It's that time of year when my skin starts to feel more dried out than the Sahara desert. With summer temps above 100 degrees, lots of pool time here in California, as well as a sun-filled getaway to Riviera Maya, my skin is thirsty for a powerful moisturizer. It's also important to me that what I put on my skin is good for my skin and the rest of my body.

Earlier this summer I noticed a comment on a blog about using coconut oil as a skin moisturizer. I did some research and found some enthusiastic articles like this on Prevention Magazine. Soon after, I spotted organic coconut oil on the shelf at Target. I already had a collection of essential oils at home and had yet to find much use for them. I grabbed the organic coconut oil, and I knew my DIY beauty elixir was in the works.

These are a few of my favorite essential oils. I love the freshness of the citrus, herby infusion of lavender and the added layer of spicy floral blossoms with the bergamot. When I read about the benefits of using bergamot oil--treating skin conditions, as a natural insecticide, aromatherapy and stress reduction--I was impressed. I have uneven skin tone on my arms as I've gotten older, so I wanted to bathe in the stuff.

These are my simple steps for creating your DIY Beauty Elixir

*Purchase organic coconut oil (for more on the benefits of coconut oil read Health Effects of Coconut Oil)

*Select your favorite essential oil fragrances

*Add your essential oils--drop by drop--into the coconut oil

*Mix with a fork and sniff the elixir with each new addition to find the right balance of scent

*When you've found your favorite scent, give your elixir a final stir and seal the jar with a lid

I've always enjoyed the idea of blending my own perfumes, as I did in San Francisco at Le Labo. Creating the unique fragrance in such a luxurious coconut oil base just adds to the allure of my DIY beauty elixir for me.

I recycled a simple lidded jar and now my DIY beauty elixir lives proudly next to my Clarins, Nuxe, and Antica Farmacista products on my dressing table.

Along with being incredibly cost-effective, the best benefit of the elixir is soft, silky skin with a touch of sheen to it. I even applied some to my husband's arm today. He actually liked the subtle unisex fragrance, and he was impressed with how his skin looked and felt. The jury is out on whether he is an elixir fan but, I'm guessing I could create an irresistible scent for him.