Here’s how to make your own body oil. It’s extremely quick and easy to mix up a simple, therapeutic, totally pure, additive-free, non-irritant DIY body oil recipe with maximum benefits that are tailored to your very own needs. And all at a very low cost, in minutes.
However, as with all homemade moisturizers,and otherDIY beauty products making a homemade body oil isn’t just about getting a quality product at a low price; it also enables you to have total control of what goes in it, so you can target those problem areas such as cellulite, stretch marks or rough cracked skin.
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Table Of Contents Hide
Here’s How A Body Oil Works
Making A Great Body Oil
Dermal Limits
Selecting The Right Oils
Best Carrier Oils To Use:
Best Essential Oils To Use:
Body Recipes For Mature Skin:
How To Make Body Oil At Home
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
Body Oil For Dry Skin:
Body Oil For Sensitive Skin:
Body OIl For Oily skin:
Body OIl For Problem Areas:
Adapting Your Body Oils
Final Thoughts
Here’s How A Body Oil Works
- All moisturizers work by sealing the skin’s surface and trapping the body’s natural water within the skin’s tissue, as oil is far more effective in sealing and moisturizing than water, the more oil your moisturizer contains the better it will work.
- Body oils that have been made with pure essential oil then diluted with the appropriate carrier oil won’t contain any hidden water, and has to be one of the best body treatments you can use.
Making A Great Body Oil
To make a good DIY body oil recipe we should be looking at around 97% carrier oil, 1 to 2% essential oil (depending on its dermal limits), and 1% Antioxidant.
To make it easier I’ve worked out the recipes bellow using teaspoons and drops, however, if you are thinking of getting into this in a big way I recommend getting a digital scale that can weight out extremely small quantities such as 0.01g
As we are talking drops and teaspoons the maximum recommended amounts we will be working with are 2 drops of essential oil to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil. Never use more than the suggested quantities, essential oil does not become more effective by using extra, in fact, it may even have a negative effect.
Dermal Limits
Have a look at each essential oil on my essential guide. I also recommend checking the dermal limits for – Irritation, Sensitisation, and Phototoxicity when formulating.
A prime example of this would be Rose essential oil, it smells wonderful, and has fantastic values (defiantly in the top 10 best oils you can buy for skincare), however, it should only be used on average between 0.01 % to 0.04% in a body or face oil. Which is a maximum of 2 drops per 100g (3.5 oz) so please be wary of any online recipe that suggests using more.
Selecting The Right Oils
Try to make your diy body oil in small batches so that they are always fresh if however you really must make up a large batch, adding 1% of vitamin E or Rosemary CO2 extract. This will help to preserve the oils and stop them from oxidation or going rancid.
Choosing the right oils to match your skin type is particularly important as to how quickly the oils are absorbed into the skin. Below is a list of the best carrier oils to use for different skin types and individual problem areas.
However, this doesn’t mean that you are limited to using just the oils listed in the categories below. The last thing you want to do is smother yourself in an aroma that doesn’t smell nice to you. After all, our mental health can also play a large part in improving our body and skin. All oils have value, so adding a few drops of your favorite scented oil can vastly change a dull-smelling DIY body oil into something special.
Best Carrier Oils To Use:
- Dry skin – Apricot Kernel, Rice Bran, Avocado, Sesame oil, Meadowfoam, Calendula Infused oil.
- Itchy, Sensitive skin – Sweet Almond, Avocado, Hempseed, Sunflower, Calendula Infused oil.
- Wrinkles – Argan, Borage, Pomegranate, Evening Primrose, Carrot Infused oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Normal – Jojoba, Safflower, Tamanu.
- Oily skin – Safflower, Sunflower, Jojoba, Grapeseed Tamanu.
- Scars – Argan, Rosehip, Calendula Infused oil.
- Stretch marks – Rosehip, Argan, Calendula Infused oil.
Here’s some more info on these carrier oils and where to buy them
Best Essential Oils To Use:
- Dry skin – Jasmine, Calendula, Carrot Seed, Lavender, Benzoin, Rose.
- Oily skin – Patchouli, Bergamot, Tea Tree, Clary Sage, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Petitgrain
- Itchy skin – Lavender, Calendula, Chamomile, Helichrysum, Jasmine.
- Mature skin – Rose, Carrot seed, Neroli, Frankincense, Lavender, Helichrysum, Sweet Orange, Carrot Seed, Galbanum.
- Itchy skin – Lavender, Calendula, Chamomile, Helichrysum, Jasmine.
- Sensitive skin Chamomile, Lavender, Rosemary, Calendula, Helichrysum.
- Cracked/Rough skin Lavender, Benzoin, Carrot Seed, Sandlewood.
- Stretchmarks, Neroli, Jasmine, Frankincense, Lavender.
- Spots/Pimples Palmarosa, Helichrysum, Tea Tree, Juniper, Yarrow, Sweet Orange, Violet Leaf
Important Note: Due to their phototoxicity in the sun, citrus oils are unsuitable to use whilst
sunbathing. So, just avoid them during the sunniest months of summer, or use them in night time skin formulations.
Here’s some more info on these oils and where to buy them.
As I mentioned earlier you are going to be covering your entire body with this oil, so it’s important to create a nice pleasant scent, this will become easier once you become more familiar with each individual scent.
If you are feeling a little overwhelmed don’t worry, because I’ve listed some excellent combinations for you to try further on in this post.
The recipes below are for 2floz/ 60mls and are best stored in a glass dropper bottle or a PET bottle with a serum or flip lid for easy application.
Body Recipes For Mature Skin:
Frankincense will always be my first go-to in any mature diy body oil. It has some fantastic rejuvenating values that can help encourage new cell growth to keep our skin looking young and healthy. There’s a reason why the Egyptians used this oil to mummify!
Frankincense also has a nice spicy aroma that blends beautifully with the sweet citrus scents of sweet orange and neroli or fresh peppermint.
The carrier oils are interchangeable in these recipes. They all have a mild scent, along with superb moisturizing and cell renewal benefits. I’ll begin by showing you the one I use most often, my Orange Bliss body oil
How To Make Body Oil At Home
Heres how to make your own body oil. It's extremely quick and easy to mix up a simple, therapeutic, totally pure body oil recipe with maximum benefits, tailored to your very own needs in minutes.
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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
Yield: 2 floz
Difficulty Level: Easy
Author: Angela Wills
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Ingredients
Essential Oils
- 9 drops Orange Essential Oil
- 9 drops Frankincense Essential Oil
- 3 drops Neroli Essential Oil
Carier Oils
- 12 teaspoons Evening Primrose Oil (2oz/60ml)
- 3 drops Vitamin E Oil
- Glass Bottle (or PET plastic)
Equipment
Instructions
Put all of the carrier oil into your glass beaker, and add your essential oils.
9 drops Orange Essential Oil, 9 drops Frankincense Essential Oil, 3 drops Neroli Essential Oil, 12 teaspoons Evening Primrose Oil, 3 drops Vitamin E Oil
Pour the contents into your bottle and shake it to combine ingredients before use
Glass Bottle
Category: DIY Bath & Body
Cuisine: N/A
Difficulty: Easy
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The following recipes all use the same method as above.
Minty Mornings – For Mature Skin:
- 8 drops of Frankincense essential oil, 8 drops of Orange essential oil, and 4 drops of Mint essential oil.
- Blended in 6 teaspoons (1oz/30ml) Pomegranate oil, 6 teaspoons (1oz/30ml) Sweet Almond oil, and a few drops of Vitamin E.
Body Oil For Dry Skin:
Lavender is one of the most versatile oils on the market, it works well with all skin types but is particularly good on dry or sensitive skin.
Lavender has excellent anti-inflammatory properties to soothe and calm any dry or itchy areas. The mint might seem a strange one for dry skin, but it works perfectly with the lavender, and it has a lovely cooling effect on contact.
Mint essential oil is also a very good anti-aging oil and who would say no to that?
Once again the carrier oils are interchangeable in these recipes. They all have a mild scent, and superb moisturizing and cell renewal benefits.
Lavender Mint
- 8 drops Lavender essential oil, and 5 drops Mint essential oil.
- Blended in 12 teaspoons (1oz/30ml) Apricot Kernel, 6 teaspoons (1oz/30ml) Sweet Almond, and a few drops of Vitamin E.
Overnight Moisture Boost
- 5 drops Lavender, 5 drops Neroli, and 5 drops Jasmine essential oil.
- Blended in 6 teaspoons (1oz/30ml) of Apricot Kernel oil, 6 teaspoons (1oz/30ml) Meadowfoam oil, and a few drops of Vitamin E oil.
Body Oil For Sensitive Skin:
It’s no surprise that Chamomile essential oil features in both of these sensitive skin DIY body oils. It has exceptional healing and calming benefits which is exactly what you want in a sensitive skin recipe.
The Lavender and rosemary essential oil are both known for their gentle nourishing values whilst the peppermint and neroli give these oils a welcome uplifting scent.
The Avocado oil can be purchased in a refined form which is a pale golden color and carries little or no odor, or in its unrefined form of deep green and nutty aroma. Given the choice, I’d go or the more natural one (unrefined) as it contains more therapeutic properties.
Cooling Soother
- 8 drops Chamomile essential oil, 4 drops Lavender essential oil, and 4 drops Mint essential oil.
- Blended in 12 teaspoons (2oz/60ml) Sunflower oil and a few drops of Vitamin E.
Green Calmer
- 10 drops Chamomile essential oil, 5 drops Neroli essential oil, and 2 drops Rosemary essential oil.
- Blended in 6 teaspoons (1oz/30ml) Avocado oil, 6 teaspoons (1oz/30ml) Calendula infused oil, and a few drops of Vitamin E OIL.
Body OIl For Oily skin:
Even oily skin needs to be moisturized to keep its fresh youthful appearance.
The great thing about using a DIY body oil here is that you can help balance the skin’s natural oiliness and target those problem areas that are prone to breakouts due to excess oil. Citrus oils are particularly good at this and have a beautiful uplifting aromas.
I think its important to use lightweight oils, that will glide easily but don’t feel heavy on the skin. the oils I’ve chosen here, also have oil moderating and anti-inflammatory qualities.
Bergamot Hydration
- 10 Drops Bergamont essential oil, 5 drops Lemon essential oil, and 5 drops Patchouli essential oil.
- Blended in 12 teaspoons (2oz/ 60ml) Safflower oil, and a few drops of Vitamin E oil.
Citrus Refreshment
9 drops Grapefruit essential oil, 6 drops Petitgrain essential oil, and 3 drops Lemon essential oil.
Blended in 12 teaspoons (2oz/ 60ml) Jojoba oil, and a few drops of Vitamin E oil.
Body OIl For Problem Areas:
There may be times when we need oil to target specific areas. Fresh is defiantly better here, so I strongly suggest making up a little at a time and storing them in a 1oz (30ml) dark dropper bottle.
Cellulite
- 3 drops Rosemary essential oil, 2 drops Lavender essential oil, and 3 drops Sweet Orange essential oil
- Blended in 6 teaspoons (1oz/ 30ml) Grapeseed oil and a few drops of Vitamin E.
Stretch Marks
- 6 drops Frankincense essential oil, and 3 drops Lavender essential oil, and 3 drops Lemon essential oil.
- Blended in 6 teaspoons (1oz/ 30ml) Rosehip Seed oil, and a few drops of Vitamin E.
Scars
- 4 drops Sweet Orange essential oil, 4 drops Geranium essential oil, and 2 drops Frankincense essential oil.
- Blended in 6 teaspoons (1oz/ 30ml) Rosehip Seed oil, and a few drops of Vitamin E oil.
Spots and Oiliness
- 5 drops Tea Tree essential oil, and 5 drops Lavender essential oil.
- Blended in 6 teaspoons (1 floz/ 30ml) Jojoba oil.
Adapting Your Body Oils
Now you’ve got the hang of how to mix up your own DIY body oil you can use them to create some other fantastic treatments such as body exfoliates, body packs and body soaks.
I’ve covered the basic methods on each of these treatments below but it really is down to individual needs and preferences, so get creative and custom build your own.
Exfoliation
For very rough areas (Sea Salt)
Use sea salt for very rough areas such as heels knees and elbows.
- Place 6 tablespoons of Sea Salt into a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, and sprinkle over 1 teaspoon of your chosen moisturizer mix.
- Place the lid on the jar and give it a good shake then leave it overnight before using it.
- Rub over damp skin in circular motions, rinse off with warm water and then apply a homemade skin moisturizer afterward.
For dry coarse skin (Almonds)
- Blend or finely crush 2 tablespoons of fresh almonds then add just enough of your chosen moisturizer mix to make a nice smooth paste.
- Coarsely chop another 2 tablespoons of almonds and stir into the paste.
- Then use immediately. Rub over damp skin in circular motions, rinse off with warm water and then apply a homemade moisturizer afterward.
Body Packs
For a small area (with oatmeal)
This mix is ideal for spreading over small dry patches or spotty areas on the chest and back.
- Place 2 teaspoon of your chosen body moisturizer mix into a small pot or jar then heat it up by placing the pot/jar into a larger container filled with boiling water.
- Add enough fine oatmeal to make a good thick paste.
- Always try to use the paste whilst it’s still warm, this will give it an excellent drawing effect. Rinse of once cooled.
Large areas (with kaolin clay or fullers earth)
Great for treating cellulite, fluid retention and varicose veins
- Mix enough kaolin clay or fullers earth powder to 12 teaspoons of your chosen body oil mix to make a soft smooth paste.
- Immediately spread the pack thinly over the areas you are treating and then leave it to harden.
- Rinse off with warm water and then apply a DIY body oil moisturizer afterward.
Body Soaks
Skin softener for rough coarse areas
This soak is particularly good for softening nails before a manicure or pedicure along with treating rough dry areas of skin (you may need to use a pumice stone immediately after soaking on very rough skin).
Final Thoughts
Crafting your very own body oil is a deeply rewarding and simple process that puts the power of personalization in your hands. This DIY approach not only ensures that you know exactly what you’re applying to your skin, but it also allows for a lovely experience as you select each ingredient for its intended benefit.
Whether you’re looking to soothe, moisturize, or invigorate your skin, the DIY body oil recipes will guide you toward creating a pure, additive-free body oil that is as unique as you are.
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