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We bring you another product from our line of cosmetics intended for gentlemen. This time it is a softening beard balm that helps to nourish and soften the moustache and beard. Since this product does not contain water-based ingredients, it is not necessary to use an emulsifier, and thus the concerns about creating a stable emulsion are eliminated and the product is all the easier to prepare.
For beard care, a combination of vegetable oils, shea butter, beeswax providing a dense consistency and Vegeline – a plant-based petrolatum providing a protective film on the beard and skin – was selected.
Below you will find a few tips that will help you when making your beard balm.When heating phase A, it is good to not exceed the temperature of 70 °C, so that sensitive substances in the oils do not break down or oxidise quickly. It is better to heat at a lower temperature and give the mixture enough time for the individual ingredients to melt and combine.It is important to cool down thoroughly and allow the mixture to set. Otherwise, you will not be able to whip the mixture into a fluffy consistency. When whipping, a small amount of heat is also generated, and thus the oils combine well with the other components. At the same time, always add the ingredients of phase B only during whipping into the cooled mixture. If you were to add them during heating, thermal degradation would occur – essential oils and vitamin E (tocopherol) are both sensitive to higher temperatures.When using the product, it is good to avoid water entering the product. Water can lead to the development of microbial contamination, since the beard balm does not contain a preservative. A preservative was not added because the product consists only of non-aqueous ingredients, and thus in the absence of water there is little chance that microorganisms will cause significant spoilage of the product.It is also advisable to store the product in an opaque container away from sources of heat and sunlight, since higher temperatures and UV radiation promote faster oxidation of the oils and fats in the beard balm.
When making the beard balm, you do not necessarily have to follow our instructions. By changing the ratio of some ingredients you can adjust the consistency of the product exactly to your needs. Or play with essential oils and give the product precisely your favourite scent.
Vegeline plant-based petrolatum is an alternative to classic paraffin-based petrolatum. Thanks to its purely plant-based base composed of oils and waxes, Vegeline will be a great addition to any balm or richer cream. In addition, in the beard balm it helps create a protective layer on the skin and beard, protecting them from the weather and softening them at the same time.By changing the amount of Vegeline in the recipe, you can also influence the final consistency of the product. For example, by increasing the proportion of Vegeline, you will obtain a denser consistency characteristic of highly nourishing balms. Conversely, if you want a more liquid and easier-to-spread product, replace part of the Vegeline with vegetable oils.
The blend of vegetable oils in the beard balm instructions provides hydration to the skin and beard as well as vitamins and nutrients. By increasing the proportion of oils in the recipe at the expense of butter, wax or Vegeline, you will obtain a balm with a softer consistency closer to creams. Conversely, the fewer oils you use, the denser the beard balm will be. You can also replace the oils in the beard balm recipe according to your preferences with any other vegetable oil or their blend.Almond oil is an excellent basic carrier oil for many types of cosmetics. It contains vitamin A and E, and thus nourishes the skin. In addition, it is great for dry, sensitive or irritated skin, as it is well tolerated by many skin types. Hemp oil is sought-after for its rapid absorption into the skin. Thanks to this, it does not leave a greasy film, and at the same time it is rich in omega-3 and 6 fatty acids. It helps to hydrate the beard and skin well and is suitable especially if you have acne-prone or oily skin. Fractionated coconut oil is obtained from traditional coconut oil by selecting fractions, thanks to which this oil is liquid even at normal temperatures. Because it is colourless and odourless, it combines perfectly with essential oils and with other oil-based ingredients. Thanks to refining, it has an almost unlimited shelf life and does not easily oxidise, thus helping to improve the stability of products. Similar to hemp oil, coconut oil is quickly absorbed and does not leave a greasy film behind.
The pleasant creamy consistency of the balm for the beard is provided precisely by shea butter. If you choose the unrefined version, you can also detect the subtle nutty scent of this butter in the product. If you do not like this scent, choose the refined version. An advantage of shea butter is the fact that it begins to melt gradually upon contact with the skin, thereby gently and gradually lubricating, softening and nourishing the beard.If you want a product with a more pronounced gel-oily consistency, reduce the content of shea butterand replace it with vegetable oils. If you like products with a denser consistency and a higher proportion of this butter, add a few percent at the expense of oils to achieve the desired texture and viscosity.Replacing it with other vegetable butters is possible, but will result in a change in consistency, as each vegetable butter has a different melting point and hardness.
For firming and thickening the product, one of the most common thickeners – cetearyl alcohol – was used. The advantage of this fatty alcohol is the fact that it dissolves in fats when heated and has wax-like properties, thereby giving the product hardness and firmness. Even a small change in the amount of cetearyl alcohol is reflected in the overall consistency of the product. At the same time, it is possible to replace this alcohol with cetyl alcohol. Alternatively, you can use cetearyl alcohol instead of beeswax if you are looking for a vegan alternative. However, expect a slight change in viscosity.
Caring substances and a characteristic consistency are given to the beard balm precisely by beeswax. The refined version is free of colour and of its typical scent, but it is also possible to replace this wax with natural beeswax or plant waxes.If you want a product that is denser and at the same time will partially help to shape and fix the beard, increase the proportion of beeswax in the recipe at the expense of oils. Conversely, if you feel that the product is too greasy, reduce the amount of beeswax.
To create a pleasant masculine scent imitating wood and leather, a blend of plant essential oils was used. The combination of vetiver and sandalwood represents the base note of the scent, while patchouli, black pepper and thyme are excellent middle notes, complemented by a gentle citrus nuance of lemongrass as the top note.However, this is not the only combination of oils that can be used in a beard balm. You can combine your favourite essential oils and blend your own mixture, whether with regard to the scent or to the active substances of essential oils for beard growth.Alternatively, it is possible to replace essential oils with fragrance oils, which are, however, synthetic and therefore do not contain plant extracts. Or prepare an unperfumed version.
Vitamin E or tocopherol not only nourishes the skin and beard, but also helps prolong the freshness of the oils and fats used when making a lip balm. Vitamin E is an antioxidant and thus slows down the oxidation of the oils and fats present. Tocopherol is not an essential part of the recipe, but it is good to use it if you want to enjoy your product for as long as possible. You can possibly replace it with tocopheryl acetate with similar properties.
As mentioned, you can experiment with home recipes to achieve the desired properties. However, the final result can be affected by many factors, such as humidity, temperature, quality of ingredients or their storage. Before you use any ingredient to make a cosmetic product, familiarise yourself with its properties, recommended dosage, storage conditions and safe handling. Each ingredient may have the potential to trigger an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals, therefore before using the product we recommend finding out whether you suffer from an allergy to any of the ingredients or the overall product, e.g. by means of a skin test. If you have very sensitive or very acne-prone skin, or if you have other skin and health problems, we recommend that you consult a medical professional before applying a new product to the skin, whether it is a home-made cosmetic product, a pure ingredient or a commercially available product.
Do you have a bearded man at home who needs a little more care for his beard? Try making him a beard balmaccording to our instructions. Have you made it? Write to us about it, tell us about your experience and if you have tips from your own practice, be sure to write them to us at marketing@handymade.skWe look forward to all your messages.
We thank Ivana Jačalová for the great tutorial on making a beard balm.
