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You know I’m all about affordable skincare. You also know I try to stay away from unnatural products. I like vegan products with no parabens, no animal testing, in glass jars, with as little manufacturing as possible. A tall order, I know. So, I just make my own! Today I’m sharing the best DIY anti-aging moisturizer with shea butter and essential oils.

I have been using raw African shea butter on my face for about 4 years. As a result, I have ZERO wrinkles and only 3 fine lines on my forehead. At 33, my skin is plump, smooth, and glowing. I owe that to shea butter.

Shea butter is your powerhouse skincare ingredient. It is loaded with vitamins and fatty acids, which is everything your skin needs to look young. Shea butter:

• stimulates collagen
• is anti-inflammatory (inflammation=acne)
• locks in hydration
• has high levels of acids that fight against environmental toxins
• protects skin against UV rays
• supports skin cell turnover
• reduces wrinkles
• reduces scarring

DIY Anti-Aging Moisturizer Recipe

All products mentioned are linked at the bottom of this page

When it comes to a DIY anti-aging moisturizer, a shea butter base works magic! It plumps, hydrates, firms, smooths, and protects. I use this luxurious moisturizer all over my face (including eyebrows, lashes, and as an eye cream), neck, chest, and cuticles. Then after applying, whatever is left on my hands I use to smooth the ends of my hair. This recipe is literally a miracle worker!

Recipe:

• 1/3c raw African shea butter
• 2-3t sweet almond oil (less oil if you want it more firm, more oil if you want it more creamy)
• 10 drops lavender essential oil
• 7 drops geranium essential oil
• 5 drops carrot seed essential oil

Method:

• add shea butter and sweet almond oil to a glass mason jar and stir to combine
• once smooth, add essential oils and stir to combine until (it will take on a whipped texture)

This is a really great base for makeup as it is thick and creamy. Your makeup will never look drying, and you can go without that highlight, baby, because your skincare makes you glow.

Note: Carrot seed oil has a very earthy and potent scent. It is best mixed with lavender or citrus essential oil to mask the fragrance. Despite the smell, I highly recommend using it because it is so beneficial to the skin.

Customization

You only need to use a small amount and can certainly customize which essential oils you use based on your skin type. Tea tree, lemongrass, and frankincense are also really amazing essential oils to use. You can even use a different carrier oil; in this case, we used sweet almond oil for its hydrating and anti aging properties.

Other oils that would also be great are jojoba, argan, and rosehip. A quick google search will tell you exactly what essential oils and facial oils are best for your skin type. FYI, I am combination normal to dry with a T-zone that can get oily.

Personally, I don’t use coconut oil in this formula because I use it as my slip oil when I do my Gua Sha facial massage. Coconut oil is comedogenic, so for the face, it’s best to ere on the side of caution.

What Kind of Shea Butter to Buy

There are many brands of shea butter out there. You want one that is as close to its natural state as possible. I go for Grade A unrefined raw African shea butter that is cold pressed. The one I’ve used for years is Molivera Organics. It is about $16 on Amazon for a giant tub that lasts me about a year. It has an almost 5 star rating with nearly 3,000 reviews, which is pretty impressive.

I use this shea butter as a base for all my natural skincare. I store my skin and body care items in glass mason jars in a makeup bag under my coffee table. It’s always a good idea to store natural products in a dark and cool area. That’s why essential oil bottles are tinted!

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These products may contain affiliate links.

• Molivera Shea Butter
• Sweet Almond Oil
• Lavender Essential Oil
• Geranium Essential Oil
• Carrot Seed Essential Oil
• Mason Jars

I hope you enjoy your DIY anti-aging moisturizer! Believe me, your skin will be so, so grateful.

-Kristen

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