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I started making this cream for myself quite a few years ago when I discovered that there was not ONE commercial cream I could use on my skin without developing a rash.   None.   Nada.   Yes, I tried whatever brand you're about to suggest.

This homemade cream comes straight from the wonderful book Herbal Healing for Women by Rosemary Gladstar.   You whip it up in a blender like mayonnaise and one batch makes plenty because a little goes a long way.   It makes enough that I started sharing little jars with friends and loved ones and each and every one of them has reported that this cream has soothed and nourished where others cannot.   It's so mild that I have no hesitation to use it on the little one's hands and faces when they have rough spots or rashes.   So many people have been asking for it lately that it's just easier to post it here than to make everyone a copy.   I hope Rosemary doesn't mind; I encourage you all to buy her books for more great recipes and deep wisdom.   She is truely one of our modern wise women.

• Over low heat, in a double boiler, heat just enough to melt:
  • ¾ of a cup of grape seed oil (other natural oils such as apricot oil and almond oil can be used, but grape seed oil is the lightest and least oily )
  • ⅓ of a cup of coconut oil and/or cocoa butter ( I use both)
  • 1 teaspoon of lanolin (Omit this if you have an allergy to lanolin. I used castor oil last time instead. ) and
  • ½ of an ounce or more of grated beeswax (you'll have to experiment with this to get the consistency you want.)
  • Optional Ingredients
    • Vitamins A and E as desired (To be effective in the cream, at least 10,000 units of vitamin E and 150,000 units of vitamin A should be used.)
    • Black current seed oil (Use 1000 to 2000 milliliters per cup.)
    • If making the cream for someone with acne, add Evening Primrose Oil or Black Current Seed Oil to the recipe.
  Pour this mixture into a glass measuring cup and let it cool to room temperature.   I usually let it sit overnight in a cool room.   The oils should become thick, creamy, semisolid, and cream-colored.   This cooling process can be hastened in the refrigerator, but keep an eye on it so that it doesn't get too hard. When it is completely cool, you are ready to go on.
• In a blender, place
  • ⅔ of a cup of distilled water   You can also use distilled rosewater or orange flower water.   If the skin is oily, witch hazel extract or Queen of Hungary's Water can be substituted for part of the distilled water.
  • ⅓ of a cup of aloe vera gel and
  • a drop or two of essential oil if you want a scent.   I use lavender sometimes.
  Turn the blender onto the highest speed.   In a slow, thin drizzle (just as in making mayonnaise) pour the oil mixture into the center vortex of the blender.
• When most of the oil mixture has been added to the water mixture, listen to the blender and watch the cream.  When the blender "coughs and chokes" and the cream looks as thick and white as butter-cream frosting, turn the blender off.   Do not over beat!   If there is still a little liquid left, hand-beat it in or carefully blend for a second or two longer.   You should have a beautiful, rich thick cream.   It will continue to thicken a bit as it sets up.
• Pour the blend into cream or lotion jars and store in a cool place.   This cream will not go bad stored at room temperature.   However, if you make more than you can use in a month or two, it will keep longer if the excess is stored in the refrigerator.

There is a lot of flexibility and room for creative input in this recipe.   The basic formula can be embellished with any number of ingredients: vitamins A, D, and E; elastin, collagen, and avocado oil; various combinations of essential oils, herbs and so on.   There is just one caution: Experiment in small batches.   You don't want to waste a lot of costly ingredients in a large, less-than-perfect batch.   What is essential to the success of this cream recipe is proportions and temperature.   The proportions of the oil mixture and the water mixture must be similar and everything must be at room temperature when the cream is made.   Also, follow these guidelines before you start your blending:

• The basic proportions of the cream recipe should be about one part oils to one part waters.
• The oil proportions should be approximately two-thirds cup liquid oil (such as grape seed, almond, or apricot) to one-third cup solid oil (cocoa butter, coconut oil, beeswax, lanolin).
• The water mixture can include distilled water, rose water, lavender, orange, and other flower waters.   It can also include tap water, but tap water may introduce bacteria into your cream that can result in the growth of mold.   The water mixture also includes an essential oil for scent, aloe vera gel,and any optional ingredients such as vitamins.   If using aloe vera gel, your cream will be a little heavier but very moisturizing.   When using aloe, it is important to use the gel and not the fresh plant.   The fresh plant may introduce bacteria to your cream and cause it to mold.   It is also important not to use aloe or cream made with aloe in it on staph infections.   Though aloe is excellent for many skin infections, it provides a perfect medium for staph to grow in and will actually spread the infection.

Followed as above, the cream recipe should work for you.   If it doesn't and the water mixture and oils separate, it is most likely because of improper temperatures.   The water mixture has to be room temperature and the oils completely cooled.   Another possible explanation for failure is that the blender speed may have been set too low.   It must be set at a high speed in order for the cream to properly emulsify.

If the water and oil separate, let them separate entirely and then begin the process over again.   Or put a little note on your package that says Shake Before Using.   I've actually re-emulsified creams that have separated by either hand-shaking them or beating them for a few minutes with an electric beater.

My blender broke a few years ago so I started making this in a deep mixing bowl (the one from my Kitchen Aide) and a stick blender.   It turns out great.   It takes awhile to blend it and it seems like it will never thicken, and all of a sudden, it does!

So there you have it, a little science experiment for the dreary winter months that will save you money and keep your largest organ, your skin, healthy and whole.   Give it a whirl!