Author: Mansi Vaghela
Photo: Florian Sommet
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As the winter solstice is just around the corner, so is the season of dry, brittle skin. During these frigid months, it is essential to moisturize and hydrate our skin. Stress, environmental factors, and seasonal changes can affect the way our skin looks and feels. Taking care of our skin health is important to long-term radiance.
So many of the skincare products use harsh chemicals, preservatives, and fragrances that can irritate skin and are bad for your health overall. Not to mention that they are also terrible for our environment. In comes natural skincare!
Yes, there are plenty of amazing natural skincare brands, but sometimes they can be expensive. And with a lot of us still working from home, we have more free time on our hands to experiment. To pass the time and take care of our skin, homemade recipes are the way to go!
I was given a wonderful book by a friend called Natural Homemade Skin Care by Militza Maury, creator of Little Green Dot. The book mentions 60 different skincare recipes from toners to masks.
Here are some of my favorite recipes from the book (with a few changes of my own):
Hydration Mask
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp of loose-leaf Green Tea or you can use tea bags just cut them open.
- 3 tbsp Coconut Milk Powder
- 3 tbsp Buttermilk Powder
- 1-2 drops Maracuja Oil
Recipe
Pour the tea into a blender and blitz to turn the tea into a powder. Add coconut milk powder and buttermilk powder to blender and blend to combine it all thoroughly. When using the mask, take some powder in a small bowl, add a few drops of water, and maracuja oil (or an oil of your choice).
Benefits
- Green tea- anti-inflammatory properties because of a compound called catechins which also reduce irritation and redness.
- Coconut milk powder- contains high levels of vitamin C and fatty acids that help treat dry skin.
- Buttermilk powder- has fatty and acidic components making it great for hydrating the skin.
- Maracuja oil- contains protective antioxidants like lycopene. It also contains Vitamin C and fatty acids to help balance moisture in the skin.
Healing Balm
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Beeswax
- 2 tbsp Shea Butter
- ¼ Cup Jojoba Oil
Recipe
Bring a pot of water to simmer over medium heat. In a heatproof bowl add beeswax and place bowl over pot to melt the wax. After the wax has melted, turn off the heat and add shea butter immediately. Lastly, add the jojoba oil. Store in a mason jar or a container of your choice. Let harden for a few hours before using. This balm can be used on any part of your body that is cracked or needs extra moisture. It helps skin repair, restore, and soothe.
Benefits
- Shea butter- rich in antioxidants and fatty acids. It contains Vitamin E, D, and A. It soaks into to skin easily.
- Jojoba oil- nourishing oil that mimics skin’s own sebum making it easy for it to soak into the skin.
Lip Balm
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Beeswax
- 1 tbsp Shea Butter
- 1 tbsp Mango Butter
- 1/5 tsp Peppermint Flavoring
Recipe
Bring a pot of water to simmer over medium heat. In a heatproof bowl add beeswax and place bowl over pot to melt the wax. Turn off the stove once the wax has melted and add the mango and shea butters. Once the butters have melted add the flavoring and combine it all. Pour the mixture into a mold or small container. Let cool in the refrigerator.
Benefits
- Mango butter- contains Vitamin A and C helping to brighten and reduce fine lines. It is non-comedogenic meaning it will not clog pores. It is rich and nourishing for the skin.
Body Butter
Ingredients
- 1/2 tbsp Shea butter
- 1/3 tbsp Mango Butter
- 3 ½ tbsp Jojoba Oil
- 20 drops Essential Oil Lavender and Ylang Ylang
Recipe
Add shea and mango butter to a large bowl and blend with a handheld blender. Add jojoba oil and essential oils. Blend for 5 minutes until it looks like whipped cream. Store in a glass jar.
Benefits
- Essential oil Lavender- anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Helps balance the skin’s moisture barrier. Its aroma also helps reduce anxiety and stress.
- Essential oil Ylang Ylang- helps the regenerative process of the epidermis and regulates sebum production.
*Make sure that all of the ingredients you use for these recipes are organic and clean. Also, patch test each recipe before applying fully to test for allergic reactions.
For storing, check out reusable storage items from the Package Free Shop!
As we approach the cold time of the year, make sure you are showing love to your skin and taking care of it. It is the largest organ in our body and essential to our health!
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