Winter is coming and I wanted a face lotion that would help protect my skin from the New England cold. I hike for a living and the winter wind can be brutal on my face. Cold weather care is essential to keep my skin healthy and happy. I have been looking into more natural products and prefer to make my own when possible. What I like about this one is it’s so simple! I almost always have all the ingredients on hand, and I can tweak if I don’t.
This is easy and fast to make with all the good oils for your skin tucked inside. I make the base with shea butter and then add all my supporting oils. Many recipes use coconut oil, but I definitely prefer shea butter. It does not clog pores and absorbs quickly into the skin. Shea butter is normally safe for all skin types, including oily and dry skin. Coconut oil is suitable for dry skin. It is also good for normal to dry skin types. It can cause breakouts in oily skin. Shea butter can also help with inflammation, redness and irritation while helping to balance your skin’s natural oils.
My second ingredient is actually an oil mixture I use for my hair. I combine avocado oil, almond oil, sunflower seed oil, argan oil, olive oil, and jojoba oil with chamomile essential oil added in. If you don’t want to buy all of these oils, I would just use almond oil and jojoba oil. If you have a blend that you prefer use that! I think skin care should be completely customizable to what you need or have on hand.
A quick side note about my almond oil. I used an oil previously infused with calendula. Additionally, the almond oil in my mix was infused with peppermint and lavender. All of these herbs are great for your skin. I use them in my salves and lip balms as well. Multipurpose is the way.
I start by gathering all my ingredients and setting up my double boiler. This recipe goes quickly once you start. I measure out my oils and add the shea butter to the double first then the other oils. I let that all melt and then remove from the stove and pour the oil into my container. Be careful! Everything is hot and can burn you. I wear long sleeves to avoid the steam from the boiling water. I also use pot holders when handling everything that has been on the stove.
I let this cool on the counter for about an hour and then pop it in the fridge. I keep mine refrigerated so it will help to maximize its lifespan.
*There are not any preservatives in this lotion. I make very small batches of this, and I store in a cool place. I keep this in an airtight container and will discard after a few weeks to a month. If you see any changes in color or texture, notice an unpleasant smell or see any visible mold you should discard and get to work on your next batch. If you would like the lotion to last longer you can add a natural preservative
Winter Weather Face Lotion
1/3 cup shea butter
1 Tbsp Almond oil
1 Tbsp Jojoba oil *or oil blend*
Set up your double boiler over medium heat with water added in the bottom pan. Bring to boil and add shea butter and oils. Cook until melted. Remove from heat. Pour oil into clean container. Allow to cool on counter for an hour then put on lid and let continue cooling in the refrigerator.
*Oil Blend was a mixed with 2 Tbsp of each oil in a separate container. I use this on my hair as well. *
- Olive Oil
- Argan Oil
- Sunflower Oil
- Avocado Oil
- Jojoba Oil
Overall, this lotion is easy to make. It can be modified to use oils you have on hand. It will keep your skin moisturized and happy through the cold months. It is a staple in my beauty routine, and I hope it becomes one of yours. I would love to know if you give this a try!
Acorn & Birch 