Home Beauty Treatments: Herbal Facial Cream

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This herbal facial cream is rich with natural ingredients. Deeply moisturizing, it provides nourishment and moisture for the skin. And for the final stroke, it is relatively inexpensive to make. This basic facial cream formula, though excellent as it is, can be further embellished with your own creative spirit. There is plenty of room for creative input.

Although making facial cream appears easy, it is also a bit challenging. You are attempting to combine water and oil; they don’t normally mix. Follow the recipe closely. If it doesn’t turn out right the first time, don’t be discouraged. Try again; the luscious cream is well worth your time and effort.

Waters

• ^_2/3 cup distilled water (or rose water)
• ^_1/3 cup aloe vera gel
• 1 or 2 drops essential oil of your choice
• Vitamins A and E as desired

Oils

• ^_3/4 cup apricot, almond, or grapeseed oil
• ^_1/3 cup coconut oil or cocoa butter
• ^_1/4 teaspoon lanolin
• ^_1/2 to 1 ounce grated beeswax

1. Combine the waters in a glass measuring cup. Set aside. In a double boiler over low heat, combine the oils. Heat them just enough to melt.
2. Pour the oils into a blender and let them cool to room temperature. The mixture should become thick, creamy, semisolid, and cream-colored. This cooling process can be hastened in the refrigerator, but keep an eye on it so it doesn’t become too hard.
3. When the mixture has cooled, turn on the blender at its highest speed. In a slow, thin drizzle, pour the water mixture into the center vortex of the whirling oil mixture. When most of the water mixture has been added to the oils, listen to the blender and watch the cream. When the blender coughs and chokes and the cream looks thick and white, like buttercream frosting, turn off the blender.
4. You can slowly add more water, beating it in by hand with a spoon, but don’t overbeat. The cream will thicken as it sets. Pour into cream or lotion jars and store in a cool location.

Excerpted from Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal: A Guide to Living Life with Energy, Health, and Vitality. Published by Storey Books. Copyright 2001 Rosemary Gladstar. Reprinted with permission from Storey Communications, Inc.

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