DIY Emulsifying Cleansing Balm Recipe
This DIY emulsifying cleansing balm recipe is a treat for your skin, helping to moisturize and soothe as it melts away makeup. It contains a natural emulsifier for for effortless makeup removal. Plus, blue tansy essential oil calms and soothes sensitive skin.
Servings: 1 jar
Cost: 10
Equipment
- Small double boiler or turkish coffee pot
- Glass jar with lid
- Small whisk
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup
capric/caprylic triglycerides or MCT oil - 2 tbsp
white filtered beeswax pellets see vegan substitutions below - 1 tsp
Olivem 1000 - 10 drops
blue tansy essential oil - 1/4 tsp
vitamin E oil optional - 1 tsp
blue spirulina powder optional
Instructions
- In a small double boiler or turkish coffee pot, begin by melting Olivem 1000 and your wax of choice on medium heat.
- Once the two have melted, add the MCT oil. The wax may re-solidify at this point, so whisk until any clumps have dissipated. Once the mixture is completely liquified, turn off the heat.
- Whisk in the blue spirulina powder and let the balm cool for a few minutes.
- Add the vitamin E oil and blue tansy essential oil and whisk to incorporate. If the mixture begins to harden, place it briefly over the lowest possible heat and mix until liquified. Only use low heat as to not damage the fragile essential oil.
- Pour the cleansing balm into your glass jar of choice. (A Turkish coffee pot’s lip makes this easy.) Fasten the lid on the jar and place it in the fridge to harden.
Notes
Storage & shelf life
This emulsifying cleansing balm can be stored at room temperature. No preservative is required since this recipe is free of water.
MCT oil has a very long shelf life of 2 years or more. However, blue tansy essential oil will begin to oxidize as soon as it’s exposed to air, changing the chamazulene from blue to a mossy green.
It's important to watch your cleansing balm's colour. Once blue tansy oil turns green, it's been oxidized, meaning it's no longer safe to use.
Spoiled essential oils can cause a host of unpleasant effects, including skin rashes and burns. So, you should discard your blue tansy balm when it turns green.
For more information, see this article on oxidized essential oil dangers.
Substitutions
For a vegan option, you can substitute 1 tbsp of candelilla wax or sunflower wax for the 2 tbsp of beeswax, as both waxes are more dense.