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Hand, Face and Body Lotions You Can Make

Homemade skin care products take a bit of time and trouble to prepare, but you'll save money, and you'll be able to experiment with a variety of ingredients to find ones that work best for you. Be sure that your equipment is absolutely clean.
| Basic Cold Cream |All Purpose Hand Cream | Cuticle Cream |
| Cucumber Facial Mask |Egg Facial Mask | Herbal Facial Mask |
|Lemon Moisturizer | Makeup Remover and Moisturizer | Peppermint Lotion (for itching) |
| Rosewater Skin Lotion | Strawberry Skin Moisturizer | Almond Oil Wrinkle Cream |

Basic Cold Cream
This recipe gives you a basic cold cream/moisturizer, which you can add to as you like with scented oils.
  • 1 egg yolk, beaten
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
Combine egg yolk and lemon juice and stir with a wire whisk, gradually adding oils until mixture thickens. If it's too thick, add more lemon juice.

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All Purpose Hand Cream
  • 3 tbsp mashed almonds
  • 2 tbsp comfrey root (dried)
  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp glycerin

Mix almond meal, comfrey root and parsley in a small bowl and set aside. In another bowl, mix egg, honey and glycerin. Stir in 3 tbsp of the almond mixture. Rub the mixture gently into your hands, letting it penetrate for 20-30 minutes, then wash off with warm water. Refrigerate mixture between uses.

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Cuticle Cream
  • 3 tbsp paraffin
  • 1/2 cup mineral oil
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 tbsp glycerin

Slowly heat paraffin with the oils in a double boiler. Stir until blended. Add in the glycerin and remove from heat. Let cool before using.


Cucumber Facial Mask (Cleans and Moisturizes)
  • 1 tbsp instant nonfat dry milk
  • 1/2 peeled cucumber
  • 1 tsp plain yogurt

Put all ingredients into a blender and mix well until smooth. Apply to your face (avoid your eyes). Leave on for 15-20 minutes, then rinse off. Mix a fresh batch for each use.

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Egg Facial Mask (Smooths and Moisturizes)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1 tbsp honey

Beat the egg in a small bowl. Add the coconut oil and honey slowly, beating until it's the consistency of mayonnaise. Spoon mixture into a toilet paper roll, sitting up in a small bowl. Set in the freezer overnight. To use, peel away the top of the cardboard roll and smooth the frozen stick over your face. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes, then wash off with warm water. Keep the stick covered with plastic wrap and freeze between uses.

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Herbal Facial Mask (Cleans and Tightens Pores)
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp crumbled dried chamomile flowers
  • 1 tsp finely chopped fresh mint

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Apply the mixture to your face and neck. Let dry (10-15 minutes) and rinse off with warm water.

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Lemon Moisturizer
  • 1 beaten egg yolk
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice

Combine egg yolk and lemon juice in a small bowl. Stir with a wire whisk while adding both oils until the mixture thickens. If it's too thick, add more lemon juice.

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Makeup Remover and Moisturizer
  • 1/2 cup paraffin
  • 1 cup mineral oil
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 tbsp alum

Slowly heat paraffin with the oil in a double boiler. In a separate saucepan, heat the water until it simmers, then dissolve the alum in it. Let cool, then add to the warm mineral oil and paraffin mixture. As everything cools, the paraffin will rise to the top. Drain off the water. The residue is your makeup remover.

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Peppermint Lotion
Relieves itching.
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
  • 3-4 drops peppermint oil
Oil of eucalyputs or cade can be used in place of peppermint, if you prefer. Pour the water and alcohol into a bottle, then add the oil. Cap and shake well. Apply to your skin with a clean cloth.

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Rosewater Skin Lotion
Rejuvinates and smooths your skin.
  • 1 tbsp Rose water
    • 3 tbsp rose soluble
    • 2 cups water
    • 2 tbsp glycerin
  • 2 capsules vitamin E (800 IU's)
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Break open capsules to remove vitamin E and combine with other ingredients in a small bowl. Mix well. To use, apply to your skin with cotton balls. Refrigerate between uses.

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Strawberry Skin Moisturizer
  • 1 tbsp each: olive, coconut and vegetable oils
  • 2 tbsp mashed strawberries
  • (Optional) 1-2 drops Vitamin E oil

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Store in the refrigerator in a covered jar between uses.

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Almond Oil Wrinkle Cream
A rich moisturizer that boosts the water-holding capacity of your skin and helps plump out wrinkled areas.
  • 1 tbsp of an infusion of comfrey leaves OR
  • 1 tbsp of a decoction of comfrey roots
    (See How to Make and Use Herb Preparations)
  • 1 tbsp lanolin
  • 2 tsp sweet almond oil
  • 2 tsp water
  • 2 tsp cod liver oil

Melt lanolin and almond oil in a double boiler. Add water and allow to cool. Mix in cod liver oil and comfrey. Apply gently to face and rinse off after 5-10 minutes.

TIPS!
Preservatives & Shelf Life
Most of the recipes offered here have a shelf-life of 2-3 months if stored in a cool place. Did you know grapefruit seed extract could be used as a preservative for soaps and lotions? Recommended usage is .5 - 5% of the entire volume (in ounces) of your batch.

Check out this article for more information.

Fruits & Veggies
Many fruits and vegetables can be applied directly to the face. A slice of tomato or cucumber can be used as a simple cleanser. Use the list below as a general guide to using fruits and vegetables, either directly on your skin, or in a lotion or cream.

Highly acidic.
Use only on oily skin and use in moderation:

Lemon*
Grapefruit*
Apples*
Strawberries*
Lime*

Slightly more acidic than normal skin.
Beneficial for most skin types:

Peaches*
Apricots*
Tomatoes*
Grapes (not Concord)*

Neutral.
Beneficial for most skin types:

Cucumber*
Bananas*
Watermelon*
Persimmon*
Pepper*

Low acidity.
Good for moisturizing dry skin:

Carrots*
Cantaloupe*
Avocado*
Honeydew Melon*
Iceberg Lettuce*

NOTE: Facial masks should be applied very gently to preserve the cusion of fatty tissue and avoid stretching the surface skin.

Be sure to test a small area for skin sensitivity before using any mixture on your face. Dab a little on the inside of your wrist or the underside of your arm and wait a 24-48 hours to see if it causes a reaction, such as a rash.

Mayonnaise?
Yes, simple mayonnaise contains many useful skin nutrients. Use your own recipe (but leave out the salt!), or buy a good salt-free mayonnaise and massage it into your skin as a night cream.

Bran and Oatmeal
Bran and oatmeal both make great hand smoothers. To make bran water, add 1 cup of boiling water to 1/2 cup of natural bran and allow to steep for 15 minutes. Strain out the bran and leave small amount of bran water in a bowl by the kitchen sink (refrigerate the rest until you're ready to use it). Dip your hands into the water and dab them dry 3-4 times a day, especially after washing dishes.

For an oatmeal wash, simmer one part of old-fashioned (non-instant) oatmeal in 2-3 parts water until the meal swells and is soft. Strain into a container and use like the bran water.

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