I've spent a lot of money on beauty products over the years, but I've never been really sure about what it was I was applying. I've recently read that the skin absorbs everything you put on it, unlike the gastro-intestinal system which has a filtering system to modify the foods that enter the body. So it made sense to me to begin paying attention to what products I use.
I've been experimenting with creating lotions and creams with some interesting results. I've now developed a formula that I hope I can apply in general with minor modifications for each type of cream. I learned early on that following recipes directly often gave me more lotion than I can use. After giving much of my new product away away, I realized I needed to experiment with smaller quantities. Now I use a basic unit system that can be converted to ounces, cups, grams, whatever unit of measurement seems to be the most efficient.
BASIC RECIPE:
4 parts soft oils (olive, jojoba, almond, etc.)
4 parts hard oils (shae butter, coconut, cocoa, etc.)
2 parts beeswax
2 parts aloe Vera
2 parts goat's milk
2 parts filtered water
1/2 part citric acid )preservative)
Oil Essences for fragrance
First I melt the waxes and oils. Fill a crockpot with 2 inches of water and set it on warm. Place the oils and wax in a bowl and rest it on a cloth placed in the center of the crockpot. Cover the crockpot and let the oils and wax slowly melt. It will probably take an hour or more, but by using the crockpot I don't have to worry about anything burning so I can be doing other things. Once ingredients are melted,pour the mixture into a mixing bowl. While whipping the mixture, add milk and water, then citric acid and aloe Vera and oil essences for fragrance. Continue to whip ingredients until they cool. The mixture should become light and fluffy. Store in small jars, keeping the extras in the refrigerator.
Adding or reducing the water will determine the thickness of the cream. I added extra water for face cream, but removed the water and goat milk entirely to make a foot cream. The wax and the aloe Vera serves as an emulsifier so you can increase these if you have problems with separation.
Shae butter is very light as a solid oil and highly recommend for facial creams. But cocoa butter and coconut oils are too heavy for the face and best used on the rest of the body. Tea Tree Oil is a great antiseptic if you want to produce a healing ointment, but the smell is very strong and will overpower any other oil essences you add.
You can also replace the water with various teas that have healing properties. Calendula, Chamomile, Lavender and Rosemary are traditional for facial creams. Rose water is also recommended. I'll post again as I learn more about the specific qualities of herbs.
I've having a great time experimenting! I hope you find it as constructive.
I've been experimenting with creating lotions and creams with some interesting results. I've now developed a formula that I hope I can apply in general with minor modifications for each type of cream. I learned early on that following recipes directly often gave me more lotion than I can use. After giving much of my new product away away, I realized I needed to experiment with smaller quantities. Now I use a basic unit system that can be converted to ounces, cups, grams, whatever unit of measurement seems to be the most efficient.
BASIC RECIPE:
4 parts soft oils (olive, jojoba, almond, etc.)
4 parts hard oils (shae butter, coconut, cocoa, etc.)
2 parts beeswax
2 parts aloe Vera
2 parts goat's milk
2 parts filtered water
1/2 part citric acid )preservative)
Oil Essences for fragrance
First I melt the waxes and oils. Fill a crockpot with 2 inches of water and set it on warm. Place the oils and wax in a bowl and rest it on a cloth placed in the center of the crockpot. Cover the crockpot and let the oils and wax slowly melt. It will probably take an hour or more, but by using the crockpot I don't have to worry about anything burning so I can be doing other things. Once ingredients are melted,pour the mixture into a mixing bowl. While whipping the mixture, add milk and water, then citric acid and aloe Vera and oil essences for fragrance. Continue to whip ingredients until they cool. The mixture should become light and fluffy. Store in small jars, keeping the extras in the refrigerator.
Adding or reducing the water will determine the thickness of the cream. I added extra water for face cream, but removed the water and goat milk entirely to make a foot cream. The wax and the aloe Vera serves as an emulsifier so you can increase these if you have problems with separation.
Shae butter is very light as a solid oil and highly recommend for facial creams. But cocoa butter and coconut oils are too heavy for the face and best used on the rest of the body. Tea Tree Oil is a great antiseptic if you want to produce a healing ointment, but the smell is very strong and will overpower any other oil essences you add.
You can also replace the water with various teas that have healing properties. Calendula, Chamomile, Lavender and Rosemary are traditional for facial creams. Rose water is also recommended. I'll post again as I learn more about the specific qualities of herbs.
I've having a great time experimenting! I hope you find it as constructive.
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