If you live in a dry area like I do, making sure to moisturize at least once a day can be a huge benefit to the health of your skin. I suffer from eczema, which can result in an itchy rash if I’m not properly hydrated so finding the right product that will keep my skin moisturized without irritating it with harmful chemicals is essential.
However, another alternative is to simply make your own moisturizer right at home! Not only is it easier than you think, being able to get creative with and control the different fragrances can be really fun. And the best part is that you know exactly what’s going on your skin, which is so important if you have sensitive skin as well. Here is my favorite go-to recipe for making my own natural moisturizer at home.
Ingredients
As I’m sure you’ve seen before, most store-bought moisturizers and lotions contain a multitude of harmful chemicals, such as parabens and benzyl alcohol to name a few. The ingredients for your moisturizer should, and can, be simple and affordable:
- 1 cup shea butter
- 4 tablespoons coconut oil
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Natural fragrances of your choice (essential oils work great)
While you can basically add any essential oil you want to the mixture, I’ve found that avoiding floral scents like lavender can help reduce allergic reactions, should you be sensitive to these scents. Sweeter fragrances like orange or vanilla are my personal favorite.
You’re also going to want to have a double boiler handy. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can improvise by bringing a small pot of water to a boil and placing a large glass bowl on top of the pot to melt the ingredients in.
Instructions
The actual process of making the moisturizer is quite simple! Take your large glass bowl, and combine the shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil and about 30-40 drops of your essential oil fragrances. With the water boiling underneath, your mixture should be thoroughly melted within a few minutes.
Once completely melted and stirred, pour the liquid into your desired container (I’ve found mason jars to be perfect for this), and let it rest for a few hours. Once hardened, the moisturizer should keep well in the jar for many months, provided it is covered and sealed when not in use.
Your skin is one of the most important organs in your body and keeping it healthy, hydrated and supple can help reduce irritating conditions like psoriasis and eczema. This is especially important during the winter when people with sensitive skin report the most rashes and irritations. However, if you do purchase store-bought moisturizer, make sure that it contains simple and wholesome ingredients like the ones stated above.