Who said food and skincare don't go hand in
hand. Here are some DIY recipes for night cream and regular moisturizer. I have
dry skin and eczema. So after trying lot of skincare products, from cheap to
expensive, I have decided to go natural. And I don't really believe in the
natural label of the product. So the only option I had was create my own
product.
Here are some recipes I
have tried:
Note that these are not
my recipes and are tried from curejoy.com
Daily Moisturizer: Making Basic Flaxseed Gel
Ingredients and tools needed
-¼cupFlaxseeds
-1 cup water
-Fine sieve
-Large bowl
-Empty glass container
Directions
-Soak
flax seeds overnight. This reduces the cooking time and increases the final
amount of gel yield. (This is an optional step)
-Take
the same water, add more if required (around 1 cup) and bring to boil with
roaring heat.
-Once
the water comes to a boil, add soaked flax seeds and stir occasionally,
reducing the flame.
-Once
the flaxseeds stop sinking, you will find that the water has turned into a thin
foamy gel.
-Turn
off the heat at this stage or you will overcook the flaxseeds and get a hard
gel. This will make the straining a hard process.
-Filter
the flaxseed water-gel through a fine sieve. Wash the vessels immediately to
avoid a sticky residue.
-You
can use the flaxseed gel immediately or keep it in an airtight container in the
refrigerator for later use. It will stay for 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
-You
can use a few drops of your favorite essential oils after preparing the gel.
DIY Night Creams:
Green/White Tea Night
Cream
Benefits
Green
and White tea both are abundant in antioxidants that are effective against free
radicals- formed when the skin is exposed to the UV rays, one of the leading
causes of premature aging. They combat skin cancer by blocking
the cancer causing harmful enzyme, help skin cell renewal and are effective in
healing psoriasis and rosacea.
In cases of acnes and pimples, the compound “catechins” acts as
an anti-bacterial agent reducing over-stimulation of the skin hormones.
Preparation
.
Take 25 oz of pure beeswax and combine them with 1 oz almond oil, 1 oz coconut
oil, 1 tsp of Rose hip seed oil in a double boiler, allowing it to melt.
. Meanwhile take a cup of warm water and let a packet of green/white tea seep
for a few minutes. Pour this mixture to the double boiler and mix. (If you are using a tea bag, open the bag and pour
in the tea leaves too)
. Once the beeswax melts let it cool for a minute or two, just enough to be
able to strain through a fine sieve.
. Whip this strained mixture using a hand blender until you reach a smooth,
fluffy consistency
Storage
.
Store in a cool, dark place. Avoid refrigeration as it will harden the mixture.
. The cream has a long shelf life as it contains oils.
. It will last more than a month with daily application.
Application:
.
Wash face, pat dry and apply over skin in circular motions, until it is
absorbed completely.
. In the morning wash off with cold water and a gentle cleanser as harsh
chemicals will strip away the benefits of the night cream.
Apple Night Cream
Benefits:
Apples
are rich in vitamins A, B, C, Beta-carotene, Malic acid (an exfoliant) and are
full of antioxidants essential for radiant and younger-looking
skin.
Rose water soothes acne, maintains the skin’s pH balance, heals
scars, regenerates skin tissues and revitalizes aging skin. It has
anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and smells great!
Preparation
.
Cut an apple in two halves, de-seed and cut into small cubes.
. Blend them with 2 tsp of Olive oil or Grapeseed oil or
Rose oil or Almond oil
until it reaches a smooth consistency.
. Pour it in a double boiler and mix until the mixture is warm.
. Remove from boiler and let it cool.
. After the mixture cools down add 2 tsp of rose water.
. You can add honey, cinnamon, nutmeg or turmeric to this mixture if you are
suffering from acne as all these ingredients have anti-inflammatory properties
and will help reduce acne.
. Go for green apples (if you can) as they have a high malic acid content.
Storage:
.
Put it in a sterile container and store it in your refrigerator.
. This mixture should last you for a week with daily application
Application
.
Wash face, pat dry and apply the cream on your face.
. Don’t jump in bed immediately as some particles might rub off on your pillow.
. Let it dry for a good 10 minutes before getting into bed.
. Wash off the next morning with cool water and a gentle cleanser (optional)
Olive Oil Night Cream
Benefits:
Olive
oil helps improve skin tone and reduces pigmentation. It also works as a
natural skin moisturizer, delays the effects of aging
on skin due to its healthy
fats and antioxidants.
Preparation:
. Combine 1/4 cup of extra virgin
olive oil, 1 tsp of coconut oil and 1 tsp of beeswax in a small saucepan.
. Heat on low in a double boiler stirring occasionally, until the mixture
starts melting.
. Take off heat, wait until it’s cool and whip into creamy soft texture.
. You can add the oil from a couple of Vitamin E capsules into the mixture.
. Additionally a few drops of your favorite essential oil like Ylang Ylang, Lavender,
Lemon, Tea Tree,
Myrrh or Carrot Seed can also be added.
Storage:
.
Store in a sterile container in a dry place.
. The oils will generally harden unless you’re in a very humid place.
Application
.
Wash your face and pat dry before applying the cream.
. Rub in a circular motion, massaging the cream on your skin.
. Wash off the next morning with a gentle cleanser.
Precautions:
.
Some people who have oily skin may have breakouts from the cream.
. Use it for a few days to see how your skin responds.
. It usually works very well for people with dry skin.
