Rose Moisturizer

This is a light and smooth face moisturizer. It wears well under makeup and won't make your face feel greasy. I use this every morning after I wash my face. I find that it tightens and smooths my skin. This recipe is for a 1 ounce jar:

• Jojoba oil. 1/2 teaspoon. Desert Essence Jojoba Oil for Hair, Skin & Scalp 4 fl oz (120 ml).
• Aloe. 4 1/2 teaspoons. Make sure you purchase the purest aloe possible. I order mine from Mountain Rose Herbs. The Aubrey Organics brand aloe is good as well, and you can purchase it at most local health food stores ( Aubrey Organics - 100% Pure Aloe Vera Gel, 4 fl oz gel ).
• Vitamin E oil. 1/8 teaspoon. 
• Vegetable glycerin. 1/4 teaspoon. I use this one: Vegetable Glycerin 4 Ounces.
• Rose essential oil. 5 drops. I use Rose Absolute essential oil, but there are other rose oils that will work just as well.
• Rosemary Antioxidant. 2 drops. This is a natural preservative that will extend the shelf life of your moisturizer. It can also be used as a preservative for food products. I got mine from Mountain Rose Herbs. A small bottle of this stuff will last you for years.

Combine the jojoba oil and aloe in a 1 ounce jar. Stir very well, until the mixture reaches a smooth, creamy consistency. Add the remaining ingredients and stir. Note that the consistency of your moisturizer will vary, depending on the type of aloe you have. A more gel like aloe will produce a thicker, creamier mixture. Watery aloe will produce a more watery mixture that is likely to separate. This is okay, it just means that you should shake the jar before each use. 

Note: Aloe is water based, so it does not always mix with oil  easily. In commercial products, there are chemicals used which suspend the oil particles, making them easy to mix with water-based ingredients. I choose to skip these chemicals and go the small extra step of just shaking my homemade products before each use.

Lavender Tea Tree Foot Balm

This foot balm is rich, nourishing, moisturizing, and anti-fungal. For an extra overnight moisturizing treatment, rub feet with this balm and cover with cotton socks before going to bed. This recipe is for a 2 ounce jar.

• Beeswax. 1 teaspoon. If you get beeswax in pellet form, it will be easier to measure and melt.
• Emulsifying wax. 1/2 teaspoon.
• Mango butter. 2 tablespoons. I get my mango butter from www.mehandi.com, but it can be found in most local health food stores, along with these other ingredients.
• Shea butter. 1 tablespoon. I get mine from www.mountainroseherbs.com.
• Jojoba oil. 2 teaspoons. I use the NOW foods brand or this one: Desert Essence 100% Pure Jojoba Oil, 4-Ounce, Bottle.
• Vitamin E oil. 1/2 teaspoon. Check the label and make sure you are not buying one with lots of additives. I like the one from Trader Joe's.
• Aloe. 1 teaspoon.
• Tea Tree Essential Oil. 1/4 teaspoon. You can find this at your local health food store. I use this one: Desert Essence - 100% Pure Austrailian Tea Tree Oil, 2 fl oz liquid.
• Lavender Essential Oil. 6 drops. Available at local health food stores. I use the Aura Cacia brand.

• Optional: Cedarwood Essential oil and Rosemary Antioxidant. These are two ingredients that I like to add, but they are not absolutely necessary. I like the smell of cedarwood in combination with lavender and tea tree, so I added 3 drops of this at the same time as I added the other oils. The Rosemary Antioxidant is a natural preservative that slows down oxidization. This recipe can do without it because it is for a small volume and does not have perishable ingredients, but I added 4 drops anyway, to extend its shelf life (I add 2 drops of rosemary antioxidant per ounce). This ingredient is very useful for preserving face and body creams in a natural way.

Melt the beeswax, mango butter, and shea butter in a double boiler until they liquify. Take these off of the heat, and mix in the remaining ingredients. Stir thoroughly. Pour the mixture into a jar and let it sit for a few hours (I find that it takes up to 12 hours for the mixture to harden to its final consistancy). If you are not happy with the consistency, you can add more beeswax to make the balm harder, or more jojoba oil to make it softer. Enjoy!