by Tara Alley
As a Montana native for 24 years, my skin is certainly no stranger to harsh, dry winter conditions and the need for daily lotion (multiple times daily is more like it). In fact, it was almost a constant battle to keep up with the elements by re-applying lotion constantly.
I became a bit of a lotion connoisseur in my quest to beat the weather and keep my skin soft throughout the day. And, of course, some of my very favorites became the simplest DIY recipes out there. I’ve always been a huge fan of the idea of “feeding” my skin just like I feed my body, and would much rather put moisturize with an avocado mousse than a chemical-laden cream from the drugstore.
If you’re in need of some lotions for winter to keep your skin soft and smooth no matter what the weather throws at you or how far down that humidity level drops, here are some of my very favorite, all natural homemade lotion recipes with ingredients to feed your skin!
1. Tangerine Dream Face Cream
- 3 tablespoons of sour cream
- 1 capsule of vitamin E oil
- 3 tablespoons raw mango butter
- juice from one tangerine
Combine all ingredients except juice in a blender and puree. Continue to puree and add juice until consistency reaches desired state.
*Adapted from Betty Confidential.
2. Overnight Hand Softener
- 1 cup shea butter
- 1 tablespoon almond oil
- almond essential oil (to preference)
Warm the shea butter slightly, pour in almond oil and stir until well blended. Add drops of almond essential oil until scent reaches desired intensity. This is thick, so try wearing is overnight and with gloves for the best result.
*Adapted from Organic Lotion Online.
3. Chocolate & Peppermint Body Butter (Perfect for holiday gifts too!)
- 1/2 cup cocoa butter
- 1 teaspoon tea tree oil
- 6 tablespoons avocado oil
- peppermint extract, to preference
Gently warm the cocoa butter, then stir in the oils, adding pepper mint extract until it smells as minty as you please.
*Adapted from Organic Lotion Online.
4. Aloe Vera Hydrating and Repair Cream
- 5 tablespoons avocado oil
- 5 tablespoons almond oil
- 2 tablespoons shea butter
- 6 tablespoons aloe vera gel
- 40 drops tea tree oil
Warm the oils and melt in the shea butter. Allow to cool and then softly stir in aloe vera.
*Adapted from Organic Lotion Online.
Create Your Own DIY Lotion Recipes
The best results (and the most fun too), come from playing around with different oils and butters. If a lotion recipe calls for cocoa butter, but you prefer shea butter, try it! Research different essential oils, and choose the ones that make the most sense for your personal skin type.
The biggest perk to creating your own lotion is the capacity you have to fine tune it in great detail to exactly match the needs of your skin. Plus you can get the scents in that you crave, whether it’s to relax you in the evening or rejuvenate you first thing in the morning. You can use the same lotion but make half with a soothing scent for night and half with citrus for morning.
Don’t Forget Christmas!
Homemade lotions are also fantastic ideas for Christmas gifts!
Stock up on pretty jars, get creative with labels you can whip out in no time on your computer, and you can easily make gorgeous, thoughtful (and useful!) gifts for over 20 in just an afternoon. Plus, it’s a very affordable option for those of us on a budget!
Freelancer Tara Alley researches green ideas on a daily basis, encouraging others to use sustainable, local, organic products whenever and wherever, especially in items that we eat and use on our bodies. She currently writes for Heater Home and helps them with content for energy saving electric space heaters in small homes.
Image Credit: Hand Lotion photo via Shutterstock
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