My Frugal DIY Experiments: Coconut Oil Facial Soap

Have you ever seen a DIY project on Pinterest that looked amazing?  And, then you tried it, and it was a total flop?  It seems that “Pinterest fails” are everywhere these days!

 

Yet, there are some DIY projects that are actually worth it.  They are easy, money-saving, and really work.

 

This year I am on a mission to find those projects for you.  I will be tackling one frugal DIY project each month in order to let you know how they really work.  I am letting myself (and in some cases, my family!) be the guinea pig in a new My Frugal DIY Experiments series.

 

Here is what we have planned for 2016:

January- Homemade Glass Cleaner 

February-Coconut Oil Face Soap

March-Yogurt in a Crockpot

April- Homemade Laundry Detergent

May-Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

June-Homemade Taco Seasoning

July-DIY Dusting Spray

August-Coconut Oil and Honey Hair Mask

September-Homemade Ranch Dressing

October-Homemade Tub and Tile Cleaner 

November-Oatmeal Body Scrub

December-Hot Chocolate Mix

 

Coconut Oil Face Soap

This month I ventured into the world of DIY beauty products.  I had seen various websites and tutorials that touted the praise of coconut oil as a facial soap and moisturizer.  Now, I’ll be honest.  I have been hesitant to even try coconut oil for cooking.  You see, I’m a bit stubborn.  I don’t like to follow trends (I haven’t jumped on the essential oils bandwagon yet.  I just use a few in homemade cleaning products!).  So, even though everyone was using coconut oil for cooking and every DIY project  imaginable, I stayed away from it.

 

However, for the sake of scientific–and frugal–research, I decided to give it a try.

 

Here are the steps for coconut oil facial soap and moisturizer:

 

Step One: Buy good quality, organic coconut oil.

-I just bought this kind at my local grocery store.  I purchased the 12 ounce version (currently $7.16).  However, when I buy another carton, I will get the 54 ounce version (currently $16.99).  The 54 ounce carton is definitely a MUCH better bargain!

 

Step Two:  Use a small spoon to get out a dime-sized amount of coconut oil.

-I use a baby spoon that I keep with the carton of coconut oil in a basket in my bathroom.

-You can adjust the amount of oil you use based on the oiliness or dryness of your skin.

 

Step Three:  Warm up the coconut oil by rubbing your hands together

-Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, so you’ll need to heat it up (using body heat) to the consistency of olive oil.

-This only takes about 15 seconds (or less) of rubbing.

 

Step Four:  Massage the coconut oil into your face.

-Spend about one minute massaging the oil into every part of your face and neck.

-I loved this step!  It felt so indulgent and spa-like.  🙂

 

Step Five:  Put a warm washcloth to your face.

-Wet a washcloth with warm water and place it to your face for about 30 seconds.

-This, again, feels like a spa treatment!

 

Step Six:  Pat dry.

-Now you’re finished!

 

The Experiment

I have fairly dry skin with some redness, so I’ve always been a bit self conscious about my face.  Because of this I have used skin care products that are a bit more expensive than a frugalista might!  For the past five or so years I have used the Clinique Skin Care line.  It worked fairly well, and I was convinced it was the best for my sensitive skin.

 

So, I was really nervous about trying the coconut oil facial routine.  Would “washing” my face with coconut oil once a day (in the evening) really keep my skin looking healthy and moisturized?  I love my readers, but did I really want to have bad skin for a month just for the sake of a DIY experiment?

 

I am so glad that I decided to try it!  While I didn’t see the “miraculous” results that I have seen others claiming online (some say that they haven’t had a blemish since they started the coconut oil routine), my skin responded well.  I would say that my skin is just as healthy, soft, and moisturized as it is with any other skin care regiment–including Clinique’s.

 

The Breakdown:  Is It Worth It?

In this series, I evaluate each DIY project by three criterion:

1. Does it Work?
2. Is it Easy?
3. Is it Frugal?

If the answer to any of those questions is “no,” then I don’t think the project is worth it.

 

Does It Work?

I am shocked to say yes!  This DIY facial soap and worked as well as much more expensive ones.  Now, I will add this caveat.  It worked for my skin type.  You may experience different results depending on the composition of your skin.

 

Is It Easy?

Definitely.  I spend the same amount of time (maybe a little less) doing this skin care routine than I did the Clinique regiment.

 

Is It Frugal?

Yes.  This little 12 ounce carton of coconut oil barely has a dent in it after a month’s use.  I should be able to use it for around 12 months.  That is $7.12 for a year’s worth of facial products!  This is MUCH more frugal than the $100 a year I spent for the Clinique products.  Your savings may differ depending on how much you currently spend for your facial soap  and moisturizer.

 

Final Verdict:  Coconut Oil Facial Soap works well and is incredibly frugal!

 

Have you ever used coconut oil as a beauty product?  What did you do?

 

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