DIY Jo: Aloe facial balm

Finding the right facial moisturiser for combination skin is one of the most difficult things but this DIY trick really helped me to find a saviour in aloe vera.

I have always been told that it is important to moisturise and honestly I did avoid it. As I went over the hill of mid-twenties I tried products so that I could maintain my youthful look. There were some that worked that did not trigger an acne or eczema breakout. The products that helped my eczema were also just too greasy and in no time, the pimples would come in.

There was one product that I found that gave me a bit of a middle ground but by the second bottle, I realised it wasnt working as well as I had wanted. So, again, I ignored the facial moisturisers and I went to using oils, mainly argan oil or sweet almond oil. They did work but I needed something that absorbed into the skin a little more quickly and was not so hot.

Admittedly, when I bought the tub of aloe vera gel I really had no idea what I was going to make. I saw it and thought I am going to figure out something to make with this.

Aloe has many benefits on the skin. It has soothing properties, especially as it pertains to skin care. I have proven that it helps with eczema and acne breakouts but it usually leaves your face feeling a little stiff. So I added argan oil and my favourite essential oil - lavender and stirred until it became cloudy. Using just a pea-sized amount of this went a long way. I have been using it for months and I have to admit I will not turn back.

Recipe

Ingredients:

1 part aloe vera

1/2 part carrier oil (argan, sweet almond, coconut or jojoba oil)

6 drops essential oil (lavender oil)

Directions:

Put all in one container and mix until cloudy. Test on skin. If it is too greasy, you can add a small amount of aloe vera to balance and if it dries stiff, then apply a few drops of carrier oil to soften.