Some of the most alluring ads in glossy magazines are for face creams. They promise amazing results at the "low cost" of tens or hundreds of dollars. You can achieve positive beauty results by making your own natural face creams with common ingredients that you either already have in your kitchen or can purchase for about $1. Once you've mastered the basic recipes, add in your own ingredients or make substitutions to give these beauty products a personal, creative touch.
Cold Cream
Step 1
Fill the bottom of a double boiler with water and bring the water to a simmer over a stove. Place 1 oz. of beeswax pellets in the top of the double boiler and monitor them until they are completely melted; stir with a fork to encourage melting.
Step 2
Warm 1/3 cup light olive oil in a small saucepan over low heat. Once the olive oil is warm to the touch, pour it in to the double boiler with the melted beeswax. Stir the wax and oil together with a fork until they are well combined. Maintain the water in the double boiler at a low simmer throughout this process.
Step 3
Wipe any remaining traces of oil out of the saucepan with a paper towel. Discard the paper towel. Heat 2 tbsp. of distilled water in the saucepan, over low heat, until it is also warm to the touch. Stay close to the stove, as this will be an almost instant process if the pan is still warm. Draw the warmed water into a large eye dropper or bulb syringe.
Step 4
Add the warmed water to the oil-and-wax mixture in the double boiler, one drop at a time, stirring constantly. Remove the double boiler from the heat once the water has all been added, and stir the oil-water-wax mixture constantly until it reaches room temperature and has thickened.
Step 5
Stir in 3 drops of geranium essential oil, one drop at a time. You can substitute a different essential oil, in the same quantity, if you prefer.
Step 6
Fill a clean 5-oz. or larger container glass jar with the cream mixture. Apply a tight-fitting lid. Store the cold cream in a cool, dark place when not in use. It should last several months.
Complexion Cream
Step 1
Mash one avocado or peach by hand or puree in a food processor until smooth. Place the mashed fruit in a small bowl.
Step 2
Add heavy cream to the avocado or peach flesh, a bit at a time, stirring constantly. Stop adding cream when the mixture reaches a pleasant, creamy consistency. You may use as little as 1 tbsp. of cream, or 2 tbsp. or more.
Step 3
Store the cream mixture in a small glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Refrigerate when not in use.
Things You'll Need
- Double boiler
- 1 oz. grated or shaved beeswax, or beeswax pellets
- Fork
- 1/3 cup light olive oil
- Small saucepan
- Paper towels
- 2 tbsp. distilled water
- Large eye dropper or bulb syringe
- 3 drops geranium or other essential oil
- 5-oz. or larger glass jars with tight-fitting lid
- 1 ripe avocado or peach
- Small bowl
- 2 tbsp. heavy cream
References
- "Homemade"; Reader's Digest Books; 2007
- Make Your Own Cosmetics: Avocado Cleansing Cream
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