“Organic Beauty Recipes By Eve – The Complete Guide To DIY Natural Beauty” is my long-awaited book, with a treasure trove of effective and easy to follow recipes with 100% natural ingredients.
You can order the ebook now on amazon for only $4.99 or get the paperback edition for $19.99 (USD).
I also launched my own small business offering all-natural raw shea Butter! Every time you purchase my Shea butter, you are supporting the Ghana women coop which employs 95 women and buys shea nuts from more than 5,000 women in 44 communities.
Lastly, check out my favorite shopping lists on Amazon . I will receive a small commission from the affiliate program Amazon if you order something and this is at no additional cost to you.
Thank you for your support!
The invention of this cold cream recipe is credited to Galen, a physician in the second century from Greece. This cold cream is thick and softens when it touches the skin. It is perfect for dry skin on elbow, feet, and knees and also perfect for natural ways of removing makeup and to avoid eczema in dry parts of your body.
Galen was one of the first to be known to make a link between the body and soul and how to treat sickness looking at the four humor (blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile). You can actually find some of his work translated from Greek in this book: Selected Work By Galen
This Galen Cold cream recipe is without borax. Borax is also known as sodium borate which helps binding water and oil. Beeswax is here an effective emulsifier that binds water and oil. The only trick is that you have to be careful with the ratio water vs oil. If you put too much water, your cream will separate.
How to make this Galen cold cream recipe is a very simple process that requires 3 ingredients:
Rosewater
Rosewater (also called rose hydrosol) is a bi-product of the rose essential oil distillation process. It helps to balance the skin sebum production and is used to enhance circulation.
Olive Oil or Almond Oil
I prefer to substitute Olive oil with almond oil because I like the scent better, plus it is less greasy than olive oil.
Almond oil has many benefits for the skin. It is naturally rich in Vitamin E, monounsaturated fatty acids, proteins, potassium, and zinc.
Beeswax
As you know, beeswax is the hard labor of the bees and beeswax which create a natural emulsion and binds the water and the oil together.
I’ve seen many forums claiming that you cannot create a cold cream recipe without using a chemical emulsifier like borax, sorbitol & stearic acid.
This is not true. You can create a cream with simple ingredients as in this cold cream recipe below. If you use chemical emulsifiers, you will need to use preservatives like triclosan or Caprylyl Glycol. You can skip all that nonsense. The reasons those chemicals were created is to have long shelf life, 2 to 5 years. That allows commercial cosmetic companies to make more money, at the expense of our health.
Make small batches, use clean and sterilized utensils as well as tools and surfaces. The shelf life of this cream is between 2 to 4 weeks.
Use clean hands when you handle the product and most of it use common sense! If you see mold or the cream is smelling off, throw it away!
Ingredients
- Ingredients Galen Cold Cream Recipe
- 9 teaspoons of rosewater
- 9 teaspoons of almond oil or Olive oil
- 2 teaspoons of beeswax
- Essential oils Optional
- 20 drops rose otto essential oils
Instructions
- Directions:
- Combine the oils in your double boiler (or in a stainless steel or glass recipient inside a pan filled with water) on low heat and wait until everything is melted.
- At the same time, put the water in another double boiler on low heat so that it reaches the same temperature as the oils.
- Once the oil and beeswax are melted, take it off the heat and start whipping with an electric mixer for a few minutes; at the same time add the water spoon by spoon.
- Make sure your mixer is set on low speed.
- You can also use a hand whip if you prefer but it is more work!
- After a few minutes, the liquid will soon turn into a cream as you progressively add the water.
- Once you have reached the creamy consistency desired, add the essential oils and blend.
- Scoop the cream in a sterile glass recipient and allow cooling at room temperature before putting the cap on.
Please tell me what do you think of Galen invention and how you like this recipe in the comments below!
I hope you have enjoyed my recipe, please share the love and rate ***** in the comments below!
I’m Eve, a DIY organic skincare recipe creator since 2010 that loves to make a big mess in the kitchen!
I’ve embarked on a journey to empower women to ditch all the chemical-filled commercial beauty products and to share how to make your own organic beauty recipes at home towards a healthier lifestyle.
Homemade face & body creams, body butter, lips balms, face masks, shampoos, and all-natural perfume will have no more secret for you!
I am self-taught, read many books, and spend many hours in the kitchen creating brand new homemade beauty recipes. All my recipes are unique and are tested on humans!
In 2016, I studied Aromatherapy and became certified by the School of Natural Health Sciences.
If I were to add borax to the rose water, how much do you recommend? I know it doesn’t need it, but it’s something I prefer to use.
Just made this. I added Geranium and Frankincense essential oils. Love the texture of thos cream. Never going back to store bought creams. Thank you so much for the recipe.
Author
thanks Kanchan 🙂
I’ve been using the cream I made using this recipe and I can honestly say I will never go back to shop-bought! I have combination skin which tends to be oily across the forehead, nose and chin but can be sensitive and dry in patches. This has honestly made my skin glow! Tone is more even, pores smaller. I’m really delighted with the results. After leaving on my face for a minute or two I wipe off makeup etc. with a warm face cloth but use it as a moisturiser too, when my skin needs a bit of TLC. Thank you Eve! I’m now hooked and will be perusing your site for more recipes to try. x
Hi Eve,
How long does this cold cream last for?
Author
Hi esther, 2 to 4 weeks but you can add a drop of organic grapefruit seed extract to extend the shelf life.
Can Beeswax be substituted if so what do you recommend?
Author
not for this cold cream, beeswax gives the best results but you could try with candellila wax or carnauba wax, cant guarantee the results tho, will have to test!
I made 4 jars of this today and they all turned out perfect. I neglected to read the instructions in one pan and heated until the bees wax melted then whipped it up! No need to heat the rose water separately. Next time I am going to add more beeswax to make it less greasy.
Author
more beeswax will make it more greasy and will give a waxy feeling!
Thank you for the recipe! I purchased the ingredients at my local apothecary and used bees wax from the farmers market. It whipped up perfectly! I think I will use a little more beeswax next time to mitigate greasiness, and I prefer grape seed oil so I used that. I followed your directions closely and had brilliant results. It’s been a couple hours and has not separated yet. I like not using borax, I go through this quickly enough that it doesn’t go rancid. I also just used regular water, but will try a hydrosol next time.
I was purchasing cold cream online but it got pricey and I’m not timid when it comes to diy. Thank you so much for your guidance, you’re an angel!
Hi could you use frankincense myrr or geranium instead of rose otto I’ve got rose damask 8% diluted in jojaba oil think it’s 8 or 3 can’t quite see .
I made this and used it. I followed the directions exactly and it came out smooth and creamy. I used olive oil as that’s what I have on hand and I made my own rose water. It removed all of my makeup and left my skin soft.
Thank you for this recipe!!!
Dear Eve. Thank you for your beauty recipes. I tried and my cream seperated. What can ı do to mix again this oil phase and water phase ? Thanks a lot:)
Özge Akgül
Author
Hello Ozge, are you sure the oil and water are at the same temperature when you mix them?
If so, increase the amount of oil, that should help with the emulsion.
Thank you for your advice ı will try.
Thanks Eve for this lovely recipe. I mixed my batch and it blended beautifully. Then hours later I see it is separating. Is it too late now to fix it? Can I warm it all together and remix? It’s such a shame to toss it.
I have rosacea, would this help with my redness?
Author
if you have acne, i would suggest you to follow this recipe instead https://www.organic-beauty-recipes.com/natural-skin-care-routine-to-avoid-acne/
Hi Eve
Is there an alternative to rosewater – I’m not too keen on the smell! Could I use distilled water or orange blossom water?
Author
Hi ruth, yes you can use orange blossom water/hydrosol. I don’t recommend distilled water as it has no properties for the skin!
How much borax would you recommend for this recipe if one was to add it?
Author
Hi Jake, I don’t recommend using borax in DIY beauty products- Health Canada’s science-based screening assessment recommends minimizing exposure. it can be a skin irritant and also potentially disrupt hormones. You don’t need it in this recipe.
Discupt hormones? Ok DNA as well?
I followed this to the letter…as I started mixing this with a beater on low it turned into a cream for three seconds. Then it seperated. I kept mixing for three minutes but it never combined. It looked like butter icing you put on cakes with water on top.
Author
Hi Mark, did you make sure the water is the same temperature as the oil? otherwise, yes your cream can separate. If this happens again, reduce the amount of water.
Thank you so much for this recipe. I’ve made it three times so far and know that it will be perfect when I manage to stop it splitting. Meanwhile I’ve been using the separated concoction and mixing it back to a cream in my hand before applying it. It’s really wonderful. I’ve narrowed the problem down thanks to your comments and replies above. It splits while it is cooling. Than I realized it’s winter here which means cold and very damp. Neither of those are good for mayonnaise I’ve been told. My solution is next time to cool the hars in the yoghurt maker on its lowest setting before transferring them to the store cupboard.
Hello I have three questions…
When you talk about putting the water into another double boiler to bring it to the same temperature do you mean the rose water?
Can you use a hand blender rather than beaters?
Can you keep the cold cream in the fridge the whole time or do you recommend keeping it at room temperature?
Author
Thanks for your questions Mark.
yes water = rosewater.
You can use a hand immersion blender like this one here: https://www.organic-beauty-recipes.com/mixer instead of an egg beater.
I would keep the cream in room temperature. If you put it in the fridge it will last longer but the oil and water may separate.
Hope this helps!
Hi Eve can you tell me how you sterilise your equipment please?
I have always been interested in making natural skincare products so i’m looking forward to trying some of your recipes 🙂
Author
I have a dish washer that has a sanitize option (high temperature). Alternatively, once utensils are washed, you can bowl them for a few minutes to sanitize it.
Hi Eve I made this cold cream today and the Rose moisturiser.
Do you find these creams greasy? I’m used to making creams and lotions using Olivem 1000 as the emulsifier. These beeswax creams feel a lot more greasy to me.
The cold cream works as a cleanser as you wipe it off with a face cloth but the rose cream feels to greasy for me to use as a moisturiser. Think I’d rather use a few drops of oil mixed with aloe vera gel. That works very well for me.
Author
Hi Mark, you don’t need to use a lot and should wipe off the excess with a cotton pad. I love using rose water and a few drops of jojoba oil to remove make up, works great for me as well.
Hey, great recipe! Have you tried using honey as a preservative ever?
Author
no, but honey is antibacterial so this may help!
Hi! What is the best way to know If the oils and water are same temperature? What will happen If theyre not?
Author
Use a termometer. I don’t bother usually using a termometer but you can. As long as the oil and water are warm (not hot), it will emulsify. If the water is cold and oils hot, it will be hard to form a cream (to emulsify)
Yay I succeeded! Thankyou very much for this recipe. I am so happy,this was the first time trying something like this.I am surprised how easy it was even thought my tools were pretty limited and I had to hand whip it.Excited now to try More recipes.:)
I didn’t find a termometer, so i heated the oils and water in separate jars but on same pan with water.
Can we use apricot oil or argon oil
Author
yes you could try, that should work.
Apricot is great
Can you use grapeseed oil instead of olive/almond oil?
Author
sure!
Excellent recipe! I have had a difficult time finding a good cold cream recipe that didn’t use borax and actually emulsified. I will be using this recipe from now on! My sensitive skin loves cold cream as a face wash. Thank you for the great recipe!
Hi
Since this has.rosewater .does it not need a preservative?
Also what is the shelf life of this cream.
Thank you
Author
1 month shelve life as long as you use a sterile container and always clean hands. I don’t use chemical preservatives.
Can you make this without the essential oils? Or will it mess up the conistency? some say essential oils are irritating to skin.
Author
Essential oils are always optional. Essential oils must always be diluted and some should not be applied to the skin like for example lemon as they are phototoxic.
How can I add lanolin to this recipe?
Author
thats not needed. lanolin is a wax secreted by the sebaceous glands of sheeps. I prefer to avoid it!
Hi Eve, I just made this recept and it turned uit very nice!!! I am curious how it will work, I give for sure a month to it to see result!
Thank you very much!!!
Timi
Author
awesome!! thanks timi
Can I use polawax instead then the emulsifying separating problem wld be fix right?
Author
I would not use polawax as its a chemical and not a natural ingredient.
Hi,
I have used this recipe to make 2 batches and it has been beautiful, but I now want to make a pot for my mother and although I’m doing exactly the same thing it just won’t emulsify. I’ve tried 3 times and even reduced the water by half. I’m so sad about it! Any thoughts?
Author
Hi Rhian, you have to make sure the hydrosol or flower water is the same temperature (a bit warm) as the oils. Otherwise it won’t emulsify. Hope that helps!
Heyy my cream is so hard to apply…what should i do now..how to make it creamy…plz answer
Author
Hi sakina, add more almond oil.
HI just wondering if it would be possible to use light coconut oil to make cream less oily
Author
Hi maxime, yes you can try but the consistency will not be the same. If you want to make this cream less oily, add a teaspoon of arrowroot powder. https://www.organic-beauty-recipes.com/arrowroot
Hello. Thank you for these recipe.
I have few questions please
Is there an alternative for beewax?
Do we need to heat up the water?
Do we need to add preservative?
Author
Hi hend, you could use carnauba wax or soy wax as a substitute for beeswax but you would need to modify the recipe a bit.
Regarding the rosewater, yes it needs to be heated up in a separate double boiler as mentioned in the instructions.
I dont use preservatives as they are chemicals, make small batches and keep in the fridge.
Hello. Thank you for these recipe. I have active break outs and want to try home made cold cream. Can I use hemp oil? And distilled water instead of rosewater? Thank you!
Author
Hi Bree, yes you can use hemp oil and I would use a hydrosol (rosewater or chammomile water or tea tree hydrosol) instead of distilled water. Distilled water is dead, has no minerals, no salt and you cannot keep the cream long as it would mold.
Would shea butter work as a substitute for the beeswax?
Author
HI carolina, no, you need the beeswax as a natural emulsifier (which bings the oil and water content together)
Since I only have rose Otto 100% can I just use 2 drops or do I have to dilute it first to get the right consistency?
Author
1% dilution for 2Oz is 10-12 drops of pure essential oil, no need to dilute it further, just add the drops to your cream at the end of the process.
Hello Eve!
I’m trying to emulsify my creams only with beeswax. Following your recipe, finally, I’ve got it! However, a few hours later, it starts to separate… Usually, I store the creams in the refrigerator. Could it be the problem? Should I keep it at room temperature?
Thank you.
Namaste.
Ana
Author
Hi Ana,
If your cream starts to separate, it can be because you are using too much water content vs oil content, try reducing the water content. Also, it may be that you are not mixing long enough once the emulsion has taken place. What is the ratio rose water versus oil you are using?
Hi Eve!
I´m using 45% of water and 45% of oils. I´m using unrefined beeswax. Could it be the problem?
Yhanks
Namaste
Author
Hi ana, are you using min 10% of beeswax?
as for water, you mean rosewater? its best to use hydrosol = rosewater for example instead of regular water.
Hi Eve!
Finally, I’ve got it! The emulsion is perfect; oils and water remain together thanks to your tips.
May I ask you for a toothpaste recipe for my kids? (They are 12 and 10 years old).
Thank you very much.
Ñamaste
Ana
Author
I’m so glad Ana!!! For the toothpaste, that’s a great idea, subscribe to my newsletter here https://www.organic-beauty-recipes.com/newsletter_sign_up/ and when I put it online, you will be the first to know:-)
Hi,I just tried to make the cream I melted bee wax & oils wipped added some water cooled was thick and bees wax was lump
Author
Hi Grace,
You need to warm up the rosewater so it gets to the same temperature as the oils and then you mix it with the oils and beeswax and start mixing it so it turns into a cream.
Sounds wonderfully easy to make and use. One question: I thought “cold cream” was to cleanse your face, not moisture it Would this formula be good for that, as well as removing makeup? Just wondering if the beeswax would cause problems…
Author
Hi Elaine, You can use it on your face to remove makeup or also on your eyes as well for removing mascara. Then remove your makeup with cotton pads. Then if you want you can also remove any excess with a clean, soft cotton cloth. The almond oil and beeswax create a natural moisture barrier on the skin. I don’t think beeswax would create problems unless you have super sensitive skin. I suggest you do a test in a small area if you are worried.