BATH: Cruelty-free Cold Creams (CRAFTS, OILS)

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Cruelty-free Cold Creams

by Annie Berthold-Bond

 

A number of you have written in to me lately asking about cruelty-free

and petroleum-free substitutes for the leading national brand of cold

cream. Cold creams are heavy, thick creams that are smoothed on the top

of the skin to absorb makeup, dirt, and oils; they are then wiped off

with cotton balls or washcloths, and then the face is washed and an

astringent applied to remove excess oils.

 

Conventional cold creams, also known as vanishing creams, aren't greasy,

and most current commercial brands tend to be made of mineral oil (a

petroleum product) and/or stearic acid (a fatty acid from animal or

vegetable sources). In the old days, oil from sperm whales was used in

cold creams, but you can substitute jojoba, a natural liquid wax in my

easy-to- make cold cream recipe. Jojoba is known to have similar

properties as sperm oil; both lubricate the skin without being too

greasy. Shea butter is the oil of choice used in the Kiss My Face brand

of eye makeup remover.

 

Menthol cold creams are stimulating for the skin, and can be

incorporated in your cold cream easily by adding mint oil, or equal

parts of eucalyptus and peppermint leaves.

 

Basic Cold Cream Vanishing Formula

The ingredients are available from most health food stores. Borax is

found in the laundry section of the supermarket. Borax is used in this

recipe as an emulsifier.

 

1 ounce jojoba

1 ounce grapeseed oil

1/2 to 1 ounce beeswax (less for a thinner cream)

2 ounces distilled or filtered water

1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin

1 teaspoon borax

10 drops mint oil or other essential oil of choice (optional)

40 drops grapefruit seed extract as a preservative

 

Combine the oils and beeswax in a double boiler and melt. Remove from

the heat and pour in the remaining ingredients; mix with an electric

handheld mixer until the cream is thick and creamy. Makes 3/4 cup. Store

in a glass jar with a screw top. Discard after 6 months (or sooner if

mold begins to grow).

 

(NOTE FROM MOUSE: I do not recommend using borax on the body so please

leave that out of this recipe. Use borax for the laundry or scrubbing

the kitchen sink instead.)

 

www.care2.com

 

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