Mad Science at Home : 3 Moisturizer Recipes

AuntieWicked
Jun 7, 2012
5 min read

by Auntie Wicked

As you recall, I have done a blog on DIY moisturizer before…

…Wait

… Well

OK its been a while. I made a simple tutorial post when I was a Lone Auntie of Auntie Wicked’s Sanctuary in the LiveJournal Times. Sadly with no pictures, as I was both not quite fancy enough to have a digital camera, and secondly because I was going through an extended phase of not taking any pictures of myself. DARK CAVE TIMES!

Whether due to budget constraints or because of the desire to move away from processed products with excessive packaging, or even just because you love to make your own stuff, I think a person can always use a new recipe for facial care that can do in a pinch, or create a whole new beauty routine.

Your Auntie Wicked has been surfing the DIY kingdom for all new and exiting ways to moisturize her skin, and what follows is a brief of previous experiments hither-to-unknown in this blog’s parts, plus an all new adventure WITH pictures.

Part One : Oils

Shockingly, many oils that are considered the most healthy to cook with can also make splendid face-goo. Stay away from chemically extracted oils or industrial ones, like corn, soy, and canola. In theory there should be nothing wrong with them, but the way they are extracted and cross contamination could make a mess of your face quickly. The best oils are Extra Virgin, Grapeseed Oil, and Almond Oil (I have heard that Hemp Oil also works, but I haven’t tried it!). Just like in healthy cooking, a cold pressed oil will often be nice for your skin, if you don’t have allergies to whatever it is the oil’s been pressed from.

Start with a small, clean, empty jar to separate your cooking oil from cosmetic oils. From here, its all pretty much cake, pour about 1/3 of a cup of oil into your jar. From there you could pretty much seal it up and use it like a normal moisturizer. However, I like to add about a teaspoon of honey to the oil. Honey is an emollient (\i-ˈmäl-yənt\. Definition of \i-ˈmäl-yənt\. Definition of EMOLLIENT. : making soft or supple; also : soothing especially to the skin or mucous membrane. . : making soft or supple; also : soothing especially to the skin or mucous membrane. ) and will make you twice as velvety-glowy. I also sometimes soak a sprinkle of green-tea leaves, lemon balm, or lavender in the oil. You will get bits when you go to put it on your face, but its not tragic, and leaves a lovely calming scent.

Nothing else! Keep it in the fridge if you live in a warm and non-A/C climate, otherwise use it like you normally would any other lotion. I prefer to use my oil as a pre-sleep treatment, and as a primer under my makeup. As you would expect, oil makes you shiny!

The great thing about this recipe is that it has lots of flex. Say, take the original recipe and add about 3 tablespoons of sugar, you instantly have a facial scrub! Its not quite as sticky as the stuff you can get at the store, but its just as effective. (Brown or White sugar would be perfect for the face, careful with Demura sugar, the larger the grain the harder the exfoliation. You could also use salt if you are prone to breakouts, the salicylic acid will be a perfect treatment. )

Shea Butter

I splurged one winter and got myself a tub of Fair Trade Shea Butter (Why is Fair Trade Important?). I ran to the Internet and did a few recipes, starting with the basic whipping it up, using a few additives like oil and honey. I found although it was easier to put on after mixing and processing, it lost its best qualities even in being processed at home. I would suggest if that raw Shea Butter is best used smooshed into an old clean lip-balm tin, warming it between your hands, and spreading it onto trouble areas. Although the texture is slightly waxy to touch, it melts perfectly, and is absolutely PERFECT for troublesome winter patches.

Coconut Oil

OK! Down to brass-tacks. I have been reading and hearing of coconut oil for a few months. Not only is it killer in cooking, a great butter substitute, and delicious, but it also makes an amazing moisturizer – SO I hear! Le Experiment :

One clean jar, two big spoons of organic pressed coconut oil. I’ve seen the not-organic stuff for half the price sitting on the shelf, and while its tempting, I re-iterate, its probably really important try not to put weird processed stuff on your face-skin. while Organic is no guarantee, but I’d rather chance that then rubbing my face accidentally with Crisco.

I put a little less than a teaspoon (For you measurey-ocd babies), but it was more like four drips of honey I precariously dripped while trying to not get my rusty water-heater in the picture. Then mixed, mixed and MIXED!

Omnomnom, trying not to eat it all, what a delicious dressing for the spoon!

Next, I took a shower, then scrubbed my face. I got this exfoliating scrubber at the Dollar General. For those of you that are young, and haven’t shed your first skin to become ~~a reptilian30somthing~~ 29 years old, please be careful scrubbing your skin. Without the scales, it can be hard on your skin, younglings should use a simple, gentle soap with Shea-butter like African Black, or that cool stuff with charcoal in it.

Tone! Hey! I know you ladies don’t do this one half the time, I single you out because even modern men are still more likely to do the aftershave thing, which is basically the toning step. Most of the time they tell you not to put alcohol based stuff on your face, but Robert Downy Jr. looks fine to me, so feel free to defy convention in choosing your own toner. My favorite is the ultra cheap Witch Hazel, which also works on burns, in poultices, and for headaches (damp cloth, witch-hazel, nap). You can also empty out a little jar, and add Lavender, zest a citrus, green tea, or some rose petals to make your own smelly toner.

Now I’m rubbing my face with the Coconut Oil. I look scared, DON’T BE SCARED WICKED! ITS FOR SCIENCE!

She’s so Greas-y!

I went ahead and covered my pillow case with a fresh clean towel. This is a good trick for those of you that suffer from acne or breakouts, it will help control them. For me its just because I was going straight to bed all greased up!

And Finally!!!!

Here are the after-shots, morning-hair and all.