CHEAP and EASY SKIN CARE

Make better, less expensive cosmetics right at home.

By Charles Dickson, Ph.D

Most members of the legion of shiny, shrink wrapped squeeze tubes and dispensers lining pharmacy shelves—items loosely described as "beauty products" and cosmetics—are not only unnecessary but each time we use one of them, we are absorbing substances through our skin, some of which we would never dream of putting in our mouths.

What few things we really must have can actually be better and more cheaply made at home. Using nature's products, some of which you may find in your own backyard, and a few harmless supporting materials available in grocery and drugstores, you can save a bundle of money on cosmetics and, most of all, protect the health of your skin.

For instance, if your hands often feel dry from exposure to weather or from handling irritating substances like fertilizers, cement, or gasoline, one cosmetic that does do a great service is a soothing hand lotion which refreshes the skin and restores its moisture.

In her book, Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter without Me, Paula Begoun details the many harsh substances often mixed in lotions that, while creating the appearance of a lotion, are often worthless or even potentially harmful to your hands. Some of these products include acetone, which irritates the skin, or alcohol, which dries, as well as so-called trade secret name ingredients, which seldom do what the ad says they will do.

Here are some easy-to-make hand lotions that use natural substances and avoid the harsh chemicals of commercial products. Each recipe is designed to make only a small quantity of the lotion so you can test it out and see how you like it. In the event all goes well and you are happy with the results, you can increase the amounts proportionately in order to obtain a larger supply.

To prepare the first lotion, place I teaspoon of castor oil, 1/4 cup of mineral oil, and 1/2 teaspoon of cod-liver oil along with I tablespoon of lecithin powder in a blender. You an get these oils and lecithin at your local health food store or pharmacy. Now prepare gelatin mix by dissolving I teaspoon of plain unflavored gelatin in cup of cold water. Then add 1/2 cup of boiling water to the gelatin and let it sit until cool. Remember to use the plain gelatin, not a flavored one, unless you don't mind having hands that smell like a raspberry patch. Place the entire mixture in a blender until you have gotten a smooth lotion. The oils serve to restore the skin's natural oils, while the phospholipid lecithin serves as an emulsifier for the oils to mix and the gelatin creates a quality of smoothness.