Create Your Own Cosmetics

Allergy Warning

No cosmetic can claim to be “non-allergenic.” There is always a possibility that someone might be or will become allergic to any ingredient in a cosmetic product.
Test any new cosmetic, even one you have made yourself, for allergic reactions. Apply a small amount of the product to your inner arm between the elbow and the wrist. Check for reaction after 24 h.

By making your own cosmetics you are able to:

• Be certain of the exact ingredients;
• Control the purity and freshness of the product;
• Learn how products are developed;
• Create cosmetics to suit your personal needs.

Preparation Guidelines

Avoid using aluminum, copper and nonstick pans and utensils since the chemical properties of these materials can alter cosmetic products. All equipment and work areas should be scrupulously clean. Wash with hot soapy water. Containers for cosmetics should be sterilized to eliminate contaminating bacteria. Wash carefully then sterilize with boiling water. Avoid touching cosmetic products with your fingers. They contain no preservatives and can be contaminated by the bacteria on your skin. To prolong freshness keep products refrigerated.

Recipe #1

Create Your Own Basic Moisturizing Lotion

Ingredients

• 15 mL distilled water
  
• 10 mL vegetable oil (olive, sesame or avocado)
  
• 5 mL glycerine

Method

1. Measure ingredients into a blender.
   
2. Blend until ingredients are combined.
   
3. Test mixture. Proportions may be adjusted to suit your preferences.
   
4. Store lotion in refrigerator. A plastic squeeze bottles is a convenient container. Label container.

Note: Recipe may be doubled, or tripled.
Recipe has been adapted from Shopping for a Better Environment by Laurence Tasady.

Recipe #2

Create Your Own Lip Gloss

Ingredients

• 5 mL beeswax (1cm of a 2.5cm pure beeswax candle)
  
• 45 mL mineral oil
  
• 1 nontoxic crayon (9.5cm x .75cm size) of the colour of your choice

Method

1. Remove the paper from the crayon and break the crayon into small pieces.
   
2. Place a heat resistant glass custard cup in a sauce pan or electric frying pan. Add enough water to the large pan to come 4cm up the outside of the custard cup. Since wax is flammable, it is unsafe to heat it directly. The water bath is a safety precaution.
   
3. Add beeswax to custard cup.
   
4. Measure oil into custard cup.
   
5. Add broken pieces of crayon to the custard cup.
   
6. Turn heat under pan to medium, but no higher. Warm water will safely melt the ingredients.
   
7. Stir ingredients occasionally until colour is evenly distributed.
   
8. Turn off heat and allow lip gloss to cool for 5 to 10 min.
   
9. Carefully pour lip gloss into sterilized glass jars. Tiny jam jars are ideal.
   
10. When lip gloss is completely cool, put lids on jars and label them.

Note: You can use this method to melt down used lipsticks. By mixing colours, you can create new shades.
Recipe adapted from The Secret Life of Cosmetics by Vicki Cobb

Recipe #3

Create Your Own Sunflower Soft Soap

Ingredients

• 125 mL shredded Castile soap
  
• 45 mL sunflower oil
  
• 45 mL honey
  
• a few drops of sesame oil

Method

1. Place the shredded soap in the top of a double boiler. Heat the soap gently and stir with a wooden spoon until it is melted.
   
2. Measure sunflower oil and honey into the melted soap. Continue to heat and stir for 8 min.
   
3. Add sesame oil and remove from heat.
   
4. Allow mixture to cool.
   
5. Pour mixture into a convenient container. An empty plastic soft soap container with a pump dispenser is a good choice and label container.

Note: Tiny bits of hard soap can be melted down with a little water and the resulting “soft soap” can be added to soap dispensers.
Recipe adapted from The Natural Beauty Book By Anity Guyton.

Recipe #4

Create Your Own Glycerin and Rosewater Hand Cream

Ingredients

• 60 mL glycerine
  
• 125 mL rosewater
  
• 60 mL cornstarch
  
• 3 drops rose oil

Method

1. Combine glycerine, rosewater and cornstarch in the top of a double boiler.
   
2. Heat and stir mixture in the double boiler until it thickens.
   
3. Allow mixture to cool, then add the rose oil and stir in well.
   
4. Pour into clean containers and label.

Recipe adapted from The complete Book of Herbs by Lesley Bremness.

Recipe #5

Create Your Own Lanolin and Olive Cleansing Cream

Ingredients

• 14 mL paraffin wax
  
• 30 mL Lanolin
  
• 30 mL olive oil
  
• 30 mL baby oil

Method

1. Place the wax in the top of a double boiler and melt over a low heat.
   
2. When the wax has melted, stir in the lanolin, olive oil and baby oil until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
   
3. Remove the mixture from the heat and whip continuously until it has thickened and cooled.
   
4. Spoon mixture into sterilized jars and label.

Use: Apply cream lightly to face and wipe off gently to cleanse.
Note: Whipping is the key step in making cold or cleansing creams. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl while whipping to ensure that the wax cools and blends evenly.
Recipe adapted from The Natural Beauty Book by Anita Guyton.
Special note: Lanolin and olive cleansing cream is good for dry skin. For oily skin see the lemon cleansing cream recipe.

Recipe #6

Create Your Own Lemon Cleansing Cream

Ingredients

• 15 mL beeswax
  
• 25 mL petroleum jelly
  
• 45 mL mineral oil
  
• 15 mL witch hazel
  
• 15 mL lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
  
• 0.5 mL borax
  
• 6 drops of lemon oil

Method

1. Melt beeswax and petroleum jelly together in the top of a double boiler over low heat.
   
2. Warm the mineral oil then gradually add it to the wax mixture and beat for 3 to 5 min.
   
3. In a different container, combine witch hazel and lemon juice.
   
4. Stir borax into witch hazel and lemon juice until the borax is dissolved.
   
5. Slowly pour the lemon juice, witch hazel and borax mixture into the melted wax; beating and whipping constantly.
   
6. Continue to whip/beat the mixture until it is creamy and cool.
   
7. Spoon the mixture into sterilized jars and label.

Use: Apply cream lightly to the face and wipe off gently to cleanse.
Recipe adapted from The Complete Book of Herbs by Lesley Bremness.
Special Note: Lemon cleansing cream is good for oily skin. For dry skin see recipe number 5.