The list of ingredients on any cosmetic product is long read – small print full of ingredients most of us can barely see or recognise. They call it small print for a reason! Harmful chemicals are included in our beauty products for various reasons: to keep them fresh longer and ensure they don’t harbour harmful bacteria, I understand that, of course I do.
Yet I decided to have a go at making my own fabulous, organic, vegan and nourishing wonder face cream. All ingredients are organically sourced and the Shea Butter is unrefined and comes from a fair-trade farm in Ghana supporting local workers. That starts my skin glowing immediately – there is nothing as nourishing as with a little happiness, pride and a good deed. In fact, if you make the effort all ingredients can be sourced from Soil Association and Organic certified sources. My supplier is Akoma Skincare.
You can find other credible sources, just look for “organic soil association”, “fair trade” or the EU certified logo… and feel even better!
Plus it is so easy to make!
Luxurious Shea Butter, Coconut and Frankincense face, hand and body cream
My cream has 3 ingredients and no water, so it does not need preservatives. It will last for 6 months. For 100g of cream:
70% Shea butter
29% Coconut oil
1% Frankincense essential oil
Melt (make sure you do not boil) the Shea butter and coconut oil in a bowl sitting on top of a pan of boiling water.
Once it has melted, stir it and add the essential oil – 30 drops for 100 grams or 15 if you are making a 50g batch.
Once cooled – and it really depends on the temperature – the cream will have a hard consistency, like coconut oil in a jar, more like a balm. If you want a more creamy texture you just have to whisk it until you find the consistency you like, then pour your cream into a jar or other sealable container.
That’s it!
You can create your own favourite moisturiser by replacing the coconut oil with other oils (avocado, Argan, olive) and you can use different essential oils (rose, lavender and geranium are some of my favourites). Why not change the formula too? Experiment!
I use this all-rounder for face, hands, body and hair. All the ingredients are caring and provide my skin with the nourishment I need for in the winter months. I love the smell of Frankincense too - I find its scent calming, and the butter-oil combination feels luxurious. A little goes a long way so you can just melt a small amount in your palm and work it into your skin.
The recipe works wonders as a conditioning hair treatment too: I put generous amounts on my hair and scalp for an hour before washing. I find it makes my split ends look better, styling is easier and curls don’t fall out so quickly in my fine straight hair. I am excited and inspired to make a variety of this concoction for each of the four seasons.
What are the benefits?
Shea butter is moisturising and regular use of this natural cream can alleviate skin problems including blemishes, wrinkles, itching, sunburns, small skin wounds, eczema, skin allergies, insect bites ad frostbite. It contains Vitamin E, A, K and F and is super moisturising. It also stimulates collagen production.
Coconut butter is a great emollient if the barrier function of your skin is disturbed. It repairs and restores this quickly as is rapidly absorbed into the epidermis. It contains Vitamin E, essential amino acids and lauric and caprylic acid, which form part of the barrier function of your skin and help maintain your skin's natural flora – aka the good bugs!
However coconut oil is comedogenic, so if you are prone to blemishes and congestion this may not be a cream for using every day.
Frankincense oil is also renowned for its physical therapeutic benefits, including the treatment of cuts and blemishes and as a toner and revitaliser for ageing skin.