Is the credit crunch forcing you to think twice about buying expensive moisturiser?

Have concerns about toxins in beauty products prompted you to consider more natural alternatives?

Do you want to source toiletries that are not only effective but also sustainably produced?

Well - I had all those concerns, too. But now I've found the solution. Make them yourself.

I began brewing beauty products in my kitchen as one of my 'eco-challenges' for my book, thinking at the time that this would be a one-off challenge I could tick off. Now I make almost all my own products.

When I got up this morning, I washed my face with a gentle exfoliating facial cleanser based on ground almonds and lavender that left my skin soft and glowing. I followed this with an astringent toner, made from orange flower water and witch hazel and patted an aloe-vera gel around my eyes. I showered using a sugar-and-fennel body scrub and rinsed my hair with a nettle-and-cider vinegar shine tonic. Afterwards, I powdered my feet with geranium dusting powder and applied a luxurious body butter made from avocado and coconut oils and scented with citrus essential oils.

All of the above were prepared in my kitchen and many of the ingredients were sourced from my garden or my store cupboard. My window sill is crammed with jars of herbs and flowers macerating in oil or being tinctured in alcohol and I now have so many ingredients that we've had to get a special cupboard (second-hand, of course) to keep them all in.

The great thing about these products is, they really work. I use a facial moisturiser at night made with vitamin E and evening primrose oil and rejuventing frankincense essential oil and my skin is in better shape than it's ever been before.

I'm not saying that some of them aren't a bit messy - and they don't always work out the way they're supposed to either - but the trial and error involved is all part of the fun. It's rather like going back to your childhood, when you used to mix up petals and water to make perfume! I call it a cross between cookery, chemistry and potion-making - slightly witchy, but I haven't got round to casting any spells yet!

Wanting to avoid man-made chemicals such as parabens and artificial fragrances (also known as 'parfum') was one of my main objectives. However, I was also keen that the products should be as sustainable as possible. To that end, I wash and sterilise old jars and bottles and reuse them and I've even got my friends and neighbours to leave their used up cosmetic jars and pots on my doorstep, too. In return they get a free sample of my latest product to try out.

I also recruited friends and neighbours to give me their roses when they're past their best and other flowers such as lavender. (I'm still experimenting with drying techniques: the lavender has been suspended in bunches from my banisters and has been dropping bits all down the stairs.) Together with the ivy, geraniums, herbs, comfrey, nettles and even tomato leaves (for a cologne) from my back garden I've made loads of products - and with virtually no 'hair miles' (shampoo pun ...) to speak of.

Since I've been getting so much enjoyment out of making my own products, I'm keen to spread the word about how easy it is to do for yourself. I'm planning a book in due course that will investigate the beauty business and give homemade recipes, but in the meantime I'm running a workshop in York on Saturday 11 October. If you're interested in coming, drop me an email (Kate@klockworks.co.uk).

And if you want to read more, The Press ran a great colour feature about me and my homemade beauty products in the Life & Times section (13.09.08).

As to the gin-and-tonic smelling cologne, which is supposed to be Hungary Water, I don't have high hopes - it's gone an unappealing brown colour - but if you melt the beetroot tinted lip balm onto a lolly stick it makes a great lipstick!