My Lip Life Saver!

Hi Ladies,

this has AB-SO-LUTE-LY  been my life saver for the last couple of days. Because of this " beautiful" freezing spring weather my lips just decided to no longer put up with it. They cracked and went so so sore, but this miracle worker saved my day! 

I think I applied it over ten times yesterday, and a a thick layer before bed, and today I can say my lips are back to life. The Shea butter I've used is a refined one, that means that the colour and smell are taken out. I prefer it to use on my lips, because the smell of unrefined Shea can linger, and I don't really care for that right under my nose. But has to be said, unrefined Shea Butter has far more nutrients and other goodies. So for body purposes I prefer the unrefined Shea. Here is how it looks right out of the jar.

It is a creamy butter that melts on contact with the skin, a little goes a long way. Even this little dab was to much for both hands. By the way it makes a perfect hand cream too, it nourishes the skin without leaving a oily film. And absorbs quite quick, but lasts longer then usual hand creams. Shea butter is very versatile, I use it for hands, feet, cuticles, lips, baby cheeks ( both ;-), and when mixed it makes a very nice body butter. See my other article about that here.

This is how it looks rubbed in, shiny but not oily.

Have you tried this "multi purpose savior" yet?

 When you do make sure to get the 100% pure one, a lot of brands sell products with Shea butter or butyrospermum parkii. Just check the ingredient lists on the back, and you will see the butyrospermum parkii more often then you would think. 

But why get 00.1% of this goodness, when you can have the benefits of it pure? Shea butter isn't so easy to come by off the web, but I know Yves Rocher sells one. I got mine from the Dutch brand Erica, 90 ml for €3.99, what I believe is a bargain. Especially for it being so versatile, and being all natural.

So have you tried it yet?

hugs and kisses DIY Mama.

Calendula Shea Baby Salve DIY

Hi Lovelies,
once in a while I get that urge of brewing a new concoction. And today I came up with this, a Calendula Shea Butter baby salve. I chose my ingredients carefully; mild nourishing ingredients suitable for baby's sensitive skin. 

Ingredients;

• Grapeseed oil, approximately 120 ml after sifting there is about 100 ml left; this is a nutrient-rich oil derived from grape seeds ( name says it all lol) The benefits of grapeseed oil include anti aging benefits and supple skin. Grape seed oil is full of antioxidants which combats the free radicals.

• Calendula/ Marigold petals, 2 table spoons: Has bin used for centuries, to treat eczema, minor burns like sunburn, reducing inflammation and promoting wound healing. Ideal for those sore baby bottoms ;-)

• Thym, 1 teaspoon: Thyme is used because of its antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiseptic and fungicidal properties. 

• Chamomile, 2 tea bags: Used for numerous reasons, like inflammations, skin disease. It's antibacterial, antiseptic, anti allergenic and so on and so on ;-) 
• Beeswax, 15 grams grated.Acts as a barrier but allows the skin to breathe. I got mine from a local beekeeper, I like the thought of knowing where my ingredients came from.
• Lanoline, 5 grams. Also referred as wool wax, acts as a strong moisturizer, it mimics the properties of sebum.
• Shea butter, 30 grams, excellent moisturizer, helps with dry skin, eczema ( haven't tested that out my self, no eczema) I'm totally in love with shea butter, I use it pure, unrefined or deodorized. The smell on unrefined shea can be overwhelming so I used deodorized for this recipe.
• Almond oil, 10 grams,  contains vitamins E and B, overall goof for the skin. Mild not to greasy oil.
• Tea tree oil and lavender oil, I used 5 drops of each, to not over scent it, because of it being for a baby. Tea tree oil is a strong antiseptic, anti fungal oil that is beneficiary for the skin as well the salve it self. Lavender is soothing to the skin, and the smell tends to calm the nerves.

Start by putting the herbs; calendula, chamomile, thyme and put them in a crockpot, pour your grapeseed oil until all herbs are under. Heat the oil and herbs very gently, I used keep warm setting. Until oil is infused with the herbs, about half an hour. 

Then sift and strain the herbs out of the oil.

Take a stainless steel bowl and a little saucepan for " au bain marie" and bring water to a boil and place the bowl on top of the pan. In the bowl place the beeswax, almond oil, lanolin, and shea butter and let it melt.

Then combine the two oils and stir.

Add the essential oils when the mixture isn't scorching hot any more, to prevent the properties of the oils evaporate.

Mix for one more time, then pour in a jar and let it cool, settle.

And your done, enjoy!

It isn't just for baby bottoms, can be used for chapped lips, dry cracked skin etc.

Hugs and kisses,

DIY Mama

Disclaimer: all information on the benefits of the ingredients I used are found through Google, and tested by/ on me. So no medical or scientific research! 

• www.herbwisdom.com  
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanolin
• http://www.ehow.com/about_6707301_information-lanolin-
• http://www.naturepurity.com/holistic/sheabutter.html
• http://www.livestrong.com/article/97593-almond-oil-benefits-skin/