If you have been following my Blog for a while now, you would know I like to DIY almost everything. I do this for several reasons. It saves me money; it's better for the environment; I avoid nasty chemicals; and it's fun. My Frankincense face Cream is no exception.
The recipe below will get you about 150 mls of face cream. A quick Google search will show you some similar creams. I looked for ones with Frankincense; for 150 ml, it was about $90.00, with some being way more expensive. I popped all of these ingredients into the Green Living Australia shopping cart and came up with a total of $115.30. This is enough to make this recipe four times, which is equivalent to about $360.00 work of product; even more of you went for a more expensive brand.
The whole process of making your own doesn't take long. There is a bit of a wait while the Shea Butter cools down after melting, but that is a perfect time to make a cup of tea to enjoy while you get creative.
Equipment
- Double boiler (or something equivalent) to melt your Shea Butter
- Blender to stick blender
- Spatula
- Jar to store your cream
Ingredients
- One-quarter of a cup of Shea Butter (Get the 200-gram bag)
- Three tablespoons of Argan Oil
- Two tablespoons of Rosehip Oil
- 14 drops of Frankincense Essential Oil
- Seven drops of Rose Geranium Essential Oil
- One-quarter of a teaspoon of Vitamin E Oil
Step-by-step Instructions
- Before you start, ensure all of your equipment, including the jar in which you store your face cream, has been thoroughly washed and sanitised. You do not want any unclean utensils to contaminate your face cream. You are using all-natural ingredients with no chemical preservatives. The vitamin E, which is great for your skin, acts as a preservative to some degree, but cleanliness is vital.
- Using a double boiler, gently melt your Shea butter. If you do not have a double boiler, use a pot of water on the stove with a bowl placed on top.
- Once the Shea Butter has melted, add in your Argan Oil and Rose Hip Oil and stir until combined.
- You now need to cool this mixture to about 30 degrees. If you are going to use a blender, pour the warm mixture into the blender to cool. If you are going to use a stick blender, which is what I did, you can leave the mixture in the bowl or the top part of the double boiler. I will continue these directions with the stick blender.
- As the mixture cools, it will begin to become opaque. Do not let it cool too much and become solid. If you do, you cannot whip it with the stick blender.
- Once the mixture has cooled, whip it with the stick blender for five minutes. You will see it change and become whiter, and the volume will increase as the oils emulsify.
- After five minutes of whipping, add in the essential oils and vitamin E and mix in well.
- Transfer the cream to your storage jar, using the spatula to get all of the cream.
I used a 150 ml jar for my cream and filled it. This will last me several months and cost me a fraction of what a similar quality face cream would cost if I had purchased it in-store or online.
Dress the final product up with a bit of lace or ribbon, and you have a sensational gift, just in time for Christmas, or another special occasion. Add a nice facecloth or even some soap you made.
I hope you enjoy this project. This cream is so good for your skin. Remember, your skin is your first line of defence. Take care of it.
As always, live well.
Valerie