The holidays are fast approaching, and you well aware that automatically means that the harmattan season is drawing near.
So, amongst the many things that come with the harmattan season, two things we all wish we could avoid are dust and dry skin.
Right after taking a shower, it feels like your skin automatically losses all its moisture, and no matter what cream you use, the dryness never seems to go away.
Trying different moisturizers just to find the perfect one for harmattan can be both stressful and frustrating.
No to mention the damages, you will be doing to your skin with the many chemicals in these beauty products. I’ve got you covered with the best homemade moisturizers for the harmattan season.
If you are feeling creative and would like the bragging rights, let’s get busy with these ten natural DIY moisturizers for harmattan.
10 Best Natural Moisturizers harmattan
Side Note: The ingredients listed in all our recipes are readily available in your local market, and you can easily buy them online.
However, you must note that since these moisturizers are all-natural products, they have a minimum shelf life. Avoid the temptation to make any of them in big batches.
You should only prepare them in little quantities and use them within one month before they begin to go rancid.
1. DIY Shea Butter Homemade Face Moisturizer For harmattan
What You Will Need
- 6-7 drops rosehip seed oil
- 6-7 drops sea buckthorn oil
- ½ cup melted shea butter
- 6-7 drops geranium oil
- One teaspoon avocado oil
Procedure
If not already melted, melt your shea butter using a double boiler. Once the shea butter has softened, take it off the heat. Pour in avocado oil and mix.
Add all the essential oils and thoroughly whip the mixture until it forms a creamy texture. Store your face cream in a glass jar and use it twice daily (morning and night).
Why This harmattan face cream Works
Sea buckthorn oil is known to be extremely useful in treating skin conditions like eczema and also soothes itchy and dry skin.
Rosehip seed, avocado oils, and geranium also have a soothing effect on dry skin, while shea butter does the job of keeping the skin moisturized and nourished.
To form a double boiler, all you need to do is pour some water in a saucepan or stainless dish and place it on the stove. Get a heat-proof glass container and make sure it fits snugly over the pot.
Once the water begins to simmer, place the butter on the glass container and allow it to melt. Continue to stir until it melts.
2. Natural Face Moisturizer For Dry Skin
- What You Will Need
- ½ teaspoon emu oil
- ½ cup argan oil (you can also take jojoba oil or hempseed oil)
- 4-6 drops essential oil ( rose geranium, lemongrass, rose, palmarosa, chamomile, rosemary, lavender, or peppermint)
Method
Take a glass bottle or container and pour some argan oil into it. Pour in the other essential oils to the argan oil and mix thoroughly. Use the mixture to massage your skin.
Why This harmattan moisturizer Works
Argan oil is a very light oil and suitable for soothing dehydrated skin. Emu oil is also a natural emollient that locks in skin moisture and heals your skin from within.
Essential oils (all the ones listed here) have a general healing effect, especially for people with dry and sensitive skin.
3. Beeswax Moisturizer For harmattan
What You Will Need
- ½ cup of coconut oil
- ¼ cup beeswax pellets
- ½ cup olive oil
- Ten drops of essential oil ( Roman chamomile, patchouli, frankincense, vanilla, sandalwood, lavender, clary sage, or geranium oil)
Method
Using a double boiler, thoroughly melt the beeswax. Once the beeswax melts, take it out of the boiler and let it cool. Pour in the olive and coconut oils and whip well. Add the essential oil(s) to the mix.
Whip the mixture thoroughly until you achieve a creamy texture. Transfer the already cool mixture to a bottle or glass jar and keep it in a cool, dry place (never refrigerate your mix).
Why This Works
Both olive oil and beeswax heal skin conditions like atopic dermatitis (eczema) (2). Coconut oil offers extra moisturization to the skin, and essential oils promote skin healing.
4. Gentle Aloe Vera Moisturizer For harmattan
What You Will Need
- A single cup of aloe vera gel (scoop out the gel from an aloe leaf or just use a store-bought gel)
- ¼ cup of coconut oil
- 12 tablespoons beeswax
- ¼ cup almond oil
- Ten drops of essential oil(s) (pick any of the essential oils mentioned in the recipe above)
Method
Melt the beeswax, coconut, and almond oils in a double boiler.Pour the essential oils into a blender and allow the mixture to cool down.
Mix in the essential oils and the aloe vera gel. Blend until you get a creamy texture. Store the mixture in a bottle or glass jar. You can even save it in your refrigerator.
Why This Mixture Works
Aloe vera had a reputation for soothing your skin and lessening inflammation (itches and dry patches). Beeswax heals your skin and keeps it moisturized, and essential oils prevent infection and help in improving your skin.
5. DIY Nourishing Face And Body moisturizer for harmattan
What You Will Need
- ½ cup shea butter
- 5 drops rosemary essential oil
- Two tablespoons almond oil
- 3 drops tea tree essential oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 3 drops carrot seed essential oil
Method
Melt the shea butter thoroughly in a double boiler. Pour in some almond oil after the shea butter melts and turn off the burner.
Let the mixture cool down (but do not let it harden) and then pour in the essential oils. Whip the mixture well. You can use a whisker or blend it in a mixer (for a few seconds). Scoop out the mixture into a bottle or glass jar.
Store the content at room temperature and avoid refrigerating. Carefully rub the moisturizer on your skin and face.
Why This Works
The essential oils work as protectors for your skin cells. All the listed oils have antiseptic qualities that prevent skin damage and rashes and heal infections caused that are caused by excessive dryness. Almond oil and shea butter keep your skin nourished and moisturized.
6. DIY Glycerin Moisturizer and Honey moisturizer For harmattan
- What You Will Need
- Two teaspoons glycerin
- Two teaspoons green tea
- One teaspoon lemon juice (diluted)
- One teaspoon honey
Method
Mix all the ingredients well. Gently massage the mixture on your skin for a couple of minutes. Leave the moisturizer overnight and wash the moisturizer off the next day.
Why This Works
Honey and Glycerin are humectants that leave your skin hydrated and moisturized. Lemon is known to brighten up the skin while the green tea provides calmness for your skin and keeps infection far away.
Note: Lemon juice may not work well for everyone, so first, do a patch test. You can skip, including lemon juice, entirely if you wish to.
7. Natural Face Moisturizer For Harmattan
What You Will Need
- One teaspoon chamomile tea (or dried chamomile flowers)
- One tablespoon lanolin
- ½ cup of water
- One tablespoon beeswax
- One vitamin A capsule
- ½ cup sweet almond oil
- 3 drops geranium essential oil
- One vitamin E capsule
Method
Soak the chamomile tea or flowers in the lukewarm water, simmer the tea for 10 minutes and thoroughly strain the liquid.
If you are not using liquid lanolin, make sure to melt it with the beeswax in a double boiler. Allow the mixture to cool down and let the chamomile tea brew.
Punch the vitamin capsules and carefully squeeze the liquid content into the mixture. Continue to stir and then pour in the essential oil.
Whip it properly until you achieve a creamy texture. Transfer the already made mixture to a bottle or glass jar and store it in a cool and dark place.
Massage the cream on your body and face as required.
Why This Works
This DIY cream provides your skin with intense hydration. Chamomile possesses anti-inflammatory properties that also offer a softening and soothing effect on skin that are Irritated.
Beeswax and Almond oil provide nourishment to the skin and prevent the skin from drying.
8. Nourishing Day Cream For Harmattan
What You Will Need
- One tablespoon avocado oil
- 3 tablespoons sweet almond oil
- 3 teaspoon beeswax
- 2 tablespoons mineral water
- 2 drops lavender essential oil
- 1 drop peppermint essential oil
Method
Melt the oils and beeswax in a double boiler. Warm up the mineral water (do not boil it) and slowly pour it into the hot oil and beeswax mix and continue stirring.
Take the beeswax from the heat immediately it melts, and let it cool down a little. Pour in the essential oils and vigorously whip the mixture and scoop out the moisturizer and pour it into a glass jar and store it in a cool and dry place. Use the moisturizer as a day cream.
Why This cream Works
Almond and avocado oils contain UV filters that protect the skin from the dangerous UV rays while ensuring that it is moisturized.
The essential oils (peppermint and lavender) also posses a sun protection factor. The essential oils keep your skin healthy and protect your skin from UV rays.
9. DIY Gentle And Hydrating Moisturizer For Harmattan
What You Will Need
- One teaspoon vitamin E oil
- Three tablespoons shea butter
- Three tablespoons apricot seed oil
- One teaspoon aloe vera gel
- Five drops helichrysum essential oil
- Three drops clary sage essential oil
- Five drops of myrrh essential oil
Method
Melt your shea butter in a double boiler and let it cool down a bit. Thoroughly whisk the shea butter once it has cooled down and pour in oils and the aloe vera gel.
Continue mixing. Once you achieve a creamy consistency, scoop the cream into a glass jar or container.
Apply the cream to your face and body as required.
Why This moisturizer Works
Shea butter has excellent healing and moisturizing qualities. Shea butter contains vitamins A, D, and E that help your skin to stay nourished and helps to heal eczema and several other dry skin problems.
Apricot seed oil works well with shea butter as it is excellent for all skin types, and just like shea butter, it moisturizes your skin.
10. Revitalizing Hibiscus Moisturizer For Dry Skin
What You Will Need
- 1 cup extra virgin coconut oil
- Two tablespoons hibiscus tea
Method
Blend the hibiscus tea into a fine powder. Melt the coconut oil in a double boiler.Pour the hibiscus tea powder into the oil and have it covered for a while.Using a cheesecloth, thoroughly strain the oil and carefully separate the tea from the oil.
Let the coconut oil cool down until it fully solidifies. Whip the combination well in a mixer for about one or two minutes.
Scoop the pinkish cream into a bottle or glass jar and use it on your skin.
Why This Works
In West Africa, hibiscus pulp is usually used as a healing herb for wounds and for soothing the skin. Hibiscus pulp contains antioxidants and anthocyanins that improve skin health.
Coconut oil possesses a calming and soothing effect on the skin and also leaves it fresh and moisturized.
These are very easy to make DIY moisturizers for the harmattan season that will give your skin a smooth, moisturized feeling all season long. The best part is that these moisturizers are gentle on and skin types and will not irritate your skin.
Do well to try out these great recipes this holiday and let us know what you think. We look forward to seeing your comments.
