5 simple recipes for natural night cream made at home (2025): Vaseline, aloe vera and coconut oil

Recipes for natural night cream. Cleanliness is cool: work with washed hands, disinfected dishes and clean cups. Store anything that contains water (aloe gel, hydrolates) in the refrigerator without preservatives and use within 5–7 days. You can use oil balms for months, but apply them to freshly cleansed, damp skin. Always do a patch test 24 hours beforehand. If you have a skin condition or severe acne, check with your dermatologist.

Recipe #1 – for natural night cream: Vaseline microplastic (slugging 2.0)

For whom: dry, dehydrated, irritated skin; great after retinol or acids.
We do not recommend: very oily, prone to clogged pores – apply only to dry spots.

You will need

• 1/4 teaspoon Vaseline
• 2–3 drops squalane or jojoba oil (optional)

How

1. Cleanse the skin, apply a water-based serum or aloe gel, and leave the skin slightly damp.
2. Melt Vaseline with 2–3 drops of oil in the palm of your hand (softer application).
3. Apply thin micro-coat as the final step – think “rice grain”, not “butter glaze”.

Why it works
Vaseline is an occlusive – it reduces transepidermal water loss and gives the skin barrier a nightly boost. Squalane makes it all spread better.

Recipe #2 – for a natural night cream: Aloe vera “sleeping gel” with glycerin and panthenol

For whom: sensitive, irritated, dehydrated skin that glows with happiness from gentle moisture.

You will need

• 2 tablespoons 99% aloe vera gel
• 1/4 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
• 1/2 teaspoon panthenol (5% solution from a pharmacy or DIY store)

How

1. In a sanitized jar, mix aloe, glycerin, and panthenol.
2. Mix until a uniform gel forms.
3. Apply a generous layer to clean skin; lock in with a drop of oil or a thin layer of Vaseline if desired.

Expiration date: 5–7 days in the refrigerator.
Why it works: aloe soothes, glycerin binds water, panthenol helps the skin barrier to avoid drama.

Recipe #3: Coconut Night Butter with Jojoba and Vitamin E

For whom: dry to very dry skin, neck, décolleté, dry hands and elbows.
Warning: Coconut oil can be comedogenic – for acne-prone T-zone, it's best to leave it out.

You will need

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon of shea butter
• 1 teaspoon jojoba oil
• 1/4 teaspoon vitamin E (antioxidant)

How

1. Melt the coconut and shea butter over a water bath, set aside.
2. Mix in jojoba and vitamin E.
3. Let it harden slightly, then whisk for 2–3 minutes to create a fluffy balm.
4. Massage a generous amount of pea-sized amounts into damp skin as a final step.

Expiration date: up to 6 months at room temperature; protect from heat and light.
Why it works: no water = no need for preservatives; rich lipids smooth dry scales overnight.

Recipe #4: Mini Aloe + Coconut Emulsion with a Lecithin Twist

For whom: everyone who wants a “cream-feel”, with minimal ingredients.

You will need

• 1 teaspoon coconut oil
• 1/2 teaspoon sunflower lecithin (natural emulsifier)
• 1–1.5 tablespoons 99% aloe vera gel
• 1/2 teaspoon squalane (optional)

How

1. Gently heat the coconut oil over a water bath and dissolve the lecithin in it.
2. Set aside, add squalane, and let the mixture cool to lukewarm.
3. Slowly add the aloe gel and stir vigorously (hand whisk or mini mixer) until a creamy gel forms.
4. Pour into a clean jar.

Expiration date: without preservative 7 days in the refrigerator (slight separation is normal - stir before use); with natural preservative (e.g. Geogard ECT 1% according to manufacturer's instructions) up to 3 months.
Why it works: Lecithin traps oil and water into a gentle emulsion that absorbs faster than pure balm.

Recipe #5: Nighttime aloe sandwich + cream + petroleum jelly (barrier topcoat)

For whom: skin that wants it all – hydration, lipids and a protective “coat”.

How

1. Apply a layer of aloe gel to freshly cleansed skin.
2. You can add a nourishing cream (if you're a total minimalist, use 3–4 drops of jojoba).
3. Close with thin a layer of Vaseline – only on the driest spots or all over your face if it's really a winter desert.

Why it works: it's a "sandwich": water (aloe), fat (cream/oil), occlusion (vaseline). The result? Soft, plump and calm skin in the morning.

Who should choose what? For a natural night cream!

• Very dry, flaky skin: #1 or #3, in winter combine with #5.
• Sensitive, red, by active ingredients: #2, if necessary lock with #1 microplate.
• Normal to combination: #4 or #5 spot (dry cheeks yes, T-zone no).
• Acne: Be careful with #3; prefer #2 + a very thin layer of #1 only on dry spots.

Myths & Truths 2025: Is Vaseline “natural”?

Vaseline is not plant-based – it’s refined petrolatum. In the beauty world, it’s called “inert”: it doesn’t harbor bacteria, doesn’t oxidize easily, and above all, it’s incredibly moisture-retaining. Natural ≠ always better; what matters is how the formula works on your skin. If it doesn’t suit you, there are wonderful plant-based alternatives (squalane, jojoba, shea, coconut). The goal is a healthy barrier, not an ideology on the shelf.

Safety, hygiene and smart use

• Make small batches. Water + heat + time = a cocktail for bacteria.
• Essential oils in night creams? If so, they should be in extremely low doses and tested - skin doesn't need perfume at night.
• Apply thin layers. Too much product does not mean more results, just more sheets to wash.
• If redness, itching, or pimples appear, stop and see a dermatologist if necessary.

Editor's 2025 Trick for a Natural Night Cream

The best “serum” is water. Always apply these night creams to slightly damp skin (after spritzing with thermal water or hydrolate). This fills the “sponge” and everything that comes after makes sense.

Conclusion: You don't have to go to the lab to create a night cream that works overtime. With the right combination of aloe vera, petroleum jelly, and coconut oil, you can create a routine at home that's cheap, convenient, and—best of all—works.