Homemade Lotion With Vaseline
If you're tired of shelling out money for costly moisturizing lotions, then you should know that a key ingredient in many moisturizing lotions is probably already in your medicine cabinet. With Vaseline--or white petroleum jelly--plus a little ingenuity, you can whip up a batch of homemade body lotion that will smooth and protect your skin just as effectively as any store-bought version.
- Vaseline, an end-product of various waxes and paraffin, has been used cosmetically in the United States for over 130 years and was originally promoted as a "cure-all" topical ointment. What makes Vaseline such a good choice for a homemade lotion ingredient is that it's an occlusive emollient, meaning that it not only smoothes and softens the skin, but creates a protective barrier that helps retain moisture. By employing Vaseline as a base for your homemade lotion, you are utilizing a very effective treatment for dry skin.
- You can increase the healing and smoothing power of Vaseline by mixing it with two other effective skin soothers: vitamin E cream and baby lotion. Vitamin E promotes skin healing, and glycerin--used in many baby lotions--is another tried-and-true moisturizing ingredient. Blend one jar of Vaseline with two jars of vitamin E cream and two bottles of baby lotion, mixing with a spatula, a wooden spoon, or hand-mixer. For a sleeker feel, you can increase the ratio of baby lotion. For a richer-feeling lotion, mix a half cup of Vaseline with a half cup of Crisco; shortening has a long tradition of being pressed into service as a cheap and effective body moisturizer. To give your concoction a sweet, subtle fragrance, add one-half teaspoon of almond oil. For a luxurious chocolate scent, you can add cocoa butter; for a floral fragrance, try rosewater. Limited only by your imagination, you can experiment with the proportions and ingredients until you get a lotion that feels, and smells, right to you.
- Do not smoke while making or applying the lotion; Vaseline is flammable. Although some people use petroleum jelly inside their nostrils to relieve dryness, this is not a good practice, especially if done frequently and over long periods of time. According to the Mayo Clinic, the jelly, if used for many months, could migrate into your lungs and cause lipoid pneumonia. Some people believe that petroleum jelly can cause skin breakouts; if you are susceptible, don't use your homemade lotion on your face. Contrary to some folk wisdom, Vaseline should never be used to treat burns.
Properties of Vaseline
Homemade Lotion Ingredients
Precautions
Read more: Homemade Lotion With Vaseline | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_5718819_homemade-lotion-vaseline.html#ixzz16huqbhxv
