5 men's care products to make from home

Beauty products might have a reputation for being just for the ladies, but men should take care of themselves just as much! Here are gentle and soothing men's products you can make from home.

Rinse your face with fresh water, then lather up your beard with this fragrant soap before shaving. Be sure to thoroughly rinse off the lather.

• 150 ml (2/3 c) rose water
• 10 g (4 oz) pure soap flakes
• 4 drops rosemary essential oil
• 3 drops lemon essential oil
• 2 drops bay essential oil
• 1 drop sage essential oil

  1. Warm the rose water in a nonreactive pot over low heat. Place the soap flakes in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir the warmed rose water into the flakes to moisten. Keep stirring the mixture until the soap has melted to a smooth gel (if necessary, use a potato masher to dissolve the soap). Remove from the heat and cool to lukewarm.
  2. Stir in the essential oils and spoon the soap into a sterilized shallow 200-millilitre (seven ounce) glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Set aside to harden for three to five days. Keep handy in a cool, dark place.

• 125 ml (1/2 c) witch hazel
• 125 ml (1/2 c) rose water

  1.Combine the two liquids in a sterilized jar. Splash on face directly after shaving. Keep tightly covered. Should keep indefinitely on bathroom shelf.

• 20 ml (4 tsp) witch hazel lotion
• 13 drops lavender essential oil
• 7 drops geranium essential oil

  1.Put all ingredients in a sterilized 30-millilitre (one-ounce) glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Shake well to combine. Keep in a cool, dark place. Shake before using.

• 125 ml (1/2 c) aloe vera gel
• 22 ml (1 1/2 tbsp) distilled water
• 15 ml (1 tbsp) witch hazel
• 10 drops essential or fragrance oils of your choice

  1.Combine all the ingredients in the container you'll store the gel in. Stir until well mixed. Cover container with a tight-fitting lid.
  2.Keep in a cool, dark location. Should keep indefinitely.

• 5 ml (1 tsp) lanolin
• 45 ml (3 tbsp) extra-virgin olive oil
• 7 ml (1 1/2 tsp) beeswax, shaved or grated
• 2 to 3 drops arnica essential oil
• 6 drops ginger essential oil
• 3 to 4 drops lemon essential oil

  1.In an ovenproof glass measuring cup with a pour spout, combine the lanolin, olive oil and beeswax. Place the cup in a hot-water bath until the wax is nearly melted. At this point, remove the cup from the water bath and stir the mixture with a clean utensil to evenly mix the ingredients.
  2.Let the mixture cool. When the mixture begins to harden around the edges of the cup, add the essential oils and stir to incorporate them.
  3.Pour into a sterile widemouthed jar and allow to cool before capping. Store in a cool, dark place for several months.
  Note: Muscle rub not to be used by/on pregnant women.