DIY Olive Oil and Lavender Cleanser and Face Cream

 Olive Oil is one of my favorite oils to use in my homemade moisturizers and cleansers.  It is so healthy for the skin and hair!  It is packed full of antioxidants and vitamins.  I bet you didn’t think you could make a super easy DIY olive oil and lavender cleanser and face cream! Vitamin A is a healing and rebuilding vitamin found in olive oil.  It helps your cells to repair and renew.  It is awesome for preventing the signs of aging.  Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps fight free radicals. It is one of many antioxidants that olive oil contains.  One of the most potent antioxidant in olive oil is hydroxytyrosol.  It is very rare and is easily absorbed into the body through the skin.  Antioxidants are so important because they go after free radicals which cause cancer and aging.

Antioxidants are a good thing.  Due to the large amount of antioxidants in olive oil it is very anti inflammatory, making it an excellent choice for people with sensitive skin.

It might seem scary to put oil on your skin, especially if you are oily or deal with breakouts.  Olive oil’s molecular structure is similar to the oil the skin produces so when you cleanse with it or use it as a moisturizer the skin does not feel like it has been stripped and there is no need for the skin to over produce oil.  Also olive oil is able to penetrate clogged pores and dissolve the clog.  As well known dermatologist  Dr. Perricone says “like dissolves like”.

If you are new to making your own skin care olive oil is an easy place to start.  Olive oil can be used by itself to cleanse the skin.  It is an excellent eye make up remover!  You can apply a thin layer on your skin for a moisturizer as well.  Add essential oils to it for even more benefit.  Lavender smells amazing when mixed with olive oil.  It is one of my favorite scents.

3 Rules to Follow When Choosing Olive Oil:

1. Stick with organic.
2. Always get Extra Virgin.  This means it has been processed the least and is more pure.
3. Look for “cold pressed”.  This simply means that there was no heat involved in extracting the oil from the olive.  The benefits of most oils, including essential oils can be lost if exposed to heat.

I use THIS olive oil for DIY skin care recipes.

DIY Olive Oil & Lavender Cleanser

• 1/2 cup Cold Pressed Unrefined Olive Oil (find it HERE)
• 1 TBSP. Castor Oil (find it HERE)
• 10 drops Lavender Essential Oil (find it HERE)

Directions:

• Mix all ingredients in a pump bottle.

To USE:

>>Since this is an oil cleanser, there are no bubbles!  Cleansing with oil can be very effective in purging the pores of excessive oil and dirt.  I personally oil cleanse and have never looked back to a cleanser that contains soap.  Soap can easily strip the skin of it’s natural oils which can cause fine lines and wrinkles as well as sensitive, dry skin. <<

1. Squirt 1-2 pumps in the palm of your hand.
2. Massage all over the skin, including your eyes-This cleanser will thoroughly remove eye makeup without irritating the eyes!!
3. Gently massage your skin for 1-2 minutes.
4. Warm up a wash cloth with warm-hot water from the sink.
5. Lay over your skin for 1 minute or until cloth has cooled, letting the heat and steam from the wet cloth open your pores.
6. Gently wipe oil, makeup and dirt off the skin.
7. Rinse towel and heat again.
8. Repeat warm towel 1-2 times.

For more info. on Oil Cleansing, go HERE and HERE.

DIY Olive Oil & Lavender Face Cream

• 1 cup distilled water
• 1/2 tsp. NeoDefend (find it HERE)
• 1/4 cup Cold Pressed Unrefined Olive Oil (find it HERE)
• 1 TBSP Emulsifying wax (find it HERE)
• 30 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (find it HERE)

Directions:

1. Fill a medium pot halfway full with water.
2. Place a glass pyrex measuring cup in the water.
3. Heat olive oil and emulsifying wax (slowly, never let the water boil).
4.  In another “double boiler” heat water and neodefend.
5. Heat both mixtures to around 165 degrees before mixing together (this is vital, otherwise your cream won’t set)  HINT:Water heats up slower then oil.
   
6. Pour water/neodefend into oil/wax mixture.
7. Using a stick blender, blend mixture for about a minute.  Let set for 15 minutes then blend for about 30 seconds.  *I leave my cream out for a good hour and continue to blend, just to make sure it totally mixes.
8. Add Lavender essential oil.
9. Funnel into containers, and let set for 24 hours.

**You can also leave your mixture in the glass bowl and mix with a hand held mixture.  You will need to shake or mix on and off for about 30 minutes.  Once 10 minutes pass without mixing and your water stops separating from the cream, your mixture is fully mixed.**
Your cream will need to set for 24 hours before the consistency will set.  This recipe will make about 12 ounces.

These are 2 very simple recipes that will do a world of good for your skin!  You won’t find anything this nourishing and pure on any cosmetic counter.  Be aware that homemade moisturizers are vulnerable to mold and bacteria.  NeoDefend is a certified organic, non GMO preservative.  Keeping it in the fridge will prolong the shelf life immensely as well as putting your cream in a dark bottle with a pump-(like THESE)

Remember, it takes sometimes a month or more to see the results of any new product you are using.  If you are dealing with specific issues such as acne, eczema, sensitivity or excessive dryness check out my post on 10 DIY Skin Serums.  This post has lots of info. on specific oils that can be used for specific skin ailments.

xx, Jenni

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