Make this coconut oil body butter recipe and discover the wonders of coconut oil and shea butter and the satisfaction of making one’s own simple skin care products.
Winter is here, and with it cold, dry air, sharp winds, and chapped, cracked skin. This can be a real pain, especially for those of us who still have to tend to outdoor chores every day. Last winter, I suffered from a very bad case of red, dry, painful hands and spent a fortune on expensive medical-grade creams and lotions, but this was before I fully discovered the wonders of coconut oil and shea butter and the satisfaction of making one’s own simple skin care products.
Try the following easy, natural recipes to keep your skin smooth and healthy during the winter:
Coconut Oil Body Butter Recipe
Coconut oil has wonderful anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and moisturizing properties — and it smells delightful!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of coconut oil
- 1 tbsp. almond oil
- A few drops of essential oils (optional)
Directions
- Put oils into a bowl and mix with an electric beater until you get a smooth, fluffy texture resembling whipped cream.
- Place in glass jar and use on skin after shower to retain moisture, or apply just before going out. This can be also a great handmade gift if put in a pretty jar with a colorful ribbon.
Another tip for healthy hands: if the wind is especially sharp and biting outside, wear gloves even if it isn’t very cold. This sounds like a no-brainer, but it has been really helpful for me. It’s easy to say, “oh, I’m just nipping out for a minute to feed the chickens”, but even so, wearing gloves does make a huge difference.
Whipping up coconut body butter. Doesn’t it look delicious?
3-Ingredient Homemade Lip Balm
- Melt equal proportions of beeswax pastilles (can be ordered online), coconut oil and Shea butter in a small pot. Pour into small jars and let set.
- Optional: Add some drops of your favorite essential oil.
- Apply liberally before going outside or when weather is particularly dry.
Find more natural health, beauty and household tips and recipes in my book, Your Own Hands.
Anna Twitto‘s academic background in nutrition made her care deeply about real food and seek ways to obtain it. Anna and her husband live on a plot of land in Israel. They aim to grow and raise a significant part of their food by maintaining a vegetable garden, keeping a flock of backyard chickens and foraging.
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