Raise your hand in case your fingers take a beating through the winter months (*raises a dry, cracked hand*).
We’ve formally reached that time within the season when it looks as if dry pores and skin won’t ever finish. And for me, it’s at all times my fingers which have it the worst. Between doing the dishes, driving with out gloves and simply being uncovered to the weather, my fingers are at all times someplace between annoyingly tough and painfully chapped. But after making an attempt each lotion and potion identified to man, I lastly discovered a hand balm I can’t stay with out.
The magical ingredient? Kokum butter. I swear by this kokum butter balm for repairing flaky fingers and cracked cuticles, even when all different merchandise have failed. Simply slather it on at evening and also you’ll be amazed at how contemporary and delicate your fingers really feel come morning.
How to Make Kokum Butter Hand Balm
There’s a brand new butter on the block and I’m driving entrance and heart on the fan bus. Extracted from the seeds of the kokum tree, kokum butter has lengthy been utilized in Ayurvedic medication to deal with dry pores and skin, cracked lips and pesky stretch marks. This white-colored oil is loaded with fatty acids (particularly stearic and oleic acids) and full of skin-soothing triglycerides, which lock in moisture and restore the pores and skin barrier.
Like its buddies shea, mango and cocoa butter, kokum butter is deeply nourishing due to its excessive fats and mineral content material. While it’s closest to cocoa butter by way of texture and composition, it’s additionally a standout in its personal proper. In truth, calling it a “butter” is just a little deceptive as a result of it’s reasonably dry and crumbly by itself, and never what we usually consider as a butter. Because it’s non-greasy and gained’t clog pores, kokum butter is commonly utilized in magnificence merchandise and pure make-up. It’s additionally the toughest of the butters, so it’s excellent for making lip balm that gained’t soften on the backside of your purse.
I like making a big batch of this balm and stashing it my medication cupboard, dresser drawers and purse to maintain dry fingers at bay. The coconut and olive oils assist to make it extra spreadable, whereas the beeswax acts as an emollient, which traps in moisture and protects pores and skin from the weather. Finally, a wholesome dose of mandarin and lime important oils give it a fruity scent that can assist you overlook that it’s solely February and summer season continues to be months away.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RJjtV6nWFs]
Kokum Butter Hand and Cuticle Balm
Yield 2 four ounce containers
Ingredients
Instructions
- Combine all of the substances besides the important oils in a small microwave protected dish.
- Microwave in 30-second intervals till utterly melted (about 2 minutes) and stir properly to mix.
- Add the important oils and stir once more.
- Pour into your containers and let harden. If saved in a cool dry place, it ought to hold for a number of months.