Natural Moisturizing Spray

FromNatureWithLove.com has got to be the coolest 'natural' ingredient shop around for whipping up awesome skincare goodies! This is where I started purchasing my own supplies, in fact. For a business, when it comes to their butters they're pretty pricey- but if you're looking to purchase in small personal sized quantity then they are superb. Great service and fabulous quality.

I mention this particular shop to give you an example of where to purchase an ingredient which is the Mother of all moisturizers. Vegetable glycerin.

Here is FNWL.com's listing for it. A thicker consistency clear liquid, vegetable glycerin is the byproduct of making natural soap. The most obvious question then becomes, "how/where do you get this glycerin?" The answer is probably going to make you develop an eye twitch in consternation but.... it's the truth.

Commercial soap makers chemically EXTRACT this natural glycerin and then sell it. The soap you buy in big stores does not contain vegetable glycerin. What you are purchasing then is essentially detergent. Because the glycerin is left out of the final product you bring home, you end up with skin that is more susceptible to drying and cracking. (Can you say Winter Skin ten times fast? )

I've discovered a natural way to replace this humectant (definition: substance which draws moisture into the skin from the outside air) in a very economical way. You can personalize it, too!!! This is the recipe I use every day to keep my skin in great condition.

You will need:
4oz spray bottle (pump works best)
Fill bottle nearly full with water.
1 full tablespoon of vegetable glycerin

Once the water and glycerin are in the bottle, put the lid on and shake. Spray lightly on skin and wipe over it with your hand. It will feel like water. Don't let that deceive you! It's technically 'glycerin water.' If, after ten minutes, it feels a bit tacky to the touch then only use a single teaspoon in the mixture instead of a full tablespoon. This means that your skin doesn't necessarily need that much glycerin. One tablespoon for every 4 oz is the MAX you should use. If you use any more than that you're going to have a sticky mess on your hands. Glycerin is very concentrated.

You can add a few drops of your favorite essential oils if you like. Your favorite perfume. You name it. Add whatever you like.

I do not recommend making more than a single 4oz bottle at a time. You'll need to add a preservative if you do.

At $12 for a hefty 16oz bottle of glycerin, you're looking at way over a year's worth of moisturizer. Not a bad deal when you think of how much moisture your skin is missing.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, everyone!

Nourishing Handmade Soap

I told myself I was only going to do this ‘Feature an Etsier’ thing once a week. My problem is that I find too many nifty treasures when I browse. So I’ll fess up now. I am a weak willed shopper. But I also know what I like. I have very strict rules about what kind of skin care products I’ll buy from anyone.

This particular Etsier I’d like to introduce to you made me fall in love with true handmade soaps. Having a propensity to develop dry patches and eczema in cold dry weather, I’ve always chased after products which claim to make my skin feel more hydrated and supple. And yeah, I even went the route of the dermatologist. (*sadly shakes head in memory of the resulting empty wallet*) My own Boo-Boo Cream works wonderfully on an emergency flair up- but what about simple maintenance so you don’t get quite so many flair ups? That’s the kind of thing that I’m sure a lot of people who suffer from dry skin would love to know about.

LilyBaySoap says about her products: “Real handcrafted soap is very nourishing to the skin. I use plenty of shea butter to ensure extra moisture. If you've used handcrafted soap before you know what I'm talking about, and if you haven't - you MUST try it! Handcrafted soaps retain their natural glycerin, which is something that manufacturers remove and sell. Store brand soaps are drying because they are made to be that. With the glycerin removed and chemicals added, its no wonder we're so dry and itchy after a shower. Try handcrafted, we think you'll notice the difference!”

I have to agree with her. Handcrafted is the best.

And here they are! Going down from top to bottom you can see my personal faves: Cedar/Sandalwood, Plain Castile with a bit of coconut for a harder bar, and Elements of Bamboo.