How to Make Your Own Skin Care Products

There's no need to spend lots of money on manufactured skin care products. Check out these easy and gentle recipes for facial hair bleach, a skin food cream, and a tissue-toning cream.

Facial Hair Bleach

This effective cream hair bleach is both inexpensive and easy to prepare.

Equipment:

• Measuring spoons
• Mixing bowl
• Mixing spoon

Ingredients:

• Hydrogen peroxide (3 percent solution)
• Ammonia
• White henna

Yield: Enough for one application

Measure 2 tablespoons of 3 percent solution hydrogen peroxide into a mixing bowl; make sure the peroxide is fresh and at full strength. Add 10 drops of ammonia and stir in enough white henna to produce a smooth paste, not too thick or too runny.

Apply the bleach to the hair and leave it on for about 15 minutes, or until the desired shade is achieved. Rinse off the bleach thoroughly. Complete the treatment by washing thoroughly.

Skin Food Cream

If you want to replenish your skin's beneficial oils and supply it with nutrients, there's no need to buy expensive cosmetics. This gentle cream is as rich as they come.

Equipment:

• Measuring spoons
• Double boiler
• Mixing spoon
• Measuring cup
• Mixing bowl
• Wire whisk or egg beater
• Small jar with cover

Ingredients:

• Beeswax
• Coconut oil
• Anhydrous lanolin
• Almond oil or heavy mineral oil
• Tincture of benzoin
• Orange flower water

Note: Buy the ingredients at a pharmacy.

Yield: About 51/2 ounces

Melt 1/2 ounce -- about 1 tablespoon -- of beeswax in a double boiler; add 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of anhydrous lanolin, and stir to blend thoroughly. Stir in 2 ounces (1/4 cup) of almond oil or heavy mineral oil, 2 or 3 drops of tincture of benzoin, and 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of orange flower water.

Caution: Almond oil vapors are toxic.

Pour the mixture into a mixing bowl and beat it with a wire whisk or an egg beater until it's creamy. Spoon the cream into a small jar and cover it tightly.

To use, rub the cream into the skin and massage vigorously.

Tissue-Toning Cream

Tissue-toning creams add moisture to dry skin and improve its texture. This cream preparation is easy and inexpensive to make.

Equipment:

• Double boiler
• Measuring cup
• Measuring spoons
• Two small saucepans
• Mixing spoon
• Pint jar with cover

Ingredients:

• Beeswax
• Anhydrous lanolin
• Almond oil or heavy mineral oil
• Witch hazel
• Rose water
• Borax

Note: You can buy these ingredients at a pharmacy.

Yield: About 10 ounces

Melt 1 ounce of beeswax -- about 2 tablespoons -- in the top of a double boiler; add 1/4 cup (2 ounces) of anhydrous lanolin. Warm 5 ounces of almond oil or heavy mineral oil in a small saucepan and add it to the lanolin-and-wax mixture; stir to blend.

Caution: Almond oil vapors are toxic.

In another small pan, heat 2 tablespoons of witch hazel and 2 tablespoons of rose water; dissolve a pinch of borax in this solution. Add to the lanolin-and-wax mixture and mix thoroughly. Pour the mixture into a pint jar and cover it tightly.

Apply the cream sparingly and rub it into your skin gently.

Don't forget your hands and feet when you're pampering yourself. See the next page to learn how to make your own hand and nail care products using easy instructions and ingredients available at the grocery and pharmacy.

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