More DIY cosmetic stuff
Nov. 29th, 2010 09:28 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
urocyonAfter scraping the dregs out of a jar of (too strongly scented*) commercial hand cream, I finally got around to making some more this morning. I don't know why I keep putting it off, because it's actually easier and quicker to make than, say, mashed potatoes. Since I'd rather store it in glass, I ended up emptying and washing out a jar of homemade plum jam we weren't going to eat. :) (What with my diabetes, and Ingvar just rarely eating that kind of thing.)
Just having smeared on some of the residue out of the pan, I'm really, really glad I went ahead and did that!
The batch I put together was pretty simple:
50mL (or 1/4 c.) beeswax pellets
100mL (1/2 c.) virgin coconut oil
100mL (1/2 c.) mixed sunflower and olive oil
50mL (1/4 c.) water
About a tablespoon of glycerin (optional)
A couple of drops of vitamin E oil and 6 or 7 of lavender EO (also optional)
Just melt the wax and base oils in a double boiler--or in a bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time--and stir occasionally until it's all melted together. Add the water and glycerin, heat a few more minutes, then take it off the heat and add the vitamin E and/or essential oils. Mix with a whisk or hand mixer. I got impatient, waiting for it to emulsify and start setting up, so took the pan out into the cold on the patio. When it starts looking like runny mayonnaise, pour it into a jar and let it finish cooling and setting.
Maybe 10 minutes from start to finish, less if you use the microwave. The vitamin E and essential oils should keep it good without refrigeration, but if it starts looking or smelling funny, throw it away! (This has never happened with any I've made, but best to watch out.) The way I've been going through hand cream, it wouldn't stay around long enough to go funky even without the natural preservatives.
The glycerin in that does leave a little, erm, glycerin feel on the hands right after using it, but I figured the humectant is worth it. Especially with the cold snap and the radiators going pretty much all the time right now. The sunflower is a greasier-feeling oil on the skin, but that isn't really noticeable mixed with the other oils--and we had a litre bottle of it in the kitchen. :)
The light coconut/beeswax/light lavender scent is yummy but not really obtrusive. I thought of using rose attar and maybe a drop or two of sandalwood instead of the lavender this time, but couldn't find the rose bottle; the lavender worked really well, though. I really prefer the idea of using edible oils instead of petroleum, too. Besides petroleum's other problems, these oils should soak into the skin, instead of just sitting on top being greasy.
* But, since I've stopped using other scented body products, it all smells strong. Nivea doesn't have the lightest scent ever, either.
Just having smeared on some of the residue out of the pan, I'm really, really glad I went ahead and did that!
The batch I put together was pretty simple:
50mL (or 1/4 c.) beeswax pellets
100mL (1/2 c.) virgin coconut oil
100mL (1/2 c.) mixed sunflower and olive oil
50mL (1/4 c.) water
About a tablespoon of glycerin (optional)
A couple of drops of vitamin E oil and 6 or 7 of lavender EO (also optional)
Just melt the wax and base oils in a double boiler--or in a bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time--and stir occasionally until it's all melted together. Add the water and glycerin, heat a few more minutes, then take it off the heat and add the vitamin E and/or essential oils. Mix with a whisk or hand mixer. I got impatient, waiting for it to emulsify and start setting up, so took the pan out into the cold on the patio. When it starts looking like runny mayonnaise, pour it into a jar and let it finish cooling and setting.
Maybe 10 minutes from start to finish, less if you use the microwave. The vitamin E and essential oils should keep it good without refrigeration, but if it starts looking or smelling funny, throw it away! (This has never happened with any I've made, but best to watch out.) The way I've been going through hand cream, it wouldn't stay around long enough to go funky even without the natural preservatives.
The glycerin in that does leave a little, erm, glycerin feel on the hands right after using it, but I figured the humectant is worth it. Especially with the cold snap and the radiators going pretty much all the time right now. The sunflower is a greasier-feeling oil on the skin, but that isn't really noticeable mixed with the other oils--and we had a litre bottle of it in the kitchen. :)
The light coconut/beeswax/light lavender scent is yummy but not really obtrusive. I thought of using rose attar and maybe a drop or two of sandalwood instead of the lavender this time, but couldn't find the rose bottle; the lavender worked really well, though. I really prefer the idea of using edible oils instead of petroleum, too. Besides petroleum's other problems, these oils should soak into the skin, instead of just sitting on top being greasy.
* But, since I've stopped using other scented body products, it all smells strong. Nivea doesn't have the lightest scent ever, either.
