Beyond essential oils, have you ever wondered what other essentials you should keep in your DIY cabinet? Don’t worry, the list isn’t as long as you’d think and you probably already have some of these things in your pantry. With this list of the top 12 things you should always keep stocked in your DIY cabinet, you’ll be able to tackle most of the DIY recipes on our blog!
Fractionated Coconut Oil
Like keeping things simple? Then Fractionated Coconut Oil is the carrier oil for you. Fractionated Coconut Oil (FCO for short) absorbs into the skin at a remarkable rate making it the ideal carrier for many people. It’s thin, odorless, colorless, and extremely light, which is vital for on-the-go uses like roller bottles. Compared to other carrier oils, it’s also reasonably inexpensive. Also, unlike most other carrier oils, Fractionated Coconut Oil is resistant to rancidity, meaning it has a longer shelf life. Under proper storage conditions (cool, dark place), it can last at least two years.
Jojoba Oil
Fractionated Coconut Oil, while versatile, isn’t the most nourishing carrier oil for the skin. If nourishment and skin health is something you find yourself looking for, Jojoba is BOSS. While commonly referred to as a carrier oil, Jojoba is a wax that closely resembles the natural sebum of human skin and is extremely rich in Vitamin E. It has a slightly thick consistency so a little bit goes a long way. Like Fractionated Coconut Oil, Jojoba has a rather long shelf life as well. If kept in a cool, dark place, Jojoba can last almost indefinitely.
Argan Oil
Argan Oil is almost considered a cure-all in the cosmetic industry. It is renowned for its incredible conditioning and anti-aging properties, as well as for its remarkable nourishment properties for hair. It’s gentle, making it a go-to carrier oil for sensitive skin or those who are prone to breakouts. Rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, Argan Oil is known to make dull complexions glow, diminish the appearance of fine lines, and restore skin elasticity. It’s fantastic to use in any face serums you want to whip up.
Epsom Salt
While Pink Himalayan salt is impressive, sometimes you need to revert to good old Epsom salt. Epsom salt is a popular choice for those struggling with things like muscle soreness and stress. It dissolves quickly and isn’t harsh on the skin. Because Epsom salt is high in magnesium, it can help promote sleep and reduce stress. It’s relatively inexpensive and readily available, which makes it a must-have in your DIY cabinet.
Pink Himalayan Salt
Our All-Natural Pink Himalayan Salt is the perfect salt for body care products. It is chock-full of minerals like magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iron, which makes it great for overall skin health. If you want an easily dissolvable salt for a nice relaxing bath soak, this is what you want. Well known for its fantastic health benefits, our All Natural Pink Himalayan Salt is the highest quality, food-grade, Himalayan Salt available on the market. Because it’s food-grade, it can be used in cooking preparations, too. So why not have it in your DIY cabinet?
Beeswax
Beeswax is essential for those interested in making salves and balms. Plant Therapy’s Yellow All Natural Beeswax Pearls are characterized by their golden yellow color and a naturally mild, sweet aroma. Plant Therapy provides beeswax pearls that are small in size, making them easier to measure and melt when compared to thick bars of beeswax that require cutting and grinding. Keep in mind that beeswax is a natural product, so the color and scent can vary from batch to batch.
Shea Butter Or Cocoa Butter
Shea Butter is a naturally creamy butter high in Vitamins A and E, as well as other essential fatty acids and minerals. Renowned for its luxurious moisturizing properties, Shea Butter is the go-to product for revitalizing dry, damaged skin. It is most commonly used in lotions, creams, balms, and soaps due to its smooth finish. Keep in mind that Shea Butter can have a strong nutty aroma, so it’s recommended to pair it with your favorite essential oils to help lighten the smell.
You can also use Cocoa Butter! It’s rich in Vitamin E, making it the ideal butter for overall skin health. It can help reduce dryness and is soothing to even the most irritated and sensitive skin types. Because of its rich and creamy texture, Cocoa Butter is perfect in lotion, cream, and balm formulations. Oh, and the most critical part, it has a rich, sweet chocolate aroma. Mix it with a little bit of beeswax, Jojoba, and Peppermint, and you’ll have yourself a beautiful, cocoa-mint lip balm!
Unscented Lotion or Body Butter
Carrier oils are always a fantastic option for skincare, but sometimes a lotion or body butter is really what you need. Whether you’re creating a creamy lotion for its aroma or taking advantage of the therapeutic properties of your oils, an unscented lotion is a quick and easy way to incorporate your favorite essential oils into your body care routine. Our Unscented Olive Lotion is great for everyday purposes. Or try our Age-Defying Body Crème for ultimate skin nourishment.
Aloe Jelly
Aloe Jelly is an excellent unscented base for DIY essential oil projects. It’s hydrating and gentle on sensitive skin, making it ideal for things like sunburn, and other skin-irritating issues. It penetrates deeply, helping to soothe even the most irritated skin. To maximize hydration, apply Aloe Jelly after showering. It can even be used after shaving to reduce irritation and razor bumps.
Castile Soap
Castile Soap is a natural detergent alternative made from premium ingredients. Plant Therapy only uses the 100% pure ingredients of Saponified Organic Coconut, Olive and Jojoba Oils, Rosemary Extract, Organic Aloe Vera in our Unscented Castile soap. Because our Castile soap is unscented, it’s perfect for DIY projects. You can use it to make hand, face and body washes. It can also be used to make non-toxic cleaning products for washing dishes, mopping, and your other household chores.
Baking Soda
Many of our customers have turned to essential oils to live healthier, toxin-free lives. Because of this shift to cleaner products, many of our customers are also looking for easy, natural, DIY cleaning recipes and products to use in their homes. If that’s you, you need baking soda. Baking Soda has so many uses, ranging from deodorizing to cleaning stuck, dried-on foods from stovetops. Because it’s so versatile and used in so many cleaning recipes, it’s crucial to have on hand.
Everclear
Everclear is a brand name of grain alcohol that is bottled at a higher proof than cheaper vodkas typically found at grocery stores. While not available everywhere, Everclear usually comes in two proofs, 151 (75.5% alcohol) and 190 (95% alcohol). If you can get your hands on it, either one of these proofs is perfect for your DIY cabinet, as it’s the easiest option when it comes to solubilizing and preserving water-based DIYs. While we won’t get into the technicalities of this type of product formulation here, you can read more about it in our Everclear 101 post.
Don’t Forget the Tools!
In addition to all of the useful products and ingredients we’ve shared throughout this blog post, it’s essential to have all the essential tools. We recommend that you have a dedicated set of gadgets for your essential oil DIYs to prevent any cross-contamination. Some of the recommended tools and devices you should consider getting for your DIY cabinet include measuring cups, measuring spoons, mixing spoons, mixing bowls, and containers (like roll-on bottles, glass spray bottles, empty lotion bottles, etc).
What else do you keep in your DIY cabinets? Let us know in the comments!
