If you want to follow a more frugal or eco-bio lifestyle, you can try numerous recipes to prepare a face cream at home. Not only does it cost much less than the products on the market, it also allows you to check every single ingredient used. Making a homemade cream is surprisingly easy. Once you have mastered the basics, you will be able to experiment with different types of recipes.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Make a Simple Face Cream
Step 1. Put the first 4 ingredients in a heat resistant jar or measuring cup
You will need 60 ml of sweet almond oil, 2 tablespoons (30 g) of coconut oil, 2 tablespoons (30 g) of beeswax flakes and 1 tablespoon (15 g) of shea butter. Set aside vitamin E oil and essential oil for now.
Step 2. Bring the water to a boil
Fill a pot of water by calculating a depth of about 8-10 cm. Put it on the stove and bring it to a boil.
Step 3. Put the jar in the water and let the contents dissolve
In the pot, put the jar you poured the oils, beeswax, and shea butter into. Leave it inside until the ingredients have dissolved completely, stirring occasionally. Do not cover the pot or the jar.
Step 4. Remove the jar from the water and add the vitamin E oil
Remove it with a pot holder or oven mitt. Place it on a heat-resistant surface. Let it cool for a few seconds, then add ½ teaspoon of vitamin E oil.
Bottled vitamin E oil is easier to measure, but you can also use capsule oil (just pierce them)
Step 5. Try adding 2 or 3 drops of essential oil
You can use any type of essential oil you want. Start by pouring in 2 or 3 drops, then add more if you think it's necessary. The essential oil allows to obtain a pleasant fragrance. Some oils also have benefits for the skin, such as:
- Acne or oily skin: lavender, lemongrass, palmarosa, peppermint, rosemary.
- Dry skin or skin subject to an aging process: lavender, palmarosa, rose, geranium.
- Normal skin: pink, geranium.
- Any type of skin: chamomile, palmarosa.
Step 6. Transfer the mixture to a clean jar, then let it cool and solidify
Pour the cream into a 120ml glass jar, preferably with a wide opening. Let it cool and solidify at room temperature.
Step 7. Close the jar, then store it in a cool, dry place
This cream can be used in the morning and in the evening. It lasts about 3 months.
Method 2 of 3: Make an Aloe Vera Face Cream
Step 1. Heat the oils and beeswax in a double boiler
Fill a pot of water with a depth of about 5 cm, then insert a heat-resistant glass bowl into it. Add 1/2 cup (100 g) of coconut oil, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of jojoba oil and 1 1/2 tablespoons (20 g) of flaked beeswax.
Set the aloe vera and essential oil aside for now
Step 2. Melt the oils and beeswax
Turn the heat to medium and bring the water to a boil. Let the oils and beeswax melt, stirring occasionally. The mixture will be ready once it becomes liquid and semi-transparent.
Step 3. Pour the mixture into a blender and let it cool for 60-90 minutes
Make sure the jug is made of a heat-resistant material (such as glass). If it's plastic, let the mixture cool first, then move it to the blender jug with a spatula.
The blender can be replaced with a food processor
Step 4. Blend the mixture while gradually adding the aloe vera gel
Set the blender to low. While it is running, slowly pour 1 cup (250 g) of aloe vera gel into it. Turn it off every now and then and scoop up the residue from the sides of the jug with a rubber spatula.
Use natural gel aloe vera. Do not use aloe vera juice or a gel to which other ingredients have been added
Step 5. Add 5-8 drops of essential oil
It is not mandatory, but it allows the cream to be pleasantly scented. Using the right essential oil could also benefit the skin. For instance:
- Acne or oily skin: lavender, lemongrass, palmarosa, peppermint, rosemary.
- Dry skin or skin subject to an aging process: lavender, palmarosa, rose, geranium.
- Normal skin: pink, geranium.
- Any type of skin: chamomile, palmarosa.
Step 6. Mix all the ingredients, then distribute the mixture among several clean glass jars
Blend the ingredients or beat them by hand until you get a soft and light consistency. Transfer the mixture into several glass jars using a rubber spatula (60ml or 120ml ones are preferred).
Step 7. Store the jars in the refrigerator
You can keep one in the bathroom, and put the rest in the fridge to keep the product going longer. Use the cream morning and evening, trying to finish it in 3-4 months.
Method 3 of 3: Make a Green Tea Face Cream
Step 1. Heat the wax and oils in a double boiler
Fill a pot of water, calculating about 5 cm of depth. Place a heat-resistant glass bowl in it, then add the following ingredients: 7g of beeswax flakes, 30ml of sweet almond oil, 30g of coconut oil and 1.5ml of rosehip seed oil.
Step 2. Adjust the heat to medium heat and let everything melt, stirring occasionally
As they melt, the ingredients will begin to become transparent. The mixture will be ready once it has become semi-transparent and free of lumps.
Step 3. Incorporate the tea into the blend and leave it to infuse away from heat sources
Remove the bowl from the pot and place it on a heat-resistant surface. Place a green tea bag in the oil and beeswax blend. Let the tea steep for 15 minutes.
You can leave the tea in the bag or open it and pour the loose leaves into the mixture
Step 4. Work the mixture until you get a creamy consistency
You can do this using an electric mixer or a food processor equipped with a whisk. Keep stirring until you get a creamy mixture at room temperature.
If you used loose tea, first strain it through a fine mesh strainer
Step 5. Pour the mixture into a glass jar and let it cool
Choose a 250ml container with a wide opening. Pour the mixture into it using a rubber spatula. Let it cool completely, then close the jar.
Step 6. Store the jar in a cool, dry place
This cream can be used both in the morning and in the evening. Try to finish it within 3 months.
Advice
- Essential oils can be found online and in health food stores. Do not use aromatic or candle oils: they do not have the same function.
- Beeswax helps stabilize the cream. If you don't have it, you can use carnauba wax, emulsion or soy wax (in this case, halve the doses).
- Use only 100% pure beeswax. If you can't find it in flakes, buy a block and grate it.
- Try storing the cream in small jars, which are more practical than large ones.
- Avoid using candle wax as it is often mixed with ingredients that are unsafe for the skin.
- Most face creams last for a few months. Should it start to give off an unpleasant odor or suffer any other changes, throw it away immediately.
- Do not incorporate essential oils while the mixture is hot, otherwise you risk nullifying their beneficial properties.
Warnings
- Make sure all tools and jars are clean and sterile. If they are dirty, you risk contaminating the cream.
- Never apply face cream on dirty skin. You will only trap dirt residue in your pores and see blemishes appear. The face should always be washed and toned before proceeding with hydration.
