Cosmetics - make your own with Jan Benham

Want to Make Your Own Cosmetics? It’s easier than you think!

by Jan Benham FFHT, MIFPA

Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odour of the human body. They are generally mixtures of chemical compounds, some being derived from natural sources, many being synthetic.
In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which regulates cosmetics, defines cosmetics as "intended to be applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance without affecting the body's structure or functions."

Definition from Wikipedia, 2012

My own journey into making cosmetics began back in 1982, as an Aromatherapist and Holistic Health Practitioner; I wanted to be able to mix essential oils not just into carrier oils but also unscented creams and lotions that were free from petroleum by-products and parabens.

They were just not available at that time, so began a life long research that resulted in two books: ``The Creamy Craft of Cosmetic Making``, 1996 and ``The Baby Boomers Beauty Bible``, 2004. At around the same time back in 1995, I also started teaching courses on how to make cosmetics at the Institute of Aromatherapy in Toronto, Canada.

The courses have grown to such an extent that the original cosmetic making courses have developed into a comprehensive cosmetic making diploma course which includes the making of cold pressed soap, makeup (foundation, lipsticks, eye shadows etc), natural perfume and a full range of skin, hair and body care products.

So why make your own Cosmetics?  

·         There are so many people around with allergies, perhaps you are one of those people? With making your own cosmetics you will know exactly what is in them.

·         By using only pure essential oils, natural colourants such as, infused carrot root oil, micas and oxides, herbal extracts and pure natural vegetable oils, such as jojoba and coconut. You can create cosmetics that are safe, environmentally friendly and pure.

·         You do not need to test your products on animals therefore; by making your own cosmetics you do not support the testing on animals that many pharmaceutical companies do.

·         Furthermore, you will also realize huge monetary savings by not purchasing expensive department store brands. The average woman in the UK spends £500 a year buying makeup, 25% of those women spend in the £1000’s. This makes the business of supplying customers with natural alternatives a sure success.

Imagine a healthy and youthful complexion for yourself, family and friends.
Imagine launching a new business selling online, at craft fairs and markets.

Imagine expanding your existing practice, selling your own range of natural products made from scratch.

Today I am giving you a recipe for making 100% natural lipsticks

I wanted to start with lipsticks, as lipsticks are something that we ingest and a person who wears lipstick daily will ingest a couple of kilograms in their lifetime. Lipsticks are usually coloured with FC&D dyes and have so many chemicals added its not funny!

Here is a natural alternative:

Ingredients:

Beeswax 3gms

Candelilla wax (a natural plant wax) 5gms

Shea butter 5gms

Jojoba oil 20gms

Castor oil 20gms

Vitamin E 1 capsule

Method:

Melt the above ingredients in a small heat resistant glass measuring jug placed in boiling water

(double boiler)

When completely melted, add the colourants (I suggest to use one of the recipes below to start with) and mix well.

Pour into lip balm tubes, small makeup pots or a lipstick mould.

Allow to harden in the refrigerator for ½ hour before use.

This recipe base is enough to make 8 -12 lipsticks depending on the size of the pot or tube

Here are three lipstick colours to choose from:

1.      Cinnamon Girl lipstick - 2 tsp. Sienna mica, ¼ tsp red oxide and ¼ tsp zinc oxide. Grind together in a coffee grinder or a mortal and pestle.

2.      Chocolate kisses lipstick – melt a small piece of dark chocolate along with the base and add ½ tsp. Dark brown oxide, ½ tsp Zinc oxide (ground together) plus 10 drops of spearmint organic essential oil.

3.      Passion Lipstick - 2 tsp of Very Coral mica, ¼ tsp red oxide, ¼ Titanium dioxide (ground together).

Lipsticks, moisture cream and soaps made by Jan using all natural ingredients.

We offer CPD FHT and IFPA accredited courses in Holistic skin care and Cosmetic making!