Moisturizers contain humectant, emollient, protective, nourishing and healing ingredients. Humectants like glycerin draw moisture from the air into skin cells. Emollients smooth your skin and help to retain moisture. The most important protective ingredient is SPF to protect from sun damage, but moisturizers also contain lipids that help to heal the skin barrier, layers of cells that are glued together by lipids. The skin barrier keeps bacteria and other pathogens from penetrating the skin and helps to reduce the loss of moisture from the skin. Antioxidants from herbs and fruit nourish the skin, while healing components in oils and herbs treat damaged skin.
Step 1
Bring a cup of water to a boil, remove from the heat, and add the tea bags. Allow to steep for 5 minutes and then discard the tea bags. Measure out 4 oz. of tea and reserve. Chamomile, green tea and calendula contain antioxidants and are soothing for irritated skin.
Step 2
Measure the almond and wheat germ oils and the grated beeswax. Combine in a small saucepan and melt slowly over low heat. Stir to combine completely and remove from the heat. The oils are emollient, and wheat germ oil is a natural source of ceramides, the lipids that glue together the outer layers of skin cells, creating a skin barrier. Beeswax helps to emulsify and thicken the ingredients.
Step 3
Combine the remaining ingredients: herbal tea, glycerin, aloe vera gel and essential oil. Glycerin is a humectant that draws water from the air, plumping skin cells. Aloe vera gel is healing, and essential oils contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Lavender is also analgesic, and chamomile is soothing to inflamed skin.
Step 4
Pour the tea mixture slowly into the oils and beeswax, beating thoroughly to make an emulsion. Use an immersion blender to make the emulsion form faster. Keep beating until the mixture is cool. Put your cream into clean jars and seal.
Step 5
Store cream in the refrigerator to extend its shelf life, as there are no preservatives in this recipe. When refrigerated, the cream will last up to six months.
Tips and Warnings
- Substitute rosewater for the herbal tea if you prefer. Substitute other oils, such as avocado oil, olive oil or others that are about the same thickness, for the almond oil. Substitute a tablespoon of shea butter or cocoa butter for a tablespoon of the beeswax.
- Don't dip into the cream with your fingers; use a cosmetic spatula to dip out the cream so that you don't contaminate the cream left in the jar.
Things You'll Need
- 1 cup water
- 1 or 2 tea bags, chamomile, green tea or calendula blossoms
- Kitchen scale
- 5 oz. almond oil
- 1 oz. wheat germ oil
- 3 oz. grated beeswax
- Small saucepan
- 1 oz. glycerin
- 1 oz. aloe vera gel
- 6 to 10 drops of essential oil such as lavender, rose, chamomile or orange
- Immersion blender
- Small jars with screw-on lids
References
- "Making Herbal Hand Creams and Salves"; Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletin; 2000
- "375 Essential Oils and Hydrosols"; Jeanne Rose; 1999
- "Organic Body Care Recipes"; Stephanie Tourles; 2007
Member Comments