There is a veritable sea of commercial moisturizers out there. If you’re over 25, there’s a good chance that you’ve sampled a few of these products for yourself; after all, you keep hearing people say that it’s never too early to start moisturizing. If everybody is offering this sage advice, it’s probably prudent to take heed and get a head start on this whole moisturizing thing. You definitely don’t want to have regrets later on.
The problem with ready-made, store-bought products is that you don’t know exactly what you’re letting your skin absorb. In a bid for transparency, beauty brands include a list of ingredients on their packaging, but how many of those chemical names do you actually understand? It’s a little better with organic products, but wouldn’t you prefer to know for sure what you’re letting your body ingest through your skin pores in your campaign for smooth and supple skin?
Homemade moisturizers are common among the crunchy bunch, but you don’t have to be all granola to appreciate the advantages of making your own moisturizer. You know you end up with an effective product that is more wholesome, more affordable, and more custom-suited to your own skin. The best facial moisturizer, after all, is something that you’ve personally tweaked to best cater to your specific skin needs.
If you’re interested in putting together the best facial moisturizer in your own kitchen, you essentially need three main ingredients: a base or carrier oil, an enriching oil, and an essential oil. It really depends on your skin type, but the following oil varieties work well with any type of skin, be it normal, dry, oily, acne-prone, aging, or combination.
Generally, argan oil and jojoba oil are great carrier oils for all skin types. You can’t go wrong with either of these two. Other great options are hemp seed oil and sweet almond oil, but you may have to spend some more time applying moisturizer based in sweet almond oil as it takes a little bit longer for the skin to absorb it.
As for the extra enriching oil, a winning choice is evening primrose oil. The thing about these extra oils is that you’re actually looking to give your skin extra nourishment. For instance, if you want an excellent emollient, emu oil makes a very fine choice, or if you want something that’s anti-microbial, neem oil is a safe bet.
When it comes to essential oils, you make your choice to address a specific skin need. For example, if you want a natural astringent, choose peppermint; if you want a natural toner, choose lemongrass.
Moisturizing is (evidently) a science, but by knowing what your skin type is and what your skin needs to be healthy and lovely, you can come up with the most effective moisturizer for your skin.