DIY Cooling Aloe Mint Lotion

If you’re running hot and need to cool off, be it from exercising or existing in the heat, then you need this lotion in this recipe. Massage it on your neck or feet after a long day, or get your partner to do that job for you. It’s not as heavy as some body lotions and has a cooling effect on the skin.

Some people like to use coconut oil as a moisturizer throughout the year. Sometimes, you want a little more than plain old coconut oil to moisturize the body. Although you use coconut oil as an ingredient in this DIY lotion, you also add aloe vera gel, beeswax, and peppermint essential oil. Both the aloe and the peppermint help provide the cooling sensation, but they also benefit the skin in other ways. Read on to learn how the different ingredients benefit the skin.

Beeswax

Beeswax can help the skin retain moisture because it is a humectant. That means that it binds water and attracts it, creating a protective barrier on the skin to lock in moisture. Beeswax can also help condition, calm, and soothe the skin without clogging pores. That allows the skin to breathe, decreasing your risk of developing blemishes. Researchers note that beeswax exhibits regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties, which work to reduce irritation, redness, and inflammatory skin conditions.

Aloe Vera Gel

As a quick note for the DIY lotion in this article, you have to keep the aloe vera gel at room temperature. If you store it in the fridge and add it to the hot oil and wax mixture, it will not emulsify correctly. The skin can easily absorb aloe vera gel, making it ideal for people with oily skin. It can also benefit dry skin as well, sealing in moisture just like beeswax. Because of the moisturizing properties, aloe vera can help alleviate dry, itchy skin that is common among eczema patients. The anti-inflammatory properties of aloe vera also make it great for people with inflammatory forms of acne, such as nodules and pustules.

Coconut Oil

When used raw, coconut oil can feel slightly heavy on the skin, but its properties are very nourishing. The fatty acids in coconut oil, specifically lauric and capric acid, have antimicrobial properties that can kill harmful microorganisms on the skin. Folliculitis, acne, and cellulitis are commonly caused by bacteria and fungi, which lauric and capric acid can help kill. Coconut oil also helps to reinforce the skin barrier, which makes the skin more effective at retaining moisture. Some studies have found that coconut oil can also boost the level of antioxidants and collagen in the body, both of which have roles in the skin’s natural regeneration process.

Peppermint Essential Oil

This aromatic essential oil has two primary chemical components: menthol and menthone. Peppermint essential oil is commonly used in cosmetic products because of its potential benefits for the skin and hair. A 2016 study looked at the topical use of peppermint essential oil and the effect it had on itching. The results indicated that a 1% solution of peppermint oil improved how long itchiness lasted and the severity of the itch. Another study examined the topical effects of menthol on the skin and found that it increased blood flow. That may aid hair growth, because increased blood flow can stimulate the scalp.