How to Make your Own Lusciously Luxurious Lotions

How to Make your Own Lusciously Luxurious Lotions

Winter brings crisp morning walks, glittering frost and an excuse to cosy up in front of the fire. But bitter winds, cold air and central heating can all take their toll on our skin, and those with conditions like acne, psoriasis and eczema know that the winter months can wreak havoc.

Why does winter hate our skin?

Well, it’s nothing personal. Cold temperatures reduce circulation and prevent skin from producing the natural oils we need to keep us feeling peachy. As we battle the cold with central heating and open fires, the dry heat strips our skin of valuable moisture. In retaliation, the production of new skin cells slows right down in an attempt to retain some juice, which leaves our skin looking dull, flaky and lifeless.

So what can we do about it?

While the usual good-skin-caveats apply – plenty of water, easy on the cocktails – the best thing you can do is go forth and moisturise. As we love homemade potions, we’ve put together two luxurious winter skin lotions to get your skin through the darkest months in tip top condition.

Skin quencher (for oily and acne-prone skin)

In winter, oily skin can freak out too. This blend uses fractionated coconut oil, which is lighter than regular coconut oil and won’t block your pores. Jojoba and geranium oils help to regulate your skin’s natural oil production, lavender helps to keep things balanced and vitamin E softens and nourishes.

Ingredients

100g fractionated coconut oil

1tbsp jojoba oil

1tbsp vitamin E oil

5 drops lavender essential oil

5 drops geranium essential oil

Method

Add the jojoba and vitamin E oils to your coconut oil and mix well. In a separate container, blend your essential oils and add to the coconut oil mix. Store in a glass container and use within six months.

Winter balm (for dry, sensitive skin)

Sweet almond oil protects and nourishes skin while calming irritation. Apricot oil has anti-inflammatory properties to soothe chapped skin, while rose and patchouli work to heal and hydrate. Combined with shea butter, this moisture-bomb creates a natural barrier against the elements and is perfect for super-dry skin.

Ingredients

100g melted shea butter

1tbsp sweet almond oil

1tbsp apricot oil

5 drops of rose essential oil

5 drops of patchouli essential oil

Method

Melt the shea butter in a bain-marie, and then stir in the sweet almond and apricot oils. Refrigerate for ten minutes. In a separate container, blend your essential oils and then add to the shea butter mix. Use a stand mixer or whisk to whip the mixture into a light, creamy lotion. Store in a glass container and use within six months.

These recipes are guidelines, and you can tweak the base and essential oils to match your specific skincare needs. When using a new blend of essential oils, it’s a good idea to do a patch test in the crook of your arm to make sure the dilution agrees with your skin. If you’re pregnant, it’s best to check with your doctor or midwife before using essential oils.