Hey guys, I’m super excited to share this beauty secret with you guys. Growing up I always got compliments about my skin, the texture and glow. Of course puberty hits and your body changes as you get older. Stretch marks, varicose veins, cellulite, to mention a few. I have come to embrace my stripes and other changes. With that in mind, it is important to take good care of your skin. I have tried a truck load of high end skincare products and I’ve had similar results; it works for a few months and then it stops. Not to mention that quite a number of brands use toxic ingredients to give you ‘quick results’.
Tip #1: Before you purchase new products, do your research. This is the most important step for me
Tip #2: Reviews!!!!!.... I don’t know if I can stress this enough. Every company will always advertise their product to be the best, which is why reviews from individuals who have tried products for a long period of time are the most reliable.
Tip #3: If you want to go the extra mile, you can research the ingredients.
Over the years, I’ve become very interested in skincare products and researching on natural oils that can help, hence this post. I’m sharing a DIY body butter, It’s the summer and we all want to show ‘some’ skin or risk it all and have that year round glow 😊😊. I used six(6) amazing oils to achieve this perfect body butter; shea butter, carrot oil, almond oil, argan oil, castor oil and palm kernel oil.
Shea butter
This is so popular for its many benefits. It is naturally rich in vitamin A,E and F. As a plus, it offers UV protection of SPF 4-6 and has nutrients responsible for collagen production. Shea butter is good for moisturizing the skin, reducing inflammation and it aids in the skin’s natural collagen production and contains oleic, stearic, palmitic, and linolenic acids that protect and nourish the skin. Shea butter works great for wrinkle reduction.
Carrot oil
Carrot oil has antioxidant properties. I think it is one of the most underrated natural oils in the beauty/cosmetic industry. Carrot oil contains high levels of vitamin A, tocopherol (fat- soluble vitamin E) and carotenoids. The antioxidants present help promote skin rejuvenation. Carrot oil has a natural SPF of 38 - 40
Argan oil
Argan oil is mostly used as a skin moisturizer, to hydrate and soften the skin. I love this oil the most because it absorbs quickly and is not greasy, it makes your skin feel so soft. It has a high vitamin E and fatty acid content. Argan oil has anti-aging properties and restores skin elasticity.
Pure Sweet Almond oil
This oil is nutrient filled and there are two types, bitter and sweet. Sweet almond oil keeps your skin cells healthy and protects your skin from UV radiation damage. You can also apply this oil on your face, it is a non-clogging oil that can clean out the sebum which would help prevent acne and blackheads. Sweet almond oil has a natural SPF of 5.
Castor oil
Castor oil is known for its antibacterial properties. It’s honestly not my favourite oil because of the texture, I always use it in small amounts. Castor oil treats sun burns, heals inflamed skin, prevents stretch marks and moisturizes the skin.
Palm kernel oil (Eluaki or Ude-aki)
The game changer. This has remained Africa’s unbeaten skincare secret, especially Nigeria. This oil is rich in vitamin A and E, which are great for brightening the skin, to aid with hyperpigmentation, dark spots and acne scars. Palm kernel oil is an ingredient in the famous ‘African black soap’.
All six ingredients have similar benefits, which increases its effectiveness. I have used an electric mixer in this video, you can use a hand mixer or a blender. I also played with the quantity of the oils based on my preference. I used more shea butter because it is the base and a smaller amount of castor oil. Pour your ingredients in a bowl and mix till you have your preferred consistency. I like a light whipped texture. Also, it is important to refrigerate your body butter to maintain a lasting consistency. I found that if it is not refrigerated, the oils start to separate after some time. I have used this body butter for a few years now and shared it with my closest friends and we’ve all loved it. I hope you love this post. Happy glowing everybody!!!. Please share your thoughts and questions
Lots of love,
Rachael.