Multipurpose DIY cosmetics are like small wonders in a jar (...or a bar!): versatile, practical and delightful!
They save you precious time, money and space, while also reducing waste, making them perfect companions for traveling or following the joyful simplicity of skin minimalism. This mindful beauty trend focuses on using fewer products that do more, nourishing your skin without overwhelming it.

I wrote this small guide to inspire you and to give you clear directions to create effective, multipurpose DIY cosmetics, along with formulation tips and recipes.

What Makes a Cosmetic Multipurpose?

A multipurpose cosmetic provides several benefits and is suitable for different uses and body parts. To make effective multifunctional products, your formulations should meet specific criteria:

• Non-comedogenic Ingredients: For products meant to be used on the face as well, select actives, oils and butters that won’t clog pores. Avoid ingredients like cocoa butter, coconut oil, or thick waxes. Instead, opt for jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, pumpkin seed oil, kokum butter or candelilla wax.
  
  
• Lightweight Textures: Unless you prefer very nourishing formulas or you are targeting very dry skin, keep formulas light and easily absorbed to suit various skin areas without feeling greasy. Fractionated coconut oil, coco caprylate and light absorbing oils are great for it.
  
  
• Ingredients Suitable for All Intended Uses: Ensure each ingredient is appropriate and safe for every purpose you intend for your product. For instance, a toner used both on the face and scalp should contain scalp and hair friendly ingredients. Products applied to lips must be formulated with lip-safe ingredients. Also, make sure the ingredients can be used under the sun if you want to make a summer friendly cosmetic.
  
  
• Consider Essential Oil Percentages: If your multipurpose product will also be used on the face, lower essential oil concentrations (around 0.5%) are recommended compared to body-only products, which typically use 1-2%.
  
  
  

Multipurpose DIY Cosmetic Formulations & Ideas

Here are some tips, recipes and inspiring ways to formulate products with multiple practical purposes:

1. Multitasking Balms

Balms that multitask effectively:

• Travel-friendly Multipurpose Balms: Balms that soothe sunburns, are a relief for razor irritated skin and calm mosquito bites should always be in your travel bag! Find my recipe here.
  
  
• Lip Balms that Double Up: Apply nourishing lip balm recipes to dry elbows, knees, cuticles or chapped noses during cold weather. Try my regenerating lip balm stick stick or this one with honey and rose, perfect for a small jar.
  If you think that lip balms are to greasy to be used for the body, try this fragrant solid lotion recipe: designed for the body, can be used on your lips and provides a lovely tropical aroma thanks to Pequi oil!
  
  
• Multitasking 3 ingredients balm: this easy yet effective balm, that is a dupe of Lush Ultrabalm, is made with jojoba oil, rose wax and candelilla wax. Very simple but with a nice feel and can be used everywhere, lips included. 
  
  
  

2. Makeup Removers & Cleansing Balms with Different Functions

Create nourishing creams or balms that gently dissolve makeup and sunscreen, then rinse away:

• Creams that act as Makeup Remover as well: Make gentle creams with fewer active ingredients, a good percentage of oils and soothing ingredients suitable for face and eyes. 
  
  
• Cleansing Balm: Include emulsifiers in your balm for easy removal with water. These balms can also double as exfoliants (using gentle exfoliants like jojoba pearls, strawberry seeds or orange peel powder) or hydrating masks when left on briefly.
  
  
• Shower Lotion Bars: Add emulsifiers to these bars so they moisturize directly in the shower, doubling as makeup removers (if you use non comedogenic ingredients and replace cocoa butter with kokum butter) and body hydrators, eliminating the need for extra lotion afterward. Get inspired with some of my shower lotion bars, like the one with honey or with green tea. 
  
  
  

3. Aloe-Based Gel Serums

Light gels that can serve as serums, moisturizers or after-sun treatments:

• Formulate aloe-based gels with soothing ingredients for redness, sun-exposed skin or irritation. Learn how to make and customize aloe gels and mists here. 

4. Multipurpose Oils for Face & Body

Versatile oil blends for face and body:

• Use lightweight, non-comedogenic oils as post-shower body moisturizers and gentle facial serums, adding functional ingredients. Find a light recipe here and here as well, if you like vanilla.
  
  
• Face Oils can occasionally remove makeup during travel, though active rich blends are best reserved for regular skincare routines. It’s a pity to wash them out!
  
  
• Face oils are great for a perfect glide when using Gua Sha. Find an optimized formula here, that is both rich as a serum and perfect for gua sha purposes. 

5. Solid Cosmetics & Syndets

Efficient, sustainable, and pleasant to use:

• Syndets (Solid Shampoos and Body Cleansers): Formulate gentle shampoo bars that also nourish the body. Add ingredients that improve the feeling for a better touch, as some shampoos, especially for greasy scalps, could not leave a nice feel on the body. Ingredients that add a nice feeling are aloe powder, betaine (don’t confuse it with the surfactant), inulin and a touch of oils and butters.
  
  
• Solid Lotion Bars: if you use non comedogenic ingredients, solid bars can be used for both face and body. Read my guide about how to make and customize solid lotion bars and check this all-over lotion bar recipe here. 
• I also suggest you this summer friendly solid bar recipe that acts like a moisturizer, aftersun, post depilation soother and has a scent that keeps moquitos away!
  
  
  

6. Lotions That Act Like Serums

Simplify skincare with a single-step product:

• Create light, emulsified lotions filled with heat-stable ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides and physalis angulata extract. Alternatively, choose cool-emulsion methods to incorporate more active ingredients, as regular emulsion only allow around the 10% of ingredients to the cool down phase.  This lightweight face lotion acts both as a cream and a serum... and of course you can use it on the body as well!

7. Toners, Hydrosols & Mists

Gentle sprays with multiple benefits:

• Toners and enriched hydrosols can be used as sheet mask liquids, scalp toners (just make sure all the ingredients are suitable for that use and hair suitable), makeup setting sprays or soothing midday refreshers.

8. Lip Scrubs From Lip Balms

Creative recycling: 

• Mix sugar or fine exfoliants with lip balm bases for gentle lip scrubs—perfect for repurposing unused balms. Find a recipe here. 
  
  
  

9. Solid Perfumes & Salves

Combine soothing care with subtle fragrance:

• Blend beneficial salve ingredients with aromatic essential oils or fragrances (up to 2%) for gentle, fragrant salves that are both effective for specific uses and are pleasant as a perfume.

10. All-over Powders

A lovely vintage solution:

• Dry Shampoo & Body Powders: Simple starch-based powders with subtle fragrance or essential oils refresh hair and gently scent the body, absorbing moisture comfortably. Just add a 0,5%-1% of essential oils and fragrance to a starch (my favorite one is rice starch - arrow root is great as well). Read more about dry shampoos here.

11. Beautiful Solid Cosmetics: Aesthetics and Practical:

• Craft solid lotion bars in attractive silicone molds to create practical and beautiful bathroom decor.
  
  

I hope these DIY multipurpose cosmetic ideas spark your creativity, helping you create products that simplify and delight your skincare routine!