This highly effective cream for extra dry skin comes from my godmother. My husband and I use it all the time as a hand and body lotion. Very cheap to make ($6 per batch or about 13 cents per ounce), you can find the three generic ingredients at the dollar store.

Because the recipe makes 3 jars, it’s ideal for gift-giving. Make one for yourself and two for friends. The pale pink color is very pretty!

Here are the ingredients you’ll need, and the recipe:

DIY Dry Skin Cream

13 oz. pure petroleum jelly (i.e. Vaseline)
16 oz. baby lotion
16 oz. Vitamin E cream (not lotion)

Mix all ingredients together by hand or in a bowl or gallon freezer bag, until the Vaseline is completely smooth. The final texture will be like whipped butter. Parcel out into opaque jars with lids. Yield: about 3 jars (15 oz. each).

The resulting fragrance is very light and pleasant. I saved the ingredient containers and used them to hold the finished cream. My daughter helped me decorate them with wrapping paper and stickers. 🙂 

Why petroleum jelly? Many doctors and dermatologists highly recommend petroleum jelly for extremely dry skin. It’s an emollient and occlusive substance (i.e. a barrier) that softens and smooths skins and prevents moisture loss. It protects your skin, so your skin can basically go through it’s natural process of healing itself. Pure cosmetic-grade petroleum jelly is classified as both hypoallergenic and “non-comedogenic” (which means it will NOT clog your pores). I actually learned that women have been using it for more than 60 years as a facial moisturizer with excellent results, and that it can work wonders for eczema. Go figure! And no, Vaseline doesn’t cause cancer. 

Anyway, enjoy making and using this cream!