Most of us have a box of cornstarch in our cupboards for the two or three times a year when a recipe calls for it. But cornstarch is a great help-me for personal care because it absorbs moisture. You can use it very successfully for powders (just as with talcum powder, avoid using on babies), skin-cleansing milk, deodorant, and a sweaty shoe solution!

Here are four fabulous cornstarch recipes:

Skin Cleanser
The slightly abrasive quality of the cornstarch sloughs off dead skin cells.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon glycerin
1/4 to 1 teaspoon rum
A few drops essential oil, for fragrance (optional)

Combine all the ingredients. Dab some of the mixture on your finger and massage into your skin. Rinse with warm water.

Oily Skin and Shine Absorber
Combine 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with kaolin (white clay). Dust on oily skin areas.

Sweaty Shoe Solution
If your feet tend to sweat, sprinkle a little corn starch in your shoes before you put them on. The corn starch will absorb moisture.

Corn Starch Deodorant
Combine corn starch with some finely ground lavender (optional) and pat under your arms to keep your underarms dry on hot days.