Self-care can be very therapeutic when matched with a no-fuss routine! And as the tide changes towards the use of more all-natural, organic, clean and vegan beauty products, store-bought products begin to lose their sheen.
According to vegan beauty entrepreneur Kaveeta Pol of Orrganic Elemennt, milk, eggs, yoghurt, honey, and mayonnaise don’t belong on our faces. Surprised? Many experts suggest that milk and yoghurt are not at the right pH balance to be absorbed by the skin.
She shares accessible and effective vegan skincare and hair care DIYs that have personally helped her and her clients to clean up their beauty routines. Kaveeta is confident that there is absolutely no need to use animal by-products on your skin to reach your skincare goals, and she is here to explain how and why.
Kaveeta Pol Shares 7 Vegan DIY Recipes To Add To Your Skincare Routine
“We’re going to be talking about the health of your skin and the health of your hair. If you identify goals for your skin and hair, start by creating a qualitative and quantitative lifestyle routine that works towards them because after all, this journey starts skin deep but then goes deeper. You need to look at your diet, water intake, exercise and mental well being.
And how does going Vegan with your beauty help?
Using plant-based ingredients in their natural form and in the right combination can help your skin heal organically. Because of their mild nature, they do take longer but are more sustainable habits as opposed to chemical-based, animal-tested and animal-infused, over-the-counter products whose long-term impacts are unknown.
Additionally, my recommendations bring together a few powerful ingredients in multipurpose ways which allow for an even more sustainable and zero-waste routine. Some of these habits can even replace your over-the-counter product purchases completely!
You can bear witness to results from these rather simple Vegan DIYs when sustained over continuous periods of time (generally between 3 weeks to 1.5 months). Hope you enjoy them and congratulations on choosing not to harm an animal for your skin and hair.
1. Lip Scrub
The sugar and coffee in this lip scrub recipe act as excellent exfoliants by rolling over the skin and lifting off dead skin. If you want to bring back some colour to your lip, add a few drops of pomegranate seeds.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (brown sugar preferred)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or coconut oil
- A pinch of coffee
- Pomegranate (Optional)
Method:
- Massage and leave it on for 10 mins and rinse.
- This is safe to do every alternate day.
2. Moisturiser
The best moisturiser for ageing skin and dry skin is pure organic coconut oil. It does an effective job of trapping moisture in your skin and keeping it supple. On the other hand, for oily skin, the ingredients mentioned below won’t feel heavy on the skin and in fact help control the oil production in the skin.
Ingredients:
For Flaky, Dry Skin:
- 2 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera
- 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
For Oily Skin:
- 2 tablespoon aloe vera juice
- 1 teaspoon sweet almond oil
- 2 tablespoon jojoba oil
Method:
- Mix well and apply.
- Feel free to enjoy this ritual every day.
3. Cleansers
As you might have already guessed I am a big fan of coconut oil for dry and flaky skin. It is a very good cleanser as well. Adding a pinch of aloe vera gel will also do your skin good.
Ingredients:
For Flaky, Dry Skin:
- Coconut Oil
- Aloe vera (optional)
For Oily Skin:
- Olive oil
Method:
- For Dry Skin: Apply oil on your face and wipe with clean wet cotton. This can be done every day.
- For Oily Skin: Take olive oil in your palms and dab on your face. Olive Oil helps calm down the oil glands. Apart from skin nourishment, it also promotes eyebrow growth.
4. Hair Mask For Frizzy Hair
Bananas are great for hair and scalp. They moisturise, improve shine and soften the hair! Avocados also help nourish, strengthen and smoothen hair. So overall, both these options are great if you have frizzy hair.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup mashed banana/avocado
- ¾ cup coconut oil
Method:
- Blend well and apply on your hair.
- Leave for 30 mins, cover your hair with a shower cap, rinse off. This can be done once a week.
5. Body Scrub
The combination of ingredients used below is a no-brainer exfoliant as well as moisturiser, and an excellent way of getting rid of dead skin. Some experts say that caffeine dilates blood vessels and reduces the appearance of skin dimples. This can be enjoyed once a week.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of coffee powder
- 1 cup of coconut oil
(Adjust quantity in the same ratio)
Method:
- Apply all over your body and scrub gently.
- Wash off with warm water once done.
6. Under Eye Mask
The good old humble potato eye mask helps dark circles as well as puffiness. On contact with oxygen, it stimulates melanin production, and the enzymes and the astringent properties help reduce inflammation and tighten the skin.
Ingredients:
- Blended potato
Method:
- Apply them under your eyes, keep your eyes closed and relaxed for 15 minutes and then wipe and rinse it off.
- This can be done every day.
7. Mixed Fruit Face Pack
To achieve that ultra Bollywood glow and to remove dullness from your skin, use this mixed fruit face pack or indulge in a fruit facial and see the results yourself!
Ingredients:
- ½ a cup mashed papaya/banana
- 2 teaspoon sandalwood powder (chandan)
- 4 teaspoon rose water
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
Method:
- Mix well in a bowl and apply it on your face evenly, keep it for 15 minutes and then rinse it off.
- This can be applied twice a week.
These vegan DIY recipes will hopefully drive you to turn towards adopting clean beauty more. Sunscreen is one such product I would recommend purchasing because although coconut oil gives natural protection from the sun, it’s not enough for tropical countries like India. In India, we require 40-50+ SPF, which naturally is not provided by any plant-based ingredient.”
Disclaimer: These DIYs should be followed as per the provided guidelines and not in any extreme quantities. We recommend patch testing before adding it to your regular routine.