina Powder (for green hues)
- Turmeric Powder (for yellow hues)
- Cocoa Powder (for brown hues)
- Alkanet Root Powder (for purple hues)
- Fragrance Oils and Extracts:
- Vanilla Extract
- Rose Absolute
- Jasmine Absolute
- Sandalwood Essential Oil
- Bergamot Essential Oil
- Thickeners and Stabilizers:
- Xanthan Gum
- Guar Gum
- Arrowroot Powder (nice texturizer)
- Bentonite Clay
- Silk Amino Acids
- pH Adjusters:
- Citric Acid
- Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
- Lactic Acid
- Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda)
- Potassium Hydroxide
- Containers and Packaging:
- Glass Jars and Bottles
- Plastic Squeeze Tubes
- Lip Balm Tubes
- Aluminum Tins
- Dropper Bottles
- Tools and Equipment:
- Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
- Measuring Spoons and Cups
- Hand Blender or Mixer
- Double Boiler or Heatproof Bowls
- pH Testing Strips
- Educational Resources:
Before diving into DIY cosmetic formulation, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the properties and safety guidelines of each ingredient, as well as basic formulation techniques. Additionally, always perform patch tests and follow good manufacturing practices to ensure the safety and efficacy of your homemade cosmetics. With this comprehensive shopping list and a passion for skincare crafting, you’re well-equipped to embark on a journey of creativity and self-care through DIY cosmetics.
If you are thinking in creating your own skincare range to sell to the public in Ireland and/or Europe , have a look to my complete manual on how to sell your skincare products and comply EU cosmetic regulations . Believe me if you start googling the answer to this, you will not find it. It is real mess and complicated, this is the reason I wrote this manual step-by-step guide to help many skincare entrepreneurs .
