Moisturizer

[Star]

I want to start moisturizing my face at night, but I have no clue which moisturizer to buy! I don't trust the sales people at the store for honest advice either, since they always try to push the most expensive one on me. :LOL I'm looking for something that doesn't make me feel TOO greasy.

So, let me know which moisturizer is the best out there - or rather, which is your favourite.

[Nickarolaberry]

I was *JUST* going to post this very question. I need really a whole line of cosmetics overhaul - night cream, day moisturizer, face cleanser, shampoo, conditioner, some kind of gel or something because otherwise my hair is a cotton ball, etc.

Ack, didn't mean to hijack your thread! Moisturizer suggestions please!

[LaffNowCryLater]

Right now I am using Burt's Bees Night Cream.

[velcromom]

There are a lot of soapmakers who also do lotions and other body care products, if you do a search for handmade soap you are sure to come up with some interesting sites and lots of choices. I recently got some from a soapmaker who does goatmilk soaps, she makes a really nice lotion with goatmilk and green tea. Just an example of the kind of thing you can find.

[sparkeze]

My faves:

Anytime use: Aubrey Organics Sensitive Skin face lotion
Going out of the house: Avalon face lotion w/spf 15 (comes in a green tube)

If you're looking for light, non greasy I would really recommend the Aubrey one. I have yet to find an SPF face lotion that doesn't feel a bit greasy though.

And as far as a whole face routine I use the same line of Aubrey cleanser, toner, lotion and use Aveda for hair, Be Curly.

[crissei]

Im not sure if you want natural or not but I like to make my own moisturizer.
It is
1 cup Apricot Kernel oil
1/8 cup melted beeswax
(these can be purchased at mountainroseherbs.com)
Blend together, and ad a couple drops of essential oil if you desire
Lavender is my favorite, it helps me sleep!

[mommabear]

crissei -- great tip! I have been using straight apricot kernel oil around my eyes and was wondering if I could do something for my whole face. I am totally going to try your recipe! How do you store it and how long does it last?

[Nickarolaberry]

Wow, that's a great idea. I"m going to try that too. I also need to know though, how it should be stored, how long it lasts, etc. Thanks!

I really love this board. It's such a breath of fresh air from all the crass commericalism I feel like I've been bombarded with lately.

[shannon0218]

It's gonna sound funny, but I use olive oil. It absorbs almost instantly and just leaves my face and skin feeling soft not greasy (unless you use too much) I have horribly sensitive skin and have to be really carefull. The only other thing I can use is Lubriderm Seriously Sensitive. However, since I got the olive oil tip (from these boards) I've just used it.
I buy light olive oil and some lavender essential oil and I love it--use it on my belly for stretch marks too!

[crissei]

"How do you store it and how long does it last?"

:LOL Well its not the fanciest container but I keep it in a canning jar (jelly size) on my nightstand. Any glass jar would do though as long as it can take a little heat.
mountainroseherbs.com has a 9oz that would prob. work.

About how long it lasts, Im not sure if you mean how long before it runs out or how long before it spoils.

For the first: I would think the amount in the above recipe would last a couple of months if just used on your face (I also use it on elbows and knees)

For the second: A batch of mine is always used up before it would ever become rancid. You could add a natural preservative such as Vitamin E oil to extend the shelf life.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask ?s

[irinam]

I was just out shopping at Trader Joes and to my surprise found out that they sell creams and such too (they might have been doing it for ages, though )

So I got myself their moisturiser (well, AND the toner and a few other things ) - and I like it! And it's not badly priced either - like $3.99 or so for the moisturiser

[mommabear]

Thanks Crissei

[Electra375]

i use BurtsBees Carrot day cream for day and night. It is lighter weight, and I was told it wouldn't be as heavy on my acne prone skin. It really helps heal my skin.

Also, I have been looking into making some of my own and I have decide to reuse some of the baby food jars I have. i'm kicking myself for throwing out about a dozen already of the smallest sz which I won't be buying again (unless I get another gaggy baby who isn't into my cooking mashed up). :LOL

[MoonStarFalling]

I use pure organic coconut oil for all over skin plus I use it as hair conditiner. I tend to be kind of dry. The trick is to use just a tiny bit so you don't get too greasy. It does absorb within a few minutes. I also use pure shea nut butter randomly. I tried olive oil last year, but it broke my face out. I tried garlic and olive oil to clear up the break out but it didn't work for me, and dh complained about the smell :LOL Some others I'd like to try but haven't yet are avacado oil or hemp oil.

[judybean]

I have been using Baby Skin from naturalsimplicity.net (though of course it's not on the site! ack!)... it's my favorite! Yes, it's designed for baby's skin (and I love using it on Katherine!), but I thought I might as well try it on my face since it's billed as non-comodogenic (or whatever the word is to not clog pores ). It has worked wonders. No break-outs. Smooth, quenched skin... and it gets DRY in the winter here.... I it.

[JessicaS]

I use whipped shea butter.

Grapeseed oil and Safflower oil are supposed to soak into your skin faster and are used for very light lotins..you mght try those.

Get shea from www.brambleberry.com

I make my own soaps and lotion and just use whatever I have lying around. Same for the bath.."my skin feels dry wah!!! I will just drop some cocoa butter into my bath.." I get lazy and don't even bother making the lotion, just end up using the ingrediants. :LOL

Hemp oil is reputed to be good for psorisis.

[texas_matka]

I bought some by Zia when my store had it half off. It works great. I am not sure if it has any of the no no natural products. It is carried at Natural food Stores but who knows nowadays. I may try making some. I never thought about it until reading this thread.

[boston]

Dear Star,
What kind of skin do you have? Do you break out easily? Are you allergic to anything? Mine is sensitive and is dry/combination. I need a light moisturizer that has no oil in it. This has led me on a really crazy moisturizer adventure which I'll share with you in case it helps.

Things that I know wont make me break out that I know other people with sensitive skin also rely on:

-Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturizer with SPF 15 (says it's tinted but not noticeably) (found everywhere, it's my old standby)

-Clinique Moisture On Call (30$ and even nicer than neutrogena, though not by much in my opinion)

Unfortunately Neutrogena and Clinique both test on animals. Which led me on a crazy adventure to find stuff that works on my skin, without hurting animals.

-My Chelle's Fruit Enzyme line works well. I love their skin refiner, too. Good for all skin types. (but if you have oily skin you might want to stay away from their "cucumber facial wash." bleh)

-Vitamin C by Avalon Organics: A light "facial vitality serum" moisturizer/toner thing. Right now I use it in the morning under neutrogena & then at night by itself. It makes my skin look awesome. It tingles a bit.

A lot of people love Shea Butter but if that stuff comes anywhere near my face I will turn into one giagantic pimple. I loved it in a burts bees hand creme, but then I'd touch my face and POW.

During my adventure, I discovered that there is nary a one Kiss My Face product that doesn't absolutely suck (for me.) I know 3 other women who agree. Hardly a good enough sample to conclude that Kiss My Face is yucky. But BEWARE.

I also sometimes use burts bees royal jelly, though only on my eyes. And then I sleep w/a mask so it doesn't get on my pillow, and then on my face. To be honest, I don't see any difference at all. Maybe it's because I'm 27 and don't really have wrinkles yet. But I still use it whenever I feel like my eyes look weary.

[oneotamama]

i use the burt's bees carrot creme. on their website you can do a test thing to find out which of their products will work for your skin type.

that's interesting about the olive oil. sounds very simple too