Skin Moisturizing Magic – DIY 3 Ways

I first learned in Jeanne Rose’s Herbal Body Book that thick, oily skin creams could suffocate the skin and clog pores. This was news to me, since I had used thick creams for my dry skin most of my life.

What to use instead? Vegetable glycerin!

Vegetable glycerin is a humectant, drawing moisture from the surrounding air to your skin. Because it comes from vegetable oils, it is natural, emollient and moisturizing, and it is, in fact, a “secret ingredient” in a large number of moisturizing products.

Note that many moisturizers contain petroleum and synthetic fragrance. Making your own can be your safest bet.

The only downside of vegetable glycerin is that it can be sticky, but that is only if you use too much in relationship to other liquids. Here are a few ways of using vegetable glycerin that I have found work perfectly for my dry skin type. If you have oily skin, reduce the vegetable glycerin by one quarter.

Soft and Silky
This formula drenches the skin, leaving it soft and hydrated.
Ingredients
1/2 cup aloe vera gel
1/8 cup glycerin

Combine in a jar and shake to blend. (If you use aloe vera gel from a plant, the end result could look like the picture with this blog.

Glycerin and Water Body Lotion
Ingredients
1 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable glycerin
10 to 20 drops essential oil of choice.

Combine in a glass jar and shake to blend.

Honeyed Glycerin
Honey is also a great humectant.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable glycerin

Combine ingredients, stir to blend.

Aloe vera gel and vegetable glycerin are both available in health food stores, as is, of course, honey.