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There are a lot of great natural skincare brands out there but two of my absolute favorites are Mychelle Dermaceuticals and Mad Hippie. Not only are their products free of parabens, sulphates, dyes, fragrances and other additives but both are also cruelty-free and full of nourishing ingredients that will leave your skin glowing.
The sweet spot with regard to buying skincare is when it’s not harmful to animals or the environment, but there’s no doubt it’s also effective.
That said, I do enjoy a good DIY recipe. There’s something so satisfying about whipping up a facemask with ingredients you have at home, especially when you’re trying to stick to a budget. It doesn’t have to be one or the other: use the homemade potion when that’s what your skin is craving, and you will know when your skin prefers the store-bought version.
Joan Crawford apparently felt the same way. In her 1971 book, My Way of Life, she wrote about her distaste for the “costly” and time-consuming professional services that most other Hollywood starlets indulged in.
“I can accomplish most of what these experts do right in my own bathroom or kitchen.” she wrote. “So can any woman. The best beauty preparations cost only a few cents and I frequently find them in my refrigerator. If they sound too simple to be effective, just try them.”
Whether I’m splurging on my favorite skincare brands or going the DIY route, there are some key ingredients I always try to include in my skin care routine. Here are four must-have ingredients along with links to products from Mychelle and Mad Hippie that feature them.
…And in the spirit of Joan, I’ve also included a DIY dupe recipe for those looking to save money or who prefer to make their own products at home. Something for everyone!
Retinoids
If you want to help aging skin, reverse hyperpigmentation, or to stop acne, retinoids should be a key ingredient in your skin care routine. Retinoids stimulate cells called Fibroblasts that are related to building connective tissue throughout our bodies. The tissue that they’re super at building is Collagen, which is the protein found in our skin and other tissues that give it bounce. These Vitamin A derivatives are not only collagen-boosting but they also aid in the body’s natural process of ‘desquamation’ or the shedding of skin cells. When our skin cells shed too slowly, they can get stuck together leading to clogged follicles and pores. Retinoids help to regulate the desquamation process, allowing cells to turn over at a higher rate leaving you with beautiful, more youthful-looking skin.
If you’ve never used a retinol, I recommend 
Mad Hippie’s Vitamin A serum which contains the retinoid hydroxypinacolone retinoate. Like other retinoids, it’s great at unclogging pores to help acne, as well as improving discoloration and wrinkles. Unlike others, it is less irritating and is the best one for new users or those with sensitive skin.
If you have aged skin or you’ve already been using a retinoid for a while, I highly recommend 
Mychelle’s Remarkable Retinal Serum, which features the ingredient Retinaldehyde, a potent non-prescription form of Vitamin A. Retinaldehyde is “remarkably” both more effective than other retinoids but also less irritating. This is because it only has to go through one conversion to become retinoic acid, aka Retin-A. Without getting too much in the woods on details: The degree of potency, highest-to-lowest is: Retinoic Acid, Retinaldehyde, Retinol, Retinoate, then Retinyl Palmitate.
See Below for DIY Vitamin A Serum Recipe.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is another essential skincare ingredient in the fight against aging as it promotes collagen production, which can improve the appearance of wrinkles and plump up your skin. It’s also an anti-oxidant and helps to protect and repair skin damage caused by UV rays.
Mad Hippie’s Vitamin C Serum
is great for brightening and tightening your skin. Not only does it contain Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, a water soluble form of Vitamin C, but it also includes hyaluronic acid, Konjac root and chamomile extract – all ingredients that can help you achieve a gorgeous glow.
Mychelle’s Perfect C Serum boasts high active levels of L-Ascorbic acid, a form of Vitamin C and Buddleja Plant Stem Cells, which also help to protect skin against UV damage.
To achieve these same results for less, you can buy ascorbic acid powder at your local health food store and mix up your own vitamin C serum right at home. This serum is best used at night followed by a moisturizer.
See Below for DIY Vitamin C Serum Recipe.
Oils
Plant oils work to keep the skin in a moisture balance; they are also nourishing and add vibrancy to older skin while protecting it from UV damage. Each oil has unique anti-aging properties. The ability of essential oils to increase circulation, bringing fresh blood to the surface of the skin, makes it ideal for older skin.
For acne-prone skin, it might sound counterintuitive to use oils, but the right face oil can go a long way toward balancing your skin’s natural sebum production. If your skin isn’t getting enough moisture, your sebum production can go into overdrive leaving your skin oily throughout the day. Adding moisture with a balancing oil can help to regulate your skin’s natural oil production, leading to a clearer complexion and less oil.
If you’d like to buy a ready-made oil, I recommend
Mad Hippie’s Antioxidant Facial Oil which contains argan oil, pomegranate oil and many other beneficial ingredients like broccoli extract and goji berry which are great for your skin.
If you want to incorporate an oil cleanser,
Mychelle’s Perfect C Cleansing Oil includes omega-rich Baobab oil and tamanu oil which help to protect the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
For a DIY option, harness the powers of these potent oils by combining them into a moisturizing face oil. I’ve included a few of my favorites in the recipe below but you can always add your own. Frankincense oil is great for soothing inflammation and contains boswellic acid, which kills acne-causing bacteria. Geranium oil also has anti-inflammatory properties and can help reduce breakouts and soothe skin infections and irritations. Argan oil is packed with vitamin E, which makes it great for a carrier oil because the antioxidants protect the oil as well as your skin.
See Below for DIY Healing Oil Recipe.
Anti-oxidant Toners
Using an antioxidant face toner after cleansing and before moisturizing is a key step in any good skin care routine. Toners can help restore your skin’s PH balance, tighten your pores, and add an extra layer of protection from the sun. Using a toner that’s packed with anti-oxidant ingredients will help to keep UV rays from damaging your cells and keep your skin fresh.
I recommend 
Mad Hippie’s Hydrating Nutrient Mist, which features anti-oxidant ingredients like green tea, vitamin C and pomegranate seed extract.
I also love Mychelle’s Fruit Enzyme Hydrating Mist 
that includes ingredients like turmeric (a skin-healthy spice with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidizing properties) and vitamin C-rich mangosteen to help fight dryness and signs of aging and protect your skin from free radicals.
Green tea is a great option for a toner. It is rich in anti-oxidants and tannins that hydrate cells, protect the surface of your skin and tighten pores. It is definitely less drying than many toners that contain witch hazel or alcohol. If you’d like to try making your own toner at home, try my DIY Green Tea Toner recipe. You can see the full post Here.
DIY
DIY VITAMIN A SERUM
For a DIY alternative for Retinol, you can make your own anti-aging serum using carrot seed oil. Carrot seed oil is rich in beta-carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A that has anti-aging and anti-oxidant properties. It’s also a great alternative for new moms and moms-to-be, since retinoids are not recommended for anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding.
Ingredients:
● ¼ cup of argan, jojoba, sweet almond oil or your favorite carrier oil
● ¼ tsp of melted beeswax
● 3-5 drops of carrot seed oil
● 1 tbsp of fresh or dried jasmine flowers
Instructions:
● Warm the carrier oil on low heat. Add the jasmine flowers, remove from heat, cover and soak the flowers in the carrier oil overnight, storing in a cool, dark place.
● Strain the flowers from the carrier oil. Reheat the carrier oil on a low setting and add the melted beeswax. Stir until combined.
● Remove from heat and add carrot seed oil. Whisk until the mixture thickens.
● Pour into a jar and store for up to 6 months. Massage into face and neck twice daily.
DIY VITAMIN C SERUM
Ingredients:
● 1 tsp of ascorbic acid powder
● 1 tsp of filtered water
● 1 ½ tbsp. of aloe vera gel
● ¼ tsp of Vitamin E oil
Instructions:
● In a small bowl, whisk together ascorbic acid powder and water until powder is dissolved.
● Stir in aloe vera gel and vitamin E oil until combined.
● Pour into a bottle and store in the fridge for up to two weeks.
DIY FACE OIL
Ingredients:
● 2 drops of geranium oil
● 1 drop of frankincense oil
● 2 tbsp of argan oil
● 2 tbsp of sweet almond oil
Instructions:
● Combine oils
● Store in a jar with a dropper and apply to face and neck twice daily!
For my post on Natural Retinol Alternatives, click Here.
For my post on DIY Green Tea Toner, click Here.
Do you have any favorite Mychelle or Mad Hippie products that work for you, or your own dupe recipe?
Let me know in the comments section below!
