Wax and Bubbles

Even though Wax and Bubbles is mainly about candles and soap products, every so often I like to talk about other products as well. Such as lotions, creams and even body butters. There are some posts I do that even show you how to make your own products as well. This post I would like to talk about a problem that many of us suffer from during the winter season, dry skin.

Body dry skin is one thing, but facial dry skin is a completely different issue. Your face is the first thing people see about you and when there is dry skin all over your face, that seems to be the only thing you and other people tend to see. Cure that dry skin with some simple products and let your best face show forward. Here is a list of five products that are tops to Wax and Bubbles.

• Be Fine’s Neck Cream ($20): This product contains mushrooms and sugar cane extracts. They tend to help tighten skin and help to increase the cell turnover within the face and neck area.

• Dr. Hauschka’s Quince Day Cream ($30): This product contains aromatic fruit seeds extracts that help soothe and also have anti-inflammatory properties.

• Derma E’s Avocado and E Crème ($11): This product contains vitamin E and avocado oil that help soften the driest of skin.

• Burt’s Bees Beeswax Moisturizing Day Crème ($12): This product contains beeswax, which is a natural emulsifier and it also contains vitamins and botanical oils to help soften dry skin.

• MyChelle Dermaceuticals Apple Brightening Serum ($44): This product uses alpha hydroxy acid from apples to help refine, refresh and rejuvenate the skin.

As known as, Chondrus crispus and carrageen moss, Irish moss is more than just a normal moss or even a moss at all. It is actually a red algae, a form of seaweed containing polysaccharides, vitamins, minerals, and iodine that grows along the Atlantic coast line in North America and can also be found in selected areas in Europe along the same coastal line.

The plant is soft and cartilaginous, varying in color from a greenish-yellow. Sometimes red to a deep purple color as well. Irish Moss contains anywhere from 20 to 100 times its weight of water. And is usually used in eatable products such as, ice cream, milk products and some processed meat, such as lunch meats. But, a significant asset to using this product is used for body care.

Irish moss has anti-inflammatory, as well as, a skin softener.

Try this Irish Moss Lotion:

1 tablespoon powdered Irish Moss
1 cup water (distilled)
1/4 cup aloe vera gel (100% natural)
2 tablespoon almond essential oil

Soak the Irish moss in the distilled water for about 20 minutes to soften it. Pour this mixture into a small saucepan and boil for another 20 additional minutes. Strain off solids and what is left is a clear jelly. This is called seaweed jelly. Measure 1/4 cup of the seaweed jelly, then mix it with the aloe vera gel. Let the mixture cool to room temperature completely before continuing.

Pour the seaweed mixture into a blender or food processor and blend on low speed; slowly add the almond essential oil into a very thin stream until it is well blended with the aloe vera gel mixture. The product should turn white while this process is continued. Store your finished product in a clean container with a tight fitting lid. Use it the same as you would any other lotion. Only this product has added benefits and will soften your skin better than any over-the-counter lotion.

During the winter and even in the summer the skin begs for moisture. Not only on your face and legs but all over the body. The hands are one of the worst places to feel the dryness of the winter months. If you constantly are washing your hands, you skin will start to dry out if a lotion or cream is not applied after the washing or even after 3-5 washings. Here’s a great way to moisturize the skin, especially the hands and still stay within the natural, homemade spectrum of things.

Making a simple hand cream:

Aromatherapy hand creams moisturize dry skin and help to heal any minor abrasions. This recipe is simple to make because there is no flower water to incorporate like in some of the previously posted recipes. Lemon oil helps to fad and discolored skin and the benzoin helps to heal all those paper cuts that seem to happen when you least expect them.

What you’ll need:

3 oz. (75 g.) of unfactionated coconut oil
A heat-resistant glass bowl
A pan of hot water
1 fl. oz. (25 ml) of sweet almond oil
8 drops each of lavender and lemon essential oil
4 drops of benzoin
A large glass jar

1. Put the coconut oil in the glass bowl, placed inside a pan of hot water of a gentle heat. Once the coconut oil has melted, ass the sweet almond oil and stir until the mixture is thoroughly blended.

2. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the lavender and lemon, and the benzoin after the other oils have been incorporated. Mix them in thoroughly, then pour into the glass jar while still warm and liquid. Be sure and let cool completely before applying to the skin.

This lotion can be used at any time during the year. It is great for babies because it contains no artificial ingredients and won’t cause side effects on children like most over-the-counter lotions.