Beards have definitely come back into fashion over the last few years and the trend only seems to be growing in popularity. Every November, men around the world join forces to grow moustaches for what has become known as ‘Movember’, to raise awareness of men’s health.

This all ties in nicely with the rise in popularity of men’s cosmetics. Men’s grooming kits, facial hair products and skincare products have seen a distinct rise in demand. 

And what’s interesting about men’s cosmetics is how different they tend to be compared with those used by women. Not only do men typically have different preferences, but their skin, generally speaking, is also different. Read our article about why men’s skincare is different to women’s here.

Now, whilst beard oils may seem like a modern hipster invention, they are actually a handy and simple product for your facial hair. Facial hair is usually thicker and more coarse than hair on the head, so it needs a bit more care and attention in order to remain soft and healthy.

The good news is that using nourishing oils will help to soften, condition and moisturize the hair as well as nourish the skin underneath, helping to prevent dryness or flakiness.

In addition to that, if a beard oil is scented (which they usually are) it also functions as a subtle cologne, helping to make sure your beard smells fantastic all day long.

Depending on the length of your beard and your oil of choice, you can apply beard oil every day, or every now and then, whenever you feel like your beard needs it. It’s best to wash your beard first, towel dry it, then put some oil on your fingertips and run your fingers through your beard to evenly spread the oil.

Below is a formulation and a recipe for a simple, natural beard oil. It contains light oils (macadamia and jojoba) and a natural silicone substitute (coco-caprylate) that won’t feel too greasy or oily. This beard oil recipe also contains nourishing argan oil and a blend of essential oils with a refreshing woody scent.

Conditioning Argan and Cedar Beard Oil Formula

Argan and Cedar Beard Oil Recipe for 50g/2oz batch

How to make a beard oil

The great news for those new to creating their own cosmetic products is that DIY beard oils are pretty straightforward to make. So if you are new to making natural skincare, this could be a good place to start!

What equipment do I need to make beard oil at home?

Fortunately, the equipment you need to make beard oil is quite simple. Here is a list of four basic pieces of equipment that will help you create a natural beard oil.

Things you’ll need to make your own beard oil:

1. A precision scale. (Please note; kitchen scales are not recommended as they are meant for large quantities and so the accuracy for small measurements will vary. Pocket precision scales will work well.)
2. A container to mix your oils in – a glass beaker is great, but any other small kitchen containers  (less than 100ml) will also work, for example small drinking glasses. 
3. A teaspoon to stir all the oils. 
4. A bottle to store your beard oil in, such as an amber glass bottle with a dropper closure.

For more information about equipment, check out our article The equipment you need for making natural skincare products at home.

Simple beard oil instructions:

1. Place your empty beaker onto the digital scale, and press the tare or zero button. This resets the display in order to only measure the contents of the beaker.
2. Measure the coco-caprylate into the beaker.
3. Do the same with macadamia oil, jojoba oil and argan oil. Remember to tare/zero the scale before you add each oil to ensure you get the correct measurement.
4. Give the ingredients in your beaker a stir to assist the blending process.
5. Weigh the essential oils and Vitamin E and add them to your beard oil beaker.
6. Stir once again to encourage the blending process.
7. Finally, carefully pour your beard oil into your bottle.

How can I make skincare products for men?

At the School of Natural Skincare we’re excited to teach a rapidly growing number of students from all over the world how to make their own natural cosmetics, either for themselves or to sell. We’re also extremely proud of the increasing number of men choosing to join our global community, who are passionate about natural and organic skincare and haircare.

Our courses are all hosted online and are designed to be self-study, which means you can study the materials in your own time, at your own pace, from wherever you are. 

We encourage our students to do, rather than only absorb knowledge. This means we teach the essential theory you need to make products tailored for specific people, skin types, needs and preferences, and you’ll also develop the practical skills and confidence required to make your own complete range of products. These products are just as good as, if not better than, those found in shops, but for a fraction of the price!

Tutors are qualified and experienced cosmetic formulators and scientists, and provide support in our private online student and graduate community, which is also where students collaborate with their peers from around the world. 

All you need is an internet connection, a desire to learn, growing enthusiasm for the subject of natural skincare and a smile on your face. Needless to say, the course or program you join depends on your goals. 

Our Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products online course, for example, contains over 120 recipes and teaches the practical art of making skincare products using luxurious natural and organic ingredients. This course is ideally suited for passionate hobbyists who want to make products for themselves, family and friends, by following other people’s recipes.

Our Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation and Diploma in Natural Haircare Formulation, on the other hand, teach students how to create their own natural and organic skincare and/or haircare from scratch, like a professional, without needing to follow other people’s recipes! These courses are ideally suited for those beauty enthusiasts who want to make products for themselves or to sell.

Many students choose to join our most popular online program, the Natural Haircare & Skincare Formulator Program, which is a combination of both Diploma courses and you can find out more about it here.

Loved this recipe? Make sure to remember it by pinning this post!

Many of our students are interested in using palm oil-free emulsifiers. Palm oil is so prevalent in the cosmetics industry that palm oil-free options are still fairly limited. 

Our team of formulators have been trialling six palm oil-free emulsifiers with great success and you can learn about them and how to formulate with them in our Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation. 

Palm oil-free emulsifier: Imwitor 375 (INCI: Glyceryl Citrate, Lactate, Linoleate, Oleate) 

Imwitor 375 is one of the emulsifiers we love, for several reasons:

• It’s palm oil-free.
• It’s approved for us in natural cosmetics by COSMOS/Ecocert. 
• It can be used in both hot or cold process emulsions.
• It is ideal for creating fluid, low viscosity emulsions (which not all emulsifiers are suitable for).
• It is a cost effective emulsifier as only a small amount is required.

You can find out more about Imwitor 375 in our article Natural Palm Oil-free Emulsifier for Natural Cosmetics: Imwitor 375.

Palm oil-free Floral Moisturizing Fluid Formula

This formula creates a light, low viscosity facial moisturizing fluid. It is a very hydrating and non-greasy formula, with a delicate floral aroma. All the ingredients are permitted in COSMOS-approved natural cosmetics. 

Formula ingredients

Emollients

We wanted to create a light feeling moisturizing fluid so we chose light feeling carrier oils: evening primrose oil, borage oil and raspberry seed oil. These oils are quick to absorb, have a light skin feel and leave the skin soft and nourished but not oily. 

Borage oil and evening primrose oil are sources of gamma-linolenic acid (an omega 6 fatty acid), which helps speed up cell regeneration, promote healthy growth, improve the skin’s barrier repair function and alleviate inflammation. Raspberry seed oil and evening primrose oil contain decent amounts of linoleic acid which assists in skin barrier function and repair, which reduces TEWL, leading to hydrated, soft and moisturized skin.

Humectants 

We used two different humectants (glycerin and hyaluronic acid) to make this a very hydrating moisturizing fluid. For the formula to be palm oil-free you’ll need to ensure that the glycerin you use is palm oil-free (check with your supplier). 

Emulsifier

Imwitor 375 (INCI: Glyceryl Citrate, Lactate, Linoleate, Oleate) is our chosen emulsifier as it is very good at creating low viscosity, fluid emulsions and its palm oil-free! We haven’t used fatty alcohols as they would thicken this formula too much. 

Preservative system

We have used Geogard 221 (INCI: Dehydroacetic Acid (and) Benzyl Alcohol) as our primary preservative blend. We have added potassium sorbate as our secondary preservative/preservative booster. And we have also used Dermofeel PA-3 (INCI: Sodium Phytate (and) Aqua (and) Alcohol) as our chelating agent. 

We submitted this product for preservative efficacy testing (also known as PET or challenge testing). This means the sample is inoculated with gram positive bacteria, gram negative bacteria, yeast and mold to see how effective the preservative system is. This product passed this rigorous laboratory test, meaning the product is protected against microbial proliferation that may present a potential risk to the user. Discover more about creating broad-spectrum preservative blends here.

Dermofeel PA-3 is the trade name for a commercial chelating agent that contains sodium phytate as its key ingredient. Sodium phytate can be purchased from Lotioncrafter (USA), New Directions (Australia), Formulator Sample Shop (USA) and Skin Chakra (Germany). If you can’t obtain it you could omit it from the formula (this may affect the preservative efficacy). You’ll learn more about chelating agents on our Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation.

Essential oils 

This product is fragranced with natural essential oils – geranium essential oil and lavender essential oil – giving this product a beautiful floral aroma. Both essential oils are antiseptic and promote skin healing. 

Antioxidant

Vitamin E (INCI: Tocopherol) is our chosen antioxidant.

Formula

Formula instructions

1. Weigh out the water. 
2. Set aside 1-2ml of the water for dissolving potassium sorbate in phase C.
3. Add Dermofeel PA-3 to the remaining water.
4. Premix glycerin with hyaluronic acid. Add to the rest of the phase A ingredients. 
5. Mix phase A together well. Set aside for several hours until the hyaluronic acid has hydrated.
6. Weigh all of the phase B ingredients into a beaker.
7. Heat both phases to 70-80°C until all the ingredients have melted. 
8. Add phase B to phase A and emulsify with a stick blender.
9. Premix potassium sorbate with the retained 1-2ml water until dissolved.
10. Once the mixture has cooled to below 40°C add the ingredients in phase C, one at a time, mixing in between each addition.
11. Check and adjust the pH. For us, this product is pH 5.45 before adjustment and we adjusted it to pH 5.0 using 0.5% of a 10% citric acid solution.

To find out more about creating emulsions, the different ingredients and techniques you can use, how to adjust the viscosity, how to adjust the pH, how to formulate for different skin types and much more, join our Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation.

Loved reading this article? Make sure to remember by pinning it!

Making our own natural skincare products is a fun and creative hobby that we can enjoy from the comfort of our own homes. 

The beautiful thing about this hobby is that once you understand the basics and know where to get accurate and reliable information – plus a few good recipes – you can make some amazing products for a fraction of the price of shop-bought brands.

Plus, when it comes to occupying, entertaining and educating our children, learning to make a few simple products is an absolute winner!

Kids tend to love making biscuits, pancakes and cakes and they also usually love arts and crafts. There’s so much fun to be had at home with children, and the memories this creates is something to be savored – for our kids and ourselves!

How about making some simple skincare products?

If you are looking for some new activities to try, here are seven simple, DIY cosmetic recipes that you can make with your children. 

If you do try these products out, please make sure to properly supervise your children and ensure you follow the recommended safety precautions. 

If you’d like more recipes to make with your kids, take a look at our Bath Treats eKit, which contains 25 wonderful recipes, or our Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products, which contains over 120 recipes!

1) Simple cocoa butter lip balm

This is such a soothing and nourishing lip balm, yet very quick, easy and inexpensive to make!

2) Lip gloss

Just a few ingredients are all you need to make this fun, shimmery lip gloss.

3) Rose and Cocoa Butter Bath Truffles

These are easy to make and fun to use!      

4) Foaming Orange, Frankincense and Sandalwood Mineral Bath Soak

You could change the essential oils for something more suitable for children, for example 1% orange and 1% lavender.

5) Shower scrub bars

These are simple to make and luxurious to use!

6) Super simple whipped shea body butter

Only three ingredients are needed for this fun, whipped body butter. 

7) Detoxifying clay face mask

This is a fun project for teenagers. Let them choose the most suitable clays and essential oils for their skin type.

Would you be surprised to find out that you can make a serum that retails for $140, at home, using basic equipment, in under five minutes and for less than $5?

In this article we’re going to show you how easy it is! We’ve formulated our own version of Youth Dew by May Lindstrom and Rejuvenating Frankincense Facial Oil by Neal’s Yard.

The beauty of learning to formulate your own products is you can take inspiration from cult products and use them to formulate your own version (usually for a fraction of the cost).

Why do products from high-end brands cost so much?

It’s not just the cost of ingredients they have to cover but a whole heap of other expenses, too. These might include manufacturing, staff, marketing, certification and other business overheads. And of course the business needs to make a healthy profit so that is added on top.

How did we create these formulas?

A company is legally required to list the ingredients of a product on the product label. Ingredients are listed in descending order of concentration. You can read more about how to read and understand a product label here.

This is something you can learn as well! It is something you’ll learn by taking our online Advanced Certificate in High-Performance Serum Formulation. Go check the course out here.

Important:

We are not claiming that the formulas shared here are the exact formula that is used by the brand. Nor are we trying to copy or be disrespectful of the companies featured who have worked hard to create not just awesome products but also awesome brands.

Instead, we are demonstrating that when you understand how a formula is put together and can read an ingredient list, you can take inspiration from a product you love and formulate a very similar product with the same ingredients for a fraction of the cost. Some people like to “dupe” their favorite product; we prefer to take inspiration from our favorite products. But the choice is yours!

Most commercial skincare products like to use a lot of oils for marketing purposes

They are usually included at a very small percentage, often for marketing purposes rather than to offer much skin benefit.

When you formulate and make your own products you can make them for a lot less AND you could also increase the percentage that the more specialist and exotic oils are used at, if you wanted to.

A note on how we costed these products

It’s fascinating to calculate how much these would cost you to make at home versus buying them from a top natural/organic brand.

We only calculated the cost based on the amount of ingredient used in the formula. We didn’t take into consideration wastage of ingredients or any other overhead like time/equipment. These products are quick and easy to make and require minimal equipment or time.

We found the cost of 100ml of each ingredient (unless otherwise stated) and calculated based on that. Of course in reality you may buy smaller amounts of each (for example 10ml of Coenzyme Q10) which works out slightly more expensive. We included organic oils where available as the original products use mostly organic ingredients.

The costs of ingredients obviously varies from one supplier to another and from one country to another. The price we have calculated therefore would vary depending on which country you are in and supplier you use, but even allowing for this, you’ll see just how much cheaper it is when you make your own.

The cost of packaging also varies greatly. We added on the cost for a bottle similar to the one used in the original product. Less expensive packaging options would also be available.

Rejuvenating Frankincense Facial Oil, Neal’s Yard

GBP £32 / US $44 per 30ml / 1fl.oz.

A quality facial oil, high in organic ingredients, from an iconic brand established in Covent Garden, London.

Make your own for £1.38 / $1.91 (Including packaging £2.03 / $2.90)

Saving: £29.97 / $41.10

INCI: Macadamia ternifolia (Macadamia) seed oil*, Adansonia digitata (Baobab) seed oil*, Prunus armeniaca (Apricot) kernel oil*, Ricinus communis (Castor) seed oil*, Oenothera biennis (Evening primrose) oil*, Cannabis sativa (Hemp) seed oil*, Vitis vinifera (Grape) seed oil*, Boswellia carterii (Frankincense) oil, Citrus nobilis (Mandarin) peel oil expressed*, Citrus bergamia (Bergamot) peel oil expressed*, Commiphora myrrha (Myrrh) gum oil, Curcuma longa (Turmeric) root extract, Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) seed oil, Tocopherol, Citral, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool.

*Organically produced ingredient.

Our formula

87% Macadamia seed oil
2% Baobab seed oil
2% Apricot kernel oil
2% Castor oil
2% Evening primrose oil
2% Hemp oil
2% Grape seed oil
0.5% Essential oil blend consisting of frankincense, mandarin, bergamot, myrrh
0.25% Turmeric root extract (we couldn’t find an oil-soluble extract so used essential oil instead)
0.25% Tocopherol (vitamin E)

The Youth Dew, May Lindstrom

Sold for GBP £101 / US $140 per 30ml / 1fl.oz.

May Lindstrom has created just the most divine brand! The packaging, the way the products are described and the gorgeous ingredients used have made it an international hit. The Youth Dew is cult serum, adored globally.

Make your own for £1.67 / $2.39 (Including similar packaging £3.34 / $4.77)

Saving: £97.66 / $135.23

The ingredient list (INCI)

*Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, *Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, *Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Prunus Domestica (Plum Kernel) Oil, *Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, *Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Fruit Oil, *Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil, *Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Oil, *Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Seed Oil, *Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil, Aleurites Moluccans (Kukui Nut) Oil, *Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, *Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium Rose) Oil, *Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, *Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) Oil, *Citrus Limon (Lemon) Oil, *Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, *Rosa Damascena (Bulgarian Rose) Oil, *Citrus Aurantium (Neroli) Oil, ***Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10) +Limonene, +Citronellol, +Geraniol, +Linalool, +Citral, +Eugenol.

*Certified Organic ***Wild Harvested +Component of Essential Oil

Our formula

75.5% Avocado oil
5% Meadowfoam seed oil
5% Olive oil
5% Plum oil
5% Jojoba oil
0.5% Sea buckthorn fruit oil*
0.5% Rosehip fruit oil
0.5% Pomegranate oil
0.5% Tamanu oil
0.5% Borage oil
0.5% Kukui oil
0.5% Evening primrose oil
0.6% Essential oil blend consisting of geranium, grapefruit, sweet orange, lemon bulgarian rose, neroli
0.2% Carrot seed oil
0.2% Coenzyme Q10

*Sea buckthorn fruit oil is very concentrated and bright orange and at too high an amount will stain the skin. So we have estimated its usage at 0.5%. All the ingredients listed after it will be used at the same or lower percentage, because ingredients are listed on a label in decreasing quantity.

When reading through cosmetic recipes or formulas for creams and lotions, some of them call for the ‘heat and hold method’ and some do not. This article will explore what the heat and hold method is, and the pros and cons of using it, to help you decide which process to follow.

Creams and lotions are emulsions that contain both a water phase and an oil phase.  Unless the emulsion uses a cold-process emulsifier, both phases will need to be heated separately before they are combined. There is no debate here, this is simply the science of emulsification.

Where the heat and hold method is different is that it requires the oil and water phases to be separately heated to 70°C and held at that temperature for 20 minutes. After that period of time, the phases are mixed together to form an emulsion. Some people swear by this method, some say it is completely unnecessary. This difference of opinions can be very confusing for a beginner to making skincare. So, what to do? To heat and hold or not?

Effect of heating and holding on emulsion stability

Heating and holding will help ensure the size of the micelles in the emulsion are small, which is crucial for emulsion stability. Micelles are tiny spherical structures that originate from a mixture of oil and water when emulsifiers are added. Micelles range in size from 5 to 100 nanometers in diameter. The smaller they are, the more stable an emulsion they will form. If they get too big, they will start to coalesce (join together), which will eventually break down the emulsion and cause separation of the phases.

The beneficial effect of heating and holding is true for many commonly used emulsifiers, such as emulsifying wax, Polawax, Olivem 1000 or Xyliance. If you are using a polymeric emulsifier (eg Sepigel 305) or certain cold-process emulsifiers (eg Sucragel), there is no need to heat and hold your phases for emulsion droplet size stability. Another point on heating and holding: if you are using a professional homogenizer (such as Ultra Turrax) to create your emulsion, the high shear mixing will ensure the droplets are small enough, so heating and holding will not particularly improve the emulsion stability. If you are making an emulsion with kitchen equipment, such a stick blender, then there is an argument that heating and holding will assist with stability.

Effect of heating and holding on microbiological safety

Prolonged exposure to high temperatures will not sterilize your phases, but it will kill the vast majority of common microbial contaminants. Most of the possible contaminants of raw material live in the water phase, so heating and holding for sanitary purposes is especially beneficial for the water phase of the emulsion.

It is true that heating and holding will not destroy thermophilic and spore-forming bacteria, but they are not a very common contaminant in cosmetics. It is also true that heating and holding will not kill microbial toxins (enterotoxins and aflatoxins), but they are not an issue in topical use of the products to begin with.

Heating and holding will help to reduce the number of viable microorganisms in your product, but further steps (use of a preservative, following GMP, sanitizing equipment) are still needed to ensure the product’s microbial safety.

Even if your emulsifiers don’t require heating and holding, it’s still a good idea to heat and hold the water phase only, to improve the microbiological safety of it. This is arguably most important for people making products at home, where, unlike in a professional manufacturing facility, a micro count for each ingredient isn’t available. A micro count would make you aware of any contamination issues; without this it is better to take extra precautions.

Downsides of heating and holding

The main reason not to heat and hold is the fact that it is time and energy consuming. For small batches that is not a big problem, but when working with industrial-size batches, the energy consumption goes up very quickly, which means an increase in costs and and impact on how ‘green’ the manufacturing process is.

Also, holding the water phase at a high temperature for a longer period of time will mean more water will evaporate. To solve this issue, measure the weight of the water phase before heating and holding and write the number down. After heating and holding, measure the weight again and add distilled water (that was also heated or even boiled) at the amount that was lost during the process to the water phase prior to combining the phases.

Often people worry that heating and holding will damage the ingredients that are being used. Twenty minutes at 70°C will not cause substantial harm to oils (they do not oxidize that fast) or to hydrosols (they are subjected to greater temperatures for longer period of time during distillation process). Remember that if the formula contains ingredients that are very sensitive to heat, they would be added in the cool down phase anyway.

Pros:

• Better emulsion stability (not true for polymeric and cold process emulsifiers).
• Reduces the number of microbial contaminants.

Cons:

• Time consuming.
• Energy consuming (especially in larger batches).
• More water phase is lost due to evaporation (easily solvable).

We consulted experienced cosmetic chemists and microbiologists in the researching and writing of this article and the vast majority are in favour of the heat and hold method. There was a mixture of opinion of whether to heat and hold just the water phase or both the oil and water phases.

In the end, the decision whether or not to heat and hold is up to you, your formula, equipment and personal choice. Whether or not your choice was correct will be evidenced by the outcome of your preservative efficacy tests and stability tests.

Love this blog post? Save this image below on Pinterest so you can be sure to remember!

Are you becoming increasingly aware of undesirable ingredients in commercial cosmetic products?

Here is a simple swap you can make: a well-known, commercial lip balm that contains mineral oil, parabens, synthetic color/fragrance, silicone and lanolin for an all-natural homemade one with just four nourishing, natural ingredients.

Behind the label: Cherry Chapstick

Here is what we found on the ingredient list:

INCI: White petrolatum 44%, Arachidyl propionate, camphor, carnauba wax, cetyl alcohol, D&C red no. 6 barium lake, fragrance, isopropyl lanolate, isopropyl myristate, lanolin, light mineral oil, menthol, methylparaben, octyldodecanol, paraffin, phenyl trimethicone, propylparaben, saccharin, white wax

As we can see from this ingredient list, this product contains:

• Mineral oil/Petroleum (White petrolatum, light mineral oil and paraffin)
• Parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben)
• Synthetic color/fragrance (D&C red no. 6 barium lake, fragrance)
• Silicone (phenyl trimethicone)
• Animal product (isopropyl lanolate, lanolin)

We discuss some reasons why you might want to avoid these ingredients in our 8 Ingredients to detox from your skincare. Of course it is completely up to whether or not you are happy to use these ingredients. 

A natural alternative: Cocoa Butter Lip Balm

In our opinion there are much better, less harmful and more natural ingredients that you can use to make a lip balm.

We’re going to show you how quick, easy and inexpensive it is to make your own at home. The following recipe and tutorial are taken from our Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products.

This recipe is a firm favourite amongst students! One got in touch recently to say,

This is a simple but wonderful recipe which you could adapt by choosing different carrier oils and essential oils. You can either use small tins or jars, or if you want to create a lip balm in a twist-up stick then you just need to vary the recipe slightly (see below). The second recipe uses more cocoa butter and wax than the first one, to create a firmer balm that works better in a twist-up stick container. 

The recipes below will make about 6-8 lip balms, either using small tins (eg 15g) or twist-up sticks. 

These products cost approximately GBP £0.70 or US $0.95 each to make (including packaging). The approximate cost without packaging is just £0.30 or $0.42 each. Of course the exact cost will depend on where you live, which supplier you use and whether you choose organic ingredients. But regardless of a little price variation, these products are not expensive to make, and in many cases less expensive than to buy. 

It’s a win – win: better ingredients, and a lower price!

Watch us make this lip balm in the video tutorial

Equipment list

To make your balms you’ll need:

• Digital scales (for measuring your oils and other ingredients)
• Glass beakers or jugs (to measure your ingredients into)
• Stirring rod or spoon (for mixing)
• Double boiler (for melting ingredients
• Jars/twist-up sticks (for packaging your products)

To find out how to create a double boiler (also called a bain-marie or water bath), please see our guide to the equipment you need.

How to make your lip balm

1. Weigh out your butters, wax and carrier oils.
2. Melt butters, wax and carrier oils together gently in a bain-marie or water bath.
3. If you wish you can melt the harder ingredients with a higher melting point first (cocoa butter, beeswax) then add softer ingredients with a lower melting point (carrier oils). This prevents overheating ingredients.
4. Once melted remove the mixture from the heat.
5. Add your essential oils, Vitamin E if you are using it and any other ingredients that are heat sensitive. This is best done by weighing these ingredients as you add.
6. Mix together well.
7. Pour into containers. It’s important not to allow any drops of water from the bain-marie to get into the product so you may need to dry it with a cloth before pouring.

Steps 4-7 need to be completed quickly as products containing wax will set quickly as soon as they start to cool. It’s a magical process watching them form before your very eyes.

Shelf life and storage 

As balms are oil-based products that do not contain water they do not require a preservative. Balms are best used within 6 months although may last longer if stored well, contain an antioxidant (such as Vitamin E) and use ingredients with a long shelf life (ie not ingredients that you have had open a while).

Store in a cool, dark place. If the product becomes warm it will soften and melt. Ensure you have clean, dry hands when using the balm.

Want to create more of your own skincare products, the correct way?

There is A LOT of incorrect information online. Join our Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products and learn how to make a wide range of skincare products that are safe, stable and effective.

Face masks are a fantastic and reasonably simple way of cleansing and conditioning the skin as well as treating a particular skin type or skin condition.

They are an absolute dream for the natural and organic beauty lover because you can make and use your own face masks at home, choosing from a vast array of natural and/or organic ingredients, most of which are inexpensive and easy to obtain. And in addition, when you know how, you can even make them without needing to add preservatives!

There’s so much variety and flexibility with face masks! You can make:

• Enzymatic peeling face masks
• Deep cleansing masks
• Brightening masks
• Mineral radiance masks
• Mud masks
• Hydrating masks
• Soothing masks

Face masks can also be multi-functional so you could, for example, create a 3-in-1 cleanser, scrub and mask or a 2-in-1 cleanser and mask.

Essentially, with so much variety, your creativity is only limited by your imagination… you can really let your imagination run wild to create something unique!

Here are 11 more reasons why you should add natural and organic face masks to your product-making repertoire…

11 reasons to use a natural face mask (today!)

1) Cleansing

Cleansing with face masks helps to remove excess oil and dirt, unclog the pores and tone the skin leaving it with a clean and glowing tint. Excellent for all skin types.

2) Exfoliating

The exfoliating action helps to loosen dead skin cells on the surface of the skin and expose the radiant new skin cells underneath. Excellent for most skin types except dry or sensitive skin.

3) Detoxifying

Face masks help to draw out and remove impurities such as pollutants and bacteria from the skin. Good for all skin types.

4) Antioxidant

Antioxidants protect the cells from damage by molecules called ‘free radicals’ which occur when the skin is exposed to toxins (cigarette smoke, pollution, alcohol, stress, and UV light). These free radicals damage the cells and cause wrinkles. Applying oils and products rich in antioxidants can help prevent such damage.

5) Soothing

This is a gentle and kind action that softens the skin and calms any irritation or inflammation. Great for sensitive, acne-prone, problem or combination skin.

6) Emollient

Ingredients in face masks help to soften and smooth the skin, leaving a silky and velvety look and feel.

7) Stimulate circulation

Ingredients used in face masks and the act of applying the product help to stimulate local blood circulation. This helps to bring nutrients to the skin cells and transport toxins away. It also encourages a warm, glowing and radiant complexion.

8) Reduce inflammation

The soothing, cleansing and detoxifying action of face masks help to calm the skin, reduce inflammation, combat irritation and encourage a healthy glowing complexion.

9) Tighten pores

Face masks help to tighten and tone the skin tissue, adding good tone to the skin and reducing the size of the pores, which improves the look and feel of the skin but also helps to keep it free from dirt, bacteria and pollutant build-up.

10) Brightening and radiance-enhancing

The action of applying the face masks as well as the combination of luxurious natural/organic ingredients helps to protect the skin, encourage healthy skin cell regeneration and bring about a healthy glowing complexion.

11) Anti-bacterial

Face masks can possess ingredients that draw out and kill bacteria, stopping the build-up that can lead to irritation and inflammation (or infection).

You see, making your own face masks is a really fun and creative experience and using them not only means you’re looking after your skin, but you’re also allowing yourself some time out to sit, rest, relax and pamper yourself!

They can be applied once or twice a week (depending on the skin type and condition being treated of course) which basically means that you can treat yourself to an at-home spa ritual at least once a week!

Enjoyed reading this blog post? Save this image below on Pinterest so you can be sure to remember!

Much more that just a healthy breakfast, oatmeal actually gives us much to be excited about as skincare creators!

Oatmeal is naturally rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and lipids.

Many scientific studies have been carried out on the benefits of oatmeal and demonstrate that oatmeal has a sustainable moisturizing effect.

It significantly improves skin dryness and roughness, and this effect lasts even after use of the oatmeal containing products has stopped.

11 reasons to use oatmeal in your natural skincare products

Oatmeal:

• helps to keep skin hydrated by forming an occlusive layer on the surface that retains water in the skin
•  allows natural and gentle cleansing of skin due to presence of saponins
•  provides gentle exfoliation
•  imparts moisturizing, soothing, conditioning, and nourishing qualities, significantly improving skin dryness and roughness
•  helps reduce skin inflammation making it ideal for treating inflammatory skin conditions
•  has been found to protect the skin from irritation caused by Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)
•  has antioxidant properties due to the presence of different types of phenols including ferulic and caffeic acids
•  contains flavonoids that are strong UVA screens (they absorb UVA)
•  is non-irritating and has low allergenic potential
•  is suited for all skin types including sensitive and problem skin such as acne, eczema and psoriasis
•  is inexpensive and readily available!

How to include oatmeal in your skincare and bodycare products?

Try colloidal oatmeal as an addition to a soothing bath powder or combine it with kaolin clay and tapioca starch in a mask for irritated and sensitive skin. You can even use coarser oatmeal as a super gentle exfoliant and cleanser for the face – just add some honey and a splash of water!

Inspired? We hope so!

References: 

Safety and efficacy of personal care products containing colloidal oatmeal, Maryline Criquet, Romain Roure, Liliane Dayan, Virginie Nollent, and Christiane Bertin.

Colloidal oatmeal: history, chemistry and clinical properties, Kurtz ES, Wallo W.

Enjoyed reading about the benefits of oats? Save this image below on Pinterest so you can be sure to remember!

This is a dry anhydrous mask that the consumer (or yourself!) mixes with water just before use.

There are a few benefits of creating (and selling) a dry powder-based mask like this:

• As they are anhydrous ithey don’t need a preservative.
• They have a long shelf life.
• They are fresh and potent when you apply them (especially important when using ingredients such as L-ascorbic acid).

We hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients

Vitamin C powder (L-ascorbic acid) – a potent antioxidant that can improve signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles and age spots. It can also lighten and brighten the skin and make it firmer by improving skin elasticity.

Green clay – absorbs impurities from the skin, and helps to detoxify, cleanse and purify, rejuvenate and nourish the skin due to its high mineral content.

Tapioca starch – extracted from cassava root, it’s used for its excellent absorbency of oils and to give the product a fine and smooth feel.

Matcha green tea – originates from Japan. It contains very high levels of antioxidants called catechin polyphenols, enzymes, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. It detoxifies the skin, stimulates and rejuvenates skin cells.

Honey powder – attracts dirt from pores and dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. Moisturizes and possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It also acts as a natural cleanser by softening and smoothing the skin.

Neroli essential oil – also known as orange blossom, because the oil is extracted from the flowers that blossom on the orange tree. A regenerating and healing essential oil that is excellent for mature skin and is also an antidepressant and aphrodisiac!

Vitamin C Antioxidant Face Mask Formula/Recipe

Directions: how to make

This is really simple to make! Weigh out each ingredient in turn and mix together well. Transfer into your packaging of choice.

Directions: how to use

Mix approximately two teaspoons with enough water to make a paste. Apply with a brush or finger tips. Leave on for 5-15 minutes and rinse off.

What other ingredients can you add to face masks?

These dry powder-based face masks lend themselves really well to a whole range of gorgeous ingredients such as:

• Vitamins and minerals – Vitamin C, Pro Vitamin B5, MSM (the beauty mineral), and more
• Botanical extracts
• Superfoods
• Clays
• Exfoliants
• Milk powders.

What could you create?

How about something inspired by a yummy beverage but with a MUCH longer shelf life:

• Matcha Latte mask
• Coconut Chai mask
• Pina Colada
• Superfood Berry Smoothie

Or something with specialist ingredients like spirulina, activated charcoal and raw cacao:

• Activated Charcoal Deep Cleanse Mask
• Green Goddess Superfood Mask
• Raw Cacao Antioxidant Boost.

Treat your skin with roses and chocolate this Valentine’s Day… Roses are red, violets are blue, we have the perfect skin treat just for you! Why not treat your skin to roses and chocolate on Valentine’s Day? It’s better for you than edible chocolate, plus this mask will last much longer than fresh roses (beautiful as they are). Not only will you be showing some love to your skin by using this pampering treatment, but also giving yourself some valuable ‘me time’.  

If you’d like to learn more about making your own face masks you’ll love our Certificate in Preservative-Free Face mask and Cleanser Formulation.

Ingredients

Let’s take a look as to why we are using the Valentine’s-inspired ingredients in this skin-beautifying treat…

Cacao

Referred to as the ‘food of the gods’. This tasty treat is rich in minerals like calcium, potassium and zinc. It also contains high levels of theobromine. Cacao powder is packed with anti-oxidants and contains anti-inflammatory properties. The compounds found in cacao are found in plants that promote healthy skin tissue.

Tapioca starch

It is extracted from cassava root, it’s used for its excellent absorbency of oils and to give the product a fine and smooth feel.

Rose powder

Roses are widely considered the most beautiful flowers in the world. Often used in Ayurvedic skin treatments, this deliciously scented powder helps to treat all skin especially sensitive. Toning and regenerative, it helps mature skin, as well as aiding in relaxing the mind and being intoxicating to the senses.  

Rose clay

Although not typically used in Valentine’s day treats, this clay has been chosen to continue the rose-inspired theme. Deemed as one of the mildest form of kaolin clay, Rose clay gently polishes and detoxifies the skin whilst being known for its firming properties.

Rose damascena essential oil

The essential oil of Rose is extracted by steam distillation of fresh Damascus Rose (rosa damascena) and is composed of hundreds of powerful components, out of which the major contributors are citronellol, citral, farnesol, stearpoten, methyl eugenol and geraniol. Damascus roses are the preferred variety because they are the most fragrant species and are believed to be the original red roses with strongest aroma and highest oil content. Rose essential oil has been known to help to boost self esteem as well as libido! We know about the emotional and psychological effects of rose. Let’s explore some of the skin benefits of this beautiful scented essential oil: The astringent and anti-aging properties of rose essential oil has many skin benefits. The beneficial plant compounds present help with toning and lifting skin. Also gives protection against fine lines and wrinkles as well as being able to treat minor skin infections such as acne.  

Chocolate and rose face mask formula

Let’s make this simple but divine skin treat.  

35% Rosa damascena flower powder

30% Tapioca starch

29.98 % Rose Clay (Illite and kaolin)

5% Raw cacao powder (Theobroma Cacao Powder)

0.02% Rose damascena essential oil  

Find your ingredients online or by checking out our recommended supplier list. Ingredient substitutions: If you don’t have rosa damascena flower powder you could substitute with extra rose clay. Geranium essential oil could be substituted for rose damascena essential oil.

Directions

Add all the ingredients in a clean dry jar, then add the rose essential oil. Mix well to combine.

How to use your face mask

Blend together a teaspoon of this mask powder and a few drops of water (use rosewater for extra decadence). Stir together slowly until you have a consistency that applies easily to your skin (remember to do a patch test first). Massage into your face and neck with the tips of your fingers. Wait until almost dry and rinse off. This water-activated mask treatment can be used not only on the face and neck, but as a body treatment too. Better still, why don’t you ask your loved one to help you apply it… Happy Valentine’s Day!