Wheat germ oil is full of antioxidant vitamin E and is terrific at delivering moisture to parched skin. Rose water and rose essence give this cream a pretty floral scent.
Best for: Dry skin.
2 tbsp (30 ml) rose water
1 tbsp (15 ml) grated raw beeswax
1 tbsp (15 ml) cocoa butter
1 tbsp (15 ml) shea butter
3 tbsp (45 ml) wheat germ oil
3 drops rose essence or orange blossom essence
1. In a small saucepan, warm rose water over low heat (do not boil). Keep warm.
2. In a small heatproof bowl, combine beeswax, cocoa butter and shea butter. Set aside.
3. Pour enough water into another small saucepan to come about 2 inches (5 cm) up the side; bring to a simmer.
4. Set bowl on saucepan so that bottom of bowl is not touching simmering water; stir until beeswax mixture is melted and smooth. Remove bowl from heat.
5. Stir rose water and wheat germ oil into beeswax mixture. Using a wooden spoon, beat for 1 to 2 minutes or until lukewarm. Stir in rose essence. Let cool completely.
6. Smooth cream gently over face.
TIPS Choose 100% natural cocoa butter for homemade creams like this. You can buy chunks of this creamy, yellowish substance made from cocoa beans at cosmetic-supply stores and online. It is also sold in uniform-size wafers. Either form will work fine in this recipe. Rose and neroli (orange blossom) essential oils are expensive, because it takes so many flowers to make just a single drop of oil. This recipe substitutes less-expensive rose or orange blossom essence to give the cream a divine scent without the hefty price tag.
NOTE Always measure accurately when you’re making homemade beauty products.
Courtesy of The Complete Guide to Natural Homemade Beauty Products & Treatments by Amelia Ruiz © 2016 Reprinted with publisher permission. Available where books are sold.
Want more Beauty? This original article first appeared in the Fall 2016 issue of City Style and Living Magazine.
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