Banana flesh is soft and emollient. Bananas are also rich in vitamins and minerals, and contain triptophan, a natural relaxant. You can mix bananas with just about anything else with a creamy, rich texture to create a skin soothing product - especially for dry skin. This recipe uses a few of my favorite things to add to bananas.

Banana Beauty Balm is a cleanser and moisturizer in one. Banana flesh is wonderfully emollient on its own, but combined with the other ingredients in this product, a wonderful cleansing balm is formed. The chosen essential oil contains azulene, a wonderful anti-inflammatory. For best results, use high quality oil with no synthetics. Banana Beauty Balm soothes all skin types, especially dry.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 fresh banana
• 1 tablespoon fresh heavy whipping cream, lightly warmed
• 1 teaspoon honey, lightly warmed
• 1 drop German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) essential oil
• 1 tablespoon finely powdered oats (add more if product seems runny, less if it seems too thick

Blending Procedure:

• 1.   Mash the banana to a creamy pulp using the back of a fork.

• 2. Warm the honey and whipping cream in a microwave for about 15 seconds. Stir to combine, then add to the banana pulp. Stir well.

• 3. Add the oats and essential oil and stir again. To use, massage over dampened skin       using gentle, sweeping motions. Don’t forget your neck area. Allow Banana Beauty Balm       to remain on your skin for a few minutes while you enjoy eating the other half of the       banana. Rinse well and follow with a spritz or two of rose hydrosol and a light       application of extra virgin olive oil or your favorite moisturizer to soothe and prevent moisture loss. Enjoy!

• 4. The shelf life of this product is necessarily limited by the fresh ingredients. It  should be used immediately after it is made.