DIY Cold Cream Recipes – Skin Care
Did you know cold cream was formulated to sooth wounded gladiators? We have two cold cream recipes for you to try when you need to face the lions.
Cold cream is generally credited as having been first developed by Galen, a 2nd century Greek physician, in his service as an attendant in a local temple to Asclepius, the Greek God of Medicine and Healing. One of Galen’s primary roles was to tend to the Gladiators following “games.” Naturally, due to the frequency and severity of their wounds, he developed a great many healing treatments, an ointment of fat and water among them. This was the first “cold cream.”
Galen’s cold cream contained olive oil (for softening), water, beeswax (the base of the cream), and rose petals (for aromatherapy). It was called called “cold cream” because after it was applied to the skin, its water content evaporated, which left a cool feeling on the skin.
Commercially manufactured cold creams have long since replaced the olive oil with mineral or other oils, which will not spoil as rapidly.
Some recipes for cold cream will contain borax (commonly used for laundry whites); others will not. Borax is a natural ingredient and acts as both an antiseptic and a preservative. A reaction occurs when added to recipes containing beeswax — it turns the concoction a creamy white color.
Strictly speaking, this is not “cream” but rather “creme” because it contains no dairy.
DIY COLD CREAM RECIPES
Equipment
- Hand Whisk
- Microwave and Heat Resistant Bowl and Lid
- Kitchen Scale
- Blender or Food Processor
- Dropper or Teaspoon
- Ice Cube Trays
- Freezer Container with Lid or Zip Lock Freezer Bag
- Small Cosmetic Jar
Materials
VERSION 1: FROZEN HONEY COLD CREAM
- 40 g Cold pressed safflower oil (approx 1.5 oz)
- 40 g Distilled water (approx 1.5 oz)
- 10 g beeswax chips (approx 1/3 oz)
- 1 teaspoon Honey
- 1 teaspoon Borax Powder (if a white cream is desired, otherwise, optional)
VERSION 2: BASIC COLD CREAM
- 1 oz Beeswax Pellets
- 6 oz Mineral Oil
- 4 Tablespoons Distilled Water
- 1 Teaspoon Borax Powder (if a white cream is desired, otherwise, optional)
- 2-3 Drops Essential Oil (favorite scent)
Instructions
FROZEN HONEY COLD CREAM INSTRUCTIONS
- Combine safflower oil and beeswax pellets or shavings into a clean, dry bowl. Microwave on low, gently, until the beeswax has melted.
- Slowly drizzle the teaspoon of honey into the oil mixture, beating thoroughly. A dedicated blender or food processor works fine (dedicated meaning you keep a spare one for craft projects, and you do not use it for food preparation for a risk of cross-contamination).
- Using a teaspoon or dropper, slowly drop minute amounts of distilled water into the oil/wax/honey, whisking quickly the entire time.
- Once you have incorporated all of the distilled water into the mixture, allow your cream to "settle" for at least five minutes.
- Water which has not incorporated will settle to the bottom, and the cream layer will rise to the top. Drain off and discard this lower layer of water.
- Gently spoon one teaspoon of "cold cream" into each well of a clean, dry ice cube tray. Freeze until solid.
- Remove frozen cubes from the tray and place them into an airtight freezer storage container, or ziplock bag.
- Each evening, remove a frozen cream cube from your freezer, and place into your "daily pot." An empty, clean cosmetic pot works well. Thaw overnight, in your refrigerator, and use the cool, chilled cream within 24-48 hours.
- Repeat the process each evening, or as often as you feel like a smoothing lift.
BASIC COLD CREAM INSTRUCTIONS
- In a clean microwave dish, combine beeswax and mineral oil. Gently heat and stir until melted and well blended.
- While melting, dissolve your borax in the distilled water and heat it gently -- do not boil.
- Remove both pans or dishes from the heat source, and, stirring constantly, slowly drizzle the distilled water and borax solution into your wax and oil solution.
- When fully combined, begin to beat vigorously until it has cooled.
- Add your Essential Oil and continue to beat until your cream is light and airy, with a brilliant white sheen.
- Store in clean glass jars, preferably in the refrigerator.
Spa Index Kitchen Notes
First published June 27, 2003
This history was so interesting!
ON Version #2, you list 6 ounces mineral oil – is this 6 oz by Weight or volume (3/4 cup)?
And I assume the 1 ounce of beeswax pellets is measured by weight, is this correct?
Hi Ginger, sorry for the delay. Our Kitchen Team was on a retreat. Yes, the pellets are by weight, and, mineral oil is indeed 3/4 cup.
hello!, I like your diy recipes very much and this was interesting too!
“You know Sugar, there was a time there was no such thing as DIY. It was ALL Do It Yourself! We didn’t buy things like this, we made them because we wasted nothing.”
“Does this remind you of the cold cream you’d have growing up?”
“Yes actually it does, it sure does. Yours smells much better. Less like the barn.”
“How does it work?”
“Oh WELL now. You know this is always better than what you buy in the store. That stuff can be used on your cars, you know. So why use it on your face?”
“Good tip, Nana.”