Get the Most Out of Your MOISTURIZER

This budget friendly "hack" is more than just being frugal ..or cheap for the sake of saving money (or stretching a dollar), this "home remedy" also helps when you don't quite like all ingredients in store-bought lotions (or soaps, shampoos, conditioners) -this tip gives you ideas on putting some good stuff in them and getting more out of them.

For anyone who has put water in your lotion (or soaps, shampoos, conditioners), and turned them into "THIN" potion- this is for you! Either bargain brand or name brand products will work (..neither one will like it :). So be sure to use a watered-down lotion or conditioner! The idea is to THICKEN it AND SHARE IT.

So, you'll need:

(BASICS):

•Lotion (add water to it if you haven't already)

•Wax paper

•misc bottles / containers

•plastic knife / spoon / mini spatula; something to scrape & spread with

(OPTIONS):

•Lip balm

•Aloe vera

•Vitamin E

•Essential oils ~your choice / whatever you may have on hand

•Herbal Tea

•Cocoa butter

1. Lay a sheet of wax paper out

2. Optional: Rub a lip balm (stick) all over it, coating it

3. Pour some (watered-down) lotion on top of the (coated) wax paper

4. Spread it out

*IF you have or wish to add any optional items GoTo Step 2 ..

> If Not:

5. Let it sit (& thicken) for at least an hour

**The longer it sits in the open air, the thicker it gets.

**Think~ the "clumpy" stuff that forms in lid / pour spouts and pumps. Yeah, you could just leave the cap off of your product(s), but this sorta' fast-tracks it. After one hour it thickens but is still a "pour spout or pump bottle consistency"; keep drying & you'll get to deep treatment (& body butter) level.

From (#4) above; this is when you would add your options:

•I initially spread lip balm stick across the paper (shown in Step 1)

• I used Fresh Aloe Vera (*Tip: when handling fresh aloe, cut the spikes off)

•Vitamin E

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. Break open and squeeze out / drizzle aloe -if you can, or scrape out the gel, onto the lotion

2. "Prick" open a vitamin E gel capsule (with a pin/needle- something to pierce it) I used eye brow scissors;

3. Squeeze the capsule & drizzle the E onto the spread out lotion as well

• Stir / mix, if you like

OTHER OPTIONS To Add At This Time

•Essential / fragrance Oil(s)

•Coconut oil

•Cocoa butter

•*(Herbal) Tea* See 'Options and Other Tips' Step Below

Then, from STEP ONE (#5):

•Let it sit (& thicken) for at least an hour

**The longer it sits in the open air, the thicker it gets.

**Think~ the "clumpy" stuff that forms in lid / pour spouts and pumps. Yeah, you could just leave the cap off of your product(s), but this sorta' fast-tracks it. After one hour it thickens but is still a pour spout or pump bottle consistency; keep drying & you'll get to deep treatment (& body butter) level.

•Herbal tea is (obviously) chock full of Mother Earth's finest gifts, so you know replacing some of your product with tea will add some healthy ingredients *if you brew it & use liquid form, just keep an eye (& nose) out for spoilage

•Add Cocoa Butter to extra thick lotion -& a scented oil and you got body butter

•Peppermint Oil is a wonderful "pick-me-up" , invigorating scent & can be helpful to the scalp & tired/achy feet

•Wintergreen, Eucalyptus oil can turn your lotion into a muscle rub/cream •Did you know Epsom Salt dissolved in water is called Magnesium Oil? It works wonders on aches & pains and soaks in really fast; include some of that in thickened cream with wintergreen and/or eucalyptus oils -& look out pain! (the lotion helps with the powdery residue Epsom salts can leave behind) •the *HEATED* oils (magnesium-water with wintergreen/eucalyptus) soaked in a cloth or towel is an awesome wrap too!
•*Be sure to use caution with mint and vapor "radiata" oils; watch for skin burning

•Walnut shells (or practically any nut shells you may have) crunched up make a scrub

•Oats as well -great for face masks too!
•Don't forget the dry tea (loose leaves or tea bag) just add some grounds in

•Thicken your conditioner & add olive oil for a deep treatment (especially for dry/split-ends)

•note, adding essential/fragrance oils (even coconut oil) to shampoos and conditioner reacts -but not bad- it just thins it out considerably, so think 'Splash' ~possibly after shave..

~that's all for now! Have fun -OH, MAKE SOME DIY GIFTS & STOCKING STUFFERS TOO!