Maintain your supple skin in dry winter air with a light, buttery, homemade skin moisturizer that doesn’t leave an oily film.
We all need a good moisturizer in winter. This one is light, fluffy, and easily absorbed, and doesn’t leave an oily film on the skin. It contains stearic acid powder, which gives the cream a lighter feel and texture than beeswax. Stearic acid is a natural butter acid obtained from fats and oils. It can be found at some natural food stores and online shops that specialize in herbal and cosmetic ingredients. Yield: 12 ounces.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons apricot kernel oil
- 1/2 cup walnut oil
Directions
- In a heat-resistant container, combine the oils and stearic acid powder. In another heat-resistant container, combine the baking soda, aloe vera gel, and water.
- Heat the oil mixture in a water bath until all the stearic acid powder is melted and you’re left with a clear liquid. Heat the water solution until just boiling (in the same water bath, or 1 to 2 minutes in the microwave).
- Slowly add 1/3 of the water solution to the oil mixture and stir. The combination will foam slightly as carbon dioxide is released.
- Pour this mixture into a blender and stir. Add the rest of the water mixture in a slow, steady stream while you blend on high. The mixture will become a white, fluffy cream.
- Spoon the cream into a clean container, and allow it to cool completely.
To use: Massage a small amount of cream into your skin.
Also from Natural Beauty for All Seasons:
- Natural Care for Winter Skin and Hair
- Black-Eyed Pea Cleanser
- Pine Toner
- Basic Shampoo
- Dandruff Treatments
- Olive Oil Shaving Cream
- Herbal Sleep Pillow
Janice Cox is the author of Natural Beauty at Home and Natural Beauty from the Garden. She’s the beauty editor for Herb Quarterly magazine, a regular magazine contributor, and a speaker at MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIRS. This excerpt is from her book Natural Beauty for All Seasons.
