5 pantry ingredients to make your own homemade remedies

Are you one of those people who have been following us for a while, but haven't yet dared to start making homemade body care products?

At first, it’s true that it can all seem a little intimidating. Plus, you don’t always want (or have the means) to invest in buying a bunch of ingredients when you don't even know if you're going to enjoy the experience!

That's totally normal. So, we suggest you go shopping at a little boutique called "Your Pantry" to test the waters. This couldn't-be-more-charming business is located... in your kitchen! Hehehehe

1. Rolled oats

We’ve already sung the praises of oats by dedicating a full article to this magical ingredient. We won't go into too much detail here, but if you want to go a little bit further, you can check it out right here.

Basically, oats are emollient, gentle, soothing, nourishing, hydrating, versatile, locally accessible, affordable, and above all, in your pantry! That pretty much covers it, hahaha!

Oats | our challenge:

You can make an ULTRA-simple face mask with this ingredient, and the result is quite wonderful and convincing: your beautiful face will be hydrated and oh-so-soft.

It’s very simple: put 1/2 cup of oats in a coffee grinder, food processor, or mortar to make a fine powder. Then combine it with warm water, let it sit for a few minutes, then apply the mixture to your face. Let it work for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with plenty of water.

VOILÀ. Admire the result of your own concoction! It’s really simple, pleasant, and so effective!

2. Cocoa powder

Not just good for baking cakes! In addition to making delicious chocolate recipes and smelling divine, cocoa powder helps you achieve that wonderful baby-skin feeling.

In fact, cocoa is rich in antioxidants that help protect the skin against damage caused by free radicals. We also love it for its anti-inflammatory qualities and as a gentle exfoliant. It makes the skin soft and radiant!

Cocoa powder | our challenge:

Mix a tablespoon of cocoa powder with a tablespoon of honey, then add a little splash of water to get a creamy texture. Apply this potion of the Gods to your face, then let it work for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse it all off with lukewarm water and then admire your complexion, which is now so smooth!

We also have a lovely coconut-cocoa mask recipe (below). If your curiosity is piqued and you're looking for something a bit more elaborate, you’ll be won over!

3. Vegetable oil (sunflower, coconut, olive, hemp, camelina…)

It could be olive, almond, sunflower oil... any oil that’s hanging around in your pantry (or in your fridge)! Ideally, opt for a first cold-pressed oil, preferably organic.

What’s the point of vegetable oil for the skin? Obviously, each one has specific properties, but if we could summarize it all broadly, most vegetable oils are rich in saturated fatty acids, nourish the skin, and prevent moisture loss.

We can obviously fall down the rabbit hole (like we did) and discover all the wonderful properties of fine oils like raspberry seed oil, rosehip oil, argan oil... but you don't need to think about that right now!

For now, what we want is for you to discover the versatility of your cooking oil for cleansing and nourishing your skin. You’ll see, once you realize this potential, you'll never want to buy makeup remover again!

Vegetable oil | our challenge:

We have two challenges for you. The first is only useful if you wear makeup. The second one is for everyone!

1. Oil makeup remover: dampen a washcloth with hot water. Pour a small amount of oil into your hands and rub your face, your eyes, everywhere you have makeup on. Then use the damp washcloth to remove the oil (and the makeup) and that's it! You don't even need to wash afterwards. The thin film of oil will be quickly absorbed by your skin, which will remain nourished, supple, and clean.
2. Sugar + oil exfoliant: combine a little fine sugar with oil for a delicious body scrub! Make a small amount of this mixture before getting in the shower, apply to your skin before turning on the water, then rinse thoroughly. Hello, beautiful soft and nourished legs! Careful, it can make the bottom of the tub slippery.

If you feel like going further with oil (but definitely not too far), you can make the recipe (below) for a two-phase makeup remover/cleanser. SUPER simple and made with very few ingredients.

4. Rice

Rice is an ingredient used in skincare in many Asian countries, and it's also a pretty popular pantry staple! It would be a shame not to take advantage of it, right?

Rice offers the skin hydration, antioxidant protection, regulation of sebum production, and reduction of inflammation, in addition to being able to serve as a gentle exfoliant. Truly incredible!

It can be used in masks, cleansers, and face lotions, and as a hair rinse.

Rice | our challenge:

Take 1/2 cup of rice, and grind it into a fine powder in a coffee grinder or food processor. Mix the rice powder with a little warm water, then apply everything to your face and let it work for 15 to 20 minutes. Then rinse with lukewarm water.

Ta-da! What a beautiful, supple, and hydrated face!

Curious about the benefits of rice? Cynthia Dulude did a great experiment here!

5. Honey

We’ve been using honey in skincare for centuries, and for good reason! Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it helps retain moisture in the skin. It also has natural antibacterial and antioxidant properties, in addition to soothing the skin.

We produce wonderful honey in Quebec, and it's a fairly frequent ingredient in pantries!

Honey | our challenge:

What we’re suggesting here is a simplified version of our honey mask for damaged hair. Even simplified, this version is just as effective for improving the appearance of your hair and bringing it softness and shine.

You will need a tablespoon of the oil of your choice (sunflower, hemp, olive...) and a tablespoon of honey.

In a bowl, mix all the ingredients. The honey won't dissolve completely in the oil, but it will mix well if it isn't crystallized*. On damp hair, spread the mixture over the entire length of your hair before wrapping it in a scarf, Francine Grimaldi-style. No need to apply it to the roots. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes before shampooing as usual.

VOILÀ! Simple as pie and your hair will be truly happy!

*Quick tip: crystallized honey? Heat some water, turn the heat to the lowest setting, then place your honey container in it (do this with a glass container, eh, not plastic!). Result: beautiful, non-crystallized honey!