How To Make Your Own Herbal Cosmetics - Moisturizing Creams

Even as a young girl I knew that moisturizing creams were the only way to go. I think it all started when my little brother unwisely said to my aging paternal grandmother, "You have more wrinkles than a road map." It was good that he could run that fast, even if she had bad knees. He never was her favorite anyway.

Well, he was right. She'd led a hard life, one that included picking crops as a migrant worker in the days before sunscreen. The memory of her wrinkleness, haunts everyone of her grandchildren who knew her, each time we look in the mirror, now that we are all practically senior citizens.

My mind fast forwards from that day to another hot day in Abiliene, Texas. I was barely in my twenties, and the Mary Kay woman who had knocked on my door, was about to give me a make-over.

"Lordy, girl! I've never seen such dry skin on such a young and beautiful woman. Didn't your mother ever tell you that you have to moisturize your skin each and every day? I'm sorry . . . . I forgot that you are from California. . . . . all you Hollywood women just think "beauty" happened the day your are born."

She left in a huff when she realized I only made $60.00 every two weeks in the Air Force. Seems my "free" make-over had strings attached -- the ones that involved buying some products, or signing up to be a Mary Kay distributor.

Actually, I was glad to see her go stomping out to her car. It was a little insulting to be told that you were doing everything wrong when it came to taking care of your skin. By the way she talked, just using a Kleenex was akin to embedding a forest in your pores. Did she really think I was going to believe that you should always wipe up when applying makeup before gravity takes over?

Well, today I sit knowing that Virginia Slim's was right, "You've come a long way, baby" applies, when I have to admit that Mary Kay woman had some valid points about skin care before the wrinkles set in. It's all about moisturizing.

A moisturizer's main function is to maintain the skin's natural moisture. Young, old, or in between, you need moisturizers, and you have to do this everyday, just like you have to brush your teeth.

In today's world, moisturizers not only protect your skin from outside dirt and the pollutants in our environment -- but they also provide protection from the sun.

Scientific research now tells us that massaging moisturizer into our skin regularly helps to speed the renewal of skin cells. I think some women have known this at some level, since the ancient days, and didn't need a scientific study.

Life is a lot more complicated than it was back in Abilene, Texas all those years ago. Even the use of a moisturizer on your skin, is not without it's controversy.

It's now known that "some" moisturizers show an increased risk of skin cancer, at least in mice. In fact, that study is linked to four out of the five most popular moisturizers on the cosmetic shelf. To my way of thinking, one way to reduce the risks (linked to mineral oil and soidum lauryl sulphate) -- is to make your own herbal moisture creams. At least that way, you know what is in them.

From your garden: Roses; geraniums

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons beeswax
• 2 teaspoons lanolin
• 2 tablespoons almond oil
• 1 teaspoon flax seed oil
• 1/4 teaspoon borax
• 8 tablespoons rosewater
• 10 drops of essential oil of rose
• 1 handful of crushed rose petals
• 1 handful of crushed geranium petals

Instructions:

• Place beeswax and lanolin in double boiler, on medium heat, stirring constantly with wooden spoon
• Warm the oils on low heat
• Beat oils into waxes thoroughly
• Warm rosewater on low heat
• Gradually add borax to rosewater
• Add oil and wax mixture a little at a time
• Remove from heat and stir constantly until mixture is cooled
• Add essential rose oil just as the mixture begins to thicken (optional)
• Add crushed rose petals and geranium petals immediately afterwards (optional)
• Spoon into sterile jars
• Label

Note: Shelf life in refrigerator -- 1 month if kept refrigerated

Cautions: Some individuals are allergic to lanolin, be sure to test if you are not certain. Also some individuals are allergic to geraniums, be sure to test if you are not certain

From your garden: Avocado (if you are lucky)

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons beeswax
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lanolin
• 3 teaspoons avocado oil
• 1/2 teaspoon flax seed oil
• 3/4 teaspoon glycerin
• 6 tablespoons rosewater
• 1/2 teaspoon borax
• 8 drops essential oil of neroli

Instructions:

• Place beeswax and lanolin in double boiler on medium low heat
• Place avocado oil, flax seed oil, and glycerin on another double boiler and warm
• Beat the waxes until creamy
• Add waxes to avocado oil mixture
• Beat until the waxes are again creamy
• Remove from heat
• Dissolve borax into warmed rosewater
• Gradually add rosewater into the creamed mixture
• Beat continuously until everything thickens
• Immediately add neroli oil
• Spoon into sterile jars
• Label

Note: Shelf life in refriger

ator -- 1 month if kept refrigerated

Cautions: Some individuals are allergic to lanolin, be sure to test if you are not certain. Also, some individuals are allergic to oil of neroli, be sure to test if you are not certain. Additionally, 1% of the world's population is also allergic to avocados, be sure to test if you are not certain.

From your garden: Avocado (if you are lucky); nettle (handle with rubber gloves until infused)

Ingredients:

• t teaspoon beeswax
• 2 teaspoons lanolin
• 4 teaspoons avocado oil
• 1/4 teaspoon borax
• 2 tablespoons nettle infusion (see Make Your Own Herbal Cosmetics -- History and Basics)
• 3 drops essential oil of cedar
• 4 drops of hazelnut oil
• 4 drops of apricot kernel oil

Instructions:

• Melt beeswax and lanolin over medium heat in double boiler
• Warm all hazelnut and apricot kernel oils and gradually fold them into the waxes
• Dissolve borax into prepared nettle infusion
• Slowly beat this into the waxes and oils a little at a time
• Cool to room temperature
• Immediately mix in essential oil of cedar
• Spoon into sterile jars
• Label

Note: Shelf life in refrigerator -- 1 month if kept refrigerated

Cautions: Some individuals are allergic to nettle, be sure to test if you are not certain. Also, some individuals are allergic to lanolin, be sure to test if you are not certain. Especially be aware that Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) are as poisonous as Poison Ivy, if not cooked, hence the need for infusion. Additionally, 1% of the world's population is also allergic to avocados, be sure to test if you are not certain.

From your garden: Comfrey (a healing herb that speeds up cell renewal, excellent for damaged skin)

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon beeswax
• 1 tablespoon lanolin
• 1 tablespoon avocado puree
• 1 tablespoon shea butter
• 1 teaspoon glycerin
• 1/4 teaspoon borax
• 3 tablespoons comfrey leaf infusion
• 8 drops of essential oil of rosewood

Instructions:

• In a double boiler, over medium low heat, heat beeswax, shea butter, and lanolin to melting
• Mix well
• Warm the avocado puree and glycerin in a separate double boiler
• Add to beeswax, shea butter, and lanolin mixture gradually
• Separately warm comfrey infusion and dissolve borax into it
• Add to other mixture, stirring constantly
• Blend to the point of thickening (like a scratch pudding
• Cool to  room temperature
• Immediately add in essential oil of rosewood
• Spoon into sterile jars
• Label

Note: Shelf life in refrigerator -- 1 month if kept refrigerated

Cautions: Some individuals are allergic to lanolin, be sure to test if you are not certain.