How to make your own natural moisturiser

We're used to skincare being presented as a complex science, so at first glance, making your own potions and lotions sounds like a daunting idea. But skincare is really very simple, and you can make a very versatile day to day moisturiser using just three ingredients. In an age of ruinously expensive skincare products and obscure additives, there's no surer way to avoid putting unneccesary junk on you skin than going down the homemade route, so here's a basic 'recipe' to get you started.

Follow the jump for instructions.

[via Hippyshopper]

This fab recipe comes to you courtesy of Cindy from Wabi Sabi Baby. She's an American blogger, so uses 'cups' for her measurements: for UK readers, simply use this guide to make as little or as much of the lotion as you want, by keeping the 'cup' as a consistent, variable measure.

You'll need:

* Tools 1-cup glass measuring cup
* 2-cup glass measuring cup
* saucepan just large enough to fit the 1-cup measurer

* Ingredients 1/4 cup olive oil
* 1 1/4 cup water
* 1/4 cup emulsifying wax

Directions

* Fill a small saucepan with water and set it on medium low to use as a water bath.

* Combine the oil and e. wax into the heatproof 1-cup measurer and melt the mixture in the water bath.

* Fill the 2-cup measurer with water and heat it in the microwave on high for 2 minutes or until it boils. Alternatively, boil water on the stove and pour it into the measurer.

* When the oil/wax mixture has melted, pour it into the water. Your lotion should now have the consistency of skim milk.

* Let it cool slightly, stir with a spoon or chopstick and pour the lotion into a bottle while it's still warm and pourable. Otherwise, it would be hard to get the lotion into its container. If you're using a wide mouth jar, then this is not an issue.

* Leave the cap off to let it cool completely, but occasionally cap the lotion and give it a quick shake to help blend the mixture.

That's IT!

As is, this plain, scent-free lotion is great for babies and people with sensitive skin. But this recipe is very forgiving and you can easily vary it. Here are some suggestions:

* Substitute 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the water with glycerin to make a hydrating lotion.
* Substitute or combine the olive oil with other oils such as almond oil or jojoba oil
* Add essential oils. Use 1 - 5 drops per fl oz of lotion

[Via Craft]

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