If you use lotions and toners,and have access to a grocery store and a blender, you don't need to shell out $130 for an ounce of La Mer moisturizing cream. Home-made skin care formulas can often do everything pricey drugstore products can, but for much less cash and without preservatives and harsh chemicals.
History
Before the days of drugstores, ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans made their own skin care treatments using olive oil and fragrant herbs, according to Cal Orey in "The Healing Powers of Olive Oil." Author Sue Dolan cites honey as a favorite moisturizer of ancient Greek women in "Naturally Skinsational." Cleopatra, she writes, is said to have bathed in milk to maintain luxuriously soft skin, and to this day, Italian women use olive oil as a moisturizer.
Equipment
To make your own skin care products, you need a small supply of kitchen tools and appliances. In "Natural Beauty at Home," Janice Cox suggests you collect a grater, funnel, coffee filters, peeler, zester, knife, stirrer, strainer and eyedropper. These tools help you slice, dice and zest ingredients like herbs, nuts and wax. You'll also need a collection of glass bowls and measuring cups that are microwave safe, along with steel pans for stove top work. To make mixing easier, use a blender or food processor.
Common Ingredients
The ingredients you choose for your skin care should be based on your skin's needs. If you have oily skin, Dolan advises you to look for recipes that use antibacterial plants such as dandelion and rosemary mixed with citrus, salt or sugar for exfoliation. Normal skin will do well with rose hips, honey and fruit acids. Sensitive skin responds well to soothing ingredients like honey, olive oil, milk and yogurt. Dolan suggests making sure you have a steady supply of base ingredients such as sugar, eggs, salt, honey, vinegar, oatmeal, tea bags and olive oil.
Methods
The simplest home-made skin care recipes ask you to thoroughly mix ingredients in a blender. Some recipes can be refrigerated for days, while facial masks are best used right away. If a recipe needs heat to melt one or more ingredients, author Cox writes that the stove top or microwave will work. You don't need expert culinary skills for the recipes offered by Cox and Dolan, but you may need to know how to separate an egg and zest a citrus fruit.
Storage
According to Cox, all home-made beauty products need to be stored in clean jars or bottles kept out of direct sunlight. Light and heat can alter the recipe's ingredients or reduce its shelf life. Avoid touching the substance more than is necessary and only do so with clean hands. If you made something with substances that don't mix well or don't stay mixed---such as oil and water---just stir them up again before using. The only time you shouldn't simply stir and continue using is if the product smells bad. Never, Cox writes, use anything that has a rancid, sour odor.
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