Why I (Finally) Accepted That Formulated Products Will Almost Always Be My Go-To

If you had met me a few years ago, you would have found me in the kitchen whipping up something: a honey-turmeric face mask, a DIY scalp oil blend, shea butter body scrubs, aloe spritzes—name it, I made it. I was the definition of a DIY girlie. I loved knowing exactly what was going onto my skin and hair, and I loved the ritual of creating it myself.

But somewhere along the way—between starting a brand, learning deeper science, and formulating professionally—I realised something important:

DIY has its place… but formulated products will almost always be the way to go for me.

And here’s why.

1. Science > Vibes (Most of the Time)

When I created my own hair oils or face masks, they felt good. They were fresh, natural, and fun. But creating a product that is truly effective—one that penetrates, works at the right pH, is stable, safe, and actually delivers results—requires science.

Working with a cosmetic scientist to create the Scalp Elixir was the moment everything shifted for me.
I saw:

• how each ingredient choice has a purpose,
• how percentages matter more than the ingredient list itself,
• how stability testing prevents a product from going rancid, separating, or degrading,
• and how the right formulation can dramatically outperform anything I could ever make in my kitchen.

I remember thinking:
“Ah. So this is what real formulation looks like.”

Mind. Blown.
And I’ve never looked back.

2. Formulated Products Are Consistent

My DIYs were fun, but no two batches were the same. One week the oil blend was too heavy, the next week the scrub was too abrasive. The results varied, and my hair or skin always responded differently.

A well-formulated product gives you:

• consistency,
• predictability,
• stability, and
• controlled potency.

Every bottle behaves the same. That matters more than we think.

3. Safety Isn’t Optional

When you whip up something at home, it’s easy to forget that the minute water touches an ingredient—aloe gel, herbs, teas, juices—bacteria and mold are invited to the party.

Even in oils, certain botanical ingredients can oxidize quickly.

Formulated products undergo safety assessments, microbial testing, stability testing, and packaging compatibility tests.
It ensures the product won’t harm you.

As a DIY lover, I once ignored this. Now? Never.

We decided not to produce a shampoo and conditioner, here’s why

4. Formulation Allows Better Ingredient Penetration

A simple oil is great—but combining lipids with humectants, emulsifiers, penetration enhancers, and targeted actives?
That’s how you get ingredients to actually reach where they’re supposed to.

DIY ingredients sit mostly on the surface.
A well-designed formula works deeper.

This was one of the biggest lessons I learned during the Scalp Elixir development. The synergy of ingredients—how they support, stabilize, or enhance each other—cannot be replicated by just mixing oils in your kitchen.

What’s in our Scalp Elixir formulation? Click to find out.

5. Time Is Precious (And DIY Takes Time)

Between running a business, raising a child, managing life, and creating content… I simply don’t have the time for a full DIY routine anymore.

Formulated products save time without sacrificing results.
In fact—they give better results than anything I ever mixed myself.

How much oil is too much oil? Click to find out

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But Here’s Where I Still DIY: My Food

I may have retired from mixing scalp oils in my kitchen, but believe me—I am not done with DIY completely.

Where I still love my homemade approach is in my food.

I love choosing fresh ingredients, cooking from scratch, exploring local flavors, and creating dishes that nourish from the inside out. That part of the DIY girlie in me will never go away.

Because while topical products do their job, nothing replaces the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals your body gets from real food. And in many ways, that internal nourishment supports every product you apply on the outside.

Everything you need to know about hair and nutrition, click to read

Final Thoughts

I will always look back fondly on my DIY era—it taught me curiosity, creativity, and the desire to understand ingredients.

But partnering with a scientist to create the Scalp Elixir opened my eyes to what true formulation can deliver.

Potency. Safety. Consistency. Results.
And that’s why formulated products are—and will continue to be—my go-to.

The DIY girlie in me hasn’t disappeared… she has simply evolved.