Nana's Skin Loving Moisturizer
First - locate the ingredients you're going to need:
- a small bottle of Aloe Vera Gel (I prefer Banana
Boat brand)
- a jar of pure Coconut Oil (try a Health Food Store. Refrigerate
after opening. It will last a long time)
- a bottle of the best quality extra virgin olive oil you can find
(I love cooking with it, so there's always a bottle in my kitchen)
- a small box of canning wax (paraffin) or beeswax if you prefer
- a small quantity of any good essential oil for added fragrance
(optional)
Next - Gather up some simple equipment:
- a blender
- measuring spoons
- a beaker or cup that will measure in milliliters
- a small sauce pan
- a couple of glass or metal containers that will fit inside the
sauce pan, forming a double boiler or water bath type contraption
- a wire whisk
- a rubber spatula
- a decorative jar to hold your finished product (you'll need something
with a capacity of about a cup)
Now - set aside about 20 minutes to make moisturizer and prepare yourself
for a treat.
Fill a small saucepan about 1/3 full of water and bring it to a simmer.
Place some wax in a glass or metal container and set it in the hot
water bath to melt.
Liquefy some coconut oil, either in the microwave or using the hot
water bath. Either way- watch it carefully. Think warm. Not boiling.
Measure 1/2 cup of the Aloe Vera gel and put it in the blender.
Measure 30 ML of olive oil, 60 ML of coconut oil and 3 tablespoons
of wax into a clean glass container. Use the water bath to heat the
oils and wax just until the mixture is completely liquefied. No wax
particles should be visible but remove it from the heat the moment
you achieve your goal.
Turn on the blender to liquefy and slowly add the warm oil mixture;
a few drops at a time at first, slowly increasing the flow to a study
thin stream. Continue processing until all the aloe is incorporated
and the mixture is a thick creamy emulsion. You may have to turn the
blender off a few times, scrape down the sides, and turn it on again.
If you plan on adding an essential oil… pour the cream into
a mixing bowl and whisk it until it is completely cool before doing
so. Fragrance oils are extremely volatile and warm cream means all
the nice smell will evaporate the moment it hits the heat. Oh… and
don't be tempted to use one of those cheap candle scent products available
in craft stores here. Just remember, whatever you put in your moisturizer
will be absorbed through your skin, so it should be pure and 100% safe.
That's it. You're done, except for washing up the equipment and enjoying
the results of your labors. The cream can be stored at room temperature
safely for about a month. Unlike commercial products there are not large
quantities of preservative so if you plan on keeping it longer, refrigerate
it to prevent bacteria from forming. If you're anything at all like I
am, there's no way it will last a month.
Everyone at our house uses this lavishly on a daily basis all winter.
One more thought, we all have dry skin, so I make it year round. In summer
we keep some refrigerated, and use it as a soothing, healing balm for
itchy, sunburned skin. I'd love to hear from you if you make it, and
if you enjoy it as much as we always do.
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