Good facial moisturizer?

[Hopefulmama]

I have combination skin which tends to get dry in the winter. I'm looking for either something easily made/used at home or a brand of something w/o lots of junk in it. Thanks!

[russsk]

I make my own - just shea butter and jojoba oil whipped together. You could just use shea butter, though. It's transformed my skin.

[Hopefulmama]

Originally Posted by russsk

I make my own - just shea butter and jojoba oil whipped together. You could just use shea butter, though. It's transformed my skin.

Thank you ! Where do you get yours? How do you make your own mix?

[russsk]

Originally Posted by Hopefulmama

Thank you ! Where do you get yours? How do you make your own mix?

I buy my shea butter from http://shop.agbangakarite.com/main.s...E.qscstrfrnt02.

I melt it, then put it in my kitchenaid stand mixer with the whisk attachment. You could probably do this by hand, but it takes a while so your arm might fall off. As the shea butter is whipping, I drizzle in jojoba oil. I'm estimating that I probably use about 3 ounces per pound of shea, but that's just a guess. I just eyeball it. You could use any oil that your skin likes. At this point, you could also add any eos that you like.

If its taking too long to set (shea melts at body temp) you can pop it in the fridge for a few minutes. You want to keep it moving for the most part, though, because it can harden into little clumps like coconut oil. If that happens, just remelt and start over.

As you whip, the shea will cool and air will incorporate into the mixture. You'll end up with a thick, creamy consistency. You'll have to experiment with how much you like to whip it. I usually stop when its pudding-like. Pour into your container of choice, and let it rest a bit. It will continue to firm up until its sort of butter-like.

I use these containers, because I think they look pretty with all of my "products" lined up in my bathroom: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family...1&SearchPage=1.
I'm guessing that a pound of shea would fill about 6-8 of these jars, though I don't really measure ounces and I use other containers for family members. A jar of this lasts me months. (But I don't use it on my body - not because it isn't fantastic as a body moisturizer, but because I barely have time to shower, so I can forget about slathering myself in moisturizer, ykwim?)

It goes on sort of greasy, but its quickly absorbed. It also smells a little earthy, but I like that.

I started making this when I was pregnant and became very wary of putting chemicals on my skin. I had always had problem skin, but it became much worse during pregnancy. I started washing my face with raw honey and moisturizing with this, and I'm so happy with my skin now. It's not perfect, and I do get the occasional blemish, but they are the exception now, not the rule. I realized that my skin had completely changed when a friend was lamenting her problem skin and horrible breakouts, and I was like, "Yeah, I know what you mean, my skin really sucks too." And she looked at me like I had two heads.

I know I'm getting OT, but something weird happens when you go from always having breakouts to rarely having them. When they are always there, you obsess about them, and try to hide them. There's a real shame about it (at least for me.) Now that I only occasionally have a blemish, I don't really care and don't bother with makeup. It's a nice feeling.

HTH.

[Hopefulmama]

Wow! Thank you! I realize it's hard to have time to do anything, let along type out directions to a stranger! I appreciate it. I am going to do this. Where do you get the jojoba oil? I would love not bothering with makeup. I rarely have time for it anyway, but it would be nice to have better looking skin to go with the "bare" look.

[russsk]

You can find jojoba oil at the HFS. If you order from Frontier, they have it as well. It's pretty easy to find. You could really use any oil you like, though. Avocado would be nice.

[William's Mom]

I second the jojoba oil! It has done amazing things for my skin. Sometimes I use a tiny bit alone, or mix with shea, coconut oil, or aloe.

[messy mama]

I just use jojoba oil. It is amazing. It feels strange, at first, putting something so oily on your face. But it soaks in so nicely. I get Desert Essence at Trader Joes. If they didn't have it, I would probably order from iherb.com

[sprouthead]

I use plain coconut oil.. It's fantastic!

[Bell]

good suggestions! I've never thought of making my own.. I think I will.

[KeepingItSimple]

60% organic unrefined sesame seed oil - NOT TOASTED (Whole Foods Market)
40% organic unrefined rosehip seed oil (Mountain Rose Herbs)
up to 1-1/2% organic unrefined pomegranate seed oil (Mountain Rose Herbs)

Apply to damp skin. 2 drops to moisturize face or hands. May be used as all-over body oil.

I make 10 oz. batches and pour into 1 oz. bottles. One goes into the bathroom with a treatment pump, the others are kept tightly sealed and refrigerated until needed. This is a balanced formula, closely matching the skin's natural oleic oil content, so it never feels greasy. Absorbs quickly, leaving skin feeling silky. One ounce will last a week or more if used all over the body, much longer if only used for face and hands.