Summer isn't summer without a few calluses and dirt under your fingernails! I love the summertime, but it definitely takes its toll on my skin. Sun exposure and digging around in garden dirt and sandy beaches have left my hands and feet so dry. But in my book, these are signs of a really great summer!
My very favorite product is Burt's Bees Almond Milk Hand Creme, and one tiny jar, though expensive, lasts me months at a time. All it takes is a tiny amount to fully nourish and moisturize my hands after doing the dishes or working in the yard. So I used up the last of my jar today, and after looking at what it's made of, I realized I could make it myself! Using almost all the same ingredients (those I could pronounce anyway,) I whipped up a jar of essentially the same wonderful cream for a fraction of the cost. Love it when that happens!
This recipe made about 6 ounces of cream, so I filled a quarter pint mason jar for home as well as a 2 ounce baby food jar to keep in my purse! It should last me a while. Once I prepared my ingredients, it was a breeze to whip together. I decided to use Peace & Calming instead of grapefruit because it is my favorite! It's a blend of orange, tangerine, patchouli, ylang ylang, and blue tansy and it is so great for, well, peace and calming. I use it on my kids at nap time and bedtime and they love the scent, so I thought using it on my own hands would be a nice way to nurture my skin AND those babes any time of day.
You'll need:
1/2 C raw shea butter
1/4 C sweet almond oil
2 Tb beeswax, chopped
1 Ml vitamin e oil
1 Tsp aloe vera (I just trimmed a little off a few aloe leaves on my plant, sliced them and scraped the pure oil out! Store-bought aloe is easier, but this is just what I had on hand. Love my little aloe plant!)
20 drops essential oil (I used Peace & Calming)
Directions:
In a double boiler, add shea butter, almond oil, beeswax, vitamin e and aloe vera together and stir until all ingredients are completely melted (about 5-10 minutes simmering.) Remove from heat and let cool for another 5-10 minutes, then add essential oils and stir.
Pour into desired containers (glass is best when using therapeutic grade oils) and let sit for a few hours, until it has completely settled and hardened. Use a minimal amount and massage deeply into skin. Peace & Calming is great to apply on your feet before bed to release tension and promote deep sleep. Even better when it's added to this awesome moisturizer!
