In honor of this week's theme - tips for better skin - I am sharing a secret skin care tip of mine.  Remember that our skin is the biggest organ of the body.  The products we put on our skin are absorbed into our body.  It's like drinking your body lotion.  I am very careful about the products I use on my body and face.  In fact, my motto is that if it's not edible than I don't want to put it on my skin.  I look for ingredients that I can pronounce and could eat.  I avoid parabens and chemicals with names so long that I can't pronounce them.  

Because I am so cautious about what I put on my skin, I have had a difficult time finding good body lotion that I feel comfortable using. After some trials of various oils and natural products, I came up with a combo that I really love.  I combine 100% pure shea butter with one natural base oil (grape seed oil, olive oil, or avocado oil) and a few drops of essential oils to form a thick cream or body butter. I make a big batch by melting the shea butter and then adding my preferred oil and a little essential oil.  I let this mixture cool and store in an airtight container.  You can play around with the ratio of shea butter to oil in order to find a texture and consistency that you like best.  You might want to experiment with oils and scents to see what works best on your skin.  I apply this mixture after a shower while my skin is still damp and my skin stays smooth and soft all day.  I love it!

The bottom line is that whether you make your own or buy a body lotion, be sure it has all natural ingredients that you could eat beause if you put it on your skin you are essentially doing just that.  Here's to healthy wonderful skin!