Q. I made the face cream last weekend.
However, it seemed to be too thin so I added .40 oz. of emulsifying wax.
I noticed later that it thickened quite a bit. Guess I should have let it set.
A. Yes, you need to let any lotion or cream set for a day before figuring out if it's the thickness you want. Zinc, cocoa butter and shea butter will also thicken it, so use a thin base with these.
Q. After adding the essential oils, I could not smell them so ended up putting too much essential oil.
I realized this after using the cream under my eyes and they turned red :).
I'm happy with the results - the cream is not very thick and it's okay to use on the face but not under the eyes.
A. The rule of thumb is to use 1-2% for a baby/new mother, 2.5-5% for scent and up to 10% for medicinal effect. It depends on which essential oil you use as well. Any essential oil you use must be skin safe. The eyes ONLY like saline water, although you can use organically grown lavender, cypress or chamomile in small concentrations carefully around the eyes.
Q. I'm planning to make some more basic lotion and add to the cream.
Should I add grapefruit seed extract to the lotion or it is not necessary since I will be adding it to the cream?
A. Yes, always, add the grapefruit seed extract to any lotion or cream base you use as soon as it cools to warm. The lotion will thin out. You'll find out the final viscosity once it is room temperature.
Q. I used a whisker while adding the GSE and essential oils. Should I just stir it instead?
A. Whatever works for you. I try to introduce the fewest instruments possible to avoid adding germs, so I prefer to mix by pouring back and forth between the oil pot and the water pot. For other additions, I sterilize a hand blender.
Q. I also added some basic lotion to the shea butter but it looks grainy. Any suggestions?
A. It's probably grainy because the shea butter cooled in the lotion before it mixed. Add melted shea butter to warm lotion or cream and blend with a hand blender. Drizzle the shea butter in slowly into the vortex created by the hand blender.
Q. The pigmention on my face is fading, though not completely. I switched to a mix of helichrysum, seabuckthorn, german chamomile in rose oil and it is working. The lemon oil was working at first but didn't later. Was it because it was getting used to my skin and I need to give it a break?
A. Probably! The rule of thumb in herbalism is two weeks on, two weeks off!