Try it, you'll like it, your own homemade Body Lotion
Massaging lotions onto your skin has the added benefit of toning
your muscles.
Most of us have a ritual of daily showers or baths, which keep us
clean and sweet smelling but may actually rob our skin of valuable
natural oils and moisture. Our skin compensates for this by producing
more oils which can lead to enlarged pores and other cosmetic problems.
Additionally, when the skin loses too much moisture, it also loses the
ability to store water and nutrients. To prevent loss of oil and
moisture take the time to apply a body lotion everyday that is
moisturizing and light. Smooth lotion onto your skin when it is slightly
damp, thus allowing it to blend with the water and be more easily drawn
into the skin. This helps to seal in the water that was absorbed during
the bath or shower. Once or twice a week, enhance the effect by giving
yourself a dry brush massage before applying the lotion. This will
slough off dead skin cells, stimulate blood flow and open pores.
For the best Body Lotion that works naturally to firm, nourish
and protect your skin, try this Amazing Product by Dr. Patrick Flanagan
or make your own.
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Tip:
Anhydrous lanolin, one of the ingredients
in the homemade body lotion, is simply lanolin with the water
removed. It is available in health-food stores.
Daily Ritual Tip:
Exfoliating your skin helps it better absorb the
beneficial ingredients in body lotion. Mix 5 tbsp. of fine sea salt
with 3 tbsp. of olive oil until the salt is entirely coated with
oil. Apply the mixture to your damp skin and massage it thoroughly
in gentle, circular motions. Rinse off the salt with warm water;
then apply body lotion. |
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Body Lotion
Recipe:
For oily skin
1/4 cup jojoba oil
1 tsp. beeswax
1 tbsp. anhydrous lanolin ("wool fat")
1/3 cup witch-hazel extract
1/2 tsp. borax powder
For normal skin
1/4 cup apricot-kernel oil
1 tsp. beeswax
1 tbsp. anhydrous lanolin
1/3 cup distilled water
1/2 tsp. borax powder
For dry skin
1/4 cup avocado oil
1 tsp. beeswax
1 tsp. anhydrous lanolin
1/3 cup aloe-vera juice
1/2 tsp. borax powder
- Slowly heat the oil, beeswax and lanolin in a double boiler
until liquefied; remove from heat. (The beeswax and lanolin give
lotion a creamy consistency.)
- Heat the witch-hazel extract, distilled water or the aloe-vera
juice and borax over low heat, until the borax is dissolved; add
the oil, beeswax and lanolin blend, stirring constantly with a
whisk until a creamy emulsion forms. Remove from heat.
- Cool and then pour it into clean bottles.
Take Care!
Homemade water-based lotions have a short shelf life, so use your
lotion within 2 months. Additional bottles, however, will keep,
refrigerated, for about 4 months.
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For Extra Dry Skin
2 tbsp. avocado oil
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 tsp. beeswax
2 tsp. shea butter
5 tbsp. distilled water
1 tbsp. Echinacea tincture
1/2 tsp. borax powder
8 drops helichrysum essential oil
5 drops benzoin essential oil
4 drops frankincense essential oil
4 drops neroli essential oil
For sensitive skin
2 tbsp. sweet-almond oil
2 tbsp. St. John's-wort oil
2 tsp. beeswax
2 tsp. shea butter
3 tbsp. distilled water
1 tbsp. Echinacea tincture
1/2 tsp. borax powder
8 drops chamomile essential oil
8 drops helichrysum essential oil
- In a double boiler, heat the two oils with the beeswax and
shea butter to about 140ºF, until all of the ingredients have
melted. Remove from heat.
- In another pot, heat the distilled water and the Echinacea
tincture to 140ºF. Stir in the borax powder until it's fully
dissolved. Remove from heat.
- Add the mixture of oil, beeswax and shea butter to the mixture
of distilled water, Echinacea tincture and borax powder until it
has a creamy consistency.
- Cool the mixture until it's warm enough to touch. Then mix in
the appropriate essential oils. Transfer to a lotion bottle. It
will keep for about 2 months (or up to 4 months, if refrigerated).
A Light Moisturizer
1/2 cup distilled water
3 tsp. glycerin
5 drops lemon essential oil
Pour the ingredients into a storage or spritz bottle and shake
vigorously. Apply with a cotton ball or spray lightly.
Other Applications
These body lotions can provide excellent protection
from outdoor activities, such as skiing, when your face is exposed
to wind, sun and extreme environmental conditions. They can be used
for healing diaper rash and chapped skin, as well.
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Application:
Make your own homemade body lotion and apply it after a shower or bath.
Starting with your feet and moving upward, massage your body with
clockwise, circular motions. The lotion will hydrate your skin while
the massage helps tone tissue, promoting muscle relaxation and
increasing circulation. |
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Ingredient Benefits:
Witch-hazel extract for skin problems: A diluted extract
of witch-hazel leaves and twigs will alleviate skin inflammation and
acne. Witch-hazel has an anti-inflammatory effect and acts as a
disinfectant, which enables it to provide relief of painful and
slow-to-heal pustules. Witch-hazel is also mildly astringent, and
will reduce and constrict your pores, making them appear smaller.
Jojoba oil for oily skin: Oily skin that tends to develop
blemishes often has an imbalance of acid and alkaline, usually
because of the use of harsh astringents and cleaners. The skin,
therefore, can't adequately protect itself from bacteria. To restore
balance to the skin's protective coating, use a body lotion which
contains jojoba oil. It will help to ease inflammation and encourage
skin flora to normalize. Plus, jojoba oil is highly penetrative and
will not further clog your pores.
Apricot-kernel oil for skin: Apricot-kernel oil is a
nurturing, conditioning treatment for normal skin. The oil's fine
consistency allows it to quickly penetrate, giving your skin a
naturally fresh and soft luster. It is also recognized as one of the
most delicate oils, making it a good ingredient for use in homemade
lotions. Apricot-kernel oil is an excellent basic massage oil, as
well.
Nourishing herbal oils for dry skin: Thick, pale-green
avocado oil conditions and regenerates dry, lackluster skin and
supplies it with essential fatty acids. Olive oil provides vitamins
and makes the skin soft and smooth.
Soothing oils for sensitive skin: Sweet-almond oil is
quickly absorbed into the skin, providing it with nutrients and
essential fatty acids. Aromatic St. John's-wort oil soothes dry skin
and helps heal irritations, reddening and dry, scaly patches caused
by rashes.
Echinacea for inflamed skin: Echinacea has antibacterial
properties and restores inflamed connective tissue. The alcohol
extract is readily available in health-food stores. Note: The
alcohol in echinacea tincture evaporates when it is heated, leaving
behind the herb's potent healing properties.
Natural thickeners: Beeswax and shea butter provide body
lotions with a creamy consistency. Borax powder, available in
grocery stores, is a gentle mineral emulsifier that gives the lotion
some stability.
Storage: Since body lotions contain water, it has a rather
short shelf life of only two months or so. However, if it's stored
in the refrigerator, it will keep for up to four months.
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Shop For Your Supplies Here
Since 1987 Mountain
Rose Herbs has become the Leading Organic Supplier in not only
the finest organic botanical products, but the freshest as well.
From their bulk organic herbs and spices, to their essential
oils and herbal teas, the quality and integrity of what they
offer is unparalleled. In fact, we firmly believe nobody can
deliver a better product. |
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