When you make it yourself, you know exactly what’s in it
By Katrina Caruso
I really enjoy making my own cosmetics. It’s not very difficult, you can control the ingredients, and it can also save you a lot of money. It’s also an ideal solution for those with allergies to such things as nuts or fragrances and for those who want to avoid any potential toxins from commercial creams.
Here’s a nourishing moisturizer that you can make at home. A word of warning: because everyone’s skin is different, you may need to play around with the ingredients a bit to get the consistency you want.
What’s inside:
- ¼ c up (50 mL) almond oil (olive oil or another oil of your choice can work)*
- 2 tbsp (25 mL) beeswax pellets**
- ½ tsp (2 mL) Vitamin E oil
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) shea butter***
- Essential oils (optional; I like lavender, orange, or eucalyptus)****
How to make it:
- Mix all the ingredients in a medium-sized glass container (Mason jars are great).
- Bring a medium-sized pot, with about 3–4 inches (8–10 cm) of water to a simmer.
- Place the container (with the ingredients inside) in the pot. Don’t put the lid on the jar.
- Let the ingredients sit in the bain-marie until everything has melted, stirring occasionally.
- Take the glass container out of the pot and pour the contents into a smaller glass jar.
- Let it sit at room temperature (the cream will set). Close the jar. Store in a cool place.
- The cream can be used in the morning or evening, after cleansing.
This recipe makes about ½ cup (125 mL). The ingredients should keep for about three months—you can label the jar with the date you made the cream to keep track of the best-before date.
* Try to avoid coconut oil, if you’re planning to use this on your face. While coconut oil is very nourishing, it will clog pores.
** You can buy beeswax in bulk online. If you can’t find pellets, just finely chop the beeswax up. Ensure that the ingredients of your beeswax are pure, natural, and from a reliable source. (If you buy too much, you can always get crafty and use the rest to make candles!)
*** Shea butter should also be bought in its purest form. Again, you can buy this in bulk online; you can also often find pure shea butter at stores that carry a range of African American beauty products.
**** With essential oils, a little goes a long way, so 5–15 drops should be all you need to make a fragrant cream. Start with a little and see how you like the scent before you add any more drops.
Photo: iStock/LiudmylaSupynska.
