DIY Vegan Skincare

From Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetic Guild (HSCG) blog:  Creating an Emulsion

An emulsion is comprised of little droplets of one phase surrounded by another. A stable emulsion will make a good lotion or cream. Most formulas require- a secondary emulsifier to create stable emulsions that won’t separate over time. When you use PhytoMulse Line of products you will not need a secondary emulsifier.
Lotions and Creams have 3 components:

• Water
• Oil
• Emulsifying Agent which allows them to combine.

Most formulations have Phases (Oil Phase, Water Phase, Final Phase/Cooling Phase):

• The “Oil Phase” includes all the oil-soluble ingredients.
• The “Water Phase” includes all the water- soluble ingredients
• Final phase” consists of all the ingredients you would add after the emulsion has cooled to 50º C or less.

Basic Guidelines when making an emulsion:

• Emulsifiers 5-8%of the formula
• Oils 12-20% of the formula
• Water, Additives, and Botanicals to up to 70-90%.
• Formula always should equal 100%

Formulas with less emulsifier and more water are generally lotions. Higher levels of oils and emulsifiers and less water are generally creams.

For beginners, we recommend you use a minimum of ingredients until you know how you would like your formula to be. Any botanicals, actives, Fragrances, Essential Oils, are mixed in last when your lotion or cream has cooled.

Phase 1: In main beaker, charge water and begin propeller mixing. A vortex should form. Add Phytofuse Renew™ into the vortex and stir until completely dispersed. Add Glycerin and FSS Pisum Sativum Peptide individually, allowing complete dispersion between additions. Heat to 82° C and mix until uniform.

Phase 2: In a separate beaker, charge Mineral Oil and being propeller mixing. A vortex should form. Add PhytoMulse™ Cetyl Alcohol and AcquaSeal® Coconut individually, allowing complete dispersion between additions. Heat to 80° C and mix until uniform. Add Phase II to Phase I, continue mixing until homogenous.

Phase 3: Begin cooling to below 35° C. Add Leucidal0 Liquid SF and AMTicide® Coconut until complete dispersion. Check pH and adjust to 4.5 - 5.0 with Citric Acid {50%) or NaOH (25%).

From Vegan Beauty Review blog by Sunny

DIY 2-Ingredient Moisturizer

• 1/4 cup raw shea butter
• 4 tsp sweet almond oil
• essential oils (optional)

Shea butter is rich in vitamins A, E & F as well as essential fatty acids and the nutrients necessary for collagen production. It also has natural SPF 6.

Sweet almond oil is rich in Vitamin E & D, oleic and linoleic acids, and minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium. It’s noncomedogenic (won’t clog pores), non-greasy, and mega moisturizing.

Simply melt your shea butter in microwave or double boiler, stir in your oil, and pour mixture into a glass jar (I used an old baby food jar to keep things eco).

DIY Lotion Bars

What you’ll need:

• 3 tbsp. candelilla wax
• 3 tbsp. cocoa butter -OR shea butter, mango butter, or kokum butter
• 3 tbsp. shea butter -OR cocoa butter, mango butter, or kokum butter
• 5 tbsp. avocado oil
• your favorite essential oils (I used 60 drops of lavender)
• silicon mold of choice (you can use cupcake liners, too)

Try to use organic ingredients if possible.

This recipe makes 6 small lotion bars.

Directions:

1. In a double boiler or microwave, melt your wax and cocoa butter.
2. Add your shea butter and avocado oil to the mix and allow everything to melt completely.
3. Remove from heat and add your essential oils. Be sure to stir them in well.
4. Pour mixture into your silicone molds and let cool until solid (wait at least an hour)
5. Carefully pop them out of the mold and enjoy!You can use any of these butters: cocoa butter, mango butter, or kokum butter.


These make excellent gifts, too. Just plop ’em in a tin, add a fancy ribbon or bow, and abadda-bing, badda-boom! Prezzie!

DIY Pumpkin Body Moisturizer

What you’ll need:

1/2 cup canned pumpkin (naturally loaded with exfoliating enzymes and vitamin A)
1/2 cup coconut oil (moisture-rich with lots of essential fatty acids)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (anti-microbial and delicious-smelling!)

1. Mix all the ingredients together until you have a super smooth consistency.
2. Apply the mixture as you would lotion.
3. Leave on for about 10-15 minutes
4. Rinse and dry.

Keep any leftover moisturizer in your fridge—it should keep for a couple of weeks.

Pumpkin Pie Scrub

• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin (pureed)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Combine ingredients in a plastic bowl and mix together. Apply to body and scrub gently using circular motions. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. Feel free to eat the leftovers.

You can also put this pumpkin pie scrub in a reusable jar, decorate it all Christmas-style, and then gift it!

DIY Pumpkin Face Mask

Pumpkins are rich in antioxidants like beta-carotine, zinc, vitamins A & C, and natural alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), which leave your skin healthy and soft. That’s why I’m obsessed with this simple DIY vegan pumpkin face mask. It’s super cheap and easy to make, and your skin will be sooooo grateful for this seasonal, healthy concoction!

What you’ll need:

• 2 tablespoons of canned pumpkin (puréed)
• 1 tablespoon of soy yogurt or ¼ teaspoon of soymilk

Optional additional ingredients:

• ½ teaspoon of brown sugar (helps exfoliate) or
• ¼ teaspoon cranberry juice (helps keeps skin from looking dull) or
• ½ teaspoon oatmeal (if you’d like a thicker mask; oatmeal is great for dry skin)

Directions
Mix all of your ingredients together and then gently apply to your face (avoiding the eye area). Kick it for about 10-15 minutes (feel free to paint your toe nails while you wait). Rinse with warm water, and then moisturize with your favorite lotion.

Voila! You’re done! Enjoy your beautiful, glowing skin!

DIY Pumpkin Oatmeal Face Mask

Woohoo! Pumpkins are rich in antioxidants like as vitamins A, C, and E, and oatmeal helps fight acne and soothes finicky skin. This mask beautifully suits the season and will leave your skin feeling ah-ah-ah-MAZING!

What you’ll need:

• 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin purée
• 1 teaspoon jojoba oil (you can sub this for sweet almond oil or any of your fave face-friendly oils)
• 1 tablespoon of plain oatmeal (best if run through a blender of coffee grinder for finer texture)
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (this is optional, but it definitely kicks this autumnal mask up a notch)

Combine ingredients in a bowl and mix together. Apply to face and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

DIY Sunscreen

Did you know that there are tons of nut, fruit, and veggie oils that have naturally occurring SPF? Check it!

Natural Oils with SPF

• Red raspberry seed oil – SPF between 30-50 (protects agains UVA, UVB, and UVC rays!)
• Carrot seed oil – SPF 35-40
• Wheat germ oil – SPF 20
• Avocado oil – SPF 15
• Hazelnut oil – SPF 15
• Coconut oil – SPF 8-10
• Soybean oil – SPF 10
• Olive oil – SPF 8
• Macadamia oil – SPF 6
• Almond oil – SPF 5
• Jojoba oil – SPF 4
• Rice bran oil – SPF 4
• 
  
• What you’ll need:
• • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup shea butter
  • 1/8 avocado oil
  • 2 tbsp candelilla wax
  • 1 tsp. red raspberry seed oil
  • 1 tsp. carrot seed oil
  • Essential oils (optional)
  • 
    
  Using a microwave or double boiler, melt your candelilla wax and shea butter. Once fully melted, add your coconut oil and avocado oil (while still heated in double broiler).
  Remove from heat and place in fridge for 30 mins. Add in your red raspberry seed oil, carrot seed oil, and essential oil(s), and whip with a hand mixer until fluffy. Store your sunscreen in the fridge to extend its shelf life (6 months to a year). 

DIY Rose Water Toner

Take advantage of your garden and make your very own refreshing, floral, rosey face mist. Rose water is awesome because it  smells uh-mazing, and it’s great for dry, sensitive skin.

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup of rose petals (rinsed)
• 2 cups of filtered water
• A spray bottle

Place your rose petals in a pot or metal bowl. Pour 2 cups of boiling filtered water over them and cover with a lid. You’ll wanna let your rose petals soak for a good 3-4 hours. Then use a strainer to add your beautiful-smelling rose water to a spray bottle, and voilà! Use your toner after washing your face and before moisturizing. Feel free to store your toner in the the fridge for up to a week