Face Cream Recipe?

[sharkinthewater]

Hi there,

Does anyone have a recipe that they wouldn't mind sharing for a basic face cream?

I am thinking of using cocoa, coconut oil and beeswax but I'm unsure of the measurements to use.

Thanks

 

[DaughterofAthena000]

Hi AppleWhite,

Sorry can't help you with a recipe directly but I have recently started ordering products from a company called New Directions (www.newdirectionsUK.com) who sell raw ingredients for making your own products among other lovely things. Since joining their newsletter I get sent recipes to make various products. I've unfortunately deleted them but check out their website.

Best wishes,

Raya x

 

[Unknown Guy]

Here's a link to a recipe on line:-

http://earthnotes.tripod.com/creamlotgel.htm#ltwtfbcream

from what I recall from making creams many moons ago you need to heat up the oils/butters and floral water to the same temperature in a bain marie - to check this you will need a cooking or jam thermometer. Then you mix them together to a cream. The site may give you more tips.
When you mentioned cocoa did you mean cocoa butter? That will make it a nice rich cream. Good luck with it - its very satisfying making things from scratch yourself.

Luv Binah
x

 

[Keyla J]

Thank you both for replying. Binah thanks so much for the link, these recipes look just what I was looking for.

I'm planning on using cocoa butter and thinking of maybe using the cream as a night cream.

If all goes well, this is my plan to beat the credit crunch this Christmas as far as family and friends are concerned!

Thanks again xx

 

[dogwoodgm]

Hi Applewhite

It certainly saves you money if you can make presents and it's so much nicer I think - the personal touch and all that. My friends really appreciate it though I will have to come up with something new each time for them.

I love receiving candles from my friends - let's hope that they love receiving them cos that's what I'm going to be making in the next few weeks. I shall have to start researching unusual blends for the aromas.

Luv Binah
x

 

[Pompal 09.]

Hi Binah,

I'm really looking forward to getting started with making a batch up. The only thing whcih concerns me is the shelf life of the creams.. I guess I should advise that they are kept in the fridge?

Good luck on the candles...sounds lovely!

xx

 

[liya79]

This is exactly what I've been doing for the past few weeks!!

Like you I wanted the creams for other people to have a bit of a shelf life. After a bit of researching preservatives, I've found that;

a) http://www.aromantic.co.uk/index.htm sell preservatives for creams - Preservative 12 they tell me is milder than Preservative K, although the latter is recognised by the Soil Association for use in Organic products. 12 is good for creams, but can not be used in products with detergents, like shower gel.

b) Lots of organic and natural cosmetics companies are using Grapefruit Seed Extract as a preservative as it is antiviral and antibiotic, and non-irritant to a dilution of 2%. I've been taking it as an anti-candida supplement, so I had some already in the fridge

c) Adding Essential Oils automatically increases the shelf-life, as most are anti-viral and antibiotic to varying degrees.

d) Adding an antioxidant is quite easy too - Vitamin E does the job, from a supplier, just open some capsules up, or add another oil rich in it - like wheatgerm oil.

I'm going for the Grapefruit Seed Extract and Wheatgerm Oil options - which should increase the shelf-life to a month or so, especially when refrigerated.

I've found it really hard to get the mixture to emulsify properly - the web is peppered with advice for how to get it to work, so it's obviously a bit tricky. I do need to get a thermometer I think - and I might try adding soy lecithin to help emulsify the mixture...if I can find some!

I'll be interested to hear how you get on - please offer advice back if you get the lovely whipped cream texture I was hoping for!!

 

[make it or break it :)]

Hi Thell,

That's fantastic information. I had read about grapefruit seed extract as a preservative and think I'll try this too.

I'll let you know how I get on, I have a few days of work in a couple of weeks time and this is when I was going to go mixing crazy! From what I can gather the trick is having all of your ingredients at the same temperature before you combine and to use a blender???

Fingers crossed, I have something to give for Christmas! xx

 

[pciwplpd]

Right!

Well, I can report that at the very least I have some pots of cream to give away, although whether the recipients will be as pleased as I have been is another question!

I bought a thermometer, but found that the beads of beeswax melt at 70 degrees (the magic number), so I didn't bother using it after the first time.

I couldn't find anywhere that had soya lecithin liquid in stock, so I bought some big fat capsules from a health shop and cracked them open. This was a bit fiddly and very messy! Then I added the lecithin and grapefruit seed extract to the hydrolat and microwaved it. Once it was hot (I didn't check the temp) I used a rotary whisk and kept whisking to try to dissolve the lecithin as much as poss while the oils were heating in the bain-marie. It never completely dissolved, so when the time came I poured it out slowly so that the bigger globules got left behind.

I left the oils mixture (with cocoa butter & beeswax) to cool until it was starting to set slightly round the edges, then began whisking in the water mixture. I found that if I whisked them in while hot the whole thing would separate as it cooled, although it would re-emulsify when mixed again. I figured it was a waste of effort to have to keep remixing it!

In the end I added twice the amount of water to oil, as the equal amounts recipe was just too firm for my liking. It still set completely, but is crumblier and easier to scoop out of the pot, and a bit less greasy.

I'm giving it in sets with some melt-and-pour soap I've made, body oils mixed individually for the recipient and bath salts (sea salt and e.o.).
And I thought this would be easier than going out shopping!!
It's all been good fun though.

How did you get on?

Merry Christmas!
Thell x