Often times you find your skin very dry by afternoon after you might have spent time applying your expensive high street "skin moisturiser" and by evening the dry and sometimes patches on your skin leaves you wondering what on earth is going on. For some of you it doesn't just end there, you also have to contend with the accompanying itchiness and occasional inflammation and or breakages.
I have compiled a list that comprises10 of my favourite skin moisturising ingredients. Individually, these ingredients have their own unique qualities but when you learn the art of combining the ingredients using the right formulation, they become more effective.
Shea Butter is at the top of my list for choice of ingredients when it comes to formulating products for dry skin. For example, our Shea body butter is a tested and proven product that works well for individuals with dry skin. Shea Butter is an ingredient that cuts across generations. Mostly found in and derived from. Though you can apply Shea butter as a stand alone moisturiser, it's hydrating effect is usually complemented when combined with other carrier oils such as Olive, Sweet Almond, Jojoba and Avocado. Shea butter works by forming a coat over the skin which locks moisture in the skin cells and keeping the skin hydrated and feeling soft in the process.
Cocoa Butter is also one my favourite ingredients when it comes to formulating skincare products for dry skin. Derived from cocoa beans, cocoa butter is very rich in fatty acids that accounts for its ability to nourish and protect the skin. It is also very effective when it comes to hydrating the skin. Unlike shea butter, cocoa butter does not tend to leave a greasy feeling on your skin, making it a choice of ingredient to incorporate into products for normal to dry skin.
Of all the carrier oils that I use in my products, Olive oil is maybe one of the most versatile. It is an ingredient that is known for it use in many different ways. Olive oil is usually derived from olives using a cold compress method. It has proven to be beneficial to the skin in the sense that it helps to keep the skin soft. Olive oil is said to increase the water content within the skin, leaving it glowing. Olive oil can be applied directly to the skin especially when the skin is very dry and it is breaking. It can also be used as a major ingredient when formulating products for your daily routine.
Extracted from the pulp of avocadoes, Avocado oil is a yellowish coloured oil that I have grown to fall in love with. I have used this oil as part of out signature formulation (shea body butter) for the past decade and I must say it is one of the reason the products has been a success. Avocado oil is high in monounsaturated fatty acids, which are essential for regenerating, rebuilding and giving the skin a bouncy boost. It is also packed full of vitamins such as A,B,C, D and the antioxidant, Vitamin E, which neutralises the effects of free radicals on the skin. Its most important effect comes from the phytosterols which prevents loss of moisture from the skin, thereby keeping it hydrated.
Sweet Almond Oil is a pale yellow oil expressed from the dried kernels of sweet almond. It is naturally immiscible with water but in the presence of an emulsifier, can combine with water to make a very effective moisturiser. Sweet almond oil is sometimes used as a substitute for olive oil in skincare products because it is is lights and absorbs quickly into the skin. Just like Avocado oil, Sweet Almond Oil also contains high levels of the antioxidant vitamin E, to help fight free radicals that attack the skin, fade scars and reduces the sign of aging. Its high levels of Vitamin A makes it very effective in the treatment of Acne. Sweet Almond oil also has anti-inflammatory properties. Historically, Sweet Almond oil has been used to treat skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis because of its soothing effect on the skin. It is can also help improve skin complexion and tone. Sweet Almond oil is a very effective emollient, helping to maintain a balance between water absorption and loss in the skin.
Originating from France and also known as Lavendula angustifolia, Lavender essential oil is one of the most useful essential oils and can also be considered the most volatile. It contains high levels of antioxidants, which makes it effective in protecting and nourishing the skin. Its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties makes it a very great ingredients in acne treatment formula. Lavender also has anti-inflammatory properties which means it can be added to preparations for itchy and inflamed skin. It can also be used for massages as well as in vaporizers and bath preparations.
Usually when you think of dry skin, you then start to talk of itchiness, inflammation and breakages in the skin. These are symptoms that can make the skin prone to infection from bacteria and other microorganisms. Tea Tree essential oil is one of my go to products when it comes to situations like this. Originating from Australia and also called Melaleuca alternifolia in the world of science, Tea Tree essential oil is a light, spicy, and lightly pungent oil. It has antiseptic properties that makes it effective against bacteria and viruses. It is suitable for problem skin as well as oily skin and it helps to fight infections. When added to hair care products, it helps to fight dandruff.
Also known as glycerol, Vegetable Glycerin is a clear, odourless liquid obtained from soya beans, coconut oil or palm oil with a syrup consistency. It has several uses but it is widely used in the skincare and cosmetics industry. It is known to add a long-lasting hydrating effect to the skin, which makes it a perfect addition to skincare formula targeted aimed for dry skin.
Obtained from the steam distillation of Pelargronium graveolens leaves, Geranium essential oil is widely used in the skincare, cosmetics and perfume industries. Geranium essential oil is known for its antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. There is evidence to suggest that when applied to the skin, geranium essential has antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that makes it beneficial in reducing acne breakouts, reducing skin irritation, reducing skin inflammation and minimising skin infections.
Derived from the citrus family, Neroli essential oil is extracted from the flowers of bitter orange tree and it is said to have a variety of benefits. It has a characteristic sweet and spicy aroma that allows it to be used in a variety of products such as perfumes, cologne, body creams and candles. Neroli essential oil can be added to skincare formulations for its rejuvenation properties which enables it to boost the regeneration of new skin cells. Its antibacterial properties enable it to help in the treatment of acne and it is rich in antioxidants which helps in combating the attack of free radicals.
Would you like to make something simple for yourself?
If you are a skincare enthusiast and why not try this simple recipe that I have put together using some the ingredients discussed above, this moisturiser is best suited for dry skin. You can also visit our website www.simplyogenatural.co.uk/shop and buy one of out natural skincare moisturiser to suit your skin type.
Cocoa Butter Moisturiser (100ml)
Ingredients
Oils
15.96g Cocoa Butter
19.8g Oils Avocado Oil
10g Emulsifying Wax **(You can use any natural emulsifying wax of your choice)
Water
63.6g Lavender Hydrosol
8.04g Vegetable Glycerine
Essential Oils
30 drops Lavender Essential Oil
Preservative
1ml Phenoxyethanol & Caprylyl Glycol (Optiphen)
**1ml Vitamin E Oil (Optional)
The Process
Sterilise your work surface and all your tools
Using a calibrated weighing scale, measure all ingredients; oils in one beaker and the water ingredients in another beaker
Place each beaker into separate water bath with boiling water on the hot plate hob until the oils and waxes have all melted and the content of both beakers are the same temperature.
Pour the oils into the water containing beaker and mix vigorously using the stirring rod for the next 3-5 minutes in order to prevent he mixture from separating. Continue mixing the content until the temperature romps below 30 degree Celsius. If it helps, you van place the beaker into a cold water bath to help speed up the cooling down.
Once the temperature has dropped below 30 degrees Celsius, you can ad the essential oils, the preservative and other optional ingredients.
Pack put cream into the jar and label
Enjoy your product
Tools
2 - Glass beakers
Weighing scale
Measuring spoons
Double plate hob
Stirring rod
Packaging jar (100ml)
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Sources
Benefits of Almond Oil for skin, hair and cooking
The Best Essential Oils for your skin
Orchard A, et al. (2017). Commercial essential oils as potential antimicrobials to treat skin diseases. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5435909/
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