The versatile Instant Pot, a seven-in-one kitchen wonder, gained immense popularity after Amazon Prime Day 2016, where it sold over 215,000 units in a single day. However, this miracle cooking gadget is not just known for preparing large family meals in a flash; it also offers the ability to create affordable DIY beauty products. Here are some recipes to try. (Related: 9 DIY Beauty Masks Featuring Food)
Hydrating anti-aging cream
Dora Vandekamp, a certified nutritionist and fitness expert, and the creator of the blog Biohack Your Beauty, shares her recipe for a hydrating anti-aging cream that will leave your skin feeling smooth and moisturized.
Ingredients
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1/2 cup organic jojoba oil
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1/2 cup organic coconut oil
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1/4 cup beeswax
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2 tablespoons organic cocoa butter
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2 drops of Frankincense essential oil
These ingredients are readily available at local craft stores, Walmart, Target, or online platforms such as Amazon.
Instructions
Combine jojoba oil, coconut oil, beeswax, and cocoa butter in your Instant Pot. Set the appliance to “Keep Warm” and allow the mixture to melt gently for about 20 minutes. Once melted, add the Frankincense essential oil and then transfer the mixture into a Mason jar. For optimal use, consume within six months.
Moisturizing lotion bars
A plethora of online recipes for hard lotion bars made in an Instant Pot highlight their concentrated moisturizing capabilities without the mess of conventional lotions. These also make excellent gifts.
Lindsey Dietz from the blog Traditional Cooking School by Gnowfglins explains the process, which involves grating cacao butter and beeswax, melting the mixture in the Instant Pot with essential oils, and pouring it into silicone molds to set. For additional fragrance, consider including a nourishing oil like ylang-ylang, lavender, cypress, sandalwood, or frankincense.
Fun-shaped silicone molds can be easily found at craft stores or through Amazon, making this a delightful DIY project that promotes self-care.
Soothing hand salve
As a devoted Burt’s Bees fan for balms and salves, I decided to try this Instant Pot herbal hand salve recipe and quickly became a fan of it.
This salve is ideal for preventing dry, cracking hands and feet during winter months. The recipe from AJ’s Natural Beauty Blog begins with creating a soothing antibacterial oil from lavender buds combined with jojoba or sweet almond oil. After preparing the oil, mix it with grated beeswax in the Instant Pot, stir until fully melted, and add a few drops of your preferred essential oil before pouring the mixture into small Mason jars or tins.
If you make more than you need, this homemade salve serves as a budget-friendly gift option during the holiday season. (Also see: 9 Easy Mason Jar Gift Ideas)
Homemade herbal soap
Chris from Joybilee Farm utilizes her Instant Pot with a stainless steel insert for crafting herbal soap, which is both nonreactive and ideal for this process. Her soap recipe incorporates various oils, cold water, a lye solution, essential oils, and frozen milk.
According to Chris, “The insert can be utilized for melting fats and blending oils. It can also be used to combine the lye with the fats for achieving trace, and subsequently, it helps in cooking the soap after trace, reducing curing time.” She stresses using nonreactive glass to contain the lye solution, especially when making soap with herbal tea, milk, or water, and advises against using metal containers.
The soap-making process can be extensive, so it’s essential to proceed with caution when handling very hot liquids and chemicals. Always wear gloves and eye protection for safety.
