Natural Moisturizers For Healthier Skin

Moisture content is the key ingredient in your skin that keeps it looking young. Healthy skin is about 10% water – whether it’s oily or dry – and drinking plenty of water will help keep your skin hydrated from the inside out. The main purpose of a moisturizer is to lock in the moisture with a surface film of oil. Dry skin lacks the fatty lipids which naturally seal moisture in the skin, but all skin types need soothing and protecting at some time. The key is to be guided by your own skin. If it feels dry and taut after cleansing, it needs moisturizing. However, oilier skins may only require moisturizing occasionally, or in certain areas, such as the neck and cheeks. Moisturizers are best applied after toning.

Making your own moisturizer will save you money and allow you to customize the cream to suit your own complexion, using all natural ingredients.

Natural Moisturizer Ingredients

Moisturizing creams are based on a mixture of oil, wax and water. Borax is used as an emulsifier, helping to bind the oil and water together. Herbal infusions or essential oils can be added for their healing, soothing or emollient properties, but they will reduce the keeping time of the cream. To make sure yours lasts as long as possible, always use sterilized jars and bottles with airtight seals. Emulsifying ointment, almond oil, glycerin, borax and purified water are all available from high street chemists.

Simple Moisturizing Cream

This gentle, all purpose moisturizer is suitable for dry, normal and sensitive skins. It contains simple ingredients that are unlikely to cause any allergic reactions and keeps for six months.

Ingredient

• 2 tbsp emulsifying ointment
• 2 tbsp grape seed oil
• 1 tsp beeswax
• 2 tsp glycerin
• 8 tbsp purified water
• 1 tsp borax

Method

Put the emulsifying ointment, oil, beeswax and glycerin in one small bowl and the water and borax in another. Stand both bowls in separate pans of gently simmering water and stir until the wax and oils have melted and the borax has dissolved. Remove both bowls from the heat and slowly pour the borax solution into the wax and oils. Beat gently until the mixture thickens. Put into a clean jar and allow to set.

Marsh Mallow Moisturizer For Dry Or Chapped Skin

Make as above, substituting a soothing infusion of marsh mallow for the purified water. To make the marsh mallow infusion pour 300ml of boiling water onto 15g of dried marsh mallow leaves, leave for 30 minutes and then strain. For extra fragrance, try adding 3 drops pure neroli essential oil. Refrigerate and use within 2 months.

Wheatgerm oil contains vitamin E which helps prevent premature aging of cells. Cocoa butter is a rich, oily fat, derived from the cocoa bean.

Ingredient

• 1 tbsp emulsifying ointment
• 2 tsp cocoa butter
• 1 tsp beeswax
• 1 tsp wheatgerm oil
• 4 tbsp purified water

Method

Melt the emulsifying ointment, cocoa butter and beeswax in a bowl over a pan of hot water, then add the wheatgerm oil. Heat the purified water until warm and mix it with the other ingredients, stirring until thick. Transfer into a clean jar and seal when cool. Keeps for several months.

Lavender Moisturizing Lotion For Oily Skin

This lotion has a very light, almost liquid, texture which suits oily skin better than a rich cream.

Ingredient

• 1 tbsp emulsifying ointment
• 1 tbsp almond oil
• 125 ml purified water
• ½ tsp borax
• 1 tsp witch hazel
• 1 tsp lavender water, or 3 to 4 drops pure lavender essential oil

Method

Put the emulsifying ointment and almond oil in one bowl and the water and borax in a second one. Stand both bowls over separate pans of simmering water and stir until the oils have melted and the borax has dissolved. Remove from the heat and add the witch hazel to the bowl of water, then pour this mixture into the oil, stirring as you do so. Finally, mix in the lavender water or essential oil, and beat gently, at intervals, until the mixture has cooled and thickened. Transfer into a clean jar and use within 2 t 3 months.

Caution: If you have an allergy to nuts, replace the almond oil with grape seed oil.

Honey And Apricot Body Lotion

Body skin is usually normal or dry and almost always requires some moisturizing. Coconut oil is soothing, emollient and melts at body temperature, making it easy to smooth into skin. Smooth onto damp skin after a bath or shower.

Ingredient

• 50 g coconut oil
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• 2 tbsp apricot oil
• 1 tsp clear honey

Method

Put the coconut oil in a bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir until melted. Mix in the other ingredients, stirring over a gentle heat until well blended. Pour into a clean jar and leave to cool and set before sealing. Keeps for several months.

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