Immerse yourself in the familiar wintery fragrances of frankincense, helichrysum, geranium and thyme this cold season with your own hand and body cream.
Ingredients
1 ounce (30ml) vegetable oil or Shea butter
2 teaspoons vegetable derived emulsifier, such as lecithin or glyceryl stearate
10 drops (0.5ml) vitamin E oil
2 ounces (60ml) water or hydrosol, such as rose water or lavender water
20 drops (1ml) botanical extract, such as alfalfa or goji berry extract
3 drops rosemary oil extract or grape seed extract
10 drops of your chosen wintery essential oils or blends
Instructions
★. Melt the butter or heat the vegetable oil in a double boiler over low heat, mix in the vegetable derived emulsifier and vitamin E, stirring continuously.
★. Heat the water and the Hydrosol, in another double boiler. If your botanical extract is stable at high temperature, you can incorporate it into your water phase. Otherwise leave it aside for later.
★. Monitor the temperature using a candy thermometer. When both phases reach 170˚F turn off the heat and pour the oil phase, in a thin stream, over the water phase, whisking vigorously, or use a stick blender, avoiding splashes.
★. The mixture should blend into a whitish creamy texture. Keep whipping until the mixture reaches 100˚F.
★. Add the extracts and the essential oils and whisk until thoroughly blended. Transfer to a jar and allow to cool to room temperature. Put a lid on the jar when the mixture is no longer warm.
Good essential oils for winter include frankincense, helichrysum, geranium and thyme for dry skin; ginger and lime for fatigue; peppermint, helichrysum, and lavender for inflammation.
