Skin Care: Cleansing Creams, Toners, Moisturizers

Your skin is the largest organ of your body. It isn't surprising that the same things that keep you energized and healthy will also contribute to healthy, radiant skin—things like good nutrition, regular exercise, sunlight, water consumption, and enough sleep.

Vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy skin include vitamins A, B-complex, C, D, E, and the following minerals—iodine, silicon, sulfur, and zinc. Exercise helps oxygenate your cells with fresh air and makes it easier for your skin to rid itself of wastes. Try to exercise outdoors away from pollution. If you have not been told to avoid sun completely, ten to fifteen minutes of unprotected exposure to sun enhances bone and skin health. Sun helps the body absorb calcium because the skin converts it to Vitamin D. Drinking eight to twelve 8 oz. glasses of water a day is a healthy habit to get into. When cleansing, use warm, not hot water. Hot water dehydrates and irritates the skin.

Because companies who make food and cosmetic products need to prolong the shelf life of their goods, they have used all manner of preservatives to accomplish this. Many of these preservatives are down right bad. The fewer processed foods you eat, the better off you will be health-wise, and the same goes for the fewer dyes and preservatives you apply to your skin.

Basic skin care routine consists of cleansing, toning, moisturizing, exfoliating, and using sunscreen. Here are some natural products you can make at home. They do not take lots of time to make. Shelf life for most is 30 days, and some can be refrigerated to prolong shelf life. The real advantage is that there are no harsh ingredients in them, and you can splurge and buy the best ingredients for yourself.

A note about ingredients. Olive oil is an ingredient in some of the recipes below because it is a very good moisturizer. It attracts external moisture, holds the moisture close to the skin, and forms a breathable film to prevent loss of internal moisture. Olive oil does not block the natural functions of the skin while performing its own magic. The skin is able to continue sweating, releasing sebum, (oil secreted by the skin's sebaceous glands), and shedding dead skin. Vegetable soaps made with olive oil combine coconut and palm oil with the olive oil. Coconut oil is added for its lathering and moisturizing properties, and palm oil is added for hardness.

Basic Cold Cream

1 oz of olive oil, jojoba, sweet almond, apricot kernel, or avocado oil
4 oz pure vegetable shortening (do not use lard)
5 drops tincture of benzoin
5 drops of your favorite essential oil

Put oil and vegetable oil in a glass measuring cup, and heat it in hot water until the shortening is melted. Remove from heat, and whisk in benzoin and essential oil. Whisk until cool and thick. Use about 2 tsp. per application. Use within 30 days, otherwise, refrigerate.

Violet Cleansing Cream

1 oz lanolin
1 oz cocoa butter
4 TBS sweet almond oil
Violet flower and leaf infusion (you will need 4 tablespoons)

Make a strong infusion (made like hot tea) of violet flowers and leaves [1 tablespoon herb to 1/4 cup water?]. Put the other ingredients in a double boiler over boiling water, and let them melt, stirring now and then. Remove, and add 4 TBS of the violet flower and leaf infusion. (You can also use lady's mantle or chamomile infusions.) Beat with an electric mixer until slightly cool. Pour into a screw top jar. Shake before using.

Infusion is the process of extracting essential oils from herbs by steeping them in hot water or cold or hot oil. A hot water infusion is called a tea. Herb leaves and aerial parts are plunged into hot water, but not boiled because this will cause them to lose volatile oils. Remove boiling water from the heat before adding these parts of plant material. Roots and bark are boiled. Medicinal herbs are often steeped overnight.

Fennel Toner

1 TBS crushed fennel seeds
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
2 cups distilled water
2 tsp glycerin

Boil water. Remove from heat, and add crushed fennel seeds. Allow to steep 45 minutes. Strain, and add glycerin and vinegar. Shake before using. Use 1 TBS per application. Splash on or use a mister.

Applying a strong fennel tea is also good for wrinkles and chapped hands. Apply with a cotton swab.

Perfect Moisturizer

This is a beautiful, rich, thick cream made of the best ingredients.

Group One
¾ cup apricot oil or sweet almond oil
1/3 cup coconut oil and cocoa butter
1 tsp lanolin
½ oz grated beeswax

Group Two
2/3 cup distilled water
1/3 cup aloe vera gel
5 to 10 drops essential oil (optional)
Vitamin A and E (optional)

Mix together Group 1. In Group 1, oil proportions should be 2/3 liquid oil (apricot or sweet almond) to 1/3 solid oils (cocoa butter, coconut oil, beeswax, lanolin). Melt Group 1 in a double boiler over low heat in hot water. Heat just enough to melt. Let cool to room temperature. Oils should become thick, creamy, semi-solid, and cream colored.

When Group 1 is completely cool, place Group 2 in a blender. Turn blender on highest speed and drizzle Group 1 into the center of the mix. When most of the oil has been added, listen to the blender and watch the cream. When the blender coughs and chokes, and the cream looks thick and white, it is done. Do not overbeat. If the cream separates, just shake before using. This process is much like making mayonnaise. If both groups are not the same temperature, they will not emulsify.

Note: Tap water can introduce bacteria which could result in mold, so be sure to use distilled water. Also, NEVER use aloe vera on staph or strep infections.