Recipes for natural skin care products

Simple recipes for skin care products you can make at home using natural ingredients.

Taking care of your skin, whether it is beauty products or simply dry skin, relief doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. Using simple, natural ingredients found in almost any kitchen, your skin can and will radiate health.

The following recipes should be enough to get you started. More can be found in books, on the web and by experimenting.

6 tablespoons coconut oil

2 tablespoons glycerin

4 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons olive oil

In a small saucepan, melt ingredients together over low heat, stirring constantly. As soon as the mix is melted, remove the pan from the heat and as the mixture melts stir vigorously until it emulsifies. Bottle and store in the refrigerator.

Creamy Olive Cleanser

1 teaspoon borax

8 tablespoons olive oil

8 tablespoons Vaseline

4 tablespoons boiling water

In a small bowl, dissolve borax in the boiling water. Over low heat, melt the olive oil and Vaseline until liquid. Add the borax water, stirring to mix thoroughly. Remove from heat and continue stirring until mixture is emulsified. Bottle and store in the refrigerator.

To use either of these cleansers, simply spread lightly over your skin and then wipe away with a damp, soft cloth. After cleansing, use one of the following astringents to remove any lingering oily residue.

1/2 cup water mixed with 1/2 witch hazel

or

1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup water

or

For a wonderful scented astringent, puree fresh strawberries until liquid and apply with cotton balls.

Lavender Face and Body Scrub

1 1/2 cups rendered tallow

1/2 cup vitamin E oil

1/4 cup lye

1/2 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup coconut oil

3/4 cup cold water

1/4 teaspoon lavender essential oil

Melt coconut oil and tallow together, remove from heat and set aside. Wearing rubber gloves and using a wooden spoon, mix together the lye and water, stirring until totally dissolved. Grease a shallow glass baking dish with petroleum jelly.

After both the oils and the lye mixture have cooled to lukewarm, add the lye mix to the oils stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. When the mixture begins to thicken, add the oatmeal. Stir until the mixture reaches the consistency of soft ice cream. Pour into moulds.

After two hours, cut soap into bars, but do not remove them from the glass dish. Allow to sit overnight. The next morning remove the bars and stack like bricks to air dry for at least three weeks. After curing, the soap is ready to use or wrap for the future.

Bath Oils

To make bath oils, purchase turkey red oil at any health food store. Mix 3 parts turkey red oil with 1 part any scent essential oil for the perfect moisturizing bath oil.

Body Mist

3 parts turkey red oil

1 part essential oil (any scent)

1 part water

Mix together in a spray bottle.

For dry, rough hands and feet, soak for a few minutes daily in bran or oatmeal water. Simply simmer 1 part oatmeal or bran and 3 parts water for 15 minutes. Allow to cool and then strain. If your skin is dry all over, tie 1/2 cup of either bran or oatmeal in a cheesecloth ball and toss it into your bath water.

Herbs can be tied in a cheesecloth ball and added to any bath for both the aroma and the healing properties. Chamomile and Lavender are soothing and relaxing. Lady's Mantle is purported to be good for irritated skin. Comfrey is said to rejuvenate a tired body. Lovage is good as a body deodorant.

Deodorant

Cider vinegar is a simple way to deodorize the body. The vinegar smell dissipates quickly leaving a clean, natural smell.

Discovering easy ways to create your own skin care products is fun and educational. It will also save you money over the cost of high priced store brands and give you a product that you know you can trust.