Wax and Bubbles

Sure, why not? Oranges are a great way to get plenty of vitamin C, and they contain citric acid, so why not use them for skin care as well. Here are some ways to incorporate oranges into your daily skin care routine.

1. Orange Tonic:

Blanch and grind a couple of almonds to a paste and mix in two tablespoons of milk and one tablespoon each of carrot and orange juice. Apply thickly on face and neck and leave on for half an hour. Removes scars and blemishes from the face and makes it soft and smooth.

2. Orange Sun block:

Oranges, Limes, and Lemons: These contain limonene, a major oil component derived from citrus rinds. A study from the University of Arizona shows that the presence of limonene in the body can reduce the risk for skin cancer by as much as 34%. So squeeze a few drops of orange juice straight from the orange itself into your favorite sun block lotion.

3. Vitamin C Mask:

Puree fruit or mix vitamin C powder with water into a smooth paste and apply like a mask. Leave it on for up to 30 minutes. Then remove with a washcloth and rinse. You can also put powders and juices in your bath water. Don’t forget to eat lots of foods with vitamin C to help your skin get healthy from the inside out.

4. Orange oil Soap:

1 oz. castor oil
1 oz. shea butter
2 oz. ground oatmeal
1 tsp. beeswax
7-10 drops of either sweet orange oil

Melt the castor oil, shea butter and beeswax in a double-boiler on the stove, or place in a microwaveable safe bowl. Heat until the beeswax and shea butter are completely melted. Add the oil and stir to incorporate. Add the oatmeal if you want a more solid soap and leave out if you want a more smooth, almost clear soap. Stir and pour into the soap mold or ice cube tray for smaller sizes. Allow to cool completely and use.

5. Orange Hand Cream:

Beeswax
Sweet almond oil
Double boiler
Small saucepan
Blender
Vitamin E capsules
Orange blossom essential oil
Small jars or tubes with tight fitting lids

Measure 2 oz. of beeswax and 1 cup extra virgin or cold pressed sweet almond oil in the top of a double boiler. Heat the mixture slowly until the wax melts, but don’t overheat the oil; excess temperatures destroy the healing elements. The mixture should never get too hot to touch. Warm 1 cup of water in a separate saucepan. Pour the water into a blender and cover with the lid. Remove the small circular cap in the lid and turn the blender on to it’s lowest setting.

Squeeze the oil from four 400 IU vitamin E capsules into the churning blender. Vitamin E is a natural moisturizer, an antioxidant that will nourish and protect your skin and a natural preservative for your hand cream. Pour the warm wax and oil mixture into the blender slowly as it mixes. Add 6 drops of orange blossom and 4 drops of vanilla essential oil. Orange blossom and vanilla make a soft citrus mix that enlightens the senses and soothes the skin.

Keep the blender churning until your citrus hand cream cools and thickens. Turn off the blender and carefully spoon your cream into small glass jars with tight fitting lids. Make sure that the hand cream has cooled completely before you seal the jars.