Now that winter is fast approaching, I can already feel my skin screaming, I swear. It know that dry days are ahead and that it will be crying out for moisture. But this year, I'm going to be prepared and make a few lotions at home to chase away those winter blues and give my skin the health and glow that it deserves!

Almond Butter Hand Softener

1 Tbsp. Almond oil
1 cup Butter (softened)

Mix well. Before bed, massage mixture into hands; cover with white cotton gloves. Wear all night while sleeping.

Cocoa Butter Hand Cream

4 Tbsp. Beeswax
4 Tbsp. Cocoa butter
4 Tbsp. Almond oil

Melt together beeswax and cocoa butter. Add almond oil. Mix completely until smooth. (May use a blender). Pour into a pretty pot or jar. Let harden.

Fruit & Cream Facial Astringent

1/4 cup any berries, cherries, grapes...
splash of cream

Crush fruit by hand or in a blender, add cream, mix, apply to clean face and neck, leave on for a bit, use a tissue to remove, then rinse with lukewarm water.

Kiwi Pedicure Soak

1 very ripe peeled and sliced kiwi
1/2 cup sea salt
a touch of any oil you have on hand (optional)

Add the kiwi to a blender or food processor and pulse or blend well extracting all of the juices. Strain, (saving the juice) through a fine mesh strainer, coffee filter or paper towel. Add the juice to a dish containing the salt and mix well, add a touch of oil you wish. Add this mixture to a big bowl or basin filled with very warm to slightly hot water and soak your feet for 10-15 minutes. Rinse well, pat dry.

KISS Lotion (krafty, inexpensive and super simple)

2 jars store-brand Vitamin E cream
2 store-brand baby lotion bottles
1 jar of the store-brand Vaseline

Dump above into a large mixing bowl. I found that cutting apart the baby lotion bottles helped me to get a bunch more of it out. And get a bigger mixing bowl than you think you're going to need because it'll be messier than you thought.

Mix. Don't overheat the hand-mixer.

Put the lotion that you made all by yourself into little jars. You can reuse the vitamin e cream jars and Vaseline jar again. Or you can buy fancy jars at an antique store...

Apply KISS lotion to skin. It absorbs quickly. For best results, apply after bathing. For dry, cracked heels apply after bathing and before bedtime (sleep in socks).

Hand Cream Recipe

1/2 cup of salt
1/2 cup of sea salt
1/2 cup of olive oil
Scent - Optional

Mix it up, rub it on your hands for a few minutes, then rinse it off.

Honey Bath

Simply add 1/4 cup of honey to your bath. You'll marvel at the results and how soft your skin is!

Smoothing Skin Conditioner

1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

Mix ingredients together. Before showering, rub into hands, elbows, heels and anywhere skin feels dry. Leave on 10 minutes; rinse off.