Clay facial mask are classics in cosmetics, and most of us have made them already ourselves. This instruction in the middle of the scale easy – difficult. The precondition is that you know, how to prepare a simple emulsion. In principle, a clay facial mask requires no other raw materials than high-quality cosmetic clay and water. When making such a clay facial mask, attention must be paid to the quality of the clay.

The clay effectively absorbs impurities but also moisture from the skin. Most cosmetic clays are too drying for the skin. Only kaolin is suitable for everyone. You avoid this problem by using very little clay in the clay mask. People with sensitive skin should always mix clay with masks containing oils. Only 2% clay has been used in this recipe. It’s the suitable amount to make a gentle clay mask. In addition, the recipe contains plenty of skin-moisturizing ingredients to combat dryness caused by cosmetic clay.

Why are facial masks used?

Masks are quite popular these days. With Korean and Japanese cosmetics, the popularity of disposable fabric masks grew to its peak. Face masks have a very important role in skin care. With the help of a face mask, effective treatment substances can be brought to the skin. You can’t put so much active ingredients in serums and face creams because they stay on the skin all day. Face masks can also include ingredients that cannot be used in face creams at all. Such ingredients include, for example, cosmetic clays, minerals and other herbal powders.

The mask can also include nourishing, active ingredients that require time to be absorbed into the skin. That’s why face masks are kept on the skin from 10 minutes up to 20 minutes. Some face masks are recommended to work for up to 30 minutes. The effect time depends entirely on the ingredients used in the face mask.

Gentle facial mask

This clay facial mask is great for sensitive skin, dry skin and aging skin. Many facial masks are too effective for sensitive skin. Even for aged skin and dry skin, most facial masks may cause problems. Especially many fresh masks contain acidic ingredients that sting the skin. The pH of clay masks is always higher because clay is naturally alkaline. A clay facial mask made from only clay and water is therefore too strong for most skin types. In this facial mask made of green clay, the facial mask base consists of a simple emulsion cream. When we only use a very small amount of clay in the emulsion, the pH of the product does not rise too high.

Moisturizing facial mask

Most facial clay masks dry out the skin. The reason is the excessive amount of clay I mentioned above. Clay facial masks also often lack moisturizing ingredients. I have added moisturizing ingredients to this clay facial mask to bring more care. There are many moisturizing ingredients in cosmetics. I personally prefer more natural alternatives such as moisturizing herbs, seaweed and silk protein. Silk protein is not a vegan product. If you don’t want to use silk protein, you can replace it with seaweed extract. Natural ingredients are better for homemade cosmetics than industrial compounds. They are easy to use and you don’t have to be so careful when dosing them.

Ingredients of Clay Facial Mask

I have tried to keep the ingredient list very minimalistic. Only the necessary ingredients are included. For example, I didn’t want to add essential oils to this rinse-off product. The product gets its scent only from hydrolats. By varying different hydrolats, you can create your own pleasant scents to the clay mask.

Green clay

Although the name of this mask is green clay, in reality there is only 2% green clay in the product. However, it is a sufficient amount to bring the positive effects of the clay to the mask.

There are at least two different types of green clay. Illite clay is green in colour. It was found in the USA, Illinois, and that’s where its name comes from. Not all Illite clay is green. There are also yellowish illite clay grades.

French Green Clay

French green clay was discovered for the first time in France, but it is also currently mined in the USA and China. In addition to this, there are mixtures that include kaolin and some green clay. In this product, I used French green clay, which originates from France.

French green clay is highly valued in cosmetics. Its beautiful, light green colour comes from iron oxide and decomposing plant matter. French green clay effectively absorbs oil and impurities from the skin. It also has a brightening and firming effect on the skin. I myself have noticed it clearly when using French green clay.

Clays are minerals that are very sensitive to the environment

Always store clay in plastic containers or glass jars. Clay should also always be handled with a plastic spoon, not a metal spoon. During the preparation phase, the glass rod is the best tool for handle clay cosmetics. The ability of clay to absorb impurities is due to its electromagnetic charge. If the clay comes into contact with the metal, the charge changes.

You should be very careful when purchasing clay. Clays consist of different minerals. They can differ greatly in composition, even if the colour of the clay is almost the same. When you finally find good quality clay, don’t hesitate to stock it up. Cosmetic clays will last forever if you store them in a plastic box with a lid, protected from moisture and light.

Seaweed extract

Seaweed extract is full of all your skin’s favourite vitamins and minerals. Seaweed extract helps the skin to calm down. It softens the skin and reduces its sensitivity. Because seaweed cells are surprisingly similar to skin cells, it protects and maintains your skin’s natural balance and protects it against irritation. Seaweed accelerates the skin’s natural regeneration ability. And most importantly, seaweed is a super skin moisturizer. You can read more about the skin care effects of seaweed in my article.

Seaweed extract contains many nutrients including fucoidan, cysteine, lysine, asparagine, glutamine, proline, methionine, tryptophan, arginine and ornithine. Seaweed extract makes the skin look radiant and rosy. Seaweed has an antioxidant effect, it fights free radical attacks and thus prevents signs of aging. I have purchased seaweed extract for this product. Seaweed extract is also available in gel and powder form.

Silk protein

Silk protein is made from cocoons made by silkworm larvae. Silk protein is not a vegan product, but it is not made from animals either. You can replace the silk protein extract with seaweed extract if you wish.

Silk protein exists as a liquid extract and as a powder. You can make silk protein extract from silk protein powder when you mix it with water (1:9). Liquid extract definitely needs a preservative.

Since silk is a protein fibre, it is chemically very similar to human skin. This makes silk protein an ideal ingredient to use in skin care. Silk protein is a very moisturizing ingredient. In skin and hair care, silk protein has many other good properties.

Glycerol

I included glycerol to add moisture to the product. It works well with other moisturizing ingredients. You can read more about glycerol on my blog.

Marshmallow root

Marshmallow root is my favourite of moisturizing herbs. The herbal marshmallow root has very good moisturizing properties. In addition, it soothes the skin and prevents inflammation. The root of the herbal marshmallow is so gentle that it can even be used on eczema skin.

There aren’t many moisturizing herbs. That’s why, as a person with dry skin, I always keep dried marshmallow root at home. It is sold as pre-dried, small, light-coloured cubes. You can buy it, for example, a stock for two years use. It does not spoil or age easily. It can also be used in stomach-soothing drinks.

Make a decoction of the herbal marshmallow root for cosmetics

Measure 5 decilitres of water and 2 tablespoons of dried marshmallow root into the pot. Heat the decoction up to boiling temperature and let it boil slowly for about 10 minutes. Strain, cool and use for cosmetics. This makes quite a large amount of liquid. It is difficult to prepare a smaller portion. You can use the rest of the decoction as a hair conditioner.

Oils

I chose rice bran oil and argan oil for this product. If you want, you can change these oils to what you happen to have in your closet or which oils suit your skin best.

Rice Bran Oil

I have previously written an article about rice bran oil on my blog. I have used it in many recipes. Rice bran oil is a mild and balanced oil that is suitable for many skin types. It does not clog pores and does not irritate sensitive skin. Rice bran oil can withstand heating, which is important when we prepare emulsions.

Argan oil

Argan oil is an ecological and ethical oil, about which I have also written a comprehensive article on the blog. Argan oil contains more than 200 different active ingredients. It is a very therapeutic oil with great antioxidant properties. Argan oil is a rich oil that feels quite greasy on the skin. Therefore, it should not be used in large quantities. High-quality argan oil is also quite expensive. Argan oil is one of those oils that is widely counterfeited. That’s why I recommend spending some time when purchasing argan oil.

Argan oil is only added to the emulsion during the cooling phase. This way you ensure that all the valuable active ingredients of the oil remain unchanged.

Emulsifier Olivem 1000

Olivem 1000 is a familiar emulsifier that is easy to obtain. Olivem 1000 emulsifier is also one of the most stable and easiest emulsifiers. It suits well for a beginner. In this product we use a little more emulsifier than usual due to the clay. Remember that Olivem 1000 emulsifier continues to emulsify for about 24 hours. The next day, the product is clearly thicker than immediately after completion. That’s why I recommend that you put the clay mask jar in the fridge overnight to set.

Why here Is there no preservative in the recipe?

Clay products are really challenging in terms of preservation. Conventional natural cosmetics preservatives cannot reliably keep microbes away from clay products. There is also another shelf-life problem with my recipe. As the name suggests, silk protein is a protein, so it is easily perishable. That’s why you need an effective preservative if you want to keep the face mask without any worries at room temperature for a longer period of time.

In my case, I solved the problem very simply. I only made a very small batch of green clay facial mask that I only keep in the fridge for about a week. I also took care of hygiene very carefully during the preparation phase. I sterilized the jar and all the preparation tools very carefully.

However, if you want to use a preservative in the product, you should choose one that is not a natural cosmetic grade. Do you really want to absorb, for example, phenoxyethanol into your skin? I leave this matter to you to decide.

Ingredients; Moisturizing facial mask containing green clay

This recipe makes 50 gr of facial clay mask

Oil phase

• 7.5 gr Rice bran oil
• 2.5 gr Olivem 1000

Aqueous phase

• 19 gr Herbal marshmallow root decoction
• 14.5 gr Chamomile hydrolate
• 1.5 gr Glycerol

Add after the cooling phase

• 3 gr argan oil
• 1 gr French green clay
• 1 gr Silk protein extract (not vegan) or Seaweed extract (vegan)

Prepare the Green Clay Facial Mask as follows:

• Measure the ingredients of the oil phase into a heat-resistant container
• Measure the ingredients of the water phase into a heat-resistant container
• Place both containers in a water bath and heat to over 70 (72-75C) degrees Celsius
• Pour the oil phase into the water phase gradually, stirring gently all the time
• Remove the emulsion from the water bath and continue mixing until the mixture has cooled down below 40 degrees Celsius
• Add the ingredients of the cooling phase one at a time. Mix carefully so that there are no lumps in the product. After mixing, let the mixture to cool down.
• Pack the face mask in a jar and label it. Put the jar in the fridge overnight to set.

How do I use the Green Clay Facial Mask?

This facial mask is intended for face and neck skin. Always apply the clay facial mask on cleansed skin. Use a reasonably generous layer of the clay mask. Spread it evenly over the entire face area and, if desired, also on the skin of the neck. Avoid the eye area.

Leave the facial mask on the skin for about 20 minutes. Wipe the mask off the skin with a tissue paper and rinse the skin with water to remove any remaining traces of the facial mask.

After this facial mask, you may not need any moisturizer at all. The skin on the face feels cared for and moisturized. The colour of the skin also brightens.

You can use Green Clay Facial Mask once or twice a week.

What did you think of the guide? Share your opinion in the comments!

Ceramide cream has been on my recipe list for a long time. Ceramide is used especially for the treatment of dry and damaged skin. Basic creams sold at the pharmacy quite often also contain ceramide. I decided to prepare a protective and caring cream containing ceramide for autumn. In spring and winter, the indoor air starts to be quite dry due to the heating. Then it is good to use the best possible ingredients against skin dryness. The moisturizing ceramide cream is the homemade cosmetics equivalent of the basic cream from the pharmacy. You’ll soon find out that you can’t live without this cream, it’s such an effective moisturizer.

Should I do a ceramide-rich salve or an emulsion?

The difference between a salve and an emulsion is clear; Salve is a water-free product, only oils and beeswax are used to make it or, alternatively, some other wax is used to solidify the oil. In the preparation of an emulsion, both water and oil are needed, as well as an emulsifier to connect these two ingredients together.

I decided to choose an emulsion-type cream for this product. Moisturizing the skin is not possible without liquid. Of course, you can moisturize the skin in advance, before applying the cream, and then add the anhydrous salve to the skin. The emulsion is just so convenient to use. With one treatment, the skin gets both hydration and protection. Making an emulsion cream is not difficult at all. If you have never made an emulsion cream before, you can find the basic instructions for making an emulsion cream on my website; This is how a homemade emulsion cream is created.

You can read more about ceramides here; Ceramides; dry skin rescue. Cholesterol should also be used in creams together with ceramides, as it supports the effect of ceramides. However, cholesterol is a very difficult ingredient to process. I haven’t worked with the cholesterol myself precisely because of its challenging nature.

Moisturizing ingredients for ceramide cream

The purpose of this cream is to moisturize the skin and protect the skin from drying out. The purpose of ceramides is specifically to protect the skin. In order for the cream to work by moisturizing dry skin, moisturizing factors must be added separately to the cream.

This cream contains three moisturizing ingredients that work in different ways. Of course, you can leave out some of the moisturizing factors if you don’t have them available. However, it would be important to use at least one of the following ingredients.

Marshmallow root

Marshmallow root is very moisturizing. It is usually used in hair care because it leaves a nice texture in the hair and adds volume. The herbal marshmallow root is also suitable for skin care. It’s a mallow plant. If you have mallows in your yard, you can also use their roots. The roots of mallows are very much more delicate than the roots of the marshmallow’s root. That’s why only the leaves and cores are often used. The roots and leaves of burr are also suitable for this purpose.

Marshmallow contains a lot of skin and hair moisturizing mucilage. There are a lot of mucilage substances in the whole plant, but most in the roots. The herbal marshmallow root is sold in herbal shops in small light cubes. The cubes are boiled in water and the broth is used for making cosmetics. Marshmallow roots are completely non-toxic. The first marshmallow candy was a vegan delicacy. They were made from marshmallow roots (marshmallow) and sugar.

Allantoin

One of the most moisturizing ingredients is allantoin. It is a white powder that dissolves very easily in water up to 0.5%. Allantoin is therefore dosed very moderately. If you don’t have a scale accurate enough, dose allantoin like adding carefully just a little more salt on food.

Allantoin exists in both plant and animal sources. Allantoin is a salt of uric acid that is secreted by mammals. It is also obtained from plants like horse chestnuts and wheat germ. Many wild plants such as buttercups also contain allantoin. However, buttercups are slightly toxic, so they should not be used in cosmetics.

Since allantoin is a quite natural product, the skin tolerates it well. Allantoin has many good properties, so it should be included in the cream formula.

• Allantoin moisturizes the skin very effectively
• Allantoin works like keratolytic, which means it removes indurations from the skin.
• Allantoin increases cell renewal and promotes skin healing
• Allantoin reduces skin irritation
• Allantoin soothes the skin and reduces inflammatory reactions

Glycerol or glycerine

Glycerine is an old, familiar friend to the readers of this blog. Lipids, like oils, consist of fatty acids and glycerine. Glycerine is isolated from vegetable oils. Glycerine is a colourless and odourless liquid. The taste of glycerine is very sweet. Glycerine is a completely non-toxic substance that is also used in the food industry as an additive. It mixes well with water and oil.

Glycerine is used in cosmetics mainly because of its moisturizing properties. Glycerine binds a lot of water. Glycerin takes water from its surroundings like from the skin.  Glycerine helps the moisture to stay in the skin. If there is no moisture in the skin, glycerine will only harm the skin. That’s why glycerine is used in water-based products like emulsions.

You shouldn’t use too much glycerine in the product because it easily makes the skin sticky. It’s a sugar alcohol. Glycerine also requires plenty of water around it. A suitable dosage for glycerine in cream is about 2-5% of the total weight of the product.

You can read my article about glycerine here; This is how miracle-making glycerol helps in the treatment of dry winter skin.

Excipients for ceramide cream

In this cream, I also used the familiar Olivem 1000 emulsifier derived from olive oil and the Geogard 221 preservative, which is ECOCERT approved. You can also use familiar Eco preservative, which is a very safe and versatile preservative system. It is absolutely necessary to use a preservative for products containing water. Otherwise, your wonderful cream will be spoiled in a few days.

Skin softening oils

I have chosen a light base oil for this product, which is easily absorbed by the skin. The protection of the cream is achieved with ceramides, which means that the oil can be very light and easily absorbed. That’s why I used safflower oil for the cream this time. Grapeseed oil is also light enough for this cream.

To complete the oleic acid profile of safflower oil, I chose nourishing blackcurrant seed oil. Blackcurrant seed oil contains a lot of gamma-linolenic acid, which is not found in base oils. Blackcurrant seed oil is a special oil that only a very small amount is needed in the product.

Prescription; moisturizing Ceramide Cream

You can use the moisturizing ceramide cream perfectly on your entire body. I personally use this after a sauna or a shower on the whole body. The cream is also suitable for children and especially for elderly people.

This dose may be too small if you want to use the cream all over your body. If you like cream, double or even quadruple the dose like I did.

This emulsion cream becomes very thin, milky and light. I think the cream moisturizes better if there is plenty of liquid in it. If you want a firmer, thicker cream, reduce the amount of liquid but keep the ratio of oil and emulsifier the same.

Formulating cosmetics is fun but challenging. If you want to test the structure of the cream, don’t use expensive ceramide and your finest oils. Make your training version with just water, cheap cooking oil and an emulsifier.

You need these:

• A double boiler or a standard flat boiler
• Two heat-resistant dishes; one for the water phase and the other for the oil phase
• A small whisk or glass stirring rod
• Thermometer
• A scale that measures tenths of a gram
• Pump bottle for packaging

Ingredients

First, you need to prepare the marshmallow root decoction.

Marshmallow root decoction;

• 2 tablespoons of dried marshmallow root
• about 4 decilitres of water

Boil the marshmallow root slowly in water for about 15 minutes. Filter the decoction and use it in the water phase of the cream or as a hair conditioner.

• 70 gr of marshmallow root decoction
• 10 gr of safflower oil
• 2 gr blackcurrant seed oil. Nature by Amppu sells particularly good quality blackcurrant seed oil
• 2.5 gr of glycerol/ glycerine
• 2 gr ceramide pellets, I used Limepop’s Ceramide NP III Eco product
• 0.3 gr allantoin
• 3.5 gr Olivem 1000 emulsifier
• 0.7 gr Geogard 221 preservative

Do like this:

• Put water in the empty pot
• Measure the marshmallow root decoction and glycerol in another container and mix.
• Measure safflower oil, ceramide pellets and Olivem 1000 emulsifier into another container
• Place the both phases in a water bath and heat them to over 70 degrees Celsius.
• Stir the oil phase from time to time so that the emulsifier and ceramide melt completely
• Combine the phases by carefully pouring the oil phase into the water phase while gently mixing
• Remove the emulsion from the water bath and continue mixing until the temperature has dropped below 40 degrees
• Add blackcurrant seed oil, allantoin and preservative. Mix thoroughly
• Pour the emulsion into a clean pump bottle or other container. The storage containers should first be cleaned carefully with clear, strong alcohol.
• Label the bottled product with a list of ingredients and the date.
• The product remains usable for about 3-4 months at room temperature, protected from light

This is how you use a moisturizing ceramides cream

Apply the cream on moist skin. Best timing is at the end of a shower or sauna. Apply the cream to the skin by massaging lightly. You can use ceramide-rich emulsion cream for both your face and body.

Let the cream soak in for a few minutes so that the moisture in the cream can be properly absorbed into the skin. After a while, the skin feels very soft and moisturized, but not greasy at all. Ceramides do not remain on the surface of the skin but are absorbed deep into the skin, creating a natural moisturized feeling. A pleasant feeling remains on the surface of the skin.

The gentle, moisturizing ceramide cream is suitable for the whole family.

Let me know what you think about this cream!

Moisturizing ingredients in cosmetics are one of the most important groups of raw materials in cosmetics. In this blog, I have mainly dealt with individual cosmetic ingredients. Each and every raw material has its own particularly important function. Raw materials are not just randomly mixed together. When choosing moisturizing ingredients, it is very important to know why the ingredient in question is used on the skin and how the ingredient treats the problem on the skin. This time we’ll focus on moisturizing ingredients. How do the moisturizing ingredients work on the skin and how they should be formulated in the product.

What are skin moisturizing substances?

Skin moisturizing substances do not mean only a certain group of raw materials. The moisture balance of the skin can be affected in many different ways. Skin moisturizing substances are important when you want to create a good moisturizing lotion.

Occlusive substances

Epidermal moisture loss is a condition where the skin loses/evaporates moisture to the air. The skin can be protected with cosmetics so that it loses as little moisture as possible. These cosmetic substances are called occlusive substances. Occlusive agents are oil soluble. They form a protective film on the surface of the skin that prevents the moisture in the skin from evaporating. Occlusive ingredients are necessary when we stay in a very dry climate. This treatment is also known as slugging.

Skin softening agents

Moisturizing vegetable oils are often recommended for dry skin. The moisturizing effect of vegetable oils is not based on moisture but on their skin softening effect. Skin softening substances can also be occlusive so they also protect the skin from drying out.

Moisturising substances

There are two different types of actual moisturizing ingredients; ingredients that increase the moisture and ingredients that collect the moisture. Moisturizing ingredients bring more moisture to the skin.  For example, ingredients that increase the moisture are water, hydrolats, or aloe Vera gel.

Humectants

Ingredients that collect moisture have their own name. They are humectants. Humectants do not moisturize the skin if there is no basic moisture in the skin. Humectants retain the already existing moisture in the skin and collect more moisture around them, if there is any available. The best known and most used humectant is glycerol. Along with glycerol, hyaluronic acid is also used as a humectant in moisturizers.

Why are moisturizing ingredients used in cosmetics?

The moisturizing ingredients of the cosmetics take care of the hydration of the skin. In cosmetics, moisturizing ingredients are combined into one product, a moisturizing lotion. The main function of the moisturizing lotion is to bring more moisture to the skin, protect the skin from moisture loss, and even out the skin’s appearance and surface.

Dry skin feels uncomfortable and tightens. The skin reacts to dryness with itching, tingling and even pain. As it dries, the surface of the skin becomes rough. Dry skin also looks lifeless and grey. Moisturizing lotion gives dry skin a healthy colour and feel.

Moisturized skin is less susceptible to various skin diseases such as eczema and other atopic skin diseases.

How do moisturizing ingredients in cosmetics work on the skin?

The mechanism of action of moisturizing ingredients depends a lot on the type of ingredient. Lotions are made from carefully selected, mutually supportive ingredients. One moisturizing ingredient does not make a good moisturizing lotion. In many lotions, several different humectants and occlusive agents have been used to get the preferred product.

Water is essential for the skin

Moisture is vital for the skin. Without moisture, the skin would be paper thin and would tear easily from mere contact. The skin needs moisture to be able to function properly and repair itself. Healthy, young skin can take care of its own moisture because the body moisturizes the skin from the inside. As we age, the skin’s ability to take care of moisture decreases. The skin then needs extra care. You should also take care of moisture coming from your body. That is why it is important to drink enough water and other liquids.

Dry skin also needs moisture from the outside. Good moisturizing agents are water and all water-based ingredients such as hydrosols, herbal infusions or aloe Vera juice. The important, aqueous ingredients are found in the water phase of the emulsion lotion.

Occlusive substances protect the skin

Natural occlusive substances form a film on the surface of the skin that does not pass water but still allows the skin to breathe. Dry skin is often caused by excessive permeability of the skin. The skin evaporates too much moisture. Occlusive ingredients help the skin’s own protective layer to perform its task.

Mineral oil is used a lot in the treatment of dry skin because it has such good occlusive properties. However, mineral oil does not allow the skin to breathe freely. That’s why it’s worth replacing mineral oil with natural occlusive ingredients.

Beeswax is one of the most natural and oldest skin care products. Its skin-protecting properties are undeniable. Beeswax is antiseptic because of the ingredients it contains. Beeswax protects the skin without making the surface of the skin too dense.

Natural vegetable waxes such as carnauba wax and candelilla wax work on the skin in the same way as beeswax.

Some vegetable oils and butters also have occlusive properties. Some fatty acids contained in oils and vegetable creams are able to form a moisture-holding film on the surface of the skin. As an example, I can mention babassu oil, avocado oil or almond oil. There are also many other oils that have good occlusive properties.

Humectants attract water

The moisturizing ingredients contained in moisturizing lotions are absorbed into the skin to attract moisture around it. The lower layers of the skin contain more moisture than the upper ones. The moisturizing ingredients transfer the moisture from the lower layers to the surface of the skin. There are a few natural, moisturizing ingredients; glycerine, sorbitol and hyaluronic acid. All these ingredients work on the skin in their own special way. You can read more about glycerol or glycerine here.

Hyaluronic acid is a natural ingredient that is naturally present in our skin. Hyaluronic acid is continuously produced in the body. It occurs mostly in the eyes, joints and skin. Hyaluronic acid, intended as an ingredient in cosmetics, is produced by fermentation with the help of bacteria. Hyaluronic acid can also be of animal origin. Hyaluronic acid is one of the most expensive raw materials in cosmetics. It is used in cosmetic products only in very small amounts (1-2%). There are many different qualities of hyaluronic acid, depending on the molecular size of the product.

Hyaluronic acid is very effective at absorbing water. Its water absorption capacity is many times higher than that of glycerol. In addition to moisturizing, hyaluronic acid also makes your skin flexible. It belongs to the same series as collagen and elastin. Hyaluronic acid takes care of the skin’s elasticity, reducing wrinkles and fine lines. Due to its versatility, hyaluronic acid is a very popular ingredient in moisturizing creams and lotions.

Skin softening agents improve the appearance of the skin

Taking care of skin hydration is important. Moisturized skin is soft and flexible. Soft and flexible skin can receive more moisture. Softening ingredients repair the texture of dry skin. The most important skin-softening group of ingredients are various fats aka lipids. Ordinary vegetable oils soften the skin. That’s why vegetable oils are the most important ingredients in moisturizing products.

When vegetable oils are combined with water to form an emulsion, the skin softening effect is significantly greater. Especially for very dry skin, emulsion lotions are often better than water-free ones.

Squalene and squalane

Among lipids that soften the skin, I could mention squalane and squalene separately. Squalane and squalene are slightly different things. Squalene occurs naturally in human skin. The raw material for cosmetics, squalene, is obtained from olive oil.

Squalene starts to slowly disapper from the skin already after the age of 25. Very dry and aged skin has almost no squalene. That’s why you should add squalane made from olive oil to the skin. Squalane stays in the outer layers of the skin, improving the skin’s protective layer. Squalane softens the skin while forming a thin film on the surface of the skin. Another good feature of squalane is that it removes the feeling of greasiness from the cream.

Design your own moisturizer

Designing your own moisturizing product is easy when you know what you’re doing. Think about what properties you require from your cream. Just a skin feel or smell doesn’t say much about the cream. In order to preserve the skin’s moisture, your cream must contain softening, protective and moisturizing ingredients in the right proportion, as well as moisture, the water-containing ingredients.

For those of you who don’t like to make your own cosmetics, knowing the contents of the moisturizing product is also very necessary. Research products in different stores and look for protective, softening and moisturizing ingredients. I can assure you that there are a huge number of so-called moisturizing products for sale, which do not, however, moisturize the skin. If the product is missing any of the above-mentioned ingredients, you can be sure that the product will not work properly.

What are the ingredients in your favourite moisturizer?

Moringa oil has rapidly become one of the most popular oils in skin care. The countless positive benefits of Moringa oil in skin care are constantly praised. I decided to take a deeper look at the properties of moringa oil. I found the oil quite different than we may infer from the praise of beauty oil traders. Read on to know what kind of oil you can get from moringa and for what kind of use it is really good.

Moringa oleifera is a climate friendly plant

Moringa oleifera is a tree that is native to Asia. During thousands of years the plant has spread around Africa, the Middle East and Mid- and South America. Moringa grows only in tropical and subtropical regions. In terms of soil, Moringa oleifera is really modest. It does not require perfect conditions to grow. A nutrient-poor, dry land is good enough. Moringa grows very fast. Indeed, it is being rejected in some countries as an invasive alien species.

A savior of arid areas

The modesty of Moringa makes it a very climate friendly plant. Moringa succeeds well on dry land. It will easily rot if there is too much water. That’s why moringa has been planted in the harshest areas of the world to combat desertification. Fighting famine in dry areas and the survival of humans and livestock are also supported by planting moringa in the area.

Moringa is one answer to the world’s food supply

All parts of the plant can be consumed by the local population and their cattle. Moringa leaves, crude seeds, flowers, ripe seeds, pressed oil and roots are good for nourishment. They are very healthy, delicious and full of good quality protein, vitamins, fatty acids and trace elements. Moringa leaves and seeds have a high protein content. The proteins in Moringa contain all the essential amino acids that are rare in the world of plants. There is a plan to replace olive oil by moringa oil in dry and hot areas where olive tree fails to grow or produce any crop.  It is absurd to transport olive oil from Europe to countries where moringa is growing. Moringa oil is equivalent to olive oil and is even healthier than olive oil.

Moringa and water purification

After pressing Moringa oil from the seeds, the seed cakes are made into a product used to purify wastewater in developing countries. Seed cakes can also be used as an organic fertilizer for fields.

Moringa is very helpful in desertification, wastewater treatment and the food problem of the poor and arid regions of the world. That’s why it’s an important tree and that’s why moringa oil has begun to conquer the world. People in poor, dry areas grow moringa and make a living from it. Some moringa products also end up in export and cosmetics markets.

Moringa oil or Ben oil

Moringa oil has a historical name of Ben oil or Behen oil. Moringa oil contains high levels of a rare fatty acid called behenic acid (about 6-9%). That’s what the name is ben oil. Moringa seeds contain up to 40% oil. Moringa is indeed one of the best oil plants in the world.

History of Moringa Oil

Moringa oil, or ben oil, is an ancient oil. The earliest observations of moringa oil are from ancient Egypt 6000 years ago. Even the Egyptians in those times knew the properties of moringa oil.

• Moringa oil was the most important base oil in perfume production 6000 years ago. Moringa oil was usually blended with Indian cardamom and myrrh. Such an oil was a precious fragrance oil used by the upper class.
• Moringa oil was an important ingredient in embalming in ancient Egypt.
• Moringa oil-based fragrance oils were also placed in the graves.
• Moringa oil was used for many different purposes for centuries
• Moringa oil was the best perfume oil because it absorbed the aromas of essential oils (natural equivalent to phthalates). Moringa oil-based fragrance did not lose its aroma so quickly.
• Moringa oil was used in lanterns and flares because it does not smoke at all.
• Moringa oil was used to lubricate fine mechanics as it is one of the most stable oils. Moringa oil does not age easily and does not lose its agility. It can remain good for up to 5 years. Of course, this applies only to refined Moringa oil.
• Refined clear moringa oil was used as a valuable watch lubricant because it stays fluid and does not solidify.
• Moringa oil, or petrol oil, is early petrol. It was once used as fuel in internal combustion engines like jojoba oil. The suitability of Moringa oil as a biofuel is being seriously studied.

Features of Moringa oil

In fact, Moringa oil, or bene oil, is equivalent to olive oil. Its oleic acid content is almost as high as olive oil (73.59%). Moringa oil does not contain very well absorbable fatty acids such as linolenic acid or alpha-linolenic acid. Therefore, it feels oily and heavy on skin.

Currently, only cold pressed, unfiltered moringa oil is available to consumers. Such oil is rich in antioxidants. It is green-yellow in colour and has a strong aroma.

Refined moringa oil has little odour. It suits therefore very well to its original purpose as a base oil for perfumes. The problem is availability, it is very difficult oil to find – even from online stores.

How moringa oil can be used in cosmetics

Moringa oil behaves like olive oil on the skin. Cold pressed moringa oil is rich in antioxidants. Unfortunately, the oil contains so much oleic acid that I do not recommend it as a raw material for creams and skin oils.

Moringa oil is currently advertised as a miracle oil for skin care.

I think this is due to the same thing as the over-praising of olive oil and coconut oil. Oil producers want to make their oil a success and keep the price high. In reality, moringa oil is overpriced. Moringa is a very high-yielding, fast-growing tree. Moringa seeds produce an incredible amount of oil. Moringa oil is even used as biofuel. It really is bulk-production product. Therefore, I am wondering the relatively high price of oil.

Moringa oil, on the other hand, is absolutely ideal for the following:

Hera are some ideas for using Moringa oil.

• Perfume as a base oil; Moringa oil retains aromas much better than other oils. Use only refined Moringa oil for perfumes (if you find it somewhere). Moringa oil has been the base oil for natural perfumes for thousands of years. Its original purpose should therefore be utilized.
• For rinsing products such as shampoos and hair care products. Moringa’s behenic acid is used in commercial hair care products to increase moisture in the hair (LOC or LCO methods). Especially if you want a fragrant hair care product, moringa oil is the best choice.
• Aromatherapy oil; use moringa oil as a carrier oil for essential oils and use in aromatherapy.
• Soap making; Moringa oil should be used in soaps. It can be added up to 15% to the soap mass. Some sources say it is equal to olive oil as a raw material of soap. I have never tried this but if this is true, then the whole soap could be made from moringa oil. If I would try, I definitely would choose cold pressed, unrefined moringa oil.
• Aroma oil; you can mix moringa oil and essential oils in a perfume bottle. Add few scent sticks into the bottle and enjoy your favourite scent.

Moringa oil should be preferred in cosmetics simply because of its ecological effects. Although moringa oil is not the best oil for lotions, it has other priceless features. Moringa could be used much more in soaps if its price was more reasonable.

In particular, the features of moringa oil as a scent holder should be promoted more widely. Many home cosmetics makers dream to make natural fragrances themselves. Refined, clear moringa oil is optimal, state of the art base oil for organic perfumes – even it is thousands of years old product.

Have you used moringa oil? Please tell us about your experiences in the comments section!

Oat has a long history as a healthy food. Oat has also become an important raw material for cosmetics. I have written earlier a comprehensive article about oat before. You should also read it so that you can see how wonderful substance oat actually is. In this article I will introduce different powders made from oat; oat silk and colloidal oatmeal. Both are perfect for making cosmetics. Colloidal oatmeal and oat silk have many uses in cosmetics. Let’s see what these two powders actually are!

Colloidal oatmeal and oat silk are not exactly the same product

I myself have previously believed that colloidal oatmeal and oat silk are the same thing. In reality, there is a subtle difference between these two products. This difference is obvious when looking at the use.

Colloidal oatmeal

Colloidal oatmeal is made from dried, dust-like finely ground oat grains. The name colloid refers to the powder’s small particle size. For colloidal oatmeal, the whole grain with the husks is used. The husk part of the oat grain, the bran, is especially rich in skin-soothing ingredients and vitamins. Due to the rich vitamin and antioxidant content, colloidal oatmeal is suitable for care products.

Oat silk

Oat silk is made from the same dried oat grains. This time, the oat grains are peeled before grinding. The husk on the surface of the grain, the bran, is removed from them. This results in a particularly fine, white, silky powder. Oat silk is used in cosmetics as an ingredient in powders and for cleaning the face.

Homemade oat powder is not the same as colloidal oatmeal

Of course, you can grind oat flakes into flour at home, but it doesn’t match colloidal oatmeal. The particle size of colloidal oatmeal is significantly smaller than that of homemade powder. Oat flour from the grocery store is also too coarse for cosmetics use.

Cosmetic oat powder should be very fine. Finely grind oat powder is significantly more effective on the skin. Colloidal oatmeal is processed to improve solubility. Oat that is just ground will clot. It is not soluble and is not easy to use in cosmetics. The fine, dust-like structure of cosmetic oat guarantees absorption of the oat nutrients into the skin.

Cosmetic oats contain a lot of active ingredients

A special oat variety is selected for oat flour used in cosmetics. Oats used as food do not have that many skin-protecting and caring properties. Cosmetic oat is rich in various skin-care phytochemicals.

• beta glucan helps maintain skin moisture
• antioxidants such as vitamin E reduce inflammation, soothe the skin and fight signs of aging
• phenols are strong antioxidants that protect cells from damage (UV radiation)
• saponins have a cleansing effect on the skin, like a gentle cleanser
• oat is a very oily plant. Oat oil is especially good for treating dry and eczema skin because it naturally contains ceramides. Ceramides are lipids that make up about half of the surface layer of the skin. In skin diseases, the production of ceramides is disturbed and therefore ceramides are recommended in connection with eczema and other skin diseases. Dry skin also often suffers from a lack of ceramides.

How colloidal oatmeal is used in cosmetics

Cosmetic oatmeal is a wonderful product because you don’t even have to know how to make cosmetic products. Mix a dash of water into the colloidal oat powder; you get a super good and gentle facial cleanser just like that.

Remember that cosmetic oatmeal cannot withstand temperatures above 75 degrees. When hot, they start to form porridge, and of course that’s not the intention.

Next, I will tell you a few examples of how cosmetic oat can be used in skin care.

In addition to this, colloidal oatmeal has many other uses in cosmetics.

• Oat bath treats the skin and reduces itching. Oat baths have been used successfully in the treatment of itchy eczema. Oats are rich in anti-itch substances. Oat bath is also suitable for small children. Add about a decilitre of colloidal oatmeal to the bathtub. Mix the powder carefully with water and enjoy the bath about 20-30 minutes. After bathing, rinse your skin in the shower. Do not use any detergent in order to save the caring elements of oat on your skin.

• Add colloidal oatmeal to whipped body lotions as starch. Colloidal oatmeal soothes the skin and at the same time give the cream a nice, dry, velvety-like touch.

• Colloidal oatmeal is perfect as a base for exfoliating face masks. Just add a dash of water and/or oil and, if you wish, other active ingredients. A lightly exfoliating mask is made from colloidal oatmeal, honey, water and very finely ground salt. Salt and honey have the ability to soften dead skin cells. Colloidal oatmeal gently wash and remove the detached skin cells away.

• A nourishing oat mask is made from safflower oil, colloidal oatmeal, water and liquid honey. You can add other oils to the mask. I personally prefer blackcurrant seed oil or evening primrose oil in face masks.

Colloidal oatmeal for pet care

Colloidal oatmeal is so mild and completely non-toxic that you can also treat your pet’s skin with it. An oat bath helps with mild and temporary skin problems such as mosquito bites and mild, temporary itching. A dog suffering from a severe rash and prolonged itching should definitely be treated by a veterinarian.

You can add about a decilitre of colloidal oatmeal to your dog’s bath water. Try to make your dog comfortable in the bath for at least 10 minutes. Colloidal oats relieve the itching of the dog’s skin and possible skin irritations. After bathing, rinse your dog’s coat in the shower.

If your dog has a nasty, itchy mosquito bite, you can make a paste of colloidal oatmeal and apply it directly to the itchy spot. This way you don’t have to bathe the whole dog.

Oat silk is purified, finely ground oat flour

Oat silk is whiter in colour than colloidal oat. Oat silk does not contain all the vitamins of colloidal oats. Therefore, it should not be used for the same purposes as colloidal oats. There is no silk protein in oat silk. The word silk refers to the silky texture of oatmeal. The particle size of oat silk is about 50 microns. Oat silk is a very useful for powders, colour cosmetics and facial cleansers.

Oat silk cleanser

Make a face cleanser from oat silk. Add some kaolin to it and maybe also finely ground sea salt if you want more cleaning power. Oat silk alone is gentle for dry skin. Take a teaspoon of powder in your palm. Add a dash of water to the palm of your hand and mix into a smooth paste. The paste resembles cleansing milk. Apply the paste to the face and massage in circular motions. Wipe the paste off the face with a muslin cloth or rinse the face with water. You may not need a moisturizer or face oil at all.

Two-part Skin cleansing with oat silk

Do a two-part Skin Cleansing with Oat Cleanser and Oil. Choose the oil you like, for example safflower oil. Apply about a teaspoon of oil on the face and massage gently for about one minute. Now prepare the oat silk cleaner according to the previous instructions. Apply the cleanser to oily skin and rub lightly so that the oil emulsifies into the oat cleanser. Now you can wash your face with either water or a damp muslin cloth. Oatmeal cleanser leaves your skin clear and glowing. The pores are closed and the skin looks cared for.

Oat silk and Colloidal oatmeal are products worth trying

I recommend trying cosmetic oat powders. Oat powders are anhydrous products that will be preserved for a very long time. Oat powders are safe products that are suitable for the whole family, including small children and pets. Did you know that cosmetic oatmeal in the world is quite often Finnish origin. Large quantities of cosmetic oats are exported from Finland all over the world.

Have you used colloidal oats or oat silk in cosmetics?

MSM, or Methylsulfonylmethane, is best known as a sports nutrition. MSM is an organic sulphur compound that occurs naturally in our bodies. I usually prefer as natural and minimally processed ingredients as possible in cosmetics. However, MSM is an exception. MSM is a safe and gentle compound that has tremendous positive effects on skin condition. How does MSM affect the skin, who is it suitable for and how can it be used in cosmetics? Keep on reading…

What is MSM powder and how is it made?

MSM is a synthetic product that is manufactured by chemical industry.  Although it is of natural origin it does not exist as such anywhere so it must be specially prepared. Of course, the compound MSM is commonly found in pines, for example. Unfortunately, it is present in the wood in such small quantities that several trees should be felled down to get a pouch of MSM powder. Although many manufacturers claim their own MSM compound is made from plants, this is not true. MSM powder is made synthetically and is therefore not approved as an ingredient in natural cosmetics.

All commercially available MSM powder is currently prepared by the chemical reaction of DMSO and hydrogen peroxide. DMSO is dimethyl sulfoxide which is a by-product of the cellulose industry. By the way, did you know that vanillin is also a by-product of the pulp industry?

DMSO is an organosulfur compound used to improve the absorption of substances through the skin. DMSO has once been sold for external use for joint problems but has not been found to be safe. The researchers found that many of the healing effects of DMSO were due to the MSM it contained.

Initially, the MSM compound was used only externally in cosmetics. MSM only received marketing authorization as a dietary supplement much later in the 1990s. Thus, MSM is actually an active ingredient in cosmetics.

When choosing MSM powder, you should pay special attention to quality and purity

Because MSM powder is made from by-products of the cellulose industry, its purity is important. MSM powder is produced in countries where legislation does not control the industry (China and India). The product may contain harmful residues that will contaminate the product. The MSM powder is purified by a multiple distillation process. If the process is carried out carelessly, the risk of contamination increases.

In China and India, MSM is often only dissolved in water, dried and purified. Such a cleaning process does not guarantee a quality product. Mycelium and bacteria may also be present in the low quality MSM powder. Low quality MSM is not pure white but brown or reddish in colour.

When the MSM powder is distilled, it is heated up to 238 degrees, when the substance evaporates. The steam is cooled down to grains and redistilled several times. This removes all heavy metals from the product. MSM powders commonly sold in Finland are all purified in this way.

Benefits of MSM for the skin

MSM is a very versatile skin care active ingredient. It is useful for many skin problems. Although MSM is a fully synthetic ingredient, it is still very safe to use. There are only few cases when someone has been sensitized to MSM. Even then, it may be because of a contaminated product.

Here are a few reasons to use MSM powder in skin care

MSM allows the permeability of cell walls, allowing nutrients to enter and toxins to escape. MSM is able to easily penetrate the skin and pass through the skin throughout the body. For this reason, use only high quality MSM powder.

MSM affects collagen synthesis. Subcutaneous collagen takes care of the elasticity of the skin. MSM works best in conjunction with vitamin C. MSM reduces the disintegration of collagen under the skin.

MSM is an organic sulphur compound. Sulphur-containing compounds are useful in the treatment of skin inflammation. For acne, for example, MSM is particularly well suited. You should also try MSM cream for rosacea. There are really many creams available that contain MSM to treat acne and rosacea.

MSM helps scarred skin heal normally. If you have acne scars, pregnancy scars or surgical scars, try MSM ointment. MSM penetrates deep into the skin and promotes the formation of normal skin cells. If the scar tissue is still irritated and red, MSM soothes the inflammation. If the skin is still broken, do not use m MSM products on the skin.

MSM reduces itching of the skin. Itching is an embarrassing symptom in patients with eczema. However, do not use MSM creams on broken skin.

MSM has been found in some studies to increase hair growth and reduce hair loss. However, there is not enough evidence on this issue. In hair cosmetics, MSM compounds are used in combination with vitamin C. Hair loss can be caused by many different reasons. In almost all cases, MSM compounds do not bring relief. If the hair loss is profuse, you should consult a dermatologist.

How do I use MSM powder in homemade cosmetics?

The MSM compound is sold either as finished capsules or in a pouch as a powder. The finished capsules are convenient as they always contain the same amount. Dosing is easier and you do not need to weigh the powder. You can dissolve the powder in the finished products.

Here are some examples of where you can add MSM powder as an active ingredient.

• MSM is very soluble in warm water. It is at its best in all water-based products such as toners. For toners you can use MSM powder 1-2gr / 100ml of liquid.
• MSM is not the easiest cream ingredient. MSM is a solvent that easily degrades the structure of the cream. Therefore, always add MSM powder only to a single dose, about 0.05gr / dose. The number is really small. If you do not have such an accurate scale, drop a few crumbs of powder on your hand for one dose.
• MSM powder should be added to face masks, exfoliators and also to cleansing clay masks. MSM helps remove toxins deep from the skin.
• MSM is suitable for foot baths. It is sulphur-containing and disinfectant. Add about 3-5 grams (1 teaspoon) of MSM powder to the foot bath.
• Try MSM powder for powder deodorants. MSM acts as a sulphur-containing bacterium and reduces odour. Mix 3 grams of powdered MSM powder to whole set of powder deodorant.
• MSM is good for hair, scalp as well as nails and cuticles. Try mixing a little MSM powder with a single dose of conditioner. Leave on as instructed and rinse.

MSM is an active ingredient worth trying

There are few effective and safe active ingredients. Although MSM is a synthetic compound, it is a fairly safe and well-tolerated preparation. There are few such ingredients. You can see the effect of MSM almost immediately. I myself have found it to soothe the skin. I always use vitamin C powder along with MSM powder. The two compounds fit together seamlessly.

MSM is a fairly inexpensive product with many uses other than cosmetics. Personally, I also use MSM powder in smoothies and recovery drinks every day. You should start with small doses to get your body used to it.

Have you used MSM powder in skin care?

Winter skin is dry and problematic. Many struggles desperately to keep the skin healthy and moisturized even in winter. Proper skin care methods are the key to winter skin care. However, in this article, I will focus on one very important factor that causes dry skin. Do you use unnecessarily hot water for skin care? It may be the cause for dry hands and dry skin problems generally.

We use hot water way too much

Hot water is easy to get from the tap. Today, hot water is available in almost every home. In wintertime, when the air gets colder, it makes sense to turn the faucet even hotter. Especially when washing your hands, you notice it. The cool water feels nasty. We may also have feeling that cool water does not clean hands so thoroughly. How water temperature affects the skin. I will go into that in this article.

How does hot water affect the skin?

Hot water is harmful to the skin in many ways. The skin is not naturally adapted to hot water. What we call a warm shower can be too hot for the skin. Hot water dries the skin immediately. Even if you do not use any soap or other detergent at all, your skin may still dry out.

Hot water damages the keratin, which is in epidermis, the outer layer of the skin. Keratin takes care of the softness and hydration of the skin. If keratin layer is gone, the skin becomes rough and dry.

Regular hot showers can make pre-existing skin conditions worse. If you have atopic skin or other skin condition, your skin may get symptoms as a result of hot showers. Signs of atopic skin include itching and redness. Therefore, dermatologists recommend only lukewarm water to atopic skin.

What is the right water temperature for your skin?

Whether the water feels too cold or too hot is very individual. Some prefer it cooler and some hotter. The fact is, however, that the sebum on the skin, the natural protective layer, begins to melt in the heat. Therefore, the optimum shower water temperature is said to be 37 degrees Celsius. At 37 degrees, the sebum, made up of fats, does not yet begin to melt. So, the optimal temperature for the skin does not depend on the person but on the melting point of sebum fats.

The natural skin’s protective layer can also be destroyed with detergents. If you take a shower every day, consider the actual need of shower gel on daily use. Also, think about whether you need a shower every day.

The skin needs gentle care in winter

After the shower, moist skin needs gentle care. Pat the skin dry with a towel. It is good to apply moisturizing products to damp skin. At this point they are well absorbed and lock moisture in the skin for a long period of time. After a lukewarm shower, the skin pores are opened and are easily receiving everything. However, avoid heavily scented products as well as other strong cosmetic chemicals.

Lukewarm water is also important when washing hands

Many of us do suffer dry hands. Now, when we have to wash our hands more often, it is especially important that we only use lukewarm water. The water at about 37 degrees Celsius is as warm as the skin and does not feel cold or hot. Hot water combined with an effective hand soap dries our hands. Also choose a soap as gentle as possible.

Make sure you use lukewarm water when washing dishes and cleaning your home. Of course, it would be best to get protective gloves. Also, avoid strong general-purpose detergents and other household chemicals when cleaning and washing dishes. You can also clean ecologically with vinegar.

Use hand cream regularly on your hands. It is best to apply the hand cream to damp hands after washing. Let the hand cream have time to be absorbed. If you want to give intensive treatment to dry hands, apply a rich hand cream or oil to your hands in the evening. Wear cotton gloves when sleeping and in the morning, you have soft hands.

How have you managed to keep your hands in good shape?

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There are many ways to make facial and body creams. This time I tried lecithin as the only emulsifier in the cream. If you haven’t tried skin moisturizing and softening lecithin yet then now is the time. As an emulsifier for homemade cosmetics, lecithin is not very commonly used. I think it should be because lecithin really does soothe the skin. It effectively moisturizes and softens dry skin. Lecithin cream a real dream-come-true winter cream. So, let’s make a simple, moisturizing cream from lecithin.

Liquid or granular lecithin?

Lecithin has not been used much in home cosmetics. Now is the time to introduce lecithin. It is perfect for emulsifying rich creams for winter use. Lecithin allows you to prepare your creams without double-boiler water heating. Lecithin does not like heating. Its sensitive skin care ingredients are destroyed if you use too high temperature too long in preparing process. The soy lecithin I am using is GMO free.

Preparing of lecithin

Granular lecithin dissolves best in oil.  Lecithin dissolves also in water but it is easier to prepare an emulsion cream based on lecithin dissolved in oil. Dissolving process takes less time if granular lecithin is pre-grinded in mortar.

Dissolving lecithin in oil

Only a certain amount of lecithin can be dissolved in the oil. My rough estimate is 1 dl of oil can dissolve ½ tablespoon of lecithin. Exact amount depends on the oil you use. Straining is highly recommended after the dissolving process.

For straining, I recommend a strainer as dense as possible. Cotton gauze is also good. However, the oil will ruin the gauze so you cannot use it again. That’s why I prefer the strainer myself.

The strained oil containing lecithin is already a finished cosmetic product. You can use it, for example, on wet hair ends to protect them from drying out.

Choose the right oil for the lecithin cream

You can use almost any desired oil in your cream. I myself have used rice bran oil in creams containing lecithin. Various herbal oils, also called macerated oils, are also good. You can replace the oil partially or completely with herbal oil. Always dissolve lecithin in the total amount of oil. Choose the oil you prefer. There are some oils which I haven’t tried at all with lecithin like coconut oil. However, I do not particularly prefer coconut oil for skin care.

Here are some suggestions for suitable oils

• Sunflower oil; Suitable for the whole body and the whole family
• Rice bran oil; suitable for many skin types, especially good for removing signs of aging from the skin
• Moringa oil; a special oil that can be used as a hair oil to treat dry ends
• Calendula Oil; use in lecithin cream either wholly or as part of an oil mixture. Suitable for the treatment of irritated skin and children’s skin problems

What is the water phase?

Since we are now making a lotion, we also need some liquid for the lotion. Again, you can use your imagination and choose almost any water-based liquid suitable for creams.

Lecithin, like other emulsifiers, does not withstand salts and other minerals very well. For example, a seaweed poultice is very rich in minerals. Lecithin cream makes the seaweed poultice too thin. The ointment will probably thicken slightly in time but needs a pump bottle anyway.

Suitable liquids for lecithin cream

• boiled or distilled water; water is always the best option for simple lotions, sensitive skin, children, the elderly and people with allergies
• Infusion; you can replace some or all of the liquid with a herbal infusion such as raspberry leaf, chamomile, nettle, burr, marshmallow root etc.
• Aloe Vera juice; a true skin care ingredient
• Kombu (or other seaweed) infusion; please note the cream may become thinner.

Ingredients for lecithin cream

After you have selected the ingredients you want for your cream, you can start measuring them.

This cream does not necessarily need to be heated in a water boiler. However, if you want to minimize bacterial growth, you can heat the cream base in a double boiler for 30 minutes at 80 degrees Celsius. This will destroy most of the bacteria.

Use these ingredients

• Place 1 dl of oil (your choice) to a bowl

• Mix ½ tablespoon of lecithin in granules to the oil. Use an electric hand blender whisk.

• Mix the liquid so that the lecithin is completely dissolved. This may take some time. Let the mixture rest overnight.

Strain the liquid in order to get rid of all dissolved particles of lecithin

Add 1 dl of water and mix using blender

• The mixture becomes a mayonnaise-like, a very beautiful shiny cream.

• The cream will be preserved in a fridge at least 2-3- weeks. Lecithin cream does not like preservatives. For some reason, the structure of the cream is destroyed after adding drops of Geogard 221 -preservative.

How to use lecithin cream

Lecithin cream is a pretty greasy cream. However, thanks to lecithin, the oil is deeply absorbed into the skin, moisturizing and softening it. Therefore, it is advisable to take the time and carefully rub the lecithin cream into the skin. Just leaving the cream and applying it lightly will give you a very oily skin feel for a long time.

I do not recommend lecithin cream under makeup. If you apply the cream to the skin in the morning and immediately apply makeup, the cream will not be absorbed. If you apply lecithin cream in evening, you will have a very soft and moisturized skin in the morning that does not need much new moisture.

I’m really happy with moisturizing and skin softening lecithin cream.

Lecithin is a suitable emulsifier for oil-rich emulsions. There is a fifty/fifty oil and water in this recipe. You cannot prepare light emulsions when using lecithin. These heavier creams are perfect for winter and outdoor activities.

This cream leaves a greasy surface on the skin for a while. When the cream is completely absorbed, the skin feels soft and moisturized. Although I have added several times a day lecithin cream on my face my skin has not blocked up. No single acne has come on my skin while using this cream. The skin is calmed, moisturized and soft. My cream is made from a very simple and skin-friendly combination of rice bran oil + lecithin + water.

I use this cream as a night cream for the face and even for the whole body after a shower. Lecithin cream is also an excellent outdoor cream. A friend of mine, who is a passionate outdoor person and cyclist, often orders a can of lecithin cream from me.

Lecithin cream is not very stable

You can quite easily make lecithin, oil and water lotion without any chemicals. However, lecithin cream is not completely stable. The oil easily separates from the ointment but can be mixed in a couple of spins until smooth. By adding a thickener such as xanthan gum, the emulsion would be more stable. However, I wanted this cream to be a very simple product.

The good thing about home cosmetics is that you can compromise the composition of the cream without any problems. Home cosmetics creams and other products do not have to appeal to public or large customer base. If the cream requires mixing before use then what is the problem?  This simple, effective and beautiful cream is worth that little effort.

What is your favourite outdoor cream?

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Many people are looking for more options for moisturizing the skin. In winter the skin is extremely dry. It feels like no moisture is enough. There is a natural super moisturizer of which I have written before:  kelp. Kelp, aka seaweed is one of the best ingredients for skin care. It contains a great variety of important minerals for skin. Kelp also contains other ingredients that are hardly found in terrestrial plants. One such ingredient is glutamic acid. How can you make products containing natural glutamic acid at your home? I’ll tell you about it.

Glutamic acid is a very important ingredient in cosmetics

Glutamic acid is an amino acid, or a constituent of proteins. Glutamic acid used in cosmetics is a synthetic, industrial product. Even synthetic glutamic acid is not toxic. Most glutamic acid is used to flavour foods.

At one time in Japan glutamic acid was made from kombu kelp by bacteria. Almost all Japanese foods are flavoured with monosodium glutamate, which is related to glutamic acid.

Glutamic acid has become very popular

Glutamic acid has become very popular in cosmetics because of its skin consistence. Glutamic acid acts as a very effective moisturizer or humectant on the skin. Glutamic acid also helps to stabilize the pH of the skin.

Many cosmetic products use glutamic acid. Its INCI names are:

• Acidum Glutamicum
• E 620
• L-glutamic acid
• Amino Acid
• Glutamic acid

Glutamic acid acts like hyaluronic acid to moisturize the skin. Polyglutamic acid has been found to be even more potent moisturizer than hyaluronic acid. Glutamic acid is a humectant, it absorbs moisture from the skin and the outside air.

Where Can I Find Glutamic Acid?

We, homemade cosmetics makers do not have to purchase synthetic chemicals. Chemicals are concentrates and require professional scales as well as other measuring equipment for dosing. When making natural cosmetics, it is better to forget about synthetic chemicals and think where to find natural ingredients.

You can find glutamic acid in kelp

Especially, the kombu kelp is particularly rich in glutamic acid. In Japan, kombu kelp is used to make kelp broth, the Dashi. Dashi is added to Japanese soups to give a taste of umami. Glutamic acid is a non-toxic edible substance.

You can find kombu kelp in ethnic and Japanese grocery stores. It is a dried seaweed, which is a fairly well preserving product.

It is also worth of getting familiar with the kombu kelp use in kitchen. You can use kombu in salads and soups. It is really healthy and delicious. Do not leave any part of the kombu unused.

Kombu is rich in nutrients

At least the following vitamins and trace elements have been found in kombu seaweed. One 20 cm piece of Kombu contains roughly

• 200 mg of sodium
• 360 mg of potassium
• 4 percent of calcium
• 15 grams of magnesium
• Vitamins like C, A, E, K, B
• Iodine, iron, manganese and copper

How can you use kombu kelp in cosmetics?

In order to add glutamic acid to your products, you have to make a kombu broth. Kombu is very mineral-rich. It last well when boiled. So, boil about an hour on minimum heat, just let it boil gently. I used 1.5 litres of water for one kombu kelp.

Kombu infusion shelf life

Natural super moisturizer, Kombu infusion is very easy to make and use. You can keep the infusion for just about a week in the refrigerator. Then it’s time to make a new broth. If you want to use a preservative, the broth will be preserved about 3 months. As a frozen product, the kombu broth is convenient to use and most secure. You can freeze the kombu broth like ice cubes and defrost when needed.

The benefits of glutamic acid on the skin

The kombu infusion can be used in cosmetics in many ways.

• You can use the infusion as a moisturizing aqueous phase in your creams.
• You can use the infusion as a facial water. Kombu infusion is very soothing to the skin. The skin tolerates generally very well all kelp products.  You can apply many layers of facial water based on kombu kelp on your skin. Let the kelp water to dry on your skin before applying next layer.
• Kombu infusion suits well for bath water. Add 0.5 litre of broth to bath water. Kombu contains not only glutamic acid but also magnesium, in suitable form to the skin. The broth bath relaxes and helps you fall asleep. It also moisturizes the whole body without greasy creams.
• Kombu infusion is particularly popular as a foot bath. You can add 0.5 litre of broth to water and 1 tablespoon of sea salt. You will get a very refreshing foot bath that moisturizes and cares for your skin. Salt also softens hard skin that is easier to remove.

Benefits of glutamic acid for hair

Glutamic acid also works in hair care. In addition to glutamic acid, Natural super moisturizer, Kombu infusion, contains many other ingredients that benefit your hair

• The kombu suits very well for hair care. You can use kombu as part of your hair care routine. Traditional Japanese Funori hair wash powder is made partly from kombu powder.
• Kombu infusion is great for rinsing hair. As a mineral-rich product, Kombu infusion treats the scalp, balances fat production, moisturizes hair, has antibacterial properties, soothes irritated scalp, makes hair feel soft (moisture)…
• Kombu infusion contains the same types of mucilage as linseed. Kombu infusion rinsing makes the hair feel voluminous and soft.
• The polysaccharides of kombu infusion leave a protective layer on the hair surface.

Warning!

Some people are sensitive to some amines and especially glutamate. For example, glutamates are present in flavour enhancers such as seasoned salt. In cases of hypersensitivity, kelp should also be avoided. Some tolerate kelp externally when applied to the skin but not in food. However, first test the seaweed for your skin.

Try the kombu on your own cosmetic products

Natural super moisturizer, Kombu gives you many other active ingredients in addition to glutamic acid. That is why I strongly recommend you to try a kombu. Especially on dry, mid-winter skin, kombu kelp brings a new glow.

Let us know how glutamic acid works on your skin! Please add your comments in the comment box below!

Many of us struggle with skin dryness. Dry room air, frost and cold, dry wind dry the skin. Dry skin is lifeless and looks aged. Dry skin is also very vulnerable to skin conditions such as eczema. It is a good idea to moisturize your skin regularly, but how to keep the moisture in your skin? Are you familiar with Prickly Pear Seed Oil? Now I’d like to tell you about the wonderful properties of Prickly Pear Seed Oil. It’s like a tailor-made product for dry skin.

What is Prickly Pear Seed Oil?

The Prickly Pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) belongs to the opuntia family. This Prickly Pear cactus, like other cactus, grow in areas where winters are mild and summers are hot and dry. The best Prickly Pear Seed Oil comes from opuntia, which grows in Morocco. There is also a production of cactus oil in India but the quality of the oil is not that good.

Opuntias have also been planted to Italy, Portugal and other parts of southern Europe.

The Opuntia contains delicious fruits, which are also available all around the world. Opuntia has been used as a herbal medicine in Mexico. It is a very healthy plant and full of curative plant chemicals. The flesh of the fruit is full of small seeds, which are cold-pressed to fine, valuable oil. Seeds contain only 5% oil. One litre of oil requires 1000 kilograms of Prickly Pears . Therefore, the oil is very expensive. Prickly Pear Seed Oil is used only as a raw material in cosmetics precisely because of its high cost. The oil is not toxic.

Prickly Pear Seed Oil is a mild and gentle oil

The oil pressed from cactus seeds is almost odourless and colourless oil. It feels very rich and heavy on the skin, but absorbs quickly, leaving an incredibly moisturized skin feel. Prickly Pear Seed Oil does not contain large amounts of antioxidants and other plant chemicals. That is why it is one of the gentlest oils. The idea behind Prickly Pear Seed Oil lies in its fatty acid composition.

Prickly Pear Seed Oil is suitable for all skin types

Prickly Pear Seed Oil is suitable for everyone as it is a mild oil. It specifically protects the skin. Prickly Pear Seed Oil does not block pores or irritate sensitive skin. It is therefore one of the most versatile oils.

What makes Prickly Pear Seed Oil so special?

Prickly Pear Seed Oil has a very good fatty acid profile. Its fatty acids suit perfectly the skin and support the skin’s own fatty acid profile. Here is an example of the fatty acid profile of Prickly Pear Seed Oil.

• Palmitic acid 20.10%
• Palmitoleic acid 1.80%
• Stearic acid 2.72%
• Oleic acid 18.30%
• Linoleic acid 53.50%
• Alpha-linolenic acid 2.58%

The fatty acid profile of Prickly Pear Seed Oil can vary greatly depending on the variety and location where it grows. However, it is always high in linoleic acid and palmitic acid. The oleic acid content is very low. This is good, since excessive amount of oleic acid easily clogs the pores.

Palmitic acid

Prickly Pear Seed Oil is rich in palmitic acid, which is a protective fatty acid. It also contains some rare palmitoleic acid. Palmitoleic acid is very similar to sapienic acid, which is found in the skin’s own sebum. Sapienic acid is a one of a kind fatty acid that is found only on human skin (Homo sapiens).

Palmitoleic acid

Palmitoleic acid is also relatively high in macadamia oil. However, macadamia oil is very rich in oleic acid, so do not apply it regularly to easily clogged skin. Macadamia oil is significantly cheaper than luxurious Prickly Pear Seed Oil. That is why I prefer macadamia oil for hair products and outdoor creams I use rarely.

Prickly Pear Seed Oil is exceptionally high in vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that prevents signs of aging.

Where Can I Use Prickly Pear Seed Oil?

Prickly Pear Seed Oil has many uses. They are all related to its skin protective effect and its wonderful fatty acid composition. Because Prickly Pear Seed Oil is a very expensive oil, it is advisable to use it only on the face and in the treatment of nails and cuticles.

Prepare a protective facial cream with Prickly Pear Seed Oil

Because of its fatty acid composition, Prickly Pear Seed Oil is suitable for protecting the skin from dryness. So, use this oil in a protective facial cream. You can replace some of the base oil with a protective Prickly Pear Seed Oil. This will give you a really good ointment for windy weather.

Night cream from Prickly Pear Seed Oil

Prickly Pear Seed Oil also protects your skin from drying indoors. Dry room air is often the reason that skin dries in the winter. You can add Prickly Pear Seed Oil to your night cream. Wet the skin thoroughly before applying the cream and lock in the skin with a cream containing Prickly Pear Seed Oil.

Use Prickly Pear Seed Oil for hair care

Because Prickly Pear Seed Oil is rich in protective fatty acids, it is very often used in hair care. The palmitoleic acid in Prickly Pear Seed Oil treats dry hair and make them shiny. It works on the surface of the hair just like the hair’s own natural sebum.

Mix 1 teaspoon of Prickly Pear Seed Oil in a hair mask or rub a few drops on the scalp after washing. Prickly Pear Seed Oil is much better hair oil than usually recommended olive oil or coconut oil.

Other uses

• Lip Creams
• Cuticle Creams
• Eye creams
• Problem areas on the face

Prickly Pear Seed Oil is one of the most expensive oils in the world

Prickly Pear Seed Oil would certainly be even more popular if it would be more affordable. It is therefore one of the most expensive available vegetable oils. However, I wanted to introduce this oil as it is very sufficient. All you need is a few drops of oil on your face to protect your skin. Prickly Pear Seed Oil has such a unique fatty acid composition that it’s really hard to replace. Especially in winter, when the skin dries, you should remember the Prickly Pear Seed Oil.

Tell us about your experience with Prickly Pear Seed Oil!

There are really many chemicals in skin care products, sometimes we may think that there are too many. However, many of these chemicals are quite common and harmless ingredients. You can find skin care raw materials also in your kitchen or garden. You just need to know where to look. Glycolic acid is such an ingredient. Glycolic acid sounds like a very chemical compound by name. In reality, regular cane sugar is rich of it. How can you utilize glycolic acid on your skin? Keep on reading to learn more.

Sugar cane is a miracle stuff in skin care

Ordinary home sugar is made from sugar cane. It is cultivated in over 100 countries as one of the most important crops. Unprocessed sugar cane is very high in minerals but also in a fruit acid called glycolic acid. Glycolic acid is an amino acid, a component of proteins.

Synthetic glycolic acid is produced in factories and involve the use of chemical process. Glycolic acid in mass production cosmetics is never a pure natural product. Formaldehyde, which is a carcinogen, is usually also involved in the manufacturing process. That is why glycolic acid of cane sugar is natural, non-toxic healthy choice we can use in skin care.

The glycolic acid content of the cane sugar is very moderate. That’s another reason why cane sugar is good for regular skin care at home.

Honey also contains glycolic acid. It can be used in cosmetics instead of cane sugar. Honey also contains many other skin care ingredients.

How glycolic acid affects the skin

Glycolic acid has an incredible number of skin-care effects. It is one of the most versatile skin care products.

• Glycolic acid brightens the skin. It has been used to treat skin’s uneven pigmentation with very good results. A home-made sugar-based product cannot cure severe pigmentation disorders. However, it clearly brightens the skin.
• Glycolic acid is effective in exfoliating the skin. Many commercial skin scrub products contain glycolic acid.
• Glycolic acid is a moisturizing ingredient for the skin. It is used to treat dry skin. Dry skin is usually sensitive. That’s why it’s best to choose a homemade sugar-based product instead of a strong, factory-made glycolic acid product.
• Glycolic acid penetrates the skin and promotes skin cell renewal. This process makes the skin cells younger and the whole skin looks younger.  At the same time, small lines are lost from the skin. Glycolic acid is especially recommended for aging skin.
• Glycolic acid helps to keep pores clean. That is why it is recommended for skin that gets easily clogged. But glycolic acid is not precisely the right product for the treatment of acne. If you use sugar-based products on your skin, acne can even get worse. Bacteria use sugars as food.
• Glycolic acid is also very often used to treat sun-damaged skin. Glycolic acid regenerates the skin. It also stimulates the skin’s natural collagen production.
• Glycolic acid is especially good for surface-dry skin. It has the ability to penetrate deep into the layers of the skin. Although the surface of the skin looks flaky and dry, the problems can be deeper in the skin. Glycolic acid also treats deeper areas of the skin.
• Glycolic acid is one of the most effective products against air pollution. Because glycolic acid promotes the removal of dead skin cells, it also removes impurities from the skin.

Products containing glycolic acid are easy to make by ourselves

It is a good idea to make natural and skin-friendly glycolic acid products by ourselves. Ordinary sugar contains just the right amount of glycolic acid for diy-products. If you want really effective glycolic acid treatment for a particular problem, you might want to have an appointment with a beautician.

You can make many products from sugar. If you use sugar for facial scrubs, you should dissolve it in the liquid. You can also use run honey, syrup or molasses, which are liquid enough.

I’ve told sugar’s other skin treating features here.

You can find recipes for sugar here. You can try the therapeutic effect of glycolic acid on your skin right away since most of the ingredients you can find in your kitchen closet.

At its simplest, you can enjoy glycolic acid treatment in the form of a honey mask. You can try honey for your whole body in the form of sauna honey. It really rejuvenates, moisturizes and brightens your skin. But please make sure you have prepared the sauna first, just to avoid any mess.

Have you tried glycolic acid treatments? Please tell us about your experiences in the comments section!

Olive oil suits well to the body peeling purpose. It is an antioxidant and skin nourishing oil. Olive oil suits best for skin care and body products of ageing skin. Olive oil is not recommended for acne-prone skin. It clogs the pores easily and stimulates acne.

Although olive oil is not the best oil for facial care, it can be used to make a skin scrub for body. Buy only extra Virgin quality olive oil. It still has all the antioxidants left. I personally prefer Greek and Spanish organic olive oils. You can find them in big supermarkets. There are usually several options to choose from.

Vegetable Butters

To this skin scrub I have added also mango butter and shea butter. They are very popular now and many may have them already.

Shea Butter

Mild and full-bodied shea butter is a great addition to this body scrub. Shea butter is originally an African beauty product. Traditionally, shea butter is also used in cooking in Africa. Its natural colour is ivory but very often it is also sold bleached. I personally like the untreated quality but some people may find its odour unpleasant. I myself don’t smell anything unpleasant. You can order shea butter from several online shops. Here is a tip:  You can order it fairly because you can use shea butter as it is for dry skin, cracked heels, hardened elbows and more.

Mango Butter

Mango butter is a popular, hard fat in home cosmetics. It smells lovely and is very caring. Mango butter is made from fat derived from mango seeds. It suits best for body care and wash-away products. The fatty acid composition of mango butter is not suitable for facial products. Mango butter may block some people’s pores.

Sugar

As an exfoliating ingredient I am using a very fine sugar. Sugar is a very common exfoliating agent. It does not harm the skin but is still a very effective ingredient. Sugar also moisturizes the skin. Choose very finely ground sugar, but not powdered sugar as it will not peel. Fine ground sugar removes dead tissue more efficiently from the skin, but is even more gentle than coarser sugar quality.

Ginger

 I used ginger as an active ingredient. Ginger has tremendous positive qualities. It activates the skin’s blood circulation and improves metabolism. Ginger makes this product a good cellulite cream. Be sure to use only dried, ground ginger, which is sold as a spice. Fresh ginger is too moist for this recipe. There is no room for moisture in peeling products based on sugar. Otherwise the sugar will begin to melt and the peeling cream will be spoilt.

For mango-ginger skin scrub you will need

• 50ml solid shea butter
• 50ml of mango butter
• 75ml of olive oil
• 130ml of very fine sugar
• 1 tablespoon powdered, dried ginger

Do like this

• Measure shea butter, mango butter and olive oil in a double boiler or water bath
• Using low temperature cook until all solid fats have melted
• Lift the pot off the stove and allow it to cool slightly but not solidify completely
• Mix the sugar and ginger powder and add melted fat
• Stir and can, use lids
• Peeling cream remains good for several months if it is free of moisture or dirt.
• When using the cream, always use a clean spoon for picking up the amount you need and close the jar carefully.

Olive oil can also be used to make herbal ointments, which are healing products. Olive oil is a very preserving oil. It does not rancidify as easy as sunflower oil. In herbal ointments, long shelf life is an advantage. We will take a closer look at herbal ointments in the summertime. There will be plenty of herbs both in nature and in the garden.

This scrub is so simple and effective that you really should try it.

How did you like it, please share your experiences in the comments section!

Many people suffer from dry skin in the beginning of winter. Big changes of the temperatures of heated, indoor air and cold outside air stress the skin. Indoor air is particularly dry when the heating system is running at full capacity. The skin surface dries and becomes lifeless.

There are really many products available for treating dry skin

However, you can make a moisturizer yourself from simple ingredients. In this post I will tell you which are the most moisturizing ingredients in home cosmetics.

Why does my skin dry?

In order to avoid dry skin, you should think first what is the reason why your skin is dry. In fact, dryness of the skin can be caused by many different things. Of course, the treatment must be chosen based on the real reason.  The most common causes of drought are

• Too dry indoor air; indoor humidity should always be above 40%. Get yourself a powerful humidifier!
• Frost; frost reduces skin moisture to prevent the skin from freezing so easily. Avoid being in the frosty air!
• Smoking; In addition to many other health problems, smoking causes dry skin. Stop now!
• Too little hydration; drink more!
• Age; the skin becomes thinner as it ages. Thin skin dries more easily than thicker skin.
• Some medicines and health issues; it is worth consulting a trusted doctor.

Here are the main reasons that cause the skin to dry out. As you can see, you can influence many things yourself. The cold season is really challenging for the skin. Even if you can moisturize the indoor air in your home, you cannot do it at work. Therefore, it is advisable to take care of your skin carefully throughout the heavy and dark winter season.

A natural way to prevent skin dryness is vigorous exercise and sweating

Before you start trying any cosmetic product on dry skin you should try the effect of exercise. Exercise improves blood circulation in the skin and provides the skin with more nutrients and also moisture. According to research, the most moisturizing chemical in skin care is urea. It is added to many dry skin care creams. However, you do not need to add urea to your skin cream.

It is enough that you allow regular sweat to flow on your skin

Sweat always contains small amounts of urea. Therefore, sweating is one of the most moisturizing skin care methods. I highly recommend!

There are many natural products for moisturizing dry skin

I’ve told you in the past several cosmetic ingredients that moisturize the skin. Now I wanted to collect them together in this post to make it easier for you to find all skin super moisturizers in one place.

Glycerol and hyaluronic acid are the most commonly used moisturizers in cosmetics

Glycerol and hyaluronic acid absorb moisture from their surroundings. If there is not enough moisture available, they absorb moisture from the skin. When used incorrectly, hyaluronic acid, in particular, can have a drying effect on the skin.

Glycerol is a safer alternative to moisturize the skin. It is especially suitable for persons who do not tolerate plant extracts in cosmetics. Glycerol can also dry the skin if not used with plenty of fluid.

All sugars are moisturizing

I’ve told sugars here. Sugars have a very effective moisturizing effect. For dry skin, sugars are the best moisturizer. Sugars increase the activity of bacteria on the skin and absorb moisture. There are many good sugars available for the skin

• Plain fine granulated sugar, white or dark; use on face masks
• Powdered sugar; use in scrubs
• Sorbitol; lotions and facial waters
• Xylitol; lotions and facial waters
• Honey; use on masks
• agave nectar; use on masks
• Soft palm sugar; use on masks like honey

Starches protect the skin from drying out

Many starches help protect the skin from excessive drying. Starches form a layer on the skin that protects the skin from drying out. They also absorb moisture.

Starces

 Starches act as thickeners in creams. They can only be added to the creams in small amounts. In large quantities, the starchy cream is uncomfortable on the skin.

• The most famous starch in creams is xanthan gum. Xanthan gum is used primarily as a thickener. It also forms a very thin protective layer on the skin surface.
• Colloidal oats work a little bit like xanthan gum on the skin. Colloidal oats are also a skin-soothing ingredient that reduces itching.

Seaweeds contain particularly moisturizing polysaccharides

All seaweeds moisturize the skin. Seaweed is rich in skin-moisturizing polysaccharides. Of course, there are differences in polysaccharides from different seaweeds. Some algae are clearly more moisturizing than others. I have written more about marine algae here.

Our skin tolerates particularly well seaweeds

Therefore, they can also be used on thin, dry and sensitive skin. Apart from moisturizing ingredients, seaweed contains an incredible amount of skin-loving minerals. At best, seaweeds are in the facial waters. You can also replace the cream with seaweed extract in your water phase.

Seaweed suitable for the skin

Use these incredibly effective seaweeds.

• Kombu; use as a decoction base for cream or facial water
• Wakame algae; Wakame, known from miso soups, is particularly good in skin care. Use as powder in masks or as a poultice base for creams and facial waters
• Kelp (Fucus Evanescens); is a super moisturizer for the skin. Thanks to the fucoidan it contains, kelp also removes redness of the skin.

Moisturizing herbs

Herbal moisturizers are rare. Personally, I know only two really good moisturizing plants.

• Leaves and roots of Greater Burdock
• Marshmallow root

You can use these plants as a poultice in facial waters and creams.

Hope you find some help when moisturizing your skin

There are really many moisturizing ingredients available. I deliberately omitted all oils that are considered moisturizing. Oils as such do not moisturize dry skin. Oils and vegetable butter can be used to lock in the moisture to the skin. The skin needs moisture meaning water. Therefore, it is worth drinking plenty of water. Also, moisturizing products should always be added to already moist skin. This gives the best moisturizing effect.

How do you moisturize your skin during the winter season? Please add your comment to the message box!

You can easily make many kinds of cosmetics from very fine milled colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa). When making homemade cosmetics, you shouldn’t pay attention to formalities. Many cosmetic products made by big manufacturers could be much simpler. Maybe consumers want to buy products that contain many ingredients and naturally manufacturers want to make difference to their competitors by adding unnecessary components to their products.

Now, because we only make products for ourselves and people around us, we can focus on the raw material itself.

To begin with, you can make simpler oat products by adding few drops of oat oil to your favourite ointment.

You can also add some soothing extract of oat’s sprout to your creams. Many cosmetic series contain the extract of oat sprout among other ingredients. The cosmetics industry has also noticed its soothing effect on the skin. This extract is sold by many Online Stores and by A. Vogel.

As a facial skin cleanser, colloidal oatmeal products are unbeatable

Oats alone is already a beauty product. The oats just need to be very finely milled in order to treat the skin well. Oatmeal mentioned for baking contains grains of oats that scratch the skin. Do not use nutritional oats for cosmetics. Colloidal, very finely milled oats is a different thing. It is also suitable for the most sensitive ones like babies. You cannot make colloidal oats yourself. I’ve tried to do it. Preferably get it from the store.

Colloidal oats, or oat silk, can be found at least from online stores. Those stores are my source as well. It’s not very expensive.

You can use colloidal oatmeal as such for face cleansing.

Next, I’ll give you instructions on how to use colloidal oats for face cleansing. The instructions for cleaning your face with oats is very simple.

Ingredients for one portion of face cleaner

• 1 teaspoon of colloidal oatmeal
• 1 plentiful teaspoon of water

 How to do the cleansing of your face with oatmeal paste

• Apply a teaspoon of colloidal oat on your hand and add about a teaspoon of water
• Use your finger to mix the ingredients into the paste and use like cleansing milk to swirl your fingers over your face for about a minute.
• I myself leave the oats on my face for a moment and do something else. The product also acts as a facial mask.
• Wash colloidal oat paste off your skin. You will now feel how caring product oats are. Oats leave the skin soft and moisturized.

 I rarely add any oil or ointment to my face after washing oats off. You may have a slight feeling of tightening of your skin. Oats leave a protective film on the skin. The film contain oat carbohydrates called beta-glucans. You can read more about beta-glucans in my blog post.

Colloidal oatmeal easily makes simple cleansing milk. Colloidal oats are also useful when traveling. As a powdery and very lightweight product, it is easy to pack. In addition, colloidal oatmeal do replace many products:

• cleansing milk
• facial mask
• moisturizing cream
• rash ointment for itching

Oats also help with scalp and hair care

Oats contain a substance called avenanthramide. It has been found to be effective in reducing itching of the skin and scalp. The following recipe is a modification of the fermented rice water used in Asia for hair and skin care.

I like oat water and rice water for hair and skin care as they contain good features of grains but not any disturbing and messy ingredients. Have you ever washed your hair using rye flour? It’s an incredibly messy job. The bathroom needs cleaning after using rye flour.

Fermented oat water

You will need the following ingredients and accessories

• 2 tablespoons of organic oat grains. Do not use oatmeal but buy whole grains.
  • ½ litre of fresh water
  • Strainer
  • 0.75 – 1 litre glass jar with lid for fermentation
  • Glass container of approximately ½ litre capacity for storage

Do this

• First rinse the oat grains thoroughly in water
• Pour oat grains and ½ litre of fresh water into a glass jar and mix slightly
• cover the can with a lid
• Place the jar in a warm place in the room for about 24 hours
  • After 24 hours, the water should smell slightly acidic and have a few bubbles on the surface. If not, the mixture is not yet fermented. Then you can let the mixture stay for a few hours or until the next day.
  • Once you have identified the oat water as ready and acidic, mix it thoroughly with a spoon for a while
  • Now you can strain the oat water into a clean glass container
  • Put the glass container in the refrigerator to complete the fermentation process.
  • To use oat water, first take it to room temperature for a few hours to warm it up. Never use ice cold fermented oat water on your skin or hair.
  • You can store fermented oat water in the refrigerator for about a week

How to use fermented oat water?

Oat water is especially suitable for hair care

Use oat water as a hair rinse after washing. Pour oatmeal into washed hair and leave for a few minutes. You can also extend the action time by up to 30 minutes by covering your hair with a towel. Longer treatment is better for scalp problems and itching. Finally, rinse your hair with regular water as usual.

You can also wash your hair with oats.  Pour the fermented oat water into moist hair and rub the scalp thoroughly using your fingertips for 3 minutes. Rinse with regular water.

Fermented oat water is also good for body and face skin

Use oat water as a facial and body wash after washing and showering. It is suitably acidic and cares for the skin’s own bacterial balance.

Oat water soothes the skin

 It suits well for eczema type skin and acne skin to soothe inflammation.

I really hope you get inspired to try colloidal oatmeal and fermented oats. I myself found the superior effect on my skin. Oats nowadays is often praised using too many superlatives. However, praising comes for a good reason. Oats is one of the best ingredients for organic skin care.

Thank you so much for your interest in my cosmetic oat recipes!

If you have some great tips on how to use oats in homemade cosmetics, please let me know!

The very first skin care product line, which I have ever bought, was based on the seaweeds and sea minerals. I have already blissfully forgotten the name of the product but it left really good memories. That was my first experience of seaweed in skincare.

My first experience of seaweed in skincare

At that time my skin was a skin of a young girl, under 20 with impurities. After starting use of the series, the superficial roughness and impurities disappeared from my skin. My skin became easy to care and beautiful. I was whacked. Is this how cosmetics work?  Why doesn’t everyone use this series and enjoy beautiful skin like mine?

I am afraid this smells little bit like advertisement. However, the experience I told is true. After that, I started to pay attention to seaweed and sea minerals in a whole new way. They seemed to fit my skin perfectly.

How to use seaweed in skincare

Now I want to open up also the world of seaweed and tell how you can use them in skincare. You can of course buy ready-made seaweed products like this. There are plenty of series available in natural cosmetic quality. However, I try to inspire you to try seaweed in DIY-cosmetics.

The use of seaweed in DIY-cosmetics is inspiring because you can influence so many things yourself. You can make different products for different purposes and use seaweed in all of them. Try to add seaweed to this sunflower cream. You can also add other marine ingredients to your products such as minerals, salt and the wonderful Dead Sea mud.

But the most challenging part is getting to know the countless varieties of seaweed and finding new features and uses in them. That’s why I am planning to write a comprehensive opus about seaweed. It is truly wonderful and versatile ingredient.

What kind of seaweed there are?

First, let’s get started on what kind of seaweed there are and what is available in stores and online. I will list all the minerals, vitamins and proteins seaweed contains.

By way of exception, I would also like to mention here the use of seaweed as a food. This is not a food blog and I am not about to create one. However, seaweeds are comparable to dietary supplements. If you really want to improve skin, nail and hair nutrition, you should definitely prepare seaweed dishes from time to time. Seaweed does not need to be used much. You can, for example, use it like spice in dishes.

Why seaweed is so superior?

Seaweed is rich in important minerals. Their mineral content is significantly higher than many land plants. Seaweed contains valuable proteins and vitamin B-12, which are very valuable for vegans. Many people currently have iodine deficiency. Using seaweed can effectively improve iodine intake. Seaweed in skincare is so superior.

• Seaweeds control inflammation of the skin
• Seaweeds absorb heavy metals and impurities
• The nutritional values ​​of seaweed are unmatched
• Seaweed is well tolerated
• The skin and body are able to utilize seaweeds effectively

There are huge quantities of seaweed

A whole new world awaits you under the sea surface. Seaweeds are underwater vegetables and herbs. They are in the sea just as the dry land has different herbs and other plants. Some of the well-known seaweeds are generally on the market because they have been used as food in Asia.

Seaweeds used in cosmetics include, for example, seaweeds from the Laminaria group. The seaweed of the Laminaria group is large and leather-like seaweed. They are used to moisture in the skin, as well as to make the skin glow and beautiful. Seaweed can also help to improve the skin’s blood circulation and eliminate cellulite.

Find out what seaweed exist and what you can use for everything

I’ve listed below the best-known seaweeds. You can use all these seaweed in skincare. It is easier to use seaweed which are commonly available. Of course, all commonly known seaweed can be ordered online. If you do not find them in local online stores you will get them from abroad.

Edible seaweed

I added some tips how to use seaweed in cooking. When used as food, seaweed is incredibly rich in minerals and vitamins. Edible seaweed can also be used for skin- and haircare.

Nori

Everyone knows the Nori seaweed

Nori is used as food, more specifically in sushi and rice balls. Nori is perhaps the most common commercially exploited seaweed in the world. You can find nor seaweed easily.

Wakame

Wakame is well known because of miso-soups in Japanese restaurants. It has a mild taste and it is easy to use. Wakame is extremely high in iodine. Even so much that its use should be restricted. You can add dried wakame for example, to bread or soups.

In skincare, Wakame is one of the best. Unlike many other seaweeds, it is easy to obtain. Wakame is also very easy to use. You can just grind it into masks or make it a herbal infusion.

Wakame seaweed

• Moisturizes the skin
• Protects skin from sun and air pollution
• Works to prevent aging
• Soothes and removes redness from the skin

Kombu

Kombu seaweed is a very strong seaweed. It is used by the Japanese in cooking to facilitate digestion. Kombu seaweed gives Japanese vegetarian food a great umami flavor. Kombu seaweed is not eaten as such but is made into a tasty broth by soaking seaweed in water. Kombu should not be cooked, as it will become bitter and slimy.

Cosmetics manufacturers like Lush is using kombu. Lush appreciates the cleansing and soothing properties of the kombu. For home cosmetics, I recommend a Kombu bath.

Dulse (Palmaria palmata)

Dulse seaweed is dark reddish, like dried beets. Use dulce in chopped salad dressings or as a popcorn spice. Dulse sprinkled on top of eggs is also delicious. Dulse has been a snack food for fishermen in the English and Irish seas. It is rich in minerals and can be eaten without cooking. Fishermen use dulse especially in egg dishes but also in meat dishes. Dulse can also be used to make delicious chocolate.

Nutritional values ​​/ 100g

• Iron 33mg
• Potassium 1720mg
• Omega3 and omega6 fatty acids
• Vitamin B-12 6.6micrograms
• Proteins 21.5gr

• Additionally, dulse seaweed contains vitamins A and C, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, zinc, selenium and iodine

Dulse helps soothe the skin and treat skin inflammations such as eczema and acne.

Arame

Arame is very dark, almost black seaweed. Despite its color, Arame is perhaps the most mildly tasting seaweed. Dried it looks like loose black tea leaf. Use soaked, boiled Arame as a salad. Season with, for example, thyme strips, vinegar and a drop of sesame oil.

Arame is recommended for skin detox masks. Arame effectively removes impurities from the skin. It also moisturizes and brightens the skin.

The arame is sold dried as usually all seaweed. It is a good idea to rinse it before use and then soak it in cold water.

Seaweed suitable for the skin

Ascophyllum nodosum

Ascophyllum nodosum, also known as Norwegian Kelp is a very long-lived brown seaweed that is found in the North Atlantic. The Norwegian Kelp can live up to 400 years. Norwegian Kelp is used in skincare products and supplements. Norwegian Kelp helps improve skin color. It makes the skin ball and beautiful. Also in sun products, Norwegian Kelp is used to smooth out the color of the tan. Especially if your skin is sunburned or reddened otherwise it is a great help.

Norwegian Kelp is a highly nutritious seaweed. Its specialty is that it contains 70 different growth hormones. The growth hormone of Norwegian Kelp in agriculture helps the plants repair their own damages. Therefore, Norwegian Kelp is a very popular addition in fertilizers.

Thanks to its high amino acid content, seaweed is an effective anti-aging product. Seaweed amino acids help the skin to bulge and smooth out fine lines.

Rainbow seaweed, Iridaea Cordata

The surface of the rainbow seaweed shines wet in different colors of the rainbow. That gives the name. Rainbow seaweed contains high amounts of proteins, iodine, zinc, iron, vitamins A, E, and C, as well as vitamin B1, sodium, calcium and magnesium.

Rainbow seaweed is the best seaweed for seaweed baths. Its minerals and vitamins nourish the skin as they are able to dissolve in bath water. Rainbow seaweed is very effective moisturizer for the skin.

You can also add powdered rainbow seaweed to facial masks, moisturizers and serums. In facial masks, the dosage is pretty much free. For products to be left on the skin, I recommend a dosage of up to 5%.

The bladder wrack or Fucus Evanescens

Bladder wrack growing on the beach, underwater cliffs is a popular skincare product. The bladder wrack lives in tidal areas, so it is part of the time on completely dry land before being submerged again. The bladder wrack is huge in size. It is a very common seaweed. Bladder wrack has been used extensively in herbal medicine. It was once the only hope for tuberculosis in some areas.

The bladder wrack is an edible seaweed. It is commonly used to thicken soups.

Bladder wrack is high in iodine, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, potassium, lysine, antioxidants, vitamins such as A, C, E, and K. It also contains substances such as algin, mannitol, mucus and fucoidan. Due to the huge variety of different active ingredients, bladder wrack has become everyone’s favorite.

The bladder wrack is super moisturizing to the skin. It treats irritated skin and balances skin color. Flucoidan is one of the most effective ingredients in the fight against redness of the skin. The bladder wrack contains this compound.

The bladder wrack also removes toxins from the skin. You can combine bladder wrack with various clays or peat for an effective detox mask.

Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, bladder wrack can be used for sunburns and for the treatment of insect stings.

Irish Moss aka Chondrus Crispus

Irish Moss is a seaweed that everyone has eaten unknowingly. It is the source of the food additive E 407, or carrageenan. Carrageenan is used in foods starting from whipped cream and other liquid products. It is a thickener that has no nutritional value. It passes through the body without being absorbed. Carrageenan is generally well tolerated. It can also be used as a thickener in cosmetic products.

Because carrageenan is herbal, it also works as a cosmetic thickener for vegans.

Here was a pretty quick cross-section of seaweeds that you can use in DIY- cosmetics and also add to natural cosmetics products. Seaweed in skincare is easy to use.

Seaweed has been very dear to me for years. That’s why I wanted to tell you about them. Seaweed in skincare are superior.

Thank you for being involved and reading about the wonderful features of seaweed. I really hope you try them out in some form.

Have you already tried seaweed? Which seaweed did you choose and how did it go?

Please, tell me about your experiences!

The moisturizing night cream for the winter skin is easily completed by half-products. This recipe works like a face mask. However, you may want to spread it only a thin layer on your skin. Then it acts like a night cream. You can use as neutral facial cream as you want for this night cream. As neutral as possible means, in this case, a very mild perfumed, without sun protection and with minimal other active substances. This gives you a powerful, moisturizing and gentle Treatment overnight. In the morning, the skin feels really moisturized and reformed.

I’m an oil freak. I think oils are a very essential part of cosmetics. You should carefully focus on choosing the right oil. There is own oil for every situation and every skin. This recipe has sunflower oil which is suitable for most skin types, a fact I already mentioned in my blog. Rice bran oil is very good for dry skin and aging skin as well. Where to get it – online stores are the best source.

The facial creams I make usually myself. I am so used prepare my own home cosmetics that buying a regular cream from the store would make me feel uncomfortable. However, I do buy more complex natural cosmetic products from reliable manufacturers and suppliers. But the day cream and basic cream are very simple in structure. I am minimalist in many respects. I want simple and only necessary ingredients containing products. We can always tune-up a simple, basic cream as we are now doing for this super-moisturizing cream.

Mix ratio for super moisturizing night cream

• 3 parts basic facial cream, your choice
• 1 part rice bran oil or cold-pressed sunflower oil
• 1 part glycerol
• Mix all ingredients together well and apply gently on your face and neck

 

This cream mixture can be well prepared for a week’s need and stored in a refrigerator. I would say it would last at room temperature at least a week.

Glycerite with fresh cucumbers

 

I am really excited about these glycerites. I have personally tried many versions, including probiotic glycerites. They will refresh quickly tired skin.  Especially in the winter there is a real need to get skin moisturized, when the surface layer of the skin begins to suffer dryness.

Everyone knows the very traditional cucumber mask; Thin cucumber slices are applied to the skin for half an hour. Very good and effective mask for the face. The cucumber is perceived as gentle and soothing in facial treatments. Now, however, we will tune up a little bit of our cucumber to even more moisturizing and it will become a glycerite.

Glycerites are usually made by herbs extraction. These glycerites are used for creams and salves. Highly effective glycerites can be made quickly out of fresh plats containing lots of water. There should be plenty of water in plants as glycerol should be diluted at least half of the volume. 10 ml of glycerol and 10 ml or more fluid is the right ratio. There is 98% water in cucumber, so it can be defined as liquid.

You can inspire yourself by creating fresher glycerites from juicy vegetables, fruits and berries. Naturally, when dealing with fruit and berries alpha-hydroxy acids should be remembered. They can be too powerful for the skin.  I myself do prefer only low- or no acid plants Like

• Avocado
• Banana
• papaya
• Boiled potato
• Boiled rice
• Coffee grounds

You do not necessarily need gelatin at all of these ingredients unless you add liquid to them. You can also make mixtures of different fruits and vegetables.

The only real challenge is how to keep moisturizing glycerite mask on the face. The paper disposable mask helps a lot. You can just irrigate the mask in the mixture and spread it on your face. If you don’t have a paper mask you should make the mass thicker. There are many options what to add. Here are three of them.

• Gelatin or gelatin, powder or sheets
• Agar-agar flakes or powder
• Glucomannan powder

I prefer gelatin because it contains collagen. Collagen is a skin building material and very good in the masks. Vegans for sure know that gelatin is made out of pig skin. Last two options are suitable for vegans. The gelatin can be prepared from the plates or powder according to the instructions in the package. I myself have added a bit more gelatin than what is mentioned in the instructions.

Option 1 Gelatin powder

You need

• 1 tbsp gelatin
• 2 tbsp cucumber juice
• A small piece of organic cucumber shells
• ½ tbsp glycerol

How to do

• Mix the gelatin and 2 tbsp cucumber juice and heat up in microwave 15 seconds
• Wash and mix a small piece of cucumber with a blender
• Measure 1 tablespoon of cucumber puree and ½ tbsp of glycerol in a container
• Mix the gelatin-cucumber mixture with glycerin and cucumber
• Give the mixture a moment to cool down in the refrigerator. The mixture must not become a jelly.
• Apply cucumber mask to the skin with brush. Avoid the sensitive area around the eyes
• Let it work for about 20 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water.

Option 2 Agar-agar powder

Agar-agar is seaweed and suitable for vegans. It is also used in marmalade so the product is very safe.

Follow previous instructions but replace gelatin with ¼-½ teaspoonful of agar-agar powder.  Agar-agar can be either powder or flakes. They are gelatinous in different ways. Check the packaging for the correct dosage if necessary.

Option 3 Glucomannan powder

Glucomannan is the same plant from which lovely Japanese Konyak mushrooms are produced. The powder is usually used for weight control because it swells in the stomach, causing a feeling of fullness. The Glucomanane is sold in the shops selling sports nutrients as well as in the health food stores. The packaging sizes are at least hundreds of grams, but the product is inexpensive.  The Japanese use the Glucomannan mainly Intestinal well-being. It works like a prebiotic helping the growth of intestinal flora. It also has other health effects. The substance is therefore very safe to use.

Please add the Glucomannan carefully because It swells slowly in the liquid, so pay attention. These quantities are very small in such a small portion. Teaspoon is far too big as a measure.

• You can add a very small quantity glumannane in the mask base first. This means just a gram or two. Wait for half an hour and check the thickness.
• If you have Glucomannan capsules, you can open one capsule and use the powder.
• Stir, wait for half an hour and apply the mixture with a paintbrush on your face.

 

These instructions are very simple and current. Worth of trying! Do you have your own tips for restoring winter dry skin?

Sunflower salve is easy to make. This salve contain no water, are full-bodied and easy to prepare. When winter is coming the skin needs protection from colder wind and inside air dried by the central heating.  This simple guideline gets you started easily.

Sunflower oil

Ingredients are simply and easy to get.  However, you have to pay special attention to the quality.  The oil must be absolutely fresh and extra virgin -quality which means it is cold pressed.  Organic oil is always better than oil manufactured in mass production factory. Sunflower oil suits to almost all skin types. Sunflower palm absorbs quickly into the skin.  It protects and moisturizes perfectly the skin.  You can use this cream to protect your children’s skin as well although I do not recommend it to infants under one year age.

Beeswax

Beeswax works in a cream as an emulsifier.  Keeping the quantity of beeswax small makes the cream easily absorbing.  When making creams you have to find a balance.  What is the suitable amount of beeswax in order to create balanced cream which is not too liquid but is still easily absorbing?  It is easy to try, just use a part of beeswax mentioned in recipe. When the cream is ready but not yet bottled, put small amount, just few drops, of cream into the fridge. After cooling, in case the result is not satisfactory, add some more beeswax to the cream and heat it up again to get wax melted. You can repeat this process several times until the cream is ready.

Where can I get beeswax?

You may get beeswax from some shops – I have ordered it from online shops.  Beeswax will last many years so you can order it a bit bigger quantity at once. Beeswax is for sale as grains and sheets, both are as good and have no influence to the result.  Just select the natural yellow, unprocessed beeswax.

In case the beeswax is not suitable

One can be allergic or oversensitive to beeswax, there are always some remains of pollens. Vegans do not use beeswax and it is not suitable to infants, only after one-year age it is safe to test its suitability. You can use carnauba wax, shea butter or cocoa butter instead of beeswax. Features of these waxes differ from beeswax. Cocoa butter is available in grocery store. It is foodstuff-quality so you can use the rest for cooking.  You can find Carnauba wax and shea butter in online shops selling materials for diy-cosmetics.

To make sunflower salve you need:

• 100 mills good quality sunflower oil
• 10 – 15 grams of beeswax
• small glass containers with cans

How to do

• Measure both beeswax and sunflower oil in metallic bowl.
• For double boiler, take a suitable sized pot and add some water in bottom. Place the bowl into the pot. Do not let water touch bottom of the bowl. The temperature of materials may not rice too high.
• Put the double boiler on stove and heat the water up. Turn down the heat immediately after the water starts to boil.
• Mix beeswax in oil until it is melted. Usually small quantities are melted before the water starts to boil.

Now the cream is ready for cans. Pour the cream in small glass 30 – 50 ml cans, cool the down and close.  Attach stickers with contents and preparation dates.

You can store creams in a fridge – I keep all oils and creams prepared by me in my fridge.

A tip: If you want more creamy cream, you can use a kitchen device to make foam. After foaming, you have to use spoon to fill glass cans, cream is no more liquid.  Foamed cream is easier to spread onto your skin.  Foamed cream will not last as long as pure cream. Remember to keep it always in the fridge.