When creating homemade skin care for sensitive skin, careful consideration is needed to select the appropriate ingredients. Some oils and butters are too heavy or drying for this skin type and may cause redness and irritation. Fortunately, many ingredients work beautifully for sensitive skin and it is entirely possible to formulate effective and nourishing products that provide excellent support.

This flower-infused Gentle Floral Skin Cream is perfectly suited for sensitive skin with its light, soothing ingredients. The recipe is part of the Herbal Academy’s Botanical Skin Care Course and is also found in the course’s companion book, the Botanical Skin Care Recipe Book. If making lotions and creams feels intimidating to you, there’s no need to worry! We’ll walk you through the process step by step.

About the Ingredients

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) flower
Well known for its skin-supportive properties, calendula has a soothing nature that is helpful for a range of skin types, including sensitive skin. Calendula is especially useful for irritated skin.

Argan oil
Argan oil is a light oil that absorbs quickly into the skin. High in antioxidants, this luxurious oil is a favorite support for aging skin and is beneficial for other skin types as well.

Mango butter
A wonderful addition to many homemade skin care recipes, the natural emollient properties of mango butter make it a perfect fit for creams and lotions. Its mild scent works beautifully in this recipe as it allows the floral aromas to shine through.

Beeswax
Beeswax helps to emulsify and thicken lotions and creams. While beeswax is not technically a true emulsifier, when used with the correct technique and appropriate ingredient proportions, it produces a nicely thickened cream that does not separate.

Tip: Beeswax pastilles are an easy option as they require no grating or chopping.

Vitamin E oil
Vitamin E is included for its antioxidant properties, which help to stave off rancidity. Although vitamin E is not a true preservative, it can aid in prolonging the life of your homemade creams by preventing the oxidation of oils and butters which can lead to these ingredients turning stale.

Rose Geranium (Pelargonium spp.) hydrosol
Thought to bring balance and harmony to the skin, rose geranium hydrosol is suitable for all skin types. The sweet aroma of this floral water supports an uplifted mood and contributes to the overall fragrance of this facial cream.

Aloe (Aloe vera) leaf gel
The cooling and soothing nature of aloe vera makes it a good match for sensitive skin. Its humectant properties are also useful in this recipe as they help the skin retain moisture.

Natural preservative
Using a natural preservative is optional when creating this cream for home use, but does help to inhibit microbial growth. Otherwise, you will want to store this cream in the refrigerator and use within 1-2 weeks. When using a natural preservative, be sure to pay close attention to the manufacturer’s instructions for use. If you are unsure about this step, we invite you to check out our Emulsifiers and Preservatives in Botanical Skin Care Workshop to learn how to create longer-lasting shelf-stable lotions, creams, and other emulsions while also giving you more flexibility and possibility with your skincare formulations.

Tools

To create this skin cream, you will need the following supplies (many of which you may already have in your kitchen):

• Double boiler (or makeshift double boiler made with a saucepan and heat-safe glass bowl) - to melt the solid ingredients
• Crockpot or saucepan (optional) - for warm oil infusion method
• Heat-safe glass jar
• Large glass measuring cup or bowl with a spout
• Cheesecloth
• Mesh strainer
• Blender (or immersion blender) - to mix everything and create the emulsion
• Dry, clean glass jars and lids for storage
• Marker and label(s)
  

Gentle Floral Skin Cream

Makes approximately 7 fl oz of cream.

A lovely floral treat for sensitive skin!

Ingredients

Calendula Infused Oil:

• 1/4 cup dried calendula (Calendula officinalis) flower
• 1/2 cup argan oil or jojoba oil

Cream:

• 1/4 cup (2 fl oz) calendula-infused oil
• 2 1/2 Tbsp. mango butter
• 1 Tbsp. beeswax
• 1/2 tsp. vitamin E oil
• 1/4 cup (2 fl oz) rose geranium hydrosol
• 2 1/2 Tbsp. (1.25 fl oz) aloe leaf gel
• Natural preservative (optional)

Directions

1. Prepare the calendula-infused oil via one of the infusion methods below. If using the heated method to make the calendula oil infusion, use jojoba oil instead of argan oil, which is heat sensitive. You can also use Mountain Rose Herbs’ pre-made calendula herbal oil!

Cold Infusion Method:

• Grind dried flowers in a mortar and pestle or break them up in your clean hands to produce smaller pieces. Fill a dry, sterilized glass jar half full with dried flowers.
• Pour room-temperature oil over dried herbs in the jar, making sure herbs are completely covered and oil is at least 1 inch above the top of the herbs. Use a clean, dry spoon to mix thoroughly so all surfaces of the herbs are coated and no air bubbles remain.
• Place a square piece of natural waxed paper on top of the jar, then seal jar with a lid (this protects oil from any chemical coating that may be on the lid).
• Roll jar back and forth in your hands to continue to thoroughly mix the herb and oil.
• Place jar in a dark, warm spot such as a cupboard. Let infuse for 4-6 weeks.
• Every 1-3 days, roll the jar in your hands to help mix the contents and release the herb’s constituents into the oil.
• When done infusing, decant the oil. Place a cheesecloth-lined strainer inside a large bowl with a spout. Pour the contents from the jar into the strainer. With clean dry hands, gather the ends of the cheesecloth together and squeeze the remaining oil from the herb into the bowl. You’ll want to squeeze hard to get every last drop.

Warm Infusion Method:

• If you want to make your Floral Skin Cream right now, then you can use heat to gently speed along the process of infusing the oil. If you choose to do this, swap in jojoba oil for the argan oil, which is heat sensitive.
• Prepare calendula and oil as described above then place the jar in a double boiler on the stove over low heat or in a crockpot with a few inches of water in the bottom and set the crockpot on low. Place a few jar lids under the jar to protect the base. Let infuse for 4 to 8 hours; don’t let the oil temperature get above 120 degrees F or the herbs will cook. Check the water level occasionally and add more if needed.
• When oil is infused, decant the oil as described above.

Once the calendula-infused oil is prepared, you are ready to make the skin cream!

Note: 1/4 cup is the amount of calendula-infused oil to include in the recipe—the method above starts with more oil when making the calendula-infused oil, as the herbs will absorb some of the oil.

How to Make Natural Skin Cream

1. Place mango butter, beeswax, and 1/4 cup calendula-infused oil in a double boiler (or in a heat-safe glass bowl over a saucepan of simmering water) until beeswax and mango butter have melted and ingredients are well blended. Remove from heat and transfer to a blender or a bowl (if using an immersion blender) to cool.
2. Stir hydrosol and aloe gel together in another bowl. If using a natural preservative that needs to be added to the water phase, add now and stir well; otherwise, wait until after cream has emulsified.
3. Once the oil mixture has cooled to room temperature and looks creamy and semi-solid, add vitamin E oil.
4. Turning blender on a low-medium setting or using an immersion blender in a bowl, slowly add hydrosol mixture to oil mixture while blending. Mixture will begin to emulsify and become creamy. Avoid overmixing. Cream will set up a bit more as it cools.
5. Pour cream into sterilized glass jars, label, and store in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks (if using a preservative, shelf life will be longer).

Note: Because microbial contamination is common in homemade products containing water-based ingredients (such as hydrosols and aloe) it is paramount that all supplies be cleaned and sanitized when making lotions or creams.

In Closing,

This Gentle Floral Skin Cream is a favorite of ours at the Herbal Academy providing a boost for your complexion and mood—sensitive skin will enjoy nourishing hydration while your senses delight in the uplifting aroma.

We hope you’ll try your hand at making this skin care treat and find that incorporating herbs into homemade skin care is a fun and rewarding act of self-care.

If you're interested in more recipes like this, you’ll love our Botanical Skin Care Recipe Book. It includes 194 tried-and-tested body care recipes that are all herbalist-approved! This recipe collection covers lotions and creams, salves, balms, hair care products, bath bombs, cleansers, masks, serums, and more!

Looking for more wonderful articles by Herbal Academy?

Check Out Their Article on the Best Ingredients for the Beginner Herbalist

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• Triple Rose Face Cream Recipe
• 6 Ways to Use Jojoba Oil for Skin and Hair
• How to Use Argan Oil + Face Serum Recipe