With temperatures rising, it’s time to get outside and enjoy the sun. To stay safe while enjoying the rays, I always lather on layers and layers of sunscreen. But, even with proper precautions, sun exposure can cause dry and irritated skin. Years ago, I developed a recipe for “skinsicles,” a frozen combination of skin soothing ingredients. Click here to see the recipe and tutorial. Next week is going to be hot and sunny, so I thought it would be the perfect time to revisit and simplify the “skinsicle” recipe.
These Aloe Vera and Lavender Skin Soothing Cubes contain a combination of aloe vera liquid and fresh aloe vera juice from inside the plant. Glycerin is added for its humectant properties, and lavender 40/42 essential oil gives a light scent. Blend the ingredients together, then pour into an ice cube tray. In this case, I used the Medium 9 Ball Silicone Mold.
Once frozen, rub the cube on the skin. The cubes are oh-so-refreshing, especially when applied on a hot day! I recommend applying the cube outside to avoid a mess. =) You can allow the liquid to stay on the skin or wash it off if you prefer. I recommend allowing the liquid to stay on the skin for at least 10-15 minutes before washing off. The glycerin does cause the mixture to feel slightly sticky on the skin, but I found this stickiness faded with time.
In my tests the cubes did not freeze completely, most likely due the fresh aloe vera matter and essential oil. If you’d like to help the lavender 40/42 blend in better, mix Polysorbate 20 with the essential oil at a 1:1 ratio, then add the mixture at step three. Because this product is frozen and was for personal use only, I did not use a preservative. If you’d like to add a preservative, I would recommend Germaben. In addition, while some research does support that aloe vera reduces skin inflammation, this product does not claim to heal, treat, prevent or cure burned or irritated skin.