Summer is here, and it’s time to bare (almost) all. Is your skin ready for swimsuit season? If not, you might want to invest in some new beauty balms. 

If you have done any retail therapy of late, you might have noticed some hefty price tags on many commercial products. While many such preparations work wonders, you can also produce fabulous results with holistic products you make yourself. Here are the best ingredients to use for homemade beauty balms. 

Carrier Oils for Your Balms

You will start with a carrier oil when you start to whip up homemade beauty balms. These are so-named because they carry the essential oils and other ingredients to your skin. Which is the best one for you to use? It depends on whether your skin is dry or oily, aging or youthful — but here are five to try. 

Argan Oil

If you have dry skin, argan oil can pull double-duty as a makeup remover and base oil for beauty balms. To use it to erase your eyeshadow and liner, dampen a cotton ball with it and wipe it over the area you wish to cleanse. Follow it with a dry cloth to sop up any excess. 

Argan oil is rich in oleic acid, which helps improve skin permeability so that the other ingredients can get to work. Although it has anti-aging properties, it won’t clog your skin, making it the ideal choice for those with mostly dry skin who still get the occasional zit. 

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil offers a plethora of plant-based natural fatty acids, and it can plump dry, tired-looking skin. You can use it as a moisturizer alone or as a carrier. You can even shave your legs with it in the shower — it won’t run off the way that soap does. While it does have antibacterial properties, some people with acne-prone skin report breakouts after using it. If you have concerns about pimples, test it in a small area before slathering it everywhere. 

Black Seed Oil 

If you have acne or eczema, black seed oil may be your best carrier oil choice. One 2013 study showed that this oil worked better than a commercial product at clearing up the skin on the hands of eczema patients. It is also antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, which makes it beneficial for acne-prone individuals, too. You don’t need to worry if you accidentally ingest a tiny bit — it has numerous health benefits beyond your skin. 

Evening Primrose Oil

Evening primrose oil is another excellent carrier oil choice for individuals with acne-prone skin. It is high in gamma-linolenic acid, which helps your body fight inflammation. Unlike commercial preparations, it won’t dry out your skin, which can leave it flaky —  and create more material for clogging pores. 

Hemp Seed Oil 

Hemp seeds don’t contain enough THC to get you high — don’t worry about getting pulled over after using it to moisturize your skin. This powerhouse oil is ideal for nearly any skin type because it acts both as a humectant and an anti-acneic. That means it draws moisture to the surface to plump wrinkles, but it also helps to regulate your skin’s oil production to prevent pimples. 

Other Essentials You’ll Need

While many carrier oils work fine on their own, you want unique formulations specific to your skin. Add the following supplies to your homemade beauty arsenal. 

Brown Sugar

If you want to exfoliate your face, you need to do so gently. Excess scrubbing can dry out your natural oils so much that your body produces more to compensate. The next thing you know, you’re dabbing concealer on Zeke the Monster Zit. Brown sugar works ideally for this purpose. It’s coarse enough to slough off dead skin cells without making you feel like you took a Brillo pad to your face. 

Bath Salts

You have skin everywhere, not only on your face. If you want to slough off the cracked skin from your heels, you need more than sugar, sugar. Bath salts do heavenly work on tired soles and rough elbows. 

Activated Charcoal 

Activated charcoal is one of the best natural pore cleansers out there. You can use it for that purpose or make a detoxifying mask by mashing it with other herbs and a bit of water to make a paste. 

Other Essential Oils 

What makes commercial skincare products smell so heavenly? Often, it’s a blend of other essential oils. A few drops added to a carrier are all you need to make a facial beauty balm that delights your nostrils. Here are a few to try:

• Rose: Rose is excellent for aging skin as it pulls moisture to the surface, plumping fine lines. You can add a few drops to purified water and keep it in a mist bottle for refreshing spritzes throughout the day. 
• Lavender: Lavender is relaxing and also a potent moisturizer. 
• Neroli oil: If you have acne-prone skin, this oil’s antifungal and antimicrobial properties can help minimize breakouts. 
• Tea tree oil: This oil is another that kills bacteria and fungus, reducing acne breakouts and other skin rashes. 

Make the Best Beauty Balms With Holistic Ingredients 

If you want to make a homemade beauty balm, it isn’t challenging at all. Once you gather your carrier oil and other materials, you can customize blends for your skin’s unique needs and look your glowing best.