Rose Face Cream Recipe
This is adapted from Rosemary Gladstar’s Perfect Cream Recipe. I love it!
Ingredients
Oils
⅔ cup Rose infused apricot oil
(you could also use apricot oil, almond oil, or grapeseed oil)
⅓ cup Shea Butter
0.5oz Beeswax
½ tsp Lanolin½ tsp Glycerin
1 tsp Arrowroot Powder
*0.5 0z Leucidal SF Complete (not everyone uses a preservative, but your cream will last longer)
Liquids
⅔ cup Rose Hydrosol
⅓ cup Aloe Vera Gel
Directions to make face cream
Step One
1.Combine your rose infused oil, shea butter, and beeswax and melt gently over a double boiler.
- Once melted and slightly cooled add the lanolin, glycerin, and arrowroot powder. If you are using the preservative, add this once your oils are completely cooled.
- In another container combine your hydrosol, aloe vera gel, and any essential oils you would like.
Step Two
This is where you combine oils and water to make cream. Make sure your oils and your waters are cooled down and are roughly the same temperature. You are going to slowly add the waters to your oils as you mix. Use a hand mixer or a blender.
- Slowly start mixing the oils, then very slowly add the water as you continue mixing. Watch this step carefully. Don’t go too fast. There may also be a point where your cream does not want to accept or incorporate any more water into it. Stop here.
- Pour your cream into clean and sterilized jars. The cream will thicken up as it sits.
Some Tips for Success
Because this cream recipe contains water, the hydrosol and aloe vera gel, using the preservative will greatly prolong the shelf life of this cream. Water breeds bacteria. The preservative I have listed is Ecocert approved and made from fermented radish.
Some folks don’t use a preservative and swear it will last for 3 months. It's really up to you.
Either way the following steps will help ensure a longer shelf life for your cream.
Use clean equipment. Wipe down your tools with rubbing alcohol before using. Use clean new jars with clean new lids. Make sure your tools are clean and dry. For your water use a hydrosol or use distilled water. Don’t use tap water or spring water, they both are sources of bacteria. Use the aloe vera gel from the store, it does have some preservatives in it.
Don’t use wooden spoons or spatulas to mix, combine, or scoop.
Some sources out there say to add grapefruit seed extract or rosemary extract. These are not preservatives, they do help your oils stay fresh, but they do not inhibit mold growth.
Beeswax pellets are much easier to use than chunks of beeswax that need to be grated. I have also found the pellets combine into the cream better. Don’t skip the beeswax, it helps to bind the oil and waters together.
The arrowroot is optional also. But I find it helps the cream to absorb faster and not feel so greasy.
Enjoy!