How to Make Your Own Creams & Oils

It's quite easy to make your own cream.

You just need a good "carrier" and dried herbs. Follow these steps:
1. choose a carrier,
2. choose herbs,
3. Fill a pot with water, place heat resistant glass bowl, layer with cheese cloth
4. Place carrier in glass bowl and herbs in cheese cloth, bring water to boil and let simmer on very low heat for about 20 min.
5. Let cool and strain, – with the help of the cheese cloth – squeeze every drop of carrier into glass bowl. (The herbs will stay behind in cheese cloth.)
6. Add some drops of essential oil for fragrance
7. Store in tight container (screw top jar).

To learn more about which carrier and herbs to use, read on...

1. Choose a carrier (or combination)

• Baby oil (mineral oil)
• Petroleum jelly

(Mineral oil and petroleum jelly are both byproducts of petroleum refinement.)

• Cold pressed vegetable oil
• Coconut oil
• Jojoba oil
• Lanolin
• Shea butter
• Aloe Vera (you will need a blender to mix with oils and butter)

My choice: Shea Butter in combination with Aloe

Shea Butter (Vitellaria paradoxa)

Shea Butter is a fat extracted from the nuts of the Shea tree in Africa.
It is used in cosmetics to moisturize the skin. Shea Butter melts at body temperature and is easily absorbed. It is said to have anti-inflammatory  and sun blocking properties.
Shea Butter softens and nourishes your skin.

Aloe vera

Aloe is a plant native to Africa and is cultivated today and grows wild in tropical countries and some parts of the Mediterranean.
The juice of the leaves is used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes.
Aloe vera is used for skin lotion, or  as ointments for minor burns and sunburns.

2. Choose (dried) herbs
Herbs for your skin

• —Calendula (Marigold) (astringent, cleansing, healing, toning)
  
• —Chamomile (cleansing, cooling, soothing)
• —Mint (astringent, cleansing, soothing)
• —Rosemary (cleansing, stimulating)
• —Thyme (Cleansing, antiseptic, toning)
  
• —Dandelion (bleaching, drying)
• —Lavender (antiseptic, stimulating, toning)

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

The flowers of calendula were historically used topically to treat burns, bruises, cuts, and rashes.
Calendula has been shown to stimulate granulation (the formation of new tissue at the site of a healing wound), and increase glycoprotein and collagen metabolism at the wound site.
Calendula renews your skin.

Chamomile

Traditionally used for all kinds of inflammation, eczema, sore & tired eyes, bites & stings, stomachache.
Research suggests anti-inflammatory and relaxant actions. Valuable for pain, indigestion, acidity, gas, gastritis, bloating and colic. Useful for
hay fever and asthma.
For sinusitis boil chamomile in a big pot, put towel over your had and the pot and inhale the steam.

3. Fill a pot with water, place heat resistant glass bowl, layer with cheese cloth

4. Place carrier in glass bowl and herbs in cheese cloth, bring water to boil and let simmer on very low heat for about 20 min

• Start with a small amount. These creations do not last as long as store bought.
  
• Ratio: There is no right or wrong. Herbs should be well absorbed by  carrier oil or butter.
  

5. Let cool and strain, – with the help of the cheese cloth – squeeze every drop of carrier into glass bowl. (The herbs will stay behind in cheese cloth.)
6. Add some drops of essential oil for fragrance
7. Store in tight container (screw top jar).