One of the best moisturizers is topically-applied vitamin E. Prick a capsule of 100 IU of this vitamin and apply it on your face often. Since it is rather thick, try to mix it with a little liquefied anhydrous (free from water) lotion. Glycerine is a moisturizer which will extract water from lower tissues of the skin and from the air. One suggestion is to mix glycerine with rose water.

Honey and peach juice are also used as moisturizers. Use them with such penetrating oils as avocado, wheat germ or almond. Or use safflower, olive or corn oil with your facials.

Moisturizing masks for you to make

To make a mask, add any or all of the following ingredients: egg white or egg yolk, milk products, such as sour cream, yogurt, buttermilk, milk, sweet cream, and/or clay products.

Moisturizing Lotion Mask

This combination of oils and vitamins will be absorbed by your skin and leave it feeling refreshed, soft and moist. It will feed the skin and, by helping to keep it elastic, prevent the onset of wrinkles. You can occasionally leave the mask on overnight, but not often, since your facial pores should breathe freely while you sleep. The mask relies on several healing oils and two skin-nourishing vitamins -- A and E.

Since these are all stable oils, you can double or triple the recipe.

Use a dark bottle and be sure to label the contents. 1 Tbsp wheat germ oil (keep refrigerated to avoid rancidity) 2 Tbsp avocado oil 1 Tbsp almond oil 2 Tbsp sesame oil (for this application don't buy the dark Japanese sesame oil as it smells too strong). 2 capsules vitamin A (50,000 IU) 2 capsules vitamin E (400 IU)

Mix oils together in a light-resistant bottle. Prick open capsules and add to oils; shake vigorously. Label jar. To make a harder mask, add clay, honey, egg or milk product.

Creams and lotions contain two basic ingredients: oil and water. Many creams use an emulsifier (a waxlike substance) to keep the oil and water from separating. Formulas without an emulsifier are just as effective; however, they have to be stirred or shaken before each use.

The melting point of the oils you use in your homemade creams will affect how greasy they feel on your skin. Oils with low melting points will not feel greasy and will vanish into the skin.

Natural homemade moisturizers

Simple creams can sometimes be the best. Following are two recipes for natural moisturizers.

These mixtures will last up to eight months. However, the recipes that contain real food ingredients will not last as long as those that are all oils. As an example, a product made with eggs usually lasts only a few weeks.

Cold cream is the model for all creams and lotions; it's one of the oldest and best known of all beauty products. It is a mixture of oil, wax and water and a mild alkali.

The combination of oil and wax provide a cleansing action when it comes in contact with your skin; dirt and oil on the skin's surface fire loosened and can be gently wiped off with a clean, soft tissue or cloth. Left on, it can act as an emollient to soften and smooth the skin and relieve dryness.

Cold Cream

1/8 tsp borax powder 1/4 cup distilled water 1/2 cup olive oil 2 Tbsp grated beeswax

Dissolve the borax in the water in a glass measuring cup and set aside. Mix together the oil and beeswax in another glass measuring cup. Place the glass cup in a pan of water (about 1 to 2 inches of water), making a water bath. Heat the oil-beeswax mixture in the water bath over medium heat until the beeswax is melted (8 to 10 minutes), stirring occasionally. When the wax is melted, bring the borax-water mixture almost to boiling by heating on a stove top in a water bath. Remove the oil-beeswax mixture from the water bath. Slowly add the borax-water mixture to it, stirring briskly. Pour the cream into a clean container with a lid.

This mixture will last virtually forever. To use, massage a small amount onto your skin and tissue off with warm water.

 

Body Butter

 

This rich, "buttery" cream is a great all-over body cream. It contains four well-known skin conditioning products: cocoa butter, coconut oil, sesame oil and avocado oil. It is especially nice after a day in the sun or a warm shower to lock in moisture.

Since this is a heavy cream, it shouldn't be used on the face: 1/4 cup grated cocoa butter 1 Tbsp coconut oil 2 Tbsp sesame oil 1 Tbsp avocado oil 1 Tbsp grated beeswax

Combine all the ingredients in an oven-proof glass container. Place the container with the mixture in a pan with a 1- to 2-inch water bath. Melt the oils and wax gently. Pour the melted mixture into a clean jar and allow to cool. Stir the cooled mixture. Spread the butter on your body and massage into the skin.

You can also benefit by visiting your health food store and learning about their line of cruelty-free and environmentally -friendly moisturizers.