night face cream, stop aging and exfoliates

One of my favorite homemade lotion recipes is for my night face cream.  This cream is extremely hydrating, oil based, and exfoliates with a very small amount of lactic acid.  The ingredients:

1 tsp (teaspoon) jojoba oil
1/2 tsp meadowfoam oil
1 tsp grapeseed oil
1 1/2 tsp avocado oil
1 1/2 tsp castor oil
few drops of raw organic honey
1  tsp emulsifying wax
little less than 1 tsp of cetyl alcohol
3 1/2 tsp distilled water or aloe juice
1/2 tsp glycerin
5 drops vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol)
3 drops carrot essential oil (therapeutic grade)
3 drops frankincense essential oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
1/4 tsp leucidal liquid preservative  or any natural preservative
2 drops lactic/50 gel peel
3 drops grapefruit extract (optional)
1/4 green tea extract

I understand the list of ingredients above looks overwhelming but you can substitute many of them.  For instance, if you only have jojoba oil on hand just use 5 1/2 tsp of it to total all the oils.  Brew some green tea in the distilled water instead of using the extract.  Lactic acid does not have to be used and if you do use it there is a warning to use a sunscreen during the day because lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy and is known to cause photo sensitivity for your skin.  Use essential oils of your choice.  There is water in this cream so you must use some kind of preservative.  I find grapefruit extract and vitamin E to be a little scary to use for a preservative so I have chosen leucidal liquid which is derived from fermented radish root. 

Directions: For the oil phase pour all oils, wax and alcohol in a double boiler and heat on medium once melted.  For a double boiler use one large glass bowl on top of a saucepan (saucepan should have a couple inches of boiling water). 

Water phase: While the oils are heating, in a small bowl add the water, glycerin and citric acid together and let sit until the citric acid has disintegrated (warm in the microwave but not to boiling point).

Cool down phase:  Slowly poor water into oil while whisking by hand or using an electric blender.  Let cool for at least an hour and blend every ten minutes, the cool down process can be quickened by placing the bowl in the fridge, but be careful that it does not fully cool without being blended a few times.

Once cooled but not completely, add the essential oils, vitamin E, preservative, lactic acid and green tea extract.  I like to whip my lotions as much as possible before packaging them.  This recipe makes about 3 ounces but lasts me a few months because it is so rich.

I would love to hear feedback on this recipes!!!  You can purchase this night face cream from Fresh Mountain Beauty on Etsy. 



                    



 

So, in my venture to share my homemade beauty recipes I am constantly learning about different natural and man made chemicals.  One of my facial creams seems to be a little oily when you first put it on, which I don't mind, but I think most people would not like it.  So I looked into Isopropyl Myristate which is supposed to make the oily feel more smooth and silky feeling.  But after investigating this material I think it is not one of the best materials for your skin even though scientist say it is safe to use.  There is a big difference between safe to use and actually being good for your skin.   Isopropyl Myristate  is said to clog pores and dry out skin.  I've read that there is a difference between the liquid and the gel and that the gel is better for your skin, for some reason.  I developed slight acne once I hit my thirties and have no intention on using any ingredient that could potentially make my acne worse.  I'm looking for ingredients that will help acne.  So I guess I'm sticking with the oily feel for my facial cream.  It seems to soak in after ten minutes anyways.  The list of ingredients for my cream is as follows: 

Distilled water, avocado oil, castor oil, emulsifying wax, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, meadowfoam seed oil, cetyl alcohol, glycerin, green tea extract, 100% natural vitamin e oil (d-alpha tocopherol), lactic acid, grapefruit seed extract, Essential oils: lavender oil, frankincense oil, and carrot seed oil.

I would love to hear other opinions on this material!!!  Please leave a comment!!     

Hello everyone, this is my first blog post in about a year.  Let me start by saying I am very excited to start sharing what I have learned and plan on learning about how to make your own beauty products.  A year and half ago I was laid off from both of jobs and started to investigate essential oils, carrier (base) oils, waxes and natural preservatives.  My intention was only for myself because I have seriously sun damaged and dry skin.  Once I read a few books on essential oils and how to make homemade facial creams I was addicted and have not stopped reading more on the subject since.  Just recently I have decided to open my own Etsy store.  My first item to sell will be my night cream which has certain ingredients that are not recommended to wear out in the sun.  I am not expecting to make to much money on this venture but I enjoy thinking up new recipes and sharing them with my family and friends.  Talk to you soon!!!!