Luxurious Face Cream Recipe

Indulge your face with this delectable concoction, brought to us by Somerset Cosmetics! This recipe features ingredients that are not only nourishing to your kisser, but to your hands as well. Stearic acid is used to bind liquids and oils, and to thicken and stabilize this cream. Vegetable glycerin is an emollient while sweet almond oil (Prunus amygdalus dulcis) is a good skin softener and moisturizer. This wonder oil is suitable for all skin types, but will benefit especially dry skin. Shea butter (Butyrospermum parkii) meanwhile, penetrates skin deeply and lasts long upon application. Together with almond, they restore the moisture balance of the skin, and delay visible signs of aging process.

Ingredients:                    Weight (%)                  1 cup/240 ml.

Phase A

Distilled water                 63%                            10 tbsp./151 ml.

EDTA                             0.1%                           1/3 tbsp./0.2 gm.

Vegetable glycerin              6%                             3 tbsp./14.4 ml.

Phase B

Xanthan gum                   0.5%                            ½ tbsp./1.2 gm.

Phase C

Wheat protein                    5%                              4 tbsp./12 gm.

Sweet almond oil                3%                             1 ½ tbsp./7 ml.

Triglyceride                        3%                             1 ½ tbsp./7 ml.

Shea butter                     3.5%                          2 ¾ tbsp./8.4 gm.

Dimethicone                    0.5%                               ¼ tsp./1.2 ml.

Jojoba wax                        2%                                 1 tsp./4.8 ml.

Polysorbate 60                   3%                                1 ½ tsp./7 ml.

Glyceryl stearate                1%                                ½ tsp./2.4 ml.

Sorbitan stearate               1%                                 ½ tsp./2.4 ml.

Allantoin                        0.3%                                 1/8

Stearic acid                    1.5%                              1 ¼ tsp./3.6 gm.

Phase D

Aloe Vera                         5%                                 2 ½ tsp./12 ml.

Tocopherol (Vitamin E)    0.5%                                   ¼ tsp./1.2 ml.

Phase E

Citric acid                     adjust                                     a few drops

Phase F

Paraben-DU                      1%                                   ½ tsp./2.4 ml.

Fragrance

Method:

Combine all ingredients of phase A. Dissolve phase B to phase A mixture on a water bath heated at 80°C. Then, add all ingredients of phase C while stirring continuously. Homogenize mixture until it cools to 60°C. When mixture cools further to 35°C, add phase D ingredients. Adjust the pH level of lotion to 5.5-
6.0 by adding citric acid. Add the remaining ingredients of phase F and mix well until cream is smooth. Pour into jars.

Reference:Somerset Cosmetics Company - http://www.makingcosmetics.com/

Handcrafted Aftershave Cream with Beeswax

Shaving has been a traditional weekly grooming ritual by most men (and some women), especially for those who are finicky with their looks. Regularly snipping that persistent stubble though, can irritate your chops, causing nicks and razor burns in the long run. What better way to treat your jowls after a pruning session but by using an aftershave cream! In this recipe by Dave Cushman (http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/handcremerecipe.html), a beekeeper from the UK Midlands, the formulation contains all the necessary elements of a facial cream: an antiseptic like witch hazel to prevent infection from cuts; perfume like soap (also serves as emulsifier), to add fragrance; and moisturizing agents like beeswax, olive oil, and vegetable glycerin to soften facial skin.

Witch hazel is popular as an astringent; its extract from bark and leaves is blended in aftershave creams, itch lotions, and anti-acne medications. It is also a vasodilator, making it a vital ingredient in various hemorrhoid medications and labor tear remedies.

Ingredients:

• 27 gm. purified beeswax
• 33 ml. olive oil
• 8 ml. vegetable glycerin
• 8 ml. witch hazel
• 5 ml. water
• 19 gm. grated soap

Procedures:

Prepare and heat a large double boiler that is partly-filled with water. Melt beeswax and olive oil together in a beaker, using the boiler as water bath at about 70°C. Using the same bath but cooling it to 39°C, mix glycerin, witch hazel, water and soap in another beaker. Add the water phase to the oil mixture while stirring briskly with a power whisk for 10 minutes. Let mixture cool to approximately 40 minutes and beat again until smooth. Pour mixture into pre-labeled jars.

*Note: to adjust ingredients, try increasing olive oil by 3 ml., glycerin by 2 ml., witch hazel by 1 ml., and water by 1 ml. if softer consistency is preferred.