You Can Make the Best Homemade Moisturizer Ever, Easy
Skin can be at its most fickle in between seasons. The cool air of an almost-autumn mixing with the still-searing sun of summer can leave us feeling dried out and itchy. Lotions bottled in factories with fillers, preservatives and cheap bulk ingredients are hardly nurturing, despite claims like “extra moisturizing” or “makes skin feel silky soft.” Making your own with lo-fi items most likely already in your kitchen is fresher, less expensive and more effective than anything you can buy at the store… as if you needed another reason to get naked, nothing says sexy like eco-savvy smooth skin.
Oil
The base of any quality moisturizer is an oil that hydrates, softens and seals in moisture. Lots of people swear by plain coconut oil for lustrous skin, scalp and hair. Almond, sesame, jojoba and even olive oil are also excellent choices. Cocoa and shea butters are also beneficial to the skin and can be blended with an oil or used alone.
Herbs and Foods
Have you ever cracked open a plump aloe leaf and seen the oozy, clear gel? It’s a powerful healer—both internally and externally—and is a common ingredient in skincare products. Using fresh aloe by itself is especially beneficial to bug bites, dry patches and other skin irritations. You can also blend it into your homemade moisturizer for an added boost to beautiful skin.
Roses are purifying and nurturing to the skin. Homemade rosewater added to your moisturizer brings healing and aromatic properties.
Oatmeal has been used for centuries to treat stressed skin. It’s great for sunburn, acne, poison ivy and can leave skin feeling smooth and ultra silky.
Honey is a known miracle medicine with moisturizing and purifying benefits to the skin. But it’s not for everyone—especially vegans or people with sensitivity to bee products.
There are many more components you can add to a simple homemade skin moisturizer including fresh fruits (grapes or peach peels are amazing), fresh ginger root, essential oils, green tea and apple cider vinegar. But keeping it simple is an exploration in purity and an easy way to moisturize without a lot of prep.
Putting it Together
Mix 2 ounces of oil (blending several types is fine). Optional: add ¼ softened cocoa or shea butter, 1 tablespoon ground oatmeal, 1 teaspoon rosewater and about 2 inches of aloe skinned and pureed. Blend in food processor, add ¼ teaspoon vitamin C powder (ascorbic acid) as a preserving agent if adding aloe and oatmeal. Store cool.
Keep in touch with Jill on Twitter @jillettinger
image: Kr. B.
