PUT ON YOUR SUNBONNETS: WE’RE GONNA MAKE OUR OWN MOISTURIZER

by Katherine Butler

I just ran across an organic rose petal face cream that goes for around $200. Now, I’m sure it’s amazing organic rose petal face cream. But am I about to spend a couple hundred of my hard-earned clams on it? That’s about as likely as me becoming a marginally famous red carpet staple known for wearing shirts as dresses. (As in, not very. Worst trend ever.)

Luckily, history presents us with some options. After all, moisturizing isn’t a 21st century phenomenon. Cleopatra is said to have bathed her skin in donkey’s milk. And the women of the Oregon Trail didn’t have organic boutiques in which to shop for skin care between birthing babies in covered wagons and fighting off rapid raccoons with their bare hands. But they may have stuck their bare faces to the dusty wind and dreamed of the creamy white skins on the illustrations in Godey’s Lady Book.

So put on your Laura Ingalls Wilder sunbonnets (I have two), saddle up, and check out these tips and recipes for homemade moisturizers. Why? Because there’s a whole world of DIY makeup up there – and what’s better than organic ingredients you can control yourself?

For Dry Skin – Treat your skin to one tablespoon of organic sesame or olive oil. Use sparingly – I have found out the hard way that too much olive oil takes about three decades to absorb into your skin. You will be amazingly hydrated, but you will feel like salad dressing if you use too much. Also great for dry skin – mix two tablespoons of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, and one egg. Apply to your skin for 15 minutes and rinse.

For Irritated Skin – Combine one tablespoon of organic rose hip oil, one tablespoon of organic olive oil, one tablespoon of organic aloe vera juice. Mix with three drops of organic chamomile oil. Mix the oils into a jar, shake well, and apply.

For Oily Skin – From Narine Nikogosian’s Return to Beauty. Take one small lemon, one tablespoon margarine, and one teaspoon almond oil. Peel the lemon and cut it in half. Warm margarine, mix with lemon and oil until creamy. Apply after cleansing.

For Normal Skin – Take two tablespoons of mashed organic strawberries, ½ mashed organic banana, and one tablespoon of mashed organic blueberries. Add two tablespoons of organic honey. Apply to face for 15 minutes, wash off with cool water. Fruit contains natural antioxidants great for your skin and the honey will moisturize.

Image: sunshinecity