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DIY Face Moisturizer (Honey & Beeswax)

If you spend a lot of money on various types of face creams, you might want to consider trying your own DIY Face Moisturizer.  Many of the commercial products available contain so many complicated ingredients – we can’t even pronounce some of them.  By making your own face moisturizer with common ingredients, you will know for sure what you are putting on your skin.

Homemade Face Moisturizer

Jar of homemade face moisturizer in glass container with spoon and lid.

Creating your own homemade recipes for skin care does not have to be complicated. In the most basic terms, we are striving to lock in the existing moisture in our skin.

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By using natural products such as honey and beeswax for skin care – we can nourish and moisturize the skin surface.

Ingredients

You only need a small number of ingredients for your face moisturizer recipe.  The best news is that many of them can be used for other projects – so no wasted money.

Labeled ingredients used to make homemade face moisturizer.

Shea Butter

Let’s start with shea butter.  This nutrient rich cosmetic butter is made from the seeds of the Shea tree in Africa.  It is a semi-solid creamy substance and contains many vitamins and fatty acids.

It is a natural emollient and humectant that helps lock in moisture.  Shea is safe for most skin types and is used to tone skin.

Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter is derived from the cocoa bean.  It is really a vegetable fat and not a butter at all.  Cocoa butter is a bit brittle at room temperature but it has a low melting point so it is easy to work with. 

It contains palmitic, oleic, and stearic acids.  All of these are very nourishing to skin.  This butter is more expensive than Shea.  If you only want to use one – you can substitute Shea for the Cocoa butter in this recipe.

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is used in many recipes for cosmetics and skin care.  It contains natural forms of vitamin E and is used for cleansing and toning.  You easily find it in small bottles in liquid form.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a must have for your kitchen pantry.  You can do any number of remarkable things with it – including using it in cooking.  This wonderful oil is produced from the milk or meat of coconuts – it has a wonderful aroma.

You will find different types of coconut oil that mostly refer to the manner in which it was made.  For skin care, unrefined cold pressed is the one to go for.  It is believed that this method retains most of the natural properties of the oil.

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Honey

Whenever possible, use raw honey in your skin care products.  Honey is full of anti-oxidants and studies have shown it to be nourishing for skin.

Any variety of honey works well in your homemade skin moisturizer recipe.  No need to spend extra money for special types – just buy some good raw pure honey.

Beeswax

This wonderful product is actually made by honey bees.  No, they do not collect it – they make it!  Female worker bees have special glands on the underside of their abdomen that extrude flakes of wax.

They use it to build the structure of their homes – the actual sheets of honeycomb.  But, we humans understand the value of beeswax and use it in so may ways.  It lasts forever – always keep a bit on hand.

Vitamin E Oil

Vitamin E is a common ingredient in homemade products.  It is a natural anti-oxidant that helps keep the oils and butters in your recipes fresh longer. 

While not as powerful as some of the commercial parabens etc, it is a natural product that is also good for your skin. It is used in lip balms, body butters, soaps and many other DIY products for skin care.

Tea Tree Essential Oil

Essential oils are natural products that are derived from various plant sources.  But, don’t let that fool you into thinking that they are not powerful.  These concentrated substances should be used with care and respect.

Tea Tree Essential oil has antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.  It can be a good partner in skin care when mixed with another carrier oil. 

If you have sensitive skin, consult a doctor or dermatologist prior to putting any essential oils on your face.

The Process – Melting and Mixing

The process of putting all the ingredients together is very simple. Gently melt the beeswax and butters – add the oils and other ingredients.

The double boiler method is the safest way to melt beeswax. If you do use a microwave – do so in short bursts and stir in between each session. It is very easy to overheat and damage the materials in the microwave.

Honey is water soluble but we are adding it to a recipe with oils and butter. The tendency is for the honey to separate out.

As your recipe cools, it is important to stir the ingredients often to help the honey blend with the other ingredients.

Honey collected in bottom of melting pot of oils and butters.

Tea Tree oil is knows as a good product for skin but if you do not care for it – you can use another essential oil instead. Other popular choices are: Lavender, Frankincense and Sandalwood.

Honestly, you don’t have to use any scent, fragrance or essential oils if you prefer. This might be a good choice for those of you with really sensitive skin.

If your face moisturizer is a bit more liquid than you desire, you can gently melt again and add a bit more beeswax. Take care that you do not get it too hard to spread though.

For a really liquid skin product, this true beeswax lotion is best. Many prefer it for hands and a creamier product for the face.

Of course if you would rather have a more solid option – you can make your own homemade lotion bars.

Also, while you have your creative juices flowing, this luxurious body butter and cracked heel cream are some other products that are easy to make and will have your skin saying….. ahhhhh.

Small glass jar of honey and beeswax face moisturizer with spoon and lid.

DIY Face Moisturizer Recipe

Charlotte Anderson @ Carolina Honeybees, LLC
Using the nourishing properties of natural oils and butter, you can make your own face moisturizer. The addition of honey and beeswax increasing the skin soothing qualities of this product.
5 from 10 votes

Supplies
 

Instructions
 

  • Begin by melting the beeswax and cocoa butter using a double boiler. This is the safest method.
    Melt slowly – don't rush the process or over-heat the wax and butter.
    Using double boiler to melt beeswax and other ingredient.
  • Once the cocoa and wax are liquid – add the coconut oil, shea butter and jojoba oil. – stir well.
    Then, add a small amount of raw honey. Don't be over generous with the honey – only a small amount is needed.
    Adding honey to melted beeswax and coconut oil.
  • Once everything is mixed and melted – remove from heat. Add in the Vitamin E Oil and the drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil. Stir well.
    Drops of Vitamin E Oil added to face moisturizer ingredients.
  • Let the mixture cool (to hasten the process – pop it in the refrigerator for a few minutes). As it cools, use a spoon (or similar) to whip the ingredients together.
    You want to make sure the honey is staying incorporated into the rest of the ingredients.
  • When the material is cool and in a semi-solid state, spoon it into a storage container. Choose one that you will be able to get your finger in to get it out. You need a tight lid to seal.
    Skin moisturizer in clear container with wooden skewer.

Notes

  • Use a safe method for melting the beeswax – go slow.
  • You can substitute all Shea Butter if you don’t have Cocoa Butter
  • If the mix is more runny than you like – remelt and add a bit more beeswax
  • Always test any product on a small area of you skin first.  Anyone can be sensitive to anything.
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Use and Storage of Natural Face Moisturizers

You did it! I knew you could. Your DIY Face Moisturizer should last for several months in a tight-fitting jar. If it begins to smell rancid, it is time to throw it out and make a new batch.

Now you have a natural product without a lot of mystery chemicals to use on your face. The most common way to apply is to use a finger tip and gently spread a small amount over your face (avoiding the eyes of course).

A small amount (the size of a dime) is perfect to help ease dry skin and serve as an overall moisturizer. It is most commonly used at night.

** Disclaimer. Remember, anyone can be allergic to anything. If you have any doubts, questions or concerns – consult your dermatologist before putting homemade recipes on your face.