DIY Beauty and Makeup Potion Recipes

Tie on your aprons, fire up your blenders, and bust out your mixing bowls— it’s time to get experimental with your beauty routine.

On the menu? DIY, easy-to-create recipes from two experts who are known for their holistic approach to hair and skincare. Ready to join our test kitchen? With just a little bit of sorcery, creativity, (and cupboard digging), you’ll be whipping up your own beauty potions in no time.

Our wizard for homemade hair cocktails? None other than James Corbett (AKA “the “Gloss Boss”) who’s famed for giving stars his signature shiny hair treatment. Here, his recipes for supremely healthy, supple, spellbinding strands. Love these? See more at @jamescorbettstudio.

“I’m a huge fan of using essential oils on hair because they mimic the natural oils your scalp produces,” says James. “They make the BEST deep conditioner without the heavy silicone a lot of store-bought masks have.”

The ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of any plant or nut-based essential oil (Flaky scalp? Try using almond or walnut oil, which have antifungal properties that combat dandruff and psoriasis.)

• 2 tablespoons of your fave scented essential oil

The technique:

1. Apply to dry hair and comb through. (Why dry? Oil and water repel each other, so if you apply it on wet hair, the oil won’t soak into your strands.)

2. Put on a plastic shower cap. Leave on for about 30 minutes to an hour. (For extra deep conditioning, apply before you hit the hay and sleep on it.)

3. Fill a cup with water and add a few drops of shampoo. Mix it up and apply directly to your hair, then work into a lather. Rinse.

“This easy tonic helps your hair maintain a healthy pH balance, protects the follicles, keeps the cuticles sealed, and ultimately gives you shinier, more manageable hair,” says James.

The ingredients:

• Apple cider vinegar

• Distilled water

The technique:

1. In a spray bottle, mix one part apple cider vinegar with 4 parts water. Shake well.

2. Spritz onto wet hair and style as usual. (Don’t worry about the smell! It’ll dissipate. We promise you won’t smell like a salad all day.)

“Start with a healthy fat (like avocado or full fat Greek yogurt) and then play with your food—literally. Pretty much anything goes here, so have fun with it!” says James.

The ingredients:

• Any healthy fats (like avocados or Greek yogurt)

• Raw honey

• Bananas

• Citrus fruits

• Seriously any natural stuff you have in your kitchen

The technique:

1. Throw all ingredients in a blender.  

2. Mix it up (and try not to drink it all!).

3. Apply to damp hair and leave on for 20-30 minutes.

4. Rinse with shampoo.

Sometimes skincare calls for one thing—simplicity. So we reached out to NYC-based aesthetician Britta Plug (otherwise known as the “Queen of Holistic Skincare”—follow her on IG at @britta_beauty!) to share her recipes for a gorg, glowing complexion.

“This super easy steaming treatment breaks up blockages and clears out your pores,” says Britta. “Your skin will be left clean, soft, and happy.”

The ingredients:

• Jojoba oil. That’s it.

The technique:

1. Massage into skin really well for 5 minutes.

2. Take a hot washcloth, wring it out, make sure it’s not uncomfortably hot, then drape it over your face.

3. Leave it on for a full minute.

4. Thoroughly remove all oil with the washcloth.

“I love this one for combination skin. It’s my universal mask for hydrating, softening, healing and calming,” says Britta. “The honey is also antimicrobial and really great for rashes.”

The ingredients:

• Raw organic honey

• A pinch of spirulina (You can get it at any health food store)

The technique:

1. Put a dollop of raw honey and the spirulina in a bowl. Mix it up and add a few drops of water. (This will help it spread on more easily.)

2. Apply and leave on for 20 minutes.

3. Rinse off with warm water.

“Yogurt and avocado are full of healthy fats for soothing and moisturizing. And tumeric is my go-to for reducing inflammation and pigmentation,” says Britta.

The ingredients:

• Full fat Greek yogurt

• A tiny pinch of tumeric

• Half an avocado

The technique:

1. Mix everything up in a bowl until smooth.

2. Apply and leave on for 20 minutes.

3. Rinse off with warm water.

“So simple but beyond amazing. Our skin eats what we put on it, and good ol’ olive oil is chock-full of nutrients. It’s also insanely luxurious and works wonders as a natural body moisturizer without the stabilizers, binders, and preservatives that can be found in a lot of lotions,” says Britta.“

The ingredients:

• Extra virgin olive oil

• Any scented oil you love

The technique:

1. Mix the olive oil with your fave scented essential oil. (We’re obsessed with lavender for relaxing and rose for date night.)

2. Rub all over damp skin.

3. Let it soak in for a few minutes before getting dressed.  

Britta’s take: “This DIY body scrub does it all, from cutting back the appearance of cellulite and detoxifying to depuffing and moisturizing. I recommend that all of my clients use it in the shower at least once a week.”

The ingredients:

• Coconut oil

• Coffee grinds

• A hair catcher in your shower drain for the grinds (Very IMPT!)

The technique:

1. Mix up a big scoop of coconut oil and the grinds from your morning cup of joe.

2. Stand under the shower for a few minutes and then turn the water off. (This will prevent all of the scrub from rinsing off too soon.)

3. Grab a handful of scrub and give yourself a thorough massage starting at your ankles and feet, working upwards towards the center of your body.

4. Rinse it all off—but don’t soap up after or you’ll lose the moisturizing benefits of the coconut oil.

5. Use a washcloth to remove any oily residue.

Sheela Soskin
Ipster, Red lipstick fanatic, Cat enthusiast
@IPSY
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