Homemade Neem Cream for problem skin!

Homemade Neem Cream!

So, do you have some problem with your skin?  Anything from eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, acne, you name it, if it's a skin issue, you should try this cream.  Now, I'm not a doctor, dermatologist, or anything like that, so if you have something that looks suspicious, go to the doctor, but this cream truly works for minor skin ailments.  I first saw this on the blog Lovely Greens, and decided to give it a try while tweaking the formula my way.

Homemade Neem Cream includes the following ingredients:

• 15% Neem Oil - Neem is a medium sized to large tree characterized by its short straight trunk, furrowed dark brown to gray bark, and dense rounded crowns of pinnate leaves.  Note:  There are conflicting reports regarding the safety of Neem Oil with mothers and children, but I'm taking the conservative approach here and adding the following: Children and pregnant or nursing women should use with caution.  Neem Oil  is an effective prevention and control of various fungal diseases including powdery mildew, black spot, downy mildew, dandruff, burns, wounds, athlete's foot, sore throat, tiredness, cough, rust and headache. It is also widely hailed as a natural insect repellent.  "It is used in soaps, lotions, face masks, shampoos, and toothpastes. It helps treat fungal infections, lice, dry scalp, dandruff, premature graying of the hair, gingivitis, and skin disorders. Neem oil relieves dry skin and soothes itchy, red, irritated skin. It has also been used for chicken pox to relieve the associated skin irritation caused by the chicken pox virus. Neem has the ability to improve overall skin health by fighting the bacteria that causes pimples and acne. Unlike antibiotics, neem fights bacteria without causing bacterial resistance over time. Neem oil can also be used to treat arthritis and musculoskeletal pain by massaging it directly into the skin." Source: The Oz Blog by Dr. Oz
• 59% Shea and Cocoa Butters - The benefits of Shea Butter for the skin are many. The traditional use of the butter is to reduce the appearance of fine lines, stretch marks and scars, and to ease many skin irritations, such as psoriasis, eczema and sunburn. Shea butter contains several derivatives of cinnamic acid, a compound common to cinnamon and balsam trees. "Shea butter not only demonstrated anti-inflammatory benefits, but one compound, lupeol cinnamate, also prevented tumor development in a carcinogenesis test, a procedure in which cancer cells are literally "grown" in a culture dish." (Source: National Geographic) Cocoa Butter is a rich butter that is made by pressing roasted seeds of the cacao tree. Cocoa butter has been around a long time, for centuries in fact. Africans have used it for hundreds of years for moisturizing, healing and protecting their skin against damage caused by sun and wind. Cocoa butter has been known to treat eczema and dermatitis. Cocoa mass polyphenol (CMP) in cocoa butter inhibits the production of immonu globulin, which tends to worsen the symptoms of dermatitis and asthma. It may help prevent cancer. Studies have shown that CMP helps inhibit the growth of cancer cells. It does this by preventing the oxidation of good cholesterol and also the production of inflammatory cells.
• 25% Sweet Almond and Castor Oils - Sweet Almond Oil is thought to have excellent penetrating qualities and good spread-ability on the skin, making it ideal as a massage oil or as a carrier oil for cosmetics and treatment products.  Castor Oil can cure acne; keep the skin looking smooth, youthful and unlined; it thickens eyelashes and eyebrows; it will remove moles and warts; removes age spots (liver spots); and breaks up external/internal scar tissue and prevents new scars.
• 1% Tea Tree and Lavender Essential Oils - Tea Tree Oil has so many anti-viral and anti-fungal benefits that the Australian army puts it in soldiers' first aid kits. It can benefit ring worm and athlete's foot, cuts and scrapes, itching of insect bites and chicken pox, acne, warts, and softens corns. One study found tea tree oil to be just as effective as benzoyl peroxide, but without the negative side effects like redness and peeling.  One of Lavender Essential Oil  benefits include that of being antiseptic and anti-fungal which helps to reduce scarring and speeds healing.The essential oil is also an anti-inflammatory and a circulatory stimulant. Your skin benefits when bacteria are kept in check due to the antiseptic properties of Lavender Essential Oil. This means you will have fewer acne breakouts, and infections if you are treating cuts, scrapes or insect bites. Your skin heals faster too! (Source: Everything Lavender)

You can change the percent of Neem Oil to your liking, either more or less as desired, but this particular formula works well.

First, melt the butters in a double boiler.  When melted, remove from the double boiler and add the oils, then add the essential oils of your choice. Whisk vigorously with a wire whisk, and when the mixture starts to become opaque rather than translucent place in the freezer for about 5 minutes. Remove from freezer and whisk some more.  If necessary, put back in the freezer for a couple more minutes. By now you should have a fairly solid cream. Place into jars and enjoy your new and improved skin! The cream should remain in this solid state indefinitely.

Carpe Diem! Lil and Bill