What Are the Common Cold Cream Ingredients?

I read an article in a beauty magazine that told what makes cold creams cold. It said that alcohol is the ingredient that provides the cooling effect.

I remember that when my dog had a high fever, the vet applied alcohol to her paw pads to cool her down. This same principle is at work in cold cream. Alcohol cools off the skin when it evaporates, because evaporation requires heat. It takes the heat from your skin, and this makes it evaporate.

The article also mentioned that it is best to keep cold creams either refrigerated or frozen. The borax acts as a mild preservative, but keeping it cool will make the cream last even longer.

My friend owns an herbal beauty supply store, and she knows how to make her own cold cream from scratch. She melts beeswax and safflower oil together and then drizzles a teaspoon of honey into the mix.

Then, she adds distilled water by a dropper. She whisks it in between drops, and then she lets it settle for five minutes. She drains off any water that did not soak in, and then she spoons the cream into ice cube trays.

She takes a frozen cube out and puts it in a container to thaw. She will use it within 24 hours, and it will still be chilled. She loves the added cooling effect, since her cold cream is literally still cold when she applies it.

I use a double boiler to melt the beeswax with sweet almond oil, coconut oil, and vegetable glycerin. The package said to never melt it over direct heat or in a microwave, because it is flammable.

Once it melts, I take it off the heat and wait for it to start thickening. Then, I add two tablespoons of rose water. I stir it together and pour it in a container.

After it has totally cooled, I put the lid on tight. I love the fact that I made it myself and it actually works! It makes my skin feel smooth and moisturized.

I use a cold cream with peppermint oil in it. I didn’t make it at home, but I can definitely tell that it contains that powerful scent.

I put cold cream on my face before I shower. I like to take my makeup off before I do anything else. When I get in the shower, the water rinses off any residue the cream might leave behind.

I like to use cold cream in the mornings to help me wake up. The strong scent of peppermint invigorates me. I follow it with a cold splash of water for an extra boost.

I've always heard about cold cream and how great it is. Many of my friends who have clear, soft, supple and radiant skin tell me that they use cold cream regularly.

I have checked out cold creams at the pharmacy and all of them have petrolatum, which is another name for mineral oil.

I have read that mineral oil is not very good or natural. It is a by-product of petroleum and it makes the skin feel soft because it creates a film around the skin and prevent moisture from escaping.

I only like to use natural products though and I have not found an all natural cold cream product yet. Maybe mineral oil is an essential ingredient for this product. Which natural ingredient can mineral oil be replaced with in cold creams?

Is beeswax what makes cold cream thick then?

My sister makes her own face creams and she also made a cold cream once. She said that it was a mixture of oil and some water combined with an emulsifier. Apparently an emulsifier makes the oil and water molecules stick together so that the oil can be removed with water.

If you make a cold cream without an emulsifier, even when you wash it off, the oils are said to remain on your face. I guess that can be a problem for some people who are prone to clogged pores, blackheads and acne.

My sister didn't mention anything about beeswax but I'm going to ask her next time I see her. I think beeswax would be a great addition to her homemade cold cream because it is so beneficial for the skin. I use hand cream and lip balm with beeswax and it is very moisturizing and my skin and lips stay soft for a long time.

I could probably use a cold cream with beeswax and skip the moisturizing step afterward.

I like to think of cold cream products as the more modern version of cleansing with olive oil or castor oil. Some people still clean and moisturize their face with natural oils. But it takes a lot of work and is kind of messy. You have to mix in the right amount of oils and rub into your face for a long time. It's also hard to keep this mixture fresh and carry it around when you go somewhere.

I think cold cream is basically the same- with different oils as the basic ingredient and then thickening agents and preservatives to keep it fresh. But it's much more convenient because it's already prepared, won't leak or cause a mess and can be carried around.