Let’s follow that “mix ’em up” theme again today, shall we?
Every once in a while–usually springtime–my face gets “grumpy”. High-end and drugstore makeups make my face itch. Some eye shadows and mascaras can make my eyes burn and water. Some moisturizers and serums make my face irritated. But what’s worse? The face and eye creams that are supposed to keep me looking young actually causing meto break out, get puffy and make me look old. Sometimes it can get so bad that it can even require me to take an anti-inflammatory medicine to calm it down. Sad to say?…I’m used to it. It goes with my auto-immune diseases. The products that can help a “normal” person the most can cause flares with me the worst. Most of the time, simple irritations can be triggered by simple seasonal allergies–new grass, budding trees, wild flowers growing. Sometimes but rarely it can be a food. Too often, however, it’s because I’ve taken a chance on a new product only to find out I can’t use it for whatever ingredient or additive it contains. At that point, it’s hard to fight the test of time while I watch my skin loose its youthful luster. Like Grumpy Cat?… I say phooey.
So what do I do when my skin gets “irritable”? Well, I go back to the basics. Way back when I could barely use anything commercial, I made my own cleansers and creams with 100% natural ingredients to help wash, moisturize and fight aging without additives, perfumes, dyes, harmful chemicals, or worse–the “what the hell is that?” ingredients. And I got good at it! I did a lot of research and trial batches to find what would work the best. Eventually, my skin would calm down and natural-type skin care products from a store were okay to use again. But even now, when I hit a skin ‘flare’ for whatever reason, daily necessities like washes, masks and moisturizers can be put together with ease from simple home ingredients I always keep handy to get me through this irritating phase.
When it came to long-term anti-aging products however, it was the one thing I never really thought too much about. I figured a good moisturizer would be enough, but now I’m seeing I need just a bit more to fight the signs time. So after A LOT of research and a little bit of tweaking, I have managed to create a great night cream recipe that is easy to prepare and can sit next to my bedside or bathroom counter for a long time. Nothing in it can “spoil”. And seeing how little I use? I’m sure my 10 gram jar will last a long, long time. I will give you my recipe and why each ingredient is important and you can fight the test of time naturally too. If you are someone who is a little (or a lot) questionable about the chemicals and additives in your anti-aging creams, this is the thing for you. Let nature keep you young! Here’s what I’ve created:
SASSY AUBURN’S AGE-FIGHTING NIGHT CREAM
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tsp organic virgin coconut oil
1 tsp beeswax
1 drop peppermint oil
1 drop grapefruit oil
1 medium sized drop of raw honey
1/3 tsp Bentonite Clay
2 capsules Vitamin E
Purposes:
Extra Virgin Oil contains anti-oxidants which protects the skin from premature aging. People have been using for centuries. It also restores the skin’s smooth surface and prevents free-radical damage to the skin. Oh, and it’s easy to find anywhere!!
Organic Virgin Coconut Oil keeps the natural moisture in the skin with its fatty acids. It also contains Capricorn/Caprylic/Lauric acids. These three fatty acids have strong disinfectant and antimicrobial properties to keep the skin fresh and healthy, fighting off ‘nasties’ in the air.
Beeswax…oh those glorious bees! Because of those hard workers, beeswax helps our skin because it’s moisturizing, softening, and contains Vitamin A which is necessary to lock in your skin’s natural moisture. Beeswax is also one of the oldest healers known to man, and the wax can help repair small cuts and tears in the surface of the skin where fine lines can begin.
Peppermint oil is a natural skin soother and calmer. Grapefruit oil contains Vitamin C which helps brighten & nourish the skin. Plus they both smell naturally great together.
Raw honey has been known for over hundreds of years to heal the nastiest of cuts and wounds. Too much is a sticky mess, but just a good sized drop in the mixture helps to target little surface tears on the skin that can lead to deeper, darker wrinkles and blemishes.
Bentonite Clay has been known in history as the “healing clay.” The clay that actually comes from volcanic ash, actually expels toxins we take into our body or, in this case, pick up on our face. These can be residues of cleaning solutions, paint, unpurified water, etc. A mixture containing Bentonite Clay powder can rid these impurities from the skin’s surface–especially the face–where age can show the fastest. In addition to taking out the bad, it can also put in Bentonite’s good minerals. This include potassium, protein, calcium and so many others! It’s not easy to find, but many private herbalists can get it for you (it is on EBay too).
Vitamin E is kind of self explanatory. Vitamin E, a substance found naturally in many foods, carries tremendous benefits for skin cells. Through its antioxidant properties, topical vitamin E creams help decrease the roughness of skin, the depth of wrinkles, and the length of facial lines. Although many more studies must be done, some recent research shows that vitamin E may reduce the risk of UV-induced skin cancer as well.
Okay, so now you’ve got the ingredients, the reasons you need them, and the knowledge that this is a healthy, natural nigh cream using basic things that have been used for ages to keep skin looking great. Ready to make a batch that will last you a LONG time without costing an arm & a leg? Let’s do this:
1) Shave approximately 1 tsp of beeswax off a cosmetic bar (available on a Ebay for cheap) into a small glass microwaveable bowl. (If you can, try to find honey in a comb-a local farm stand may have some-and chew up a large scoop. Don’t eat the wax–just chew it like gum. Ingesting natural raw honey in this form will help YOU fight against diseases and boost your immune system. You can then add the remaining wax pieces equal to 1 tsp to the mixture, just break them up into small pieces!)
2) Add the wax along with the olive oil, coconut oil, peppermint oil & grapefruit oil in the microwave on high for 30 seconds. Take out (Careful–HOT!!), stir. If wax isn’t melted, go another 30 seconds.
3) Next add the Bentonite Clay. If it turns into solid droplets in the mixture and won’t blend, put it back in the microwave and cook on high another 30 seconds. Carefully remove again (VERY HOT WAX!!) and blend the clay with a fork till its dissolved. Your cream will be a slightly cloudy yellowish white.
4) Add the Vitamin E capsules by puncturing them and squeezing them into the mixture before it begins to settle & thicken. Mix with the fork again. Throw out the empty Vitamin E “shells”.
5) Pour complete mixture into a 10 gram cosmetic jar or even a 4 oz. empty canning jelly jar. An empty, clean glass baby food jar works great too. I find glass is best to keep it fresh.
6) Put in fridge till it solidifies.
Afterwards, you can put the mixture in the bathroom or next to your bed for your nighttime skin routine. Nothing in it can spoil. It will last about a year.
That’s it. It might get hard with the wax (less creamy), but it will dissolve to the temperature of your hand. It’s easy to make with simple ingredients for pennies with the same results you might get from an $85 tiny jar of cream and unknown chemicals at the local department store. If it’s heathy enough to eat, I’m guessing it’s healthy enough to put on your face. Stay young and healthy without chemical irritants with an easy to make cream that keeps you looking & feeling like a million but only cost you less than a bottled water. And you don’t have to worry about funky ingredients you can’t pronounce. It’s au naturale. Perfectly pure!
Any questions or feedback?…. I want to hear from you!!
This non-irritating, natural, anti-oxidant skin care will make and keep you’re skin looking young and healthy, better than high-end, high cost retail jars. So, let’s go all Walter White in our private domicile, don’t be harassed, and cook up some fab anti-aging night cream! Good luck & have fun!
Sassy Auburn's Diary Of A Glamour Junkie... 