This diy cream cleanser is one of my favorite facial cleanser recipes, it’s gentle, mild and simply melts away my makeup.
This is one of the diy skin care recipes I make all the time, it’s so good I use it to cleanse each morning and again at night before bed.
I’ll show you how to make my favorite, the gentle orange essence cleanser. But as you will see below this, you can vary it for different skin types and you can change the oils to suit your taste.
Mature Skin Gentle Orange Cleanser Recipe
This is a facial cleansing lotion that I make all the time, it’s so good I use it to cleanse each morning and again at night before bed.
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Print Comment Pin ShareYield: 118 grams (approx)
Ingredients
- 20 grams Apricot Kernel Oil
- 15 grams Castor Oil
- 12 grams Emulsifying Wax NF
- 40 grams Orange Blossom Water (hydrosol)
- 30 grams Distilled Water
- 5 grams Glycerine
- 1 gram Preservative
- 12 drops Neroli Essential Oil
- 4 oz PET Plastic Bottle (Pump bottle works best)
Instructions
- Use your digital scales to weigh the oils and wax (Apricot Kernel Oil, Castor Oil, Emulsifying Wax) then put them into a heatproof bowl.20 grams Apricot Kernel Oil, 15 grams Castor Oil, 12 drops Neroli Essential Oil, 12 grams Emulsifying Wax NF
- Weigh the waters, glycerine and preservative (optional) and place in another heatproof bowl. If you are using a preservative you will need a small digital scale to accurately measure 1 gram.40 grams Orange Blossom Water, 30 grams Distilled Water, 5 grams Glycerine, 1 gram Preservative
- Next, stand both bowls in a pan of water and heat, I didn’t want to place the bowls directly on my pan base so I used two small metal tart tins. With hindsight, one larger tin would probably be better (if you have the correct size), but either way be sure that your bowls are standing firmly and stable as the water simmers.Stir your oils & wax gently until it has all melted. If you are using a preservative make sure the water/glycerine/preservative mix temperature does not exceed the recommended level usually around 65C (check the product instructions).
- Remove both bowls from the heat and combine them by pouring the water/glycerine mixture into the oil/wax mixture.Stir again for 4 minutes (more if required).
- Leave the mixture to stand for a minute then stir again, repeat this until it cools down. If you see any separation place it back on the heat and stir harder until it combines again.Then remove from the heat and try stirring gently again until it cools (repeat this again if it fails). If it continues to separate try adding another 1-2g of emulsifying wax and melt it into the mix.
- Once it cools to lukewarm it will thicken, then add your essential oils and continue stirring for a few minutes more or until thoroughly combined.
- Place in your bottle or container but wait until completely cool to avoid any condensation.4 oz PET Plastic Bottle
- Your cleanser should keep for 12 months if you've added a preservative.
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Using The DIY Cream Cleanser
- As with many of my natural homemade beauty products the cream cleanser recipes below are all made using an oil and water emulsion. All of them are made using the same process as shown below in my ‘Orange Essence Cleanser’, each one is formulated for a particular skin type, so scroll down for your perfect recipe.
- The shelf life is around 4 weeks, or 12 months if you are using the optional preservative, more info on shelf life.
- Apply this cleanser once or twice per day directly to your face then massage in using small circles. Then remove it using a cotton wool pad or muslin cloth. Any traces remaining of the cleanser can be removed by rinsing with warm water or by using a homemade toner.
- These cleansers are safe to use removing mascara but make sure you keep your eyes shut during use. If you do get some in your eye simply wipe with a cotton pad then rinse with warm water until its cleared.
- You can vary any of the following diy cream cleanser recipes to make a face scrub, simply add an exfoliate.
Rosy Cream Cleanser (Dry Skin)
Ingredients:
- 20g Apricot Kernel Oil
- 15g Castor Oil
- 12g Emulsifying Wax
- 40g Rose Water (Hydrosol)
- 50g Distilled Water
- 5g Glycerine
- 1g Preservative (optional)
- 12 Drops Rose Essential Oil (or 6 Rosewood & 6 Neroli)
- Pump Dispenser Bottle
To make this use the same method shown above for the Orange Essence Cleanser.
Purify Cleanser (Oily Skin)
Ingredients:
- 15g Grapeseed Oil
- 15g Castor Oil
- 12g Emulsifying Wax
- 50g Witch Hazel
- 40g Distilled Water
- 5g Glycerine
- 1g Preservative (optional)
- 12 Drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
- Pump Dispenser Bottle
To make this natural use the same method shown above for the Orange Essence Cleanser.
Gentle Olive (Sensitive Skin)
Ingredients:
- 10g Apricot Kernel Oil
- 10g Olive Oil
- 15g Castor Oil
- 12g Emulsifying Wax
- 50g Rose Water (Hydrosol)
- 40g Distilled Water
- 5g Glycerine
- 1g Preservative (optional)
- 12 Drops Chamomile Essential Oil
- Pump Dispenser Bottle
To make this use the same method shown above for the Orange Essence Cleanser.
Balancing Cleanser (Combination)
Ingredients:
- 15g Jojoba Oil
- 15g Castor Oil
- 12g Emulsifying Wax
- 50g Lavender Water (Hydrosol)
- 30g Distilled Water
- 5g Glycerine
- 1g Preservative (optional)
- 6 Drops Geranium Essential Oil
- 6 Drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
- Pump Dispenser Bottle
To make this use the same method shown above for the Orange Essence Cleanser.
Intense Cleanser (Problem Skin & Acne)
This homemade cream cleanser is specially formulated with tea tree water and oils that have antiseptic qualities to help reduce inflammation. To achieve best results use several clean cotton wool pads, changing for each area of your face.
Ingredients:
- 5g Apricot Kernel Oil
- 10g Jojoba Oil
- 10g Hazelnut Oil
- 5g Castor Oil
- 14g Emulsifying Wax
- 50g Tea Tree Water (Hydrosol)
- 30g Distilled Water
- 10g Aloe Vera
- 5g Glycerine
- 1g Preservative (optional)
- 4 Drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil
- 4 Drops Rosemary Essential Oil
- 4 Drops Frankincense Essential Oil
- Pump Dispenser Bottle
To make this cream cleanser recipe use the same method shown above for the Orange Essence Cleanser. Add the Aloe Vera with the water in step 2.
Hi Angela, I’ve been looking at some more natural non-toxic preservatives and saw two on the Making cosmetics ingredient site. The “Antimicro Banana” looked very interesting, have you tried it and was it effective for you? I’ve emailed them got no response, VM the mailbox was full. Very disappointing to not be able to get answers.
Hi Lia, unfortunately I haven’t worked with these preservative. The most important thing to make sure of is it’s solubility and it’s status as a broad spectrum preservative. For an emulsion, it’s solubility is less of an issue, but we want the preservative to be effective against fungi, mold and both gram positive and negative bacteria.
Hi
I was wondering what preservative is best to use?
Hi Mel,
Honestly, I always recommend Plantaserve P (Saliguard PCG). It’s just so versatile I always keep a bottle in my pantry.
Am you use goats milk instead of distilled water? How can I incorporate goats milk?
Hello looking at the recipes just wondering some of the recipes call for 1 og is this a typo or what kind of measurement is this? I see it in the intense cleanser recipe.
Anita
Hi Anita,
Well spotted, it was a typo sorry. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, I have edited the post.
Hi! Can I use beeswax instead of emulsifying wax?
Thanks!
Hi Michelle,
I’ve tried using beeswax instead of emulsifying wax before and it doesn’t quite work out like you’d think. It can make the cleanser much too waxy rather than creamy. Emulsifying wax really is the way to go with this recipe.
No, Beeswax is not an emulsifier, an emulsifier is necessary for the oil and water to mix together.
Can these be used to remove eye makeup as you are washing your face as well?
Thank you.
Hello Angela,
I am looking for your advice. I was making your Balancing skin cleanser today for combination skin. But had a problem with combining oils mixture with the water mix. At the end it did not combine at all. I was stirring it quite vigorously. I had to pour the water out and was left with very waxy mix although smooth and good looking. What did I do wrong? I think, I will attempt to do it again but do not want to repeat the same mistake. Thank you for your blog and advice. Iza
Hi Iza
Sorry to hear you had problems making the natural face cleanser recipe ;-(
Separation can be a problem sometimes, if you see this happening stir harder to incorporate all of the oils and water. If it still separates after trying for a while you need to put the jug back in the simmering water and stir until it all mixes together again. Then remove from the heat and try stirring gently again until it cools (repeat this again if it fails). If it continues to separate try adding another 1-2g of emulsifying wax and melt it into the mix.
I hope this works for you next time and Ill add this info to the expand the article above, thanks for reaching out… Keeping my fingers crossed!
I’ve had good luck with letting the oils and waters cool to room temperature before mixing together. Overnight is best. I never have problems when the oils and water are the same temp.