I Stopped Buying Skincare — Here’s What I Use Instead

Introduction

For years, buying skincare felt like a guessing game.

New products promised better skin, fewer lines, or “cleaner” ingredients — but the labels were long, the prices kept climbing, and I still wasn’t sure what I was putting on my skin.

Over time, I started questioning whether I really needed so many products at all.

That curiosity led me to something much simpler: making my own skincare using ingredients I already had at home.

🌿 Want to try this yourself?
Download the free 5 Pantry Skincare Recipes guide and start today with ingredients you already have.

What I Stopped Buying

Once I started paying attention, I realized I was buying the same types of products over and over.

Here are a few things I slowly stopped buying:

Face creams and moisturizers
Lip balms
Foot creams and treatments
Body scrubs

Not all at once — just one product at a time as I ran out.

I didn’t throw everything away or aim for perfection. I just started replacing one item with a simpler alternative.

What I Use Instead

Instead of store-bought skincare, I now use a small collection of homemade products made with pantry ingredients.

Some of my go-to swaps include:

Simple face creams made with natural oils and butters
Lip balms using beeswax and oil
Foot soaks with Epsom salt
Gentle body scrubs using oil and salt or oats

These recipes take very little time to make and don’t require any special equipment.

👉 If you’re curious to try this yourself, you can download my free Pantry Beauty Guide here.

Why This Works for Me

This approach works for me because it’s simple and flexible.

I like knowing:

What’s going on my skin
That I can adjust recipes if my skin changes
That I’m not constantly buying new products

It’s also helped me slow down my routine and focus on what actually feels good and sustainable.

Start Small (You Don’t Have to Do Everything)

If you’re interested in making your own skincare, my biggest advice is to start small.

Choose one product you use often — a lip balm, foot soak, or basic cream — and try making that first.

You don’t need to overhaul your entire routine or commit to doing everything yourself. Even one small change can make a difference.

How to Get Started

If you’d like a simple starting point, I’ve put together a free Pantry Beauty Guide with easy, beginner-friendly recipes using ingredients you probably already have.

👉 Download the free Pantry Beauty Guide here

If you later decide you want more recipes in one place, there’s also a full guide available — but the free one is a great place to begin.