I constantly battle with dry skin, especially during Autumn and Winter. I have found relief doing a daily abhyanga practice (self-massage) using oil. To do this, I massage oil directly into my dry skin and allow it to soak in before I take my morning shower. This adds a lot of hydration, but sometimes it's not quite enough. I need to add moisture throughout the day.
This is when I want to turn to lotion. However, most lotions have some sort of additives (this could be fragrance and/or preservatives) that I don't really want to put on my skin if I can avoid them, so I try to find fairly natural lotions. However, these can be expensive and vary in their effectiveness.
Years ago I found a recipe for a homemade lotion in this BOOK.
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I make a version of this lotion, using my homemade HERBAL OIL as the base.
How To Make Herbal Body Lotion
The Original Recipe for Rosemary's Perfect Cream
from Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health, p.132
Oils (You can mix and match whatever oils you want)
3/4 cup apricot, almond, or grapeseed oil
1/4 cup coconut oil or cocoa butter
1/4 tsp lanolin (I don't use this)
1/2 - 1 oz grated beeswax
Waters
2/3 cup distilled water (if using tap water, boil for 10 minutes then cool)
1/3 cup aloe vera gel
1-2 drop of essential oil, if desired
1/2 tsp vitamin E oil
Instructions
Combine all the Water ingredients and set aside,
In a double boiler, combine/melt the Oil ingredients.
Pour the oil into a blender and allow to cool to room temperature.
Turn on the blender and slowly drizzle the water in.
If the blender begins to choke before all the water is added, you can stir in the last bit of water by hand.
Pour the lotion into jars, store in a cool location.
Why Does Rosemary Call This Cream "Perfect"?
excerpt from Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health, p.133
"What makes our skin dry out is lack of water, so a good moisturizing cream contains a large percentage of water. The oil you put in the formula coats, soothes, protects, and most important, holds in the water.
A perfect cream is an approximately equal balance of water and oil. "
You Don't Want to Make Your Lotion?
If you prefer to simply buy lotion at the store, check out the Environmental Working Group website.
The EWG has great tools to help you choose better food and beauty products.
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