There are a lot of products and brands out there, so coming to a blog like this can help with navigating the world of makeup, skin, and hair products. Sometimes, I hear from our readers, asking if I ever use home remedies instead of products off store shelves. This question likely comes up a lot because I tend to talk more about the vegan, cruelty-free items that are out there in the market; when it’s made of common ingredients, people will wonder what they can make at home. I’ve used a few DIY beauty products in my life (I make my own makeup brush cleaner and have used baking soda as toothpaste in a pinch), but it can take a decent amount of research to know the best ingredients to put together without breaking the bank. That’s why I was really happy to see that Sunny Subramanian has recently come out with her own book of vegan cosmetic recipes.
{DIY Beauty Products Book Review}
Sunny Subramanian
Some of you may have heard of Sunny Subramanian. She’s a vegan beauty blogger and has written a book called The Compassionate Chick’s Guide to Beauty. This book contains 125 recipes for vegan, cruelty-free makeup, skin, and hair products that you can make from items you may already have in your home!
Black Forest Chocolate Cake Facial Mask
One of my favourite recipes in here is the black forest chocolate cake facial mask.Yum!! It’s great for all skin types, the cocoa powder is antioxidant-rich and the cherry juice is an anti-inflammatory agent that can help clear up dark spots – a perfect combination! You can find whatever you’re looking for when it comes to masks, treatments, or even makeup! Sunny has found a way to even make a foundation at home that can be a powder or liquid formula.
Here is the recipe reprinted with publisher permission:
Black Forest Chocolate Cake Facial Mask, page 104
This recipe is made with such yummy ingredients, like cocoa powder and luscious ripe cherries, that you’ll need serious willpower not to bake up a vegan cake to match. Oh, what the heck, why not make both? As Oscar Wilde wrote, “The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.”
Best for: All skin types
Top Tip: Cherry juice is useful for lightening skin and clearing up dark spots. Cherries contain the antioxidant vitamins A and C, plus the minerals potassium, zinc, iron, copper and manganese. The fruit and juice are anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and healing for damaged skin.
Superstar ingredient: Cocoa powder is antioxidant-rich, so it helps neutralize harmful free radicals and repair skin cells.
Blender
3 large ripe cherries, pitted 3
1 tbsp kaolin clay 15 mL
1 tbsp almond milk 15 mL
2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder 10 mL
- In blender, purée cherries, clay, almond milk and cocoa powder until smooth. Spoon into a small bowl.
- Using fingers, spread mask all over damp cleansed facial skin. Let stand on skin for 10 minutes.
- Rinse face with warm water and pat dry with a towel. Follow with your favorite toner and moisturizer.
- Cover and store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Check out her book online or in stores ($24.95) and see which recipes will replace the beauty staples in your bathroom!