Make Your Own Body-care Products

Recipes for All-Natural Moisturizers and Lotions

by Sarah Kingsbury

One of the biggest beauty myths is that you require any lotions or potions at all to look beautiful. Beautiful skin starts from within. Taking care of yourself—by getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet full of whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables, avoiding processed foods and refined sugars and grains, drinking enough water (but not bottled, please: http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2008/04/when-whats-happ.html), and exercising regularly—is the most important first step to looking great. Then you can start thinking about external ways to have beautiful skin. And when you do, make sure you use non-toxic body care products, like these.

Recipe for Super-Soft Glowing Skin

1 8-oz. bottle of almond oil, apricot seed oil, or grapeseed oil
Essential oil or combination of essential oils of your choice

The oil you choose will depend on the level of moisturizing that you want. Almond oil is the heaviest and grapeseed oil is the lightest.
Add 15-30 drops of your favorite essential oils to the bottle of oil. Shake very gently, just enough to mix. Store the oil in the bathroom for frequent use. For infrequent use, store in the refrigerator to prevent it going rancid before it is used up.
Before your shower, massage your body and face with the scented oil. In the shower exfoliate your body with a loofah or Face and Body Scrub. Exfoliate your face with Face and Body Scrub. After your shower, use some rose water as a facial toner and, if needed, moisturize with Face and Body Lotion (recipe below). In the summer no lotion may be needed.

Why use rose water as a facial toner?

Pure rose water is a mild astringent that smells divine and is soothing to the skin. You can buy it at most health food stores and it costs less than a lot of fancy facial toners, plus it works very well. And with distilled water of roses being the only ingredient, it is a refreshing change from beauty products with a long list of multi-syllabic ingredients on their labels.

Face and Body Lotion
Adapted from Rosemary Gladstar
Makes about 8 oz.

1/3 cup distilled water or tap water boiled 10 minutes and cooled to room temperature
6 T aloe vera juice
5 drops pure essential lavender oil
10 drops pure essential rose geranium oil
1/3 cup grapeseed oil
6 T coconut oil
1 T grated beeswax

Combine water, aloe vera juice, and essential oils. Set aside.
Heat oils and beeswax in a double boiler until just melted. Pour them into a blender and let cool.
Once the oils have reached room temperature, turn the blender on high and slowly pour the water and aloe mixture in. The two mixtures must be the same temperature in order to properly homogenize.
The lotion is ready when the mixture is thick and creamy and difficult for the blender to process.
Store the lotion in a clean, dry container.

Lotion tips: Although this lotion does not have any preservatives, it will last a very long time, provided care is taken not to introduce any bacteria or mold. When making the lotion, make sure that all your implements and your work space are immaculately clean, and be careful not to introduce moisture or bacteria when using the lotion.

You can customize the scent by using any pure essential oil or combination of essential oils that instead of the ones listed in the recipe.

The lotion is very concentrated; a small amount goes a long way.

For more articles about health, fitness, and beauty, visit the Index

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