Beauty Basics

Easy recipes for glowing winter skin.

Lemony Hand and Body Cream

With both outdoor elements and indoor air conditioning conspiring to dry your skin, moisturizing is essential for preventing cracking and chapping. You will need:

• 3 Tbsp (45 ml) juice from one lemon
• 3 Tbsp (45 ml) sweet almond oil
• 1 tsp (5 ml) beeswax
• 3 drops essential lemon oil

Strain the lemon juice through a cheesecloth into a heatproof measuring cup. Add almond oil, then place cup in a small saucepan of water. Add beeswax and heat gently over medium heat for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. The trick is not to burn the wax, so once it's completely melted, remove from heat. Keep stirring until it's cool, then mix in the lemon oil. Store in a closed jar or bottle, and give it a shake every once in a while until it cools completely. Apply whenever you feel the need for a real moisture surge and a boost of vitamin C.

Baby-Your-Lips Balm

Cold air can chap your lips faster than saying "Brrrr." To keep your lips moisturized, prepare your own mint-scented balm with:

• 3 tsp (15 ml) almond oil
• 1 tsp (5 ml) beeswax
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil

Using same method as for the body cream, stir almond oil and beeswax over gentle heat, then remove and add peppermint oil. Store in a palm-sized metal tin. Extracted from the kernels of ripe almonds, almond oil is a soothing emollient that thickens when mixed with the beeswax.