It's All About Absorption

In choosing DIY ingredients, their absorption rates may be most important. It essentially means, how long after I apply the ingredients will I still feel them on my skin? 

When I started DIY natural skincare, I tried using a macadamia nut oil moisturizer. After all, nut oils are available and are full of healthy fats. It was a cold January day, and my skin was so dry I thought it might crack. An hour later, I still felt an uncomfortable, greasy film on my face. I under-estimated just how slow a slow absorption rate can be.

I am not criticizing macadamia nut oil, but illustrating the importance of personalizing. DIY recipes are like colors of the rainbow. We can pick our perfect shade.

In general, dry skin wants ingredients with slower absorption rates, which give ongoing relief and hydration by continuing to sit on your skin. Argan oil keeps my banana curls in place because hours after application, it is still there, doing its job. 

Oily skin, however, usually prefers a faster absorption rate. My summertime godsend is Baobab oil. When I am in a hurry, I can confidently rub the rapidly absorbing oil on my hands and grab my white purse, without worrying about leaving an oil stain. 

Recipe: DIY Moisturizer Combination Skin

1 tbl. of kokum butter
1 tbl. of cocoa butter
1 tbl. of ivory shea butter
1 tbl. of tamanu oil

Heat kokum butter until it melts, about two minutes in the microwave for big clump and about 1 minute for small pieces.

Stir in cocoa and ivory shea butter. Depending on how hot the kokum butter is, the shea and cocoa may melt on their own, but the mixture might need up to 30 seconds in the microwave.  

Stir in the tamanu oil and shake.  

You can experiment with texture by varying the amount of kokum butter (more kokum means a more solid product).

Reheat for 1-3 minutes if the ingredients begin to separate. Store upside down.

I took these photos the next day. What do your creations look like? Share photos in the comment section below.

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