Stop Dry-Skin Season Before It Starts!

As warm summer temps give way to brisk wind and lower humidity, your skin usually starts feeling as dry as the falling leaves. Don’t let that happen this year! Instead, get a jump on dry skin by treating it to a delightful DIY moisturizer. I’ve got a bunch of them in my bag of beauty tricks. But this nifty night cream is my favorite for fall:

STEP 1. Gather your supplies. You’ll need an apple (any kind will do), 1 cup of olive oil, and 1 cup of rose water, along with a blender or food processor, and a double boiler.

STEP 2. Wash and dry the apple thoroughly (don’t peel it!), then cut it in half, removing the core, seeds, and stem. Cut the fruit into small pieces, and toss them into the blender or food processor.

STEP 3. Start the blender and slowly add the olive oil until a paste forms.

STEP 4. Put tap water in the bottom of the double boiler and the apple-oil mixture in the top part; heat it until it’s just lukewarm. (If you don’t have a double boiler, substitute a saucepan and a heat-proof bowl.) Don’t let the apple cook — if it does, the key ingredient (malic acid) will dissipate.

STEP 5. Set the mixture aside until it cools to room temperature, then add the rose water and stir until the ingredients are thoroughly combined.

Store the cream in a plastic jar in the fridge, where it will keep for up to six days. Use it every night before you go to bed, and by the time your first batch is gone, you’ll see softer, more supple skin.