Worried About Cancer Causing Chemicals? Make Your Own Makeup

Women should check the labels on makeup and skin care products, just as they do with their food, according to Santa Cruz dietician and naturopath Talya Lutzker.

Lutzker, who teaches Ayurvedic diet and medicine, gave a class called "Love Your Body" last week at the downtown New Leaf Community Market that explained the science and simplicity of balancing the human body aside from food.

Her two-hour agenda consisted of oils 101, DIY make up, and “beauty from inside out desserts.” 

A lot of her regimen involves a lot of oil—pouring oil onto the top of the head, then massaging it into the scalp and extremities.  

“You’d be amazed at how quickly skin soaks up oil,” she reassured the audience of startled faces.

There are carrier oils that bring their contents into the skin. Some of them even have surprising qualities, such as sun protection, ranging from coconut oil (SPF 2) and jojoba oil (SPF 4) to wheat germ oil (SPF 20) and red raspberry oil (SPF 28). 

Essential oil is a concentrated liquid from a plant that is used in fragrances.  It can be added to carrier oils for scent or to regulate systems in the body such as the circulatory and lymphatic system. 

Lavender oil is anti-inflammatory; Clary Sage balances hormones.  Instead of using store-bought lotion to moisturize the skin, Lutzker recommends using 20 drops of organic essential oils to every 4 ounces of carrier oil. 

Then rub it into your body going in the direction of your heart. Starting at the extremities massage the oils into your body ending at the heart.

Oil is also a key ingredient when making lip balm because of its moisturizing properties. Everyone in the class – yes there were some men – perked up during her lip balm demonstration and how to choose the best combination of essential oils for a pleasant scent.  Talya informed the ladies mica can be used as a natural lip color in this recipe as well.  

There’s no need to continue buying Burt’s Bees chapstick—this batch will last months.  Lutzker even suggested making cute labels and giving chapstick as small gifts or party favors. 

Did you miss out on this class?  Talya is teaching many other classes at New Leaf Community Market.  View upcoming events on their website, www.newleaf.com

Basic Lip Balm

Preparation Time: 45 minutes

Makes a lot of lip balm!

1 ounce shea butter or cocoa butter

2 ounces grated beeswax

1 ounce jojoba oil

1 ounce sunflower oil

1.5 ounces sesame oil

1.5 ounces coconut oil

20 drops edible essential oils

Fill a small saucepan 1/4 full with water, place it on the stove and bring to a boil. This will be your “hot water bath”.

 In a pyrex cup, combine shea butter, beeswax and carrier oils (NOT the essential oils). Place the pyrex cup in the hot water bath and reduce the heat to medium.

            Stir the oils constantly with a wooden chopstick until the beeswax and oils are fully melted and combined. Test the consistency of your lip balm by dipping a spoon into the hot oil and then freezing it for one minute. If the consistency is too hard, add more liquid oil (like jojoba or sesame). If the consistency is too soft, add more beeswax or cocoa butter. Either way, stir again until all the oils are fully melted.

            Remove the mixture from its hot water bath. Add your desired essential oils and pour immediately into clean, dry lip balm containers.

The author is a Patch intern studying journalism at San Jose State University.

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