7 Basic (& Versatile) Natural Ingredients For Skin & Hair

Natural ingredients for skin and hair was something I researched heavily at the beginning of my DIY journey. It started with my hormonal acne problem, that I managed to solve using diet changes and a very basic DIY skincare routine. The success I had really boosted my confidence and my love for DIY.

Since then I’ve learned a lot of things and I’ve made many different types of beauty and hygiene recipes, from basic to persnickety.

But I still get a special satisfaction when I can make a product using basic recipes and simple ingredients (‘cause deep down I just hate a fuss).

And it’s especially cool when I can use ingredients that can serve multiple purposes! And if those ingredients are readily available and inexpensive – pay dirt!

Table of Contents

Here are 7 truly versatile natural ingredients for skin and hair

Below you’ll find a short (yey!) list of natural ingredients for skin and hair that serve multiple purposes and can be used in different ways. All the ingredients below can be mixed with other things, as part of a proper recipe, but they’re on this list because they’re great individually as well.

You’ll find different categories besides skin and hair care, like health and diet. All are readily available and you probably have most in your kitchen right now.

This is not for advanced, more refined DIY recipes. It’s mostly stuff you might buy for one purpose (usually as food) and have already in your kitchen. And you may or may not know you can also use it for beauty or medicinal purposes as well.

They can get you out of a jam, or be perfect for at home DIY spa treats.

1 – OATS

Oats have been used for centuries to treat irritated and itchy skin. But science has also demonstrated its skin protective, soothing, moisturizing, and anti-inflammatory properties.

As a beauty ingredient, it’s available under all types of formulations, like creams, shampoos, and body washes. It’s a very effective skin cleanser, due to its saponin content, which gives it a soap-like action. It’s a standard for almost anyone into natural ingredients for skin and hair.

Skincare

You can use oat flour as a facial cleanser, by simply adding water or milk to make a paste. You can also add hot water or hot milk, to extract more of the skin soothing components, and apply that to your face as a mask.
Oats are especially good for people with sensitive or irritated skin anywhere on your body. If you suffer from dry skin or eczema, regular oat baths are a great addition to your routine.

Just place a handful of oats or oat flour in a muslin cloth and tie a string around it to make a pouch. Place that in your bath and use it as a sponge.

Have a random patch of irritated or itchy skin? Boil a small amount of oats in some water for a couple of minutes. Apply the milky liquid (once it’s cooled down) to the area a few times a day – you’ll be surprised!

Hair Care

If you have an irritated scalp, you can also boil some oats for a couple of minutes until you get that milky water. Let that cool down and apply it to your scalp.

Leave it on for at least 30 minutes, but as long as you like, and wash off.

Diet

It’s food as well, of course!

Obviously not for anyone on a Keto type diet, or maybe not if you have a sensitivity to gluten. Oats themselves do not have gluten, but apparently many times they’re grown next to gluten-containing crops and there may be cross contamination.

They’re also on the higher end of the glycemic index (raise the blood sugar level), if that’s something you try to avoid. But if not, oats are very nutritious and they’re rich in antioxidants, minerals and vitamins (more relevant of these is vitamin E).

2 – HONEY

Honey is part of that special group of foods considered “functional foods” (aka, nutraceuticals). Now, you may say, “aren’t all foods functional?” I’ve personally always thought that was a particularly silly name for them. I’ve always seen food a bit like medicine and that’s only been reinforced with the years.

Whether you look at food that way or not, it all has an effect on an epigenetic level. The food you eat can help keep you healthy or help make you sick. The most modern concept of nutraceuticals actually includes things like fruits and vegetables, so I guess even western science is coming to that conclusion.

But “functional food” means basically that they’ve acknowledged its many health boosting effects, placing them at an actual medicinal level. It’s progress…

Diet & Health

Raw honey is mostly easily digestible natural sugars, but it has small amounts of proteins, enzymes, amino acids, trace minerals and vitamins, and polyphenols (antioxidants). (*)

It’s composed of organic acids that are mostly responsible for its antioxidant and antimicrobial action. Among those acids you have formic, acetic, butyric, oxalic, lactic, succinic, folic, malic, citric, and glycolic. If some of those sound familiar to you, they should – they are part of the AHAs family.

It also has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Not only can you apply it to the skin to treat wounds and burns, but it’s also the perfect addition to teas when you’re sick, or even on its own as a natural sore throat syrup.

Skincare

But besides being a delicious and nutritious sweetener, honey is also one of the best natural ingredients for skin and hair.

Honey has documented use as an antimicrobial and wound healer for thousands of years. Science has also backed this up countless times. It has antibacterial activity and the high viscosity helps keep a moist and protective barrier that prevents infection in wounds and burns.

It’s emollient (softening), soothing, conditioning, humectant (it draws and holds water), and it regulates the skin’s pH.

You can use it on its own as a facial mask or a facial cleanser. You can also add it in small amounts to lip balms, or skin salves. It can be a bit of a bitch to mix properly – be warned – but just keep stirring regularly throughout the cooling phase and it should be ok.

Hair Care

Honey has been used clinically for seborrhea, dandruff, dermatitis, and psoriasis.

For all these reasons, honey is a wonderful scalp treatment as well. It’s effective on its own, but it’s also a great addition to a soothing and disinfecting DIY scalp scrub.

3 – YOGURT

Yogurt, another “functional food”, is a protein-rich probiotic.

Diet & Health

Provided you’re not sensitive to lactose and that you’re consuming the organic version, it can be a great addition to your diet. Not only as a source of protein and calcium, but also as an immune and gut microbiome booster.

If you’ve had to take antibiotics you definitely need to actively add probiotics to your routine for a few weeks to replenish your gut. Yogurt, as well as other fermented foods, like sauerkraut and kimchi, are your friends.

Skincare

But yogurt can also be used in beauty, of course. It’s one of the more versatile natural ingredients for skin and hair.

Yogurt is a natural source of lactic acid, which is an AHA. AHAs are natural acids (among them lactic, glycolic, malic, citric) that gently exfoliate the top layer of the skin, boosting cell renewal and hydration. They slowly improve wrinkles, skin texture, and elasticity.

Lactic acid in particular seems to induce actual moisture retention in the skin, which you need for hydrated, plump, and young-looking skin. Lactic acid is in milk as well, of course, which is what Cleopatra famously used to keep her skin young.

Yogurt is one of my favorite facial masks. It’s very gentle on the skin and it gradually addresses redness and pigmentation, helping to even out skin tone, when used regularly.

Yogurt is also anti-inflammatory and soothing to the skin, so if you have sensitive or inflamed skin, or a sunburn, yogurt can be a great source of relief.

4 – OLIVE OIL

Extra-virgin olive oil is hands-down my favorite oil. It’s been one of my go-to natural ingredients for skin and hair since the beginning of my natural skincare journey. For availability, cost, and versatility of use.

I’ve generally been very happy with the results, no matter what I choose to use it for.

It’s also pretty much the only oil I consume internally as food. Although this has more to do with cultural reasons, despite all the science out there on the health benefits of consuming olive oil. I grew up with good quality olive oil and try as I might every now and then to add another vegetable oil to my diet (for supposed health benefits), I have a real difficulty getting used to a different type of taste.

I actually find it hard to take seriously any vegetable or carrier oil that doesn’t come with some sedimentation, is darker in color, and strong of taste. It’s silly, but I just make that association, because that’s what I’m used to with olive oil.

Anyway, you can use it for a ton of things!

Diet & Health

Obviously you can add it to your diet. Olive oil is one of the few oils that science has backed countless times as absolutely golden for health.

It’s high in monounsaturated fatty acids, in particular oleic acid, vitamins and an absolute ton of polyphenols (antioxidants). There are literally more than 200 minor elements in extra-virgin olive oil that have important biological activity.
It’s also one of the stronger sirtuin-activating foods (sirtfoods) that trigger the natural anti-aging mechanisms of the body. It’s a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral. It’s hypoglycemic (helps to keep blood sugar levels lower) and helps keep your cardiovascular system ticking nicely.

It’s best consumed at room temperature, since olive oil oxidizes quickly at high temperatures (say when cooking or frying).

Skincare

Of course, you can use olive oil on your skin and hair.

According to studies it doesn’t seem to be the best at moisturizing the skin on its own, but it does wonders in oil-water emulsions (aka, creams). (*)

I have to say my personal experience using olive oil as one of my main natural ingredients for skin has been very positive.

I first started using it at 18 when I developed a bad case of hormonal acne. It was an important part of my minimalist acne-busting skincare routine. Since then more than 15 years have passed and I still constantly get comments about how young I look.

Nevertheless, using pure olive oil alone may not work for you, especially if your skin is on the drier side. Give it a shot or mix it with another more moisturizing carrier oil, like sunflower or almond.

Olive oil is also great at speeding up wound healing, particularly in the case of burns. It can also be used, alone or mixed with beeswax, as a very effective treatment for diaper dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. (*)

Hair Care

For similar reasons, olive oil is great for hair and scalp as well.

It’s one of the few oils, like coconut, that has been shown to penetrate the hair shaft to some extent.
Its high content in antioxidants and its anti-inflammatory action makes it great for hair masks and scalp treatments. It contains oleocantal, which has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties similar to ibuprofen (the stuff you take for general pain).
Its high content in oleic acid means it also acts as an enhancer of the skin’s absorption ability. That means anything that you pair with olive oil (like essential oils, extracts, or vitamins) will be better absorbed into the deeper layers of the skin, or scalp in this case. (*)

5 – COCONUT OIL

I didn’t grow up with coconut oil – where I’m from olive oil is king and ruler and you pretty much don’t hear about other oils at all. However, I’ve incorporated coconut oil slowly it into my routine over the years and have found it’s one of those ingredients that’s definitely useful to have around.

Diet & Health

Coconut oil is first and foremost food. It’s widely used all over Southeast Asia and India as a cooking oil. But it’s also seeped into Western diets and it’s now used in everything from cooking, baking, and even coffee (bulletproof!).

Although coconut oil has a low smoke point, virgin coconut oil has been proven to be highly resistant to oxidation in frying. This means, it’s less prone to producing the free radicals that are going to speed up the body’s oxidative stress.

I actually switched from olive oil to coconut as my go-to cooking oil for stir-fries and general pan-greasing.

Health wise, consumption of coconut oil has been linked to prevention of Alzheimer’s, bone loss, and as a blood sugar level control, but the scientific evidence for this is actually very iffy. The evidence as a weight loss aid and cardiovascular protector is a bit better, but still not what you’d call strong. (*)

It’s true that the very high content of lauric acid (between 45-53%) suggests that coconut oil would be a helpful fat for anyone trying to lose weight.

Although a saturated fatty acid, lauric acid has been shown to contribute the least to fat accumulation in the body. It seems that most of it makes a beeline for the liver, where it’s converted into energy, instead of being stored as fat. (*)

Skincare

Coconut oil can be used in skincare, of course.

You can use it as a moisturizer, although it’s not the best at this, since it might clog pores.

The high content in lauric acid also means that coconut oil can be a very useful antimicrobial and it’s been shown to be effective in preventing and treating atopic dermatitis.
One of coconut oil’s strengths, though, is oil cleansing and body massages. Since it melts quickly in your hands and isn’t too easily absorbed by the skin, it allows you to easily glide your fingers on the skin for a longer period of time.

For both oil cleansing and massages you need the surface of the skin to feel slippery for a minimum amount of time. In oil cleansing for the dirt and muck to be loosened from the pores for removal. In body massages to release the tension from the muscles, or help to flush out lymph waste.

Hair Care

Another particular strength of coconut oil is hair penetration. Coconut oil is one of the few oils that’s been proven to actually penetrate the hair shaft. It helps to nourish it and protect it from external aggressions, like surfactants in shampoos. It also helps to protect the hair from hydration fatigue.

Hydration fatigue is caused by constant swelling and deswelling of the hair shaft when in contact with water. The hair shaft absorbs water very well. If it’s in repeated contact with it, this might cause damage.

So use it as an oil hair and scalp mask. Or rub a bit between your palms and apply to the ends and/or length of the hair.

Other Body Care Uses

Coconut oil is also a popular oil to use for oil pulling.

This was all the rage a few years ago, but a lot of people still do it. If you haven’t heard of oil pulling (doubtful), it’s basically a tooth cleaning and natural hygiene practice, very popular in India.

You basically swish around a tablespoon of oil in your mouth for 10 to 20 minutes. It supposedly helps to draw out toxins from the body, but it absolutely helps keep your teeth clean, healthy, and free of dental cavities.

The basic principle behind oil pulling as a teeth cleaner is that fat is the best to dissolve teeth buildup and that the swishing will also activate saliva production. This further neutralizes acids and bacteria. Coconut oil in particular also has its own antimicrobial activity, as mentioned above.

6 – VINEGAR

Vinegar is another one of my all-time favorite natural ingredients for skin and hair. It was one of my first discoveries and it was also part of my basic anti-acne skincare routine. I’ve never stopped using it and recommending them to other people (despite the looks I get…).

Skincare

Vinegar is an excellent antifungal, antibacterial, antimicrobial and pH balancer. It contains natural acids, mainly acetic acid, and if you’re using apple cider vinegar, also malic acid. So it’s also part of the AHA family.
It’s been proven to lower the skin’s pH to slightly under 6 for up to 12 hours, which is the skin’s most natural pH value. By doing this it helps to maintain the skin’s protective barrier, which in turn will also be better equipped to fight off bacteria and fungi.

A healthy protective barrier also helps maintain good moisture levels, essential for soft and plump skin.

You can use it as part of face masks, or softening body soaks.
One of my favorite ways to use it however is as a toner for the face. A vinegar-water solution (approximately in a 1 to 7 ratio) is excellent as a pH balancing toner. It also helps to remove any possible leftovers from your cleanser.

Hair Care

The same vinegar-water solution also works wonders for hair. It’s actually my personal choice for hair conditioner.

What it does for the skin, it also does for the scalp, helping to keep it healthy and free of things like dandruff, itchiness and seborrhea. So it’s a good ingredient for a scalp scrub as well.
It also softens hard water, preventing the residues from settling on your hair, which might make it feel rough or dry. A good final rinse with vinegar-water will add shine and make your hair feel soft and malleable.

Diet & Health

It’s extremely beneficial internally, of course. It contains organic acids, flavonoids, polyphenols, vitamins and minerals.
Apple cider vinegar specifically has been proven to support weight loss, maintain a healthy blood sugar level. It lowers blood pressure, it’s a powerful antioxidant, it helps digestion and supports a healthy microbiome. (*)

So use it on your salads, or dilute a tablespoon in a glass of water and drink it in the morning, or 30 minutes before meals, to enhance nutrient absorption and proper digestion.

Interesting (less well known) fact: when vinegar is used in a compress, it’s also very effective at lowering fevers.

7 – ALOE VERA

When people think of aloe vera they usually think of it as a burn treatment or beauty aid. It’s both those things (one of the most impressive natural ingredients for skin and hair), but did you know you can also literally eat it!

Diet & Health

Aloe vera juices are widely available on the market. But you can also just cut a leaf, remove the fleshy inside and add it to smoothies or a salad, if you want. It kind of tastes like cucumber.

Research has identified more than 75 nutritionally valuable components in aloe vera, among them vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, E, folic acid. And minerals calcium, phosphorous, potassium, iron, sodium, magnesium, manganese, copper, chrome, and zinc.
It has approximately 17 amino acids, the main one being arginine. It also holds the enzymes oxidase, catalase, and amylase. It’s also rich in a fiber called glucomannan, which is very soluble and has a humectant property (it pulls and holds water). This can be useful if you’re trying to lose weight, since it helps to make you feel full. (*)
Dietary aloe vera has also been found to increase type 1 collagen production and wrinkle reduction.

It protects the gut and intestinal lining, fights diabetes, and it has a beneficial effect on the immune system. (*)

Skincare

You can use aloe vera to treat burns or wounds, since it’s anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and it stimulates tissue regeneration. (*)
As a natural ingredient for skin, you can apply it as a soothing and anti-aging hydrator. Not only will it attract water (humectant) and enhance the absorption ability of the skin, it will also stimulate tissue healing.

Just make sure to either mix it with some type of carrier oil or cream, or apply one on top, to seal in that precious moisture.

Hair Care

In the same way it also makes a great scalp treatment and hair mask, either on its own or mixed with other ingredients or oils.

Not only is it great “food” for the follicles, helping to produce healthier hair, but it also helps soothe inflammation, itchiness, and treat any microbial or fungal infection.
If you’re a “no-poo” advocate or you’re into water only hair washing (like me), this is one of the most useful and simple hair masks or ingredients, since it’s not going to be a bitch to remove without soap.

It comes off easily and just as easily can be a leave-in treatment. Your hair will look shiny but not greasy.

There are a ton of natural ingredients for skin and hair probably already in your kitchen. This is just a very basic list of the most common, readily available, inexpensive ones.

For me they’re best used when you’re trying to save money, or if you’re a minimalist at heart and you’re trying to see how much you can pair things down and still get results.

They can get you out of a jam, or even become one of your favorite natural ingredients to use.

Let me know if you try any for the first time, or if you have any others that you swear by.

7 Basic (& Versatile) Natural Ingredients For Skin & Hair