Deborah Tosline wrote and published “Skin Remodeling DIY: An Introduction to the Underground World of Do-It-Yourself Skincare” in 2015. Her approach to skin care is based on a scientific background, love of research and over 40 years of DIY skincare experience.

Life’s challenging. As we work hard to meet responsibilities, achieve goals and plan futures, it’s easy to forget about simple mindless low-cost beneficial pleasures. I began my Do-It-Yourself (DIY) skin care journey about 40 years ago while struggling through college. On Saturdays, I slathered plain yogurt on my face and neck, followed by honey, followed by avocado for an hour at a time while I cleaned, organized and studied. I remember it as a mindless action that was telling. I don’t remember what prompted me but I’ve pursued a continuous DIY skin care hobby throughout my life.

I became a huge DIYer to obtain things that I wanted on a limited income.

My kitchen facial phase transitioned into a brief era of adding vitamins to drugstore creams. The Internet was the source of my biggest DIY skin care advances. I devoured information and developed a library of skin care ingredients, products, and tools. Today, there is an overwhelming array of skin care information and products available at a variety of costs to satisfy any level DIY skin care enthusiast.

At about age 40, I began to read about facial exercises and understood that facial muscles support facial skin. I began doing facial resistance training exercises on a regular basis and continue today. Over the next two decades, I focused on maintaining facial skin and facial muscles. I also began using DIY skin care tools and embraced percutaneous collagen induction therapy or microneedling and have completed over 70 DIY deep treatments.

More recently I began to focus on facial bone health. Facial bone loss is a documented fact and perhaps the most transformative factor in facial contour changes over time. There is no scientific evidence showing facial bone building results but theories and anecdotal evidence support the logic. I integrate a variety of facial bone building methodologies into my DIY facial care.

In recent years, based on internet recipes, I developed the ability to make a luxuriant personal skin care cream. I no longer purchase retail face creams. About 3 times a year, I use select high-quality ingredients to make a nourishing base cream. I use the base cream to make sunscreen and specialized skin creams by adding zinc oxide, nutraceuticals, advanced skin care ingredients, and regenerative essential oils. Making my own face and body cream has become one of my favorite DIY practices.

To maintain facial characteristics over time I proactively maintain my facial skin, facial muscles, and facial bones. I believe that an exceptionally healthy lifestyle supports any beauty practice.

Basic Health Practices:

• sun protection 24/7/365

• vegetarian (30 years), no dairy/eggs (3 years)

• nutrient dense, antioxidant rich whole foods

• organic at home (30 years)

• exercise 4 to 6 days/week (35 years)

  • hike

  • walk

  • bike

  • yoga

• use natural materials/fibers and avoid chemicals

• grow vegetables

• pursue mindfulness

• weekly use of Near Infrared and/or heat sauna 

2023 DIY Skin Care Plan

• DIY skin care products

  • 20% physical sunscreen with zinc oxide

  • 20% vitamin C serum

  • niacinamide/glucosamine serum

  • regenerative face cream with essential oils and peptides

• Retail products - nights

  • retin-A/tretinoin

  • retinol

• Skin care tools for home use – intermittent use

  • microcurrent

  • radiofrequency

  • microneedling

  • lazer

• Med-spa

  • lazer

  • micro-needle/red light

• Facial muscle exercise - weekly

• Facial bone strengthening - monthly

Gratefully the household budget has increased over time but I still choose and prefer to spend my dollars wisely. I believe that my DIY skin care products are comparable to premium retail products at a fraction of the cost. In addition, DIY practices conserve Earth’s resources and reduce waste. My attestation is that with few exceptions my DIY skin care practices continue to meet or exceed my DIY skin care goals.

After a lifetime of DIY facial care, I continue to enjoy the luxury of an at home spa day to rejuvenate facial skin, muscles and bones. For me, DIY skin care is a form of self-care that is nurturing, regenerative and has multiple cost saving co-benefits.

Take time to give yourself a facial and a moment of relaxation.

If you need more information, go to the library, search the Internet, read my past Blog articles, or it would be an honor to me if you purchased my book. Thank you!

Take good care of yourselves!

XO Deborah

This article is intended to be used as general information only and is in no way intended to replace medical advice, be used as a medical treatment program, diagnosis, or cure of any disease or medical condition. There are no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding the effectiveness of the practices described in this article. Products or substances discussed herein are for educational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations of the author.