DIY “Miracle” Night Cream
This DIY “miracle” night cream is a natural remedy to help brighten, hydrate, and detoxify the skin and reduce puffiness, spots, and inflammation.
Since starting a new job, studying for my RD exam, and preparing to do that whole moving thing, this lady has been super stressed out and tired all of the time. Boy, does my face start to show it! You know, that whole puffy eyes, dark circle thing. Not cool! I don’t even want to talk about what grad school did to my skin… So, I created this DIY “Miracle” night cream to freshen my skin, diminish spots, and help reduce inflammation.
I love what it has done to my skin. It feels so much more hydrated, brighter and inflammation has decreased.
The Natural Ingredients:
The recipe I am sharing with you today includes amazing ingredients.
- Raw shea butter and extra virgin coconut oil both are amazing moisturizers, skin protectors, and can help heal the skin.
- Almond oil (I use this kind) has been shown to reduces puffy eyes and dark circles, and also has anti-aging properties.
- Lemon essential oil (Like this one) is an astringent, detoxifier, brightener, and can help lighten skin spots.
- Aloe vera gel (I use this kind) is a skin brightener, neutralizes free radicals, repairs damaged skin, can help aid skin issues like eczema, and slows down the appearance of wrinkles.
- Bentonite clay helps absorb and remove toxins and impurities.
- Vitamin E oil can help block free radicals, slow down the skin’s aging process, and help heal scar tissues and skin issues.
DIY “Miracle” Night Cream
Ingredients:
- 1/2 tsp beeswax (Like this one)
- 1 tsp coconut oil (Like this one)
- 2 tbs almond oil (Like this one)
- 1/2 tsp of shea butter (Like this one)
- 1 tsp vitamin e oil (Like this one)
- 1/4 cup aloe vera gel (Like this one)
- 1 tsp honey (Try to get some local honey, if possible)
- 1/2 tsp bentonite clay (Like this one)
- 5-10 drops lemon essential oil
*You can double the recipe
Directions:
In a double boiler, crock pot, or microwave safe dish, place first four ingredients and heat slowly until melted. Pour into a blender and let cool. In a separate bowl, mix together aloe vera gel, vitamin E oil, lemon essential oil, and honey. Once the beeswax oil mixture has completely cooled and become almost the texture of lip balm, mix it with a spoon a little to break it up and add the aloe mixture into the blender. Blend until well combined. Place back in a non-metal bowl and add 1/2 tsp bentonite clay and stir with a non-metal utensil (I love spatulas like these). DO NOT LET IT COME INTO CONTACT WITH METAL! You get the point :). Place cream in a glass (I use these) or plastic container and store in a cool, dry place.
I’ve been using this cream for a little while now, and I love the way it feels on my skin. I can see a difference in my skin, too! Brighter, hydrated, and the puffy eyes/dark circles have decreased a kit. Plus, you know exactly what ingredients are going in, and you don’t have to worry about harmful chemicals. I feel like I say this every time I do a DIY skin care recipe. It’s true, though!
The reason this is a night cream is because it contains lemon essential oil which can cause photosensitivity in the sun. If you want to make this a day time cream, just eliminate the lemon essential oil. You could make one cream for day and one for night!
Side note: Some people believe that aloe can boost hair growth. I could not find a scientific study proving this and from personal experience of using aloe vera on my face for a while, I have not grown facial hair!
Aloe can increase absorption of steroid creams, so you may want to avoid aloe when taking them.
More info on aloe can be found here: Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
This post contains affiliate links which helps support A Blossoming Life at no extra cost to you.
You may also like…
Homemade Baking Soda Free Deodorant
Post updated march 2019
LOVE this! Will definitely have to make it. But was wondering if you had an alternative option to the vitamin e oil? No matter what brand or quality (even mtn rose herbs) makes my eyes water like crazy and get red. I will make this anyways though cause it looks wonderful. Thank you!
hmmm… That stinks! You could just make it without the vitamin e oil and add extra almond oil!
What about subbing out the Aloe, I have a sensitivity to it on my face. Any suggestions?
Although I have never tried it, you may be able to use vegetable glycerin. Let me know how it goes!
My skin is sensitive to aloe, too! I have never even heard of anyone else (besides my mom) who had this problem. And what is in every product for sensitive skin? Yep, aloe. Sooo frustrating.
Me either, it is so nice to know I am not alone. Nobody else in my family has the problem with aloe. I tried to drink one of those aloe drinks and it totally made me sick, so its not just sensitive skin for me.
Hey, just a thought for you ladies who are sensitive to aloe. I have been experimenting with my diet lately to try to find what upsets my stomach the most. Through a lot of experimenting and time I found that xanthan gum and carrageenan both bother my stomach (I have never put them on my skin but I have very sensitive skin).
Aloe Gel always has a thickener in it. The two that I have noticed that are used the most often in “natural” aloe are xanthan gum and carrageenan. It is possible that it may not be the aloe but the thickeners in the aloe that bother your skin. Anyway, I hope that helps. Have a great day!
I’m so glad to hear that I’m not the only one that has allergic reactions to Aloe, I have to read all labels to make sure no Aloe is in it even if it is the last ingredient I have reactions to it. I was also thinking this sounds like a great nighttime face cream.
When I blend the two mixtures together they don’t mix well and it is runny? Is that normal or did I do something wrong?
I am having the same issue. Not sure where I went wrong. The two parts just will not mix.
I’m thinking she meant 2 teaspoons of almond oil, not 2 tablespoons. She typed 2 tbs and she probably meant 2 tps. Oils in lotion should make up 10 to 25% of the recipe. How the recipe is typed above, the oils make up 46% of the recipe. By changing the almond oil to 2 teaspoons, the oils make up 24% of the recipe.
Ugh! I had the same problem. Was so excited about making this and it looking like the one in the picture. It did not. I MIGHT make it again using 2 tsp instead of 2Tbsp of oil.. However, the Aloe gel makes it a little runny
I make my own lotion and I usually use more oil than most. It’s a longer process but love my results. As my concoction cools i periodically stir. Sometimes with a whisk then a plastic long handled ladle. As the mixture gets cooler I use the two more frequently. I usually put the lotion in the containers the ingredients came in and store for future use.
I think but. E helps with preserving.
i was taught when adding oil to a face cream mixture, that it must be done in a very slow way. The best using a chopstick to manage the drip so as to properly distribute and mix with the other liquids….And as far as Aloe goes, have the folks tried fresh aloe from the actual plant. It could quite possibly be that folks are actually sensitive to the additives, like the woman prior has mentioned…
yay! making individualized personalized face cream is the best!
Try primrose oil.
I’m allergic to beeswax. Is there anything I can use as a substitute?
I am as well, so I don’t want to chance putting both beeswax AND honey in there are putting it on my face. I’d like to know if anybody knows good substitutes as well
Since I’m a vegan I omit the honey and substitute the beeswax with candelilla wax but if you use it only use half the amount as its a harder wax.
i am also vegan and have used maple syrup instead of honey after doing research on google. It has many of the same properties.
Candelilla wax should work
Candelila wax is what I always use in place of Beeswax & Agave instead of Honey
emulsifying wax or cocoa butter
Great recipe! you can substitute lemon EO with carrot seed oil which has a natural SPF 40 and use that during the day! 🙂
Good luck with your RD exam. I have been an RD since 2005.
Thanks Hope! How fun. I love meeting other RDs
Do these ingredients all work for oily/ acne prone skin? I use essential oils on my face but I’ve been afraid to use coconut oil, almond and vitamin e. Will it clog pores? Thx
Coconut oil melts when it comes into contact with your skin so I think it will be fine! Almond oil is good for most skin types 🙂
Coconut oil would not be a good choice for oily skin types, or combination skin in the summer. It is highly comedogenic (pore clogging). Jojoba oil is an excellent alternative for all skin types. Just wanted to chime in. Otherwise, this recipe looks wonderful!
hi DO YOU HAVE MEAN COCONUT CHANGE TO JOJOBA?
Yes! I have a combo of oily, dry, and acne prone skin and this has worked great for me. I feel like since using it my breakouts have decreased!
I also struggle with acne and wouldn’t recommend this blend for acne-prone individuals. I’ve found coconut oil to be a huge trigger for my acne. I stumbled across this chart recently and have been using it as a guide to determine what is okay to put on my skin: https://www.beneficialbotanicals.com/facts-figures/comedogenic-rating.html
They rate different oils/botanicals on a scale of 0-5 where 5 is severely comedogenic (clogs pores) and 0 means it won’t clog them at all. Several ingredients here have pretty high ratings:
Beeswax – 2
Coconut Oil – 4
Almond Oil – 2
Tocopherol (Vitamin E) – 2
The aloe and shea butter are both rated at 0, so they should be fine 🙂 Perhaps you could substitute extra shea butter instead of coconut oil/beeswax, and hemp oil (also a 0) in place of almond? It won’t be quite as thick/solid, but better for your pores! 🙂 If you decide to skip the vitamin E it will be more perishable, so be sure to refrigerate it! 🙂
Honestly, can I just buy some from you?
Wow, wonder if that cream would help an old face (73). I have hard time finding lotions and creams for my very sensitive face skin. Your recipe sounds really good.
I used Vit. E oil on my knee replacement scars as soon as they were healed up enuf. Scars aren’t gorgeous of course but not too bad either. Figured it couldn’t hurt. I’d read somewhere that Vit e oil helps them not look as bad, believe me they’re not pretty.
When I can get all the ingredients I’ll make a batch. Glad you shared this post. Happy days ahead. I’m going to pin this post.
I’ve used a form of this for several years…I am 72. It works wonderfully on my super dry skin. I used coconut oil, glycerin, raw honey, vitamin e, shea butter, aloe and a few drops of lavender essential oil. It keeps very well on the shelf in the bathroom, but I don’t make a lot at a time, either. It lasts about 3 months. It also makes my hands and forearms less ‘crinkly’ when the weather is really dry and cold. I like the idea of using the bentonite and will add it in the next time I make it.
JaneEllen ~ Some great essential oils for more mature skin and scars are: frankincense, lavender, carrot, sandalwood and rose. I would not use the lemon essential oil since it can be astringent and possibly become phototoxic if you go out into the sun. The coconut oil has wonderful skin healing properties just on its own.
I have had great luck with the frankincense for skin care, healing minor skin issues and scarring. Make sure you good quality pure oils. frankincense, sandalwood and rose aren’t cheap but, a little goes a long way and they are worth it.
I have all the ingredients, but my aloe vera is juice. Would this work, and in what quantity?
I don’t think this would work due to consistency. I would think it would make the cream runny.
Can I substitute the White Kaolin Clay for the Bentonite Clay in this recipe?
I don’t see why not. I have no tried it personally
Will give it a try, Thanks
I’d prefer not to use beeswax. Any ideas for a substitute?
I haven’t tried any other types of waxes with this recipe but Mountain Rose Herb offers other waxes that can be used cosmetically http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/wax/wax.php
Soya wax can be substituted for beeswax, although it’s softer so you might need to use a little less to get the right constancy.
Where can I get the bentonite clay?
You can get it through the link provided above or at a Whole Foods
Since the ingredients should not be in contact with metal and the blades in the blender and food processor are metal what can I use to process the cream?
Great question Dee, I guess I have to find some plastic blades for my mixer, Any other suggestions would be helpful????
Just blend all of the ingredients except for the clay in the blender. Then remove from blender and add clay and stir!
Thank you Amy. I didn’t realize that it was only the clay that couldn’t be in contact with metal. Can’t wait to make some cream now 🙂
This was the question I wanted to ask. Thanks, yall!!
why can’t you use bentonite with metal? Just curious as I see others doing it all the time..measuring it out with metal measure spoons and mixing in stainless steel bowls…
Supposedly it deactivates it so it won’t absorb toxins as well.
Will have to try this one. where can you purchase the bentonite clay?
Check the link above or from a Whole Foods
I just use plain olive oil. It works wonderfully. Almond oil is very similar and would probably work on its own too, but IME it goes rancid quicker than olive oil. I love coconut oil on my hair but it makes my skin break out.
Just finished two batches. One without the lemon oil for daytime use. Of course, I mixed everything in the blender, including the clay!? (Oh well, I will remember next time and hopefully there is still some “life” left in the clay, lol.) It separated, but after I stirred it in the glass jar (with wooden stick) it was nice and creamy 🙂 Thank you so much for the recipe, you are awesome!
LOL that’s ok! You could probably just add a little more clay to it! Hope you love it!
If everyone that has made this recipe uses a blender/food processor with metal blades…….is it safe to assume that it’s ok to use metal???
You just need to read the instructions carefully. She says to blend all the ingredients (except clay) in a blender, then take the blended mixture out, put in a non-metal bowl and only THEN add the clay and mix with a non-metal spoon.
It’s only when the clay has been added that the mixture cannot come into contact with metal.
Thank you Kiki Chaos, Great Save, Got It!!
Great idea, I’d like to try: I hope I’ll be able to find all the ingredients I need! thanks
All of the ingredients should be pretty easy to find! Good luck!
Found you from Homestead Barn Hop – this looks like a great recipe. I have french green clay – would I be able to substitute that with similar results? Thanks – Lea @ http://www.adropofthis.com
I don’t see why not? They have very similar consistencies and seem to have similar beneficial qualities!
French green clay is only to be used once a week, because its very drying to the skin 🙂
If I have mature skin and drop the lemon how much of what would I change, thanks!
Where do I get the ingredients for the night cream?
Check the links above in the ingredient list. You can also find some of the ingredients at your local grocery store.
Wer do I find the bentonite clay…
Try the bulk herb store or mountain rose herbs, they both have it.