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Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:40 am  |
Does anyone make their own face cream?
I've read a lot of articles ranging 'oh, it's as simple as mixing oil in water and adding an emulsifier' to 'you need to have sterile lab conditions and proper equipment to do it'.
I am making whipped shea butter at home, and it's a marvel, but mind you there is no water added, so no preservatives needed.
I add Vitamin E, essential oils and a bit of lighter oils like Almond or Grapeseed oils. |
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Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:24 am |
| It seems hard to keep the cream fresh at the same time I do not want add any preservative to it. |
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Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:37 am |
Well that's the problem - you need to add synthetic preservatives and emulsifiers to do that. The only natural ones are beeswax and borax, but I read that it is oh so difficult to get the right proportions and amounts.
My question is to those natural and organic lines, who apparently not supposed to have 'bad' or synthetic preservatives, how do they manage to preserve it with expiry date of 1 year?! |
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Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:11 pm |
| zverenok wrote: |
Well that's the problem - you need to add synthetic preservatives and emulsifiers to do that. The only natural ones are beeswax and borax, but I read that it is oh so difficult to get the right proportions and amounts.
My question is to those natural and organic lines, who apparently not supposed to have 'bad' or synthetic preservatives, how do they manage to preserve it with expiry date of 1 year?! |
I think many of them use some form or another of alcohol, while others use some essential oils, and vitamin E as preservatives. Also - if the product is oil based (and no water), it does not need so much preserving, as most carrier oils have themselves long shelf lives. That's how i understand it... |
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Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:47 pm |
| I won't do it by myself. I'm afraid that if I add some elements wrongly it will irritate my skin. |
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Tue Dec 02, 2008 7:08 pm |
| cora-lu wrote: |
I think many of them use some form or another of alcohol, while others use some essential oils, and vitamin E as preservatives. Also - if the product is oil based (and no water), it does not need so much preserving, as most carrier oils have themselves long shelf lives. That's how i understand it... |
You see, alcohol is not a preservative. Vitamin E is not really a preservative, it's an antioxidant, but it will not prevent growth of bacteria and mold... If a product is oil based only, oh my - you will not like that on your face... It will feel greasy and oily and your face will shine. Pretty much all lotions, creams for face are emulsions of either oil in water or water in oil which require preservatives and emulsifiers. You can't achieve a shelf life of more than 6 months without them. So. Having said all that, I was hoping someone actually knew how exactly shelf life is guaranteed:)
For instance I have Dr. Hauschka Eye cream (supposed to be good until next September) yet I can distinctly tell the smell has changed. To me this is an indication that either oxidation process has begun (no surprise from numerous opening and closing etc), or bacteria began to grow. |
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Wed Dec 03, 2008 1:28 am |
| zverenok wrote: |
| cora-lu wrote: |
I think many of them use some form or another of alcohol, while others use some essential oils, and vitamin E as preservatives. Also - if the product is oil based (and no water), it does not need so much preserving, as most carrier oils have themselves long shelf lives. That's how i understand it... |
You see, alcohol is not a preservative. Vitamin E is not really a preservative, it's an antioxidant, but it will not prevent growth of bacteria and mold... If a product is oil based only, oh my - you will not like that on your face... It will feel greasy and oily and your face will shine. Pretty much all lotions, creams for face are emulsions of either oil in water or water in oil which require preservatives and emulsifiers. You can't achieve a shelf life of more than 6 months without them. So. Having said all that, I was hoping someone actually knew how exactly shelf life is guaranteed:)
For instance I have Dr. Hauschka Eye cream (supposed to be good until next September) yet I can distinctly tell the smell has changed. To me this is an indication that either oxidation process has begun (no surprise from numerous opening and closing etc), or bacteria began to grow. |
What do you understand by "preservative"? As far as i understand (and i'm not a specialist in the field by any means) - it is a substance that inhibits the growth of bacteria, and/or fungus. If you agree with this definition, both alcohol, and many essential oils have these properties. Vitamin E prevents oils from going rancid (oxidation). Even sugar and salt are well known as natural preservatives (not to be used in cosmetics though  , or at least not for the face).
And as far as oils are concerned - i have used them directly on my face, with great effects, and no oily residue. It depends very much on your skin and the type of oil you choose.
If you do a google search for "natural preservatives" you'll find some good information. |
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Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:47 am |
| zverenok wrote: |
Does anyone make their own face cream?
I've read a lot of articles ranging 'oh, it's as simple as mixing oil in water and adding an emulsifier' to 'you need to have sterile lab conditions and proper equipment to do it'.
I am making whipped shea butter at home, and it's a marvel, but mind you there is no water added, so no preservatives needed.
I add Vitamin E, essential oils and a bit of lighter oils like Almond or Grapeseed oils. |
And your whipped shea butter sounds super! Sounds like it would be also an excellent eye cream. Or even face cream for drier skin? What have you found? Do you use it only for the body? |
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Wed Dec 03, 2008 11:26 am |
Well, there is efficiency limit to natural preservatives, all I can tell you is that using vitamin E and alcohol won't get you 1 year expiry date on your tube.
So, I truly doubt we get the full picture.
And yes I use my whipped shea on my daughter's face to keep them from drying in winter.
Shea will feel a bit greasy, and you need to add starch - corn or wheat to give the all-wanted soak-in feeling. But I rather avoid that.
For my face it's too oily, and I would say it's too heavy for eyes defo. |
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Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:12 pm |
Zverenok,
Honey is a great natural preservative, and of course that's not the only thing it's going to do. Manuka honey is especially good, but it's also more expensive. Whenever I make anything myself, honey is a key ingredient and I've never had issues with spoiling. Unfortunately, if you have a lot of honey in something, the end result is likely to be kind of sticky but it's a small price to pay.
By the way, great name  |
_________________
24 yrs old. favorite sunscreen right now: Burnout [now 35] |
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Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:07 pm |
| I never thought to make my own moisturizer but have used simple ingredients to moisturize i.e. coconut oil, vitamin E, shea butter. Do you make the moisturizers in small batches to avoid the preservatives? Will keep watching this post for ideas, love the thought of doing my own moisturizers if they're easy. I'm a big fan of oils at night. Using Decleor oils for a while now. I don't notice any obvious preservatives in these. |
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Wed Dec 03, 2008 5:48 pm |
I just ordered a plethora of ingredients to make my own serums and emulsions. I ordered from makingcosmetics.com and lotincrafter.com and really wanted to dig into good info before creating my own products. makingcosmetics.com has an extensive library with recipes, info/articles regarding preservatives and much much more. Now however I am more confused than ever but with the additional info think I'll make better products  |
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Wed Dec 03, 2008 5:58 pm |
| Great resources. I just added makingcosmetics.com to my bookmarks. Very interesting and doesn't seem so daunting with enough info. |
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Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:48 am |
makingcosmetics.com has a lot of chemicals - so the whole reason for making your own stuff is to avoid non-healthy chemicals and make your product natural, healthy and suited for you.
I would suggest a lot more research into ingredients you use before you use them.
You can find a lot of stuff on internet, a simple emulsion is using something like Almond oil, Rose water, beeswax, baking soda and borax.
You could add vit E and Grapefruit seed extract (natural preservative) to give you a few months (refrigerated of course).
Try to practice in little amounts at first - put your water in a bowl and start drizzling oil while mixing constantly, your end result should look white and creamy.... |
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Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:04 pm |
| I think beyond simple mixes I probably won't get too into making my own. Between lack of time and knowledge it's easier to find simple natural products at the store. I am familiar with grapefruit seed extract as I've used it in making my own baby wipes. I like simple remedies like the coconut oil or aloe vera but sometimes my skin needs more. I try to find a balance between conventional products and homemade. |
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Thu Dec 04, 2008 4:28 pm |
sissyp,
Don't get me wrong, we've come a long way from conventional products - you can't compare Vichy to Dr. H or other natural/organic products now available - actually a lot are on EDS already. |
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Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:13 pm |
| I agree. Actually I'm really excited to see more eco/organic options at EDS. This is the first place I come to whenever I need or want anything. It's an ongoing trial and error in finding what works for ones skin. Some natural or home remedies have had negative effects on my skin and I've had great results with Decleor, Dr H etc... |
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Fri Dec 05, 2008 7:47 am |
Can you comment on Decleor in comparison to Dr. H? Or Jurlique? I haven't tried those two, just Dr. H and am really curious.
Particularly interested in Day eye cream, and day face cream.... |
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Fri Dec 05, 2008 11:36 am |
| I haven't tried Jurlique actually. It's one I look at a lot but end up back to Decleor because it's a safe bet for me. I think Decleor has more options for day moisturizers but if you are a stickler about questionable ingredients Decleor falls short. Many still have parabens. I tried Yonka as well because it's similar to Decleor but it has the same issue. In looking for something effective with fewer bad ingredients I found Caudalie. I think they've pulled most parabens from their products and use natural plant based ingredients. My favorite day cream is their Vinoperfect Day with spf 15. Their eye cream is very similar to Decleor Hydra Floral. Neither is that great if you are looking for more moisture but they work good for day use under makeup. I like Dr. H eye cream the best of these 3. Currently I'm using Decleor Hydra floral cream for night and day since money is tight but plan to repurchase the Caudalie day after the holidays. And I will probably stick with Dr. H eye. Dr. H day cream is heavier than the Decleor moisturizers I've used so I don't typically use unless I need a little something more. I haven't purchased it in a while but have a sample from my last EDS order so will hold on to it for those cold, cold days. Hope this helps. I'm happy to answer any specifics you may have. |
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Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:08 pm |
Good point, I've tried Yonka too - and didn't like it too much. It caused my cheeks to turn red with application and I wasn't too keen on the ingredients. Dr.H it is then
Just a quick q: when u say Dr.H day cream, do you mean the regular or the light? |
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Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:20 pm |
| I use the regular cream. Never tried the light but have tried the rose cream as well, found it a bit heavy for me but a nice night cream. |
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Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:22 pm |
| Oh OK, than now I am confused. Which one is regular? I meant the regular Rose Cream. And I have Rose Cream light... |
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Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:27 pm |
| I use the Daily Revitalizing eye cream and the Creme de Jour, Moisturizing Day Cream. The sample I had of the Rose day cream was the regular not light. Hope that helps. Sorry for the confusion. |
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Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:48 pm |
| You know, I was wrong. After all this talk about creams I decided to give the Dr. H a try with the sample I have and actually it's very light not heavy like I remembered. Not sure what I used in the past but the day cream has an almost milky texture, very nice for day with enough oil to feel like it's giving enough moisture. Now I'll have to do a little research and figure out what Dr. H cream I used in the past. Hmmm. Anyway, I do like this day cream, a light lemongrass scent, absorbs easily. Very nice. |
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Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:41 pm |
| Ah ok, so the sample you have is of the regular Rose day cream not the light right? And it doesn't feel 'greasy' on your face? Does it sinkin? What skin type do you have? Mine is a combination - oily T-zone and dry cheeks... |
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