Face and beard serum
Spicy fragrance and hydration are the basis of this natural face serum
and beard for men
For treating skin stressed by the weather or other influences, this face and beard serum is a great choice. As well as using it on the facial skin, you can also apply it to the stubble area to soften the skin, for example to make shaving easier. Try our guide to face and beard balm with its unmistakable woody-spicy scent.
FACE AND BEARD SERUM - INGREDIENTS
To achieve intense hydration, hyaluronic acid has been used in the face and beard serum. In addition, the serum consists of aqueous and oil-based raw materials, so it is in the form of an emulsion created thanks to the emulsifier Olivem 1000. The soothing properties of the serum can be felt thanks to the hamamelis hydrolates
and aloe vera juice.
INGREDIENCE PHASE %
A Demineralised water 30.10
A Aloe vera juice 25,00
A Hamamel hydrolate 30,00
B Vegetable glycerine 5,00
B Hyaluronic acid HMW 0,30
C Olivem 1000 2,00
C Hemp oil 5,50
D Essential oilsessential oil lavender 0,20
D Cedarwood essential oil 0,30
D Essential oilsessential oil thyme 0,20
D Essential oil black pepper 0,10
D Tocopherol 96%0,20
D Lactic acid 80 % 0,10
D Cosgard preservative 1,00
bottlebottle with dispenser ---
FACE AND BEARD SERUM - PROCEDURE
1. disinfect all utensils, packaging or containers you will use, for example with ethanol.
2. weigh the ingredients of phase A, i.e. water, aloe vera juice and hydrolate, into the container. Mix.
3.in a heat-resistant container , mix the glycerine with the hyaluronic acid (phase B) until a thick slurry forms. Then add the mixture of phase A ingredients, mix well and cover with cling film
4. weigh the phase C ingredients (hemp oil and emulsifier) into a second heat-resistant container, cover with foil.
5. place both containers covered with foil on a water bath and heat until Olivem 1000 is completely dissolved and both mixtures reach approximately the same temperature of about 70 °C.
6.then pour the aqueous ingredients into the container with the oil ingredients (i.e. to phase C) and start mixing with an immersion stick blender while still on the water bath.
7.remove from the water bath and continue stirring for at least a few minutes until the water and oils no longer separate. Then stir periodically every few minutes until the mixture has cooled to room temperature.
8.once cooled, use a blender to mix the essential oils and tocopherol into the serum.
9. check the pH of the mixture, for example by using indicator papers. If it is not in the range of 4.5 to 5.5, add lactic acid drop by drop until the pH is in the range indicated. Please note that the amount of lactic acid is only a guide!
10. after adjusting the pH, add the preservative and mix the serum thoroughly. Fill into a pre-disinfected container.
FACE AND BEARD SERUM - TIPS AND TRICKS
Below you will find some hints and tips to make it easier for you to make face and beard serum. For example, they will advise you on how to create a stable emulsion or how to adjust the pH of the product correctly.
Be sure to cover the containers before heating to prevent water from evaporating and water from the water bath from entering. To increase accuracy when making larger batches , weigh the water mixture before heating and record the weight. After heating, weigh the mixture again (support the hot container with a saucer so that the heat does not damage the scales)
and make up the evaporated water.
It is important that the two phases are at approximately the same temperature of around 70 °C when combined. Otherwise, the emulsifier may solidify before you can mix the mixture sufficiently with the mixer. Use a stick immersion blender or, if necessary, a milk frother, but make sure that the milk frother has sufficient power (insufficient power will result in separation of the water and oil phases).
Always add lactic acid drop by drop when adjusting the pH, as the amount of lactic acid used will vary depending on the accuracy of the dosage of the other ingredients, the quality of the ingredients or changes in the recipe. Therefore, the quantity given is only indicative. After each drop of lactic acid, stir the mixture thoroughly and check the pH. Do not add Cosgard preservative before adjusting the pH - it will not be effective without a pH of 5.5 or lower.
FACE AND BEARD SERUM - INGREDIENTS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE
If you've been wondering about possible confusions in the recipe or the meaning and function of each ingredient, you've come to the right place. Below you will find more information about the benefits and purpose of the ingredients used to make face and beard serum.
DEMINERALISED WATER
The basis for the production of most cosmetic products is demineralised or distilled water. Its advantage is that it does not contain minerals that would affect the stability of the emulsion or preservative. Therefore, do not replace it with ordinary tap water or boiled water.
You can, however, replace it with hydrolates, which also contain volatile substances from plants. These not only smell nice but also have skin-care properties. However, hydrolates often have a different pH than demineralised water, so substituting them in a recipe will also change the amount of lactic acid needed to adjust the pH.
ALOE VERA JUICE
Aloe vera juice will provide great moisturizing and nourishing effects to the skin. This juice also helps to soothe irritated skin, for example after shaving. It is a clear, odourless liquid that is well tolerated by the skin, which is why you will find it in many commercially available cosmetics.
Aloe vera juice can be substituted with demineralised water or hydrolyte or, conversely, the proportion of this juice can be increased at the expense of the water in the recipe. Again, however, these substitutions will result in a change in the pH of the product.
HAMAMEL HYDROLATE
Hamamel is a common ingredient in cosmetics for sensitive and irritated skin. Definitely don't skip it if you want your serum to help soothe post-shaving skin or redness. When substituting it, similar rules apply as with aloe vera juice. There are a wide variety of hydrolates or floral waters available if you decide to swap out the hamamel for another type of hydrolates.
GLYCERINE
Glycerin is great for moisturising and hydrating stressed skin. It is a clear, syrupy liquid, well soluble in water. It not only helps to hydrate the skin, but also helps it retain water for longer. In addition, it speeds up the hydration of powdered ingredients like hyaluronic acid, so it is an essential part of this recipe.
Without glycerin, hyaluronic acid will take a longer time to fully hydrate and stop forming clumps in the final product.
HYALURONIC ACID HMW
hyaluronic acid provides effective and intense hydration to the skin. This raw material binds water intensively to itself, forming a gel depending on its concentration. Thus, it not only helps to hydrate the skin
and replenishes lost water, but it also thickens the products.
You will appreciate hyaluronic acid if you have dry skin. At the same time, it also provides effective hydration for oily skin,
without the use of oils and fats, which would put unnecessary strain on the skin. As it is an active ingredient, it can be omitted from the recipe and replaced with water, or you can use a low molecular weighthyaluronic acid, which, although less dense, penetrates deeper areas of the skin due to its smaller particles.
OLIVEM 1000
An emulsifier, in this case Olivem 1000, has been used to combine the aqueous and oil phases. Emulsifiers are often similar in appearance to waxes, sold in the form of light granules or fragments that dissolve in oils when heated. Due to the intensive mixing, they allow water and oil to subsequently combine, while thickening the product.
Olivem 1000 cannot be omitted as the hemp oil is then not mixed with the water phase. However, you can substitute Beautyderm K10 or another emulsifier. Increasing the proportion of emulsifier in the recipe will give you a thicker, more viscous serum.
HEMP OIL
To soften the beard and skin, hemp oil has been used in this product. This oil has the advantage of being quickly absorbed and does not leave behind a greasy film. In addition, it is rich in vitamins and minerals, including unsaturated fatty acids. It also helps retain water in the skin by forming a protective film on the skin.
Hemp oil can be substituted for another vegetable oil in a recipe for a face and beard serum. Increasing its proportion will result in a more nourishing and re-oiled product, while decreasing its representation in the recipe will make the serum less oily.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Essential oils are the main element for achieving a pleasant woody-spicy scent. The base is made up of cedarwood, while the middle notes consist of lavender and black pepper, followed by thyme for the top notes. In addition, these oils have conditioning properties and are suitable for beard and chin care.
You can substitute the selected essential oils with others according to your preference, but follow the recommended dosage, e.g. according to IFRA standards. It is ideal to avoid citrus oils, especially during the summer, as they can cause photosensitivity as the serum is a non-rinse product.
An alternative to essential oils is fragrance oils, which, although synthetically prepared, have a wider range of oils available. Alternatively, it is possible to avoid perfuming altogether and replace essential oils with cannabis oil.
LACTIC ACID
Lactic acid was chosen to adjust the pH. This organic acid helps to gradually lower the pH down to the skin's physiological pH between 4.5 and 5.5. A possible substitute is a citric acid solution, but you will need a different amount than when using lactic acid.
You can find out more about adjusting pH in the Tips and Tricks section.
COSGARD
A preservative commonly used for making home cosmetics is Cosgard. It has the advantage of good efficacy, but to use it you need to have an acidic pH in the product, so adjusting the pH with acids is essential.
If you don't want to adjust the pH, reach for a preservative such as Euxyl PE 9010, but it is always preferable to have products with a physiological skin pH, as there is a presumption that they will be less irritating.
NOTICE
As mentioned, you can experiment with homemade recipes to achieve the desired properties. However, many factors such as humidity, temperature, quality of ingredients or storage can affect the final result.
Before using any raw material to make a cosmetic product, familiarize yourself with its properties, recommended dosage, storage conditions or safe handling. Any raw material may have the potential to cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals, so before using a product, we recommend that you find out if you suffer from an allergy to any of the raw materials or the overall product, e.g. by a skin test.
If you have very sensitive or very acne-prone skin, or other skin and health problems, we recommend that you consult a medical professionalbefore applying a new product to your skin, whether it is a homemade cosmetic product, a pure raw material or a commercially available product.
FACE AND BEARD SERUM - CONCLUSION
Hydration and care for men without feeling greasy with a typical spicy fragrance. This is a face and beard serum that is sure to please more than one guy.
Thanks to Ivana Jačalová for this great post with instructions on how to create a face and beard serum.
If you have any questions or tips from your own experience that we could add to this blog post, be sure to email us at marketing@handymade.sk
We'll be looking forward to it.
Until the mystification, my friends.
