Today in the beauty industry, it seems that all the focus is on good skincare to achieve a natural glow that does not need any makeup. But with eco-consciousness finally gaining momentum too, simply choosing our skincare products based on their promises does not cut it.
Some people avoid certain ingredients because their skin is sensitive to such things, while others want to contribute to protecting the environment by going cruelty-free. It is no surprise that natural, organic cosmetic products are becoming more and more popular every day.
Still, each of us is different and our skin has unique needs that we have to satisfy, and sometimes, finding just the right product can be difficult or expensive.
However, what if we told you that you can actually DIY your own face cream for so much cheaper than buying it at the chemist? And being cheaper is not the only perk: if you make your own face cream, you will be 100% sure about what it contains. All it takes is some research and a bit of practice. So, if you want to try making your own rejuvenating face cream, read on for two excellent recipes.
The power of nature
While you can follow recipes to the tee, learning a little bit about what each ingredient does and how they can benefit you will allow you to tweak some details to better fit your needs. For instance, vitamin C is great for fighting the ageing process of the skin and for rejuvenating the complexion. You can find vitamin C in many things, for example in Aloe vera, pineapple juice, citrus fruits and so on. Antioxidants are also essential for rejuvenation, as they are great at fighting free radicals.
You can find plenty of antioxidants in cacao butter, olive oil, virgin coconut oil, and the aforementioned Aloe vera. Almond oil makes your skin soft, while beeswax and honey have anti-inflammatory and many other beneficial effects. Essential oils smell amazing, but they have other benefits too, such as healing and hydrating properties. All in all, it’s worth knowing exactly what each ingredient does for your skin!
Anti-Aging face cream with rose oil
One of the great DIY recipes that you could try at home is a rose face cream recipe by SavvyHomemade. This cream is great for mature skin as it aims to reduce wrinkles with the help of rose essential oil. In case you cannot get hold of rose essential oil, you can swap it for rosewood, though, rose essential oil is unmatched in its effects. Other than rose oil, you will also need avocado oil, wheat germ oil, vitamin E oil, frankincense essential oil, rose water, spring water (or flower water) and emulsifying wax.
Place the waters in one container, and the oils in another. The essential oils will be added later on. You will need a double boiler or a similar setup for melting the oils together – the key is that your containers are not in close contact with the heat. Once you see that everything has nicely melted, you can combine the contents of the two containers and mix them well for several minutes, all the way until the mixture cools down to 45°C. You might need to repeat the melting and stirring step a few times if you notice some separation at first, but soon, the mixture will start to thicken and you can add your essential oils. After that, all that’s left is placing the mixture in some clean, empty containers.
The moisturising effects of avocado and wheat germ oil in this cream are going to make your skin smooth, the antioxidants in the vitamin E oil will help with free radicals while the essential oils will heal the skin. By using this cream on a regular basis, you will almost feel like you got a mini facelift.
A very simple moisturising wrinkle cream
Another simple recipe that anyone can make at home is a wrinkle cream rich in essential oils by DIYNatural. This rejuvenating face cream is great for wrinkles, but it is also excellent for scars and other skin irregularities thanks to the regenerating effects the ingredients have.
Taking frankincense, myrrh, and sandalwood essential oils as the base, this face cream smells amazing – that is, if you like woody, earthy, spicy scents. These essential oils are responsible for the cream’s healing effect, and they are also great for dry skin as they hydrate the skin deeply.
When it comes to the rest of the ingredients, you will need coconut oil, avocado oil as well as beeswax. It is quite a simple recipe but you still have a few things to keep in mind. For instance, make sure you use non-refined coconut oil, as refined coconut oil is notorious for clogging your pores. The antibacterial and antifungal beeswax will help lock in moisture from the other ingredients, acting as a defence for dry skin.
The process of making this cream is similar to the previous one; place the avocado oil, the coconut oil, and the beeswax in a container and melt them together in a double boiler. After melted, stir for a while until it gets thicker and cools down. After that, you can add your essential oils, and your cream is basically done.
Put the mixture into clean containers and you’re good to go! You will notice that the cream’s consistency is quite solid – this is thanks to the beeswax, but that won’t make applying it difficult. If you have a preference for different oils, rest assured swapping an ingredient or two, as long as they do the same thing, will work just fine. This cream will give your dry skin enough hydration, which is especially important during winter months, while at the same time helping it look youthful.
DIY vs. store-bought
There are some things you should keep in mind when it comes to using DIY products. One of those is keeping track of the “shelf life.” Of course, commercial products have a lifespan too, but when it comes to DIY, you should be even more conscious. For instance, the first recipe yields you a face cream that will hold up for about 4 weeks without preservatives, while the second one will last you as long as the expiration date of the avocado and coconut oils you used. Therefore, it is your call whether you will add preservatives or not.
Another additional thing that makes DIY-ing a little troublesome is that you have to get some equipment. While you might have a digital scale and appropriate containers at home, you will also need a thermometer, preferably an infrared one so that you can follow recipes accurately and get the best result. However, if you will be making cosmetics several times, it will be worth having that little piece of equipment.
There is no reason why you shouldn’t try making your own face cream if you have the time. Not only is it a fun experiment, but you will learn a lot about your own skin and skincare ingredients in general along the way. This will help you tailor the recipes to your own needs and also help you make more informed purchases in the future. And why stop at face creams when there are so many more DIY skincare products you could try making?
Our skin is our biggest organ and it deserves the best care we can provide it with to look fresh and youthful as long as possible. So, good luck trying these recipes! Mia.
About The Author: Triona
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