Frankincense Face Cream for Beautiful Skin | Real Food RN

Frankincense Face Cream for Beautiful Skin

Frankincense Face Cream | Real Food RN

Two years ago, my mom gifted me a facial for my birthday. I did not really know what to think, I was still the girl who splashed water on her face at night and slept with eye makeup on! I had never really paid attention to my skin — I had been blessed with good skin for the most part and never really had to worry. Well, let me tell you, it was AHmazing. Not only was it so relaxing, but also very informative! She told me all about the importance of taking care of my skin.

So began my skin care routine.

Being the crunchy mama that I am, I did not want to buy a ton of the “product” that she recommended to me. I mean, check out the ingredients lists on those pretty bottles! Yikes!!! So, I started investigating different natural companies. That has been an ongoing journey of discovery, so I started a Safe Skin Care Facebook group where we discuss removing the toxins from our skincare and making safer choices. I invite you to join thousands of others in the conversations HERE.

Now I was on the path to having my makeup figured out, but how about those expensive face creams? I decided to try making my own!

Then I got into essential oils. Wow, that took things to a whole new level! My favorite oil to use on my face is Frankincense. Naturally, I had to come up with a skin cream that included it… Frankincense face cream!

A little bit about the other oils I chose, and why I chose them…

  • Cocoa butter: improves skin tone and elasticity
  • Coconut oil: promotes collagen production and heals damaged skin
  • Jojoba oil: anti-inflammatory and has been shown to reduce the signs of aging
  • Sweet almond oil: reduces scarring, smoothes and rejuvenates skin

Note: this recipe makes about 1 cup of face cream. I divide it between 2 jars and store one in the fridge for later. If you only want a small amount, then divide the recipe in two.

Frankincense Face Cream

Ingredients:

Directions:

  • In a double boiler, melt the cocoa butter
  • Combine melted cocoa butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and almond oil in a mixing bowl (I use the bowl from my kitchen aid mixer)
  • Place the bowl into your fridge until it starts to harden
  • Once it is cooled and hardened, put the bowl under your stand mixer, or use your hand mixer to whip it up
  • Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula and whip some more. I scrape and whip several times to get it all well combined
  • Whip until nice and fluffy, then add in the Frankincense and whip until combined
Frankincense Face Cream | Real Food RN


Frankincense Face Cream | Real Food RN
  • Store Frankincense Face Cream in the glass jar, or transfer to any container you desire. I use these or these (you can also find some really cute bottles and jars HERE)
  • Apply Frankincense Face Cream to skin as needed for moisturizing, I use it morning and night. You only need a small amount to cover your face, if you use too much it will be greasy. A little bit goes a long way!
  • I store mine in the fridge in the warmer months to keep it cool. Its very refreshing to apply a cool cream in the summer!

UPDATE: I used to sell this cream on Etsy and would always sell out within an hour of listing it! I have since quit selling it, but I get regular requests to start back up. I don’t have time to fit that back into my schedule at this time, but a blogger friend of mine makes a great tallow cream using essential oils. It is almost identical in texture and results in this Frankincense Face Cream. So, if you don’t want to make your own and would rather buy it, check out her page HERE.

Want to know more about my skincare routine? Here are my other recipes: WASH, TONE, UNDER EYE SERUM, VITAMIN C SERUM

Watch the video recipe below

CLICK HERE to Pin this post

Frankincense Face Cream | Real Food RN

Resources:

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18822039
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20523108
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24442052
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20129403

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Hi, my name is Kate.

I love food. Real food. We eat all of the things that nursing school taught me were bad for you: butter, eggs, bacon, and raw milk.

I am a Nurse, a Mom, and a Real Food loving blogger. Just trying to save the world.

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176 Comments

    1. I meant TBSP, I fixed it. Sorry about that. I had initially tried it with 1/4 cup for each and didn’t like how it turned out so I knocked it back to 2 TBSP, and did not edit out the cups. Ah postpartum brain. I’m lucky I remember my name most days 🙂

      Reply

      1. I made this and it didn’t thicken or whip up really and than it sort of turned into foam after letting it sit for a while

        Reply

  3. Wondering if you could suggest a sub for the coconut oil. I love using coconut oil as a body moisturizer, but I break out when I use it facially. Any suggestions? Thanks so much, love your blog!

    Reply

    1. That’s a tough one! Coconut oil is really what hardens and whips up so nice. You will need a good saturated fat in place of it. Try omitting it and see if it whips up, you might just get a face oil out of the recipe, but it will still work great 🙂

      Reply

        1. I get that. Chocolate is tasty, but you might not want to smell like it 😉 You can certainly sub Shea butter, but it might be a tad “greasier”

          Reply

  5. What if you don't have a mixer? Can this be stirred by hand? Also what is another way to melt the cocoa butter since I don't have a double boiler?

    Reply

    1. It needs to be whipped really hard, might be difficult to do by hand. But you can sure try it! You can melt the coco butter in a metal bowl placed over a pot of boiling water

      Reply

      1. I’ve read that heating the cocoa butter compromises the quality I’m assuming the same applies to the Shea as well

        Reply

    2. You could try a hand mixer, like you’d mix up a brownie mix. Most come with a whisk attachment that would work well.

      Reply
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  7. I mixed up this cream and like it very much but is it supposed to be rock solid hard? It was creamy after whipping. I know that the coconut oil will be hard in it's solid state but I was hoping it would stay softer to make it easier for smoothing.

    Reply

  9. i have an almond allergy! What can I use instead of almond oil, as I’m afraid it will break me out!

    Reply

  10. What are the biggest uses for the jojoba oil and the sweet almond oil? Are they necessary? I only ask because I don’t have those two ingredients and I want to make this as soon as possible!

    Reply

    1. Emily, I listed why they are important at the top of the post. You can sub other oils if you’d like though, whatever you have on hand. 🙂

      Reply

  11. Is the “coolness” the only reason your refrigerate it? If you don’t want it in the fridge, will it be ok? I have all those ingredients, and plan to make some tomorrow. I don’t have frankincense, though….are there any others you would recommend? I have several others.

    Reply

  12. I have all the ingredients on hand! I think this would be wonderful for gifts for others. Do you think it would keep for several weeks without refrigeration…or should one add a bit of Vit E oil? Also about how long did you actually whip the cream? That would help as a gauge when I go to make it myself. Thanks!

    Reply

    1. It will definitely last for several weeks without being in the fridge, I keep it in my medicine cabinet right now and its just fine. You could certainly add a little Vit E to help. I whip the cream different lengths every time. Depends on how warm it is in your house. I just keep whipping, then scraping the sides of the bowl, then whipping again until its really creamy and fluffy. You will know — see the image in my post, it should look like that. Its fun to make 🙂

      Reply

  13. Hello! I’m trying to make this cream but it’s very hard after coming out of the fridge. How did you get yours to be so fluffy? Thanks!

    Reply

  15. I was making this at 10pm last night, and messed up the recipe. I did half a recipe for everything EXCEPT the cocoa butter. 🙁 Is it possible for me to melt some coconut oil, add the jojoba and almond oil, wait for it to harden in the fridge and then whip it again? I'm frustrated at myself b/c it was such a waste.

    Reply
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  17. Just made this today! Super creamy consistency & very easy. Can’t wait to see how if works with my skin

    Reply
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    1. I have had it separate once, and it was because I let it sit in a hot camper (now I keep it in the fridge when we camp). Did you leave it near a heat source? No worries though because you can simply whip it up again, remember to let it harden in the fridge before whipping.

      Reply

  23. I’m having trouble getting mine to whip up, it’s staying liquid?
    I waited til it was cloudy and starting to thicken.
    Any suggestions? Thank you!

    Reply

    1. Hey Amy, put it back in the fridge longer. Sometimes it takes many many cycles of whip, scrape, whip, scrape until it gets really whipped. The secret is to chilling it and whipping a lot

      Reply

      1. Hello! I love this recipe, do you think I can add emulsifying wax and a dash or vegetable glycerine to make it more creamy texture? X

        Reply

  24. Hi Kate-
    I added all the ingredients before I read to add the Frankincense after it cooled. Oops. I thought the heat may hurt/destroy the EO, so I added 20 more drops as I was whipping it up. Can that much Frankincense be toxic? or be damaging to my skin?
    Thanx!

    Reply

  25. I want to make this, but coconut oil breaks my face out. (I have very dry, sensitive skin.). The very expensive cream I currently use has a Shea butter base. Do you think that would be okay to sub the cocoa butter and coconut oil in this recipe?

    Reply

    1. Make sure that you chilled it long enough. Then you just have to whip, and scrape the sides, whip, and scrape the sides, whip, etc. Sometimes it takes longer than previous batches.

      Reply

      1. I have dry skin so I need to make this for myself. How much did you sell your Frankencense Face Cream since you don’t sell it any longer? Frankencense is expensive.

        Reply

  29. What are the benefits of the Frankincense oil for a face cream…is it toning for wrinkles, an astringent for oil, moisturizing…?

    Reply

    1. It improves the appearance of healthy skin. If you do a search online you will find all sorts of reasons why it’s helpful for your skin. I know my skin has been glowing ever since I added it to my daily routine!

      Reply

  32. Hi Kate. I love essential oils especially frankincense oil. However in this recipe do you buy the cocoa butter in solid (brick) form and shrewd it. If so, how do you shred it? Then yo u melt the 1/2 cups of the shredded cocoa butter?

    Reply

    1. Hi Sandy, I do buy the cocoa butter in a brick. I put it into a plastic bag and hit it with my meat tenderizer: https://amzn.to/21sEfLv. Sounds weird, but it works. Then I melt down the smaller pieces and measure is when its melted 🙂

      Reply

  33. I have a small crock pot for making stuff like this…would it work for this recipe? Can’t wait to try it!

    Reply

    1. I have not tried it in a crock pot, but on a low setting I would think it could work. Let me know how it goes 🙂

      Reply

  34. I just made it. I had to put it back into the fridge 4 times. It just would whip up. Finally it did and it look beautiful just like yours. I don’t know what I was thinking but I also added 5 drops of lavender, now I am wondering if I should discard it or if it is ok to use it. Help!?

    Reply

    1. Hi Enma, nope it should be just fine. Lavender is a wonderful oil and will only enhance the cream. Glad you got it to whip up well 🙂

      Reply

  35. Just wanted to know which Frankincense you used – carterii, frereana, omani/sacra, or serrata?
    Thanks

    Reply

  37. I made this this past weekend. I think I need to whip more as its clumpy.

    How long after using did you see results?

    So far I like it.

    Reply

  39. I’ve used this cream for a month and love it. I had some dry patches on my face and they are gone. It doesn’t leave my skin super greasy. Thank you for sharing it.

    Reply

  40. Hi,

    First I love this stuff! I made my second batch, the right way this time;) The first batch I didn’t get it whipped and I don’t think I stored it right. It got a couple very small black spots in it. I tried to removed those as best as I could, then I did get it whipped. Would it be ok to keep using it or do suggest to toss it?

    Reply

    1. I think it should be okay, just watch for any black spots to return. If mold does grow, I would toss it.

      Reply

  42. Hi…thanks for sharing your recipe. However I get atopy from using different oils that I was wondering if I can use a hypoallergenic cream base and just add a few drops of frankincense to it?

    Reply

  43. I made this tonight and am thinking I may have not whipped it enough. It very quickly hardened like butter. I thought I had whipped it too much so I added a little bit more almond oil. Should I expect it to harden? Is that when I would scrape and whip some more?

    Reply

  44. I’ve been using this in place of my usual day and night cream for about 3 weeks and my skin looks and feels amazing! I absolutely love this recipe! It’s so easy to make and one batch lasts forever. Thanks so much for sharing it!

    Reply

  47. Hi my cream turned out quite thick can I remelt and maybe add a bit more oil would this take the effects away fr the frankenscense i also added some vit e oil Thks

    Reply

  48. hi kate, I love how this face cream sounds and i wanted to make some for my friends this year for Christmas. i dont want to do this last minute and i wonder whats the best way to keep it safe and when when i gift it should i tell them to keep in fridge. do you think it could get moldy when they open it? it would be the worst!!
    Thanks

    Reply

  49. Does Half a batch of the Frankincense Face Cream work well to make? If I make a full batch to sell half, how much do you suggest I sell a half batch of the cream? (I don’t gift exchange with this person , I already gift her things and I ‘m on a tight budget )

    Reply

  51. Frankincense Face Cream

    Isn’t it possible to get “Organic” oils for the recipe? I notice the Amazon links are not to “organic” Sweet Almond Oil, nor Coco Butter, ???

    Reply

  52. Kate, I am very interested in making a batch of the Frankincense Facial Cream but am interested in knowing about how many 2 ounce jars does a single batch of the cream fill. I was about to order some jars and I don’t think I saw how many jars it would take to hold all of the moisturing cream that the recipe makes.

    Reply
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  54. Can’t wait to try this recipe. Do you melt the coconut oil too or do you let it melt in the residual heat of the cocoa butter? Thanks

    Reply

  55. I made the cream yesterday and it was creamy, however this morning was rock hard. Do I whip it all up agan

    Reply
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  57. Can you tell me how to keep cream soft. I made it, it was fluffy and rich.set it on the counter and it got hard

    Reply

    1. Keep it in an area with a moderate temp that does not fluctuate. The melting and hardening makes it harder

      Reply
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  61. I’ve been seeing where you can mix minerals foundation with lotion to make a cream foundation. With this work for that?

    Reply

  62. Hello.
    Could you please tell me if i could add a little bees wax to the Frankincense face cream.
    Also is it ok to just use coconut oil & jojoba oil
    Thank you kindly.
    Sarah

    Reply
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  64. What’s the best way to measure out the cocoa butter? Do you just use a grater? I have the block of it. Thanks!

    Reply

  65. Okay so I whipped and scraped and whipped And scraped and whipped and scraped and when I was done it was creamy and looked like your picture so I put it in a jar. Now three hours later it is clumpy again. Why????

    Reply

    1. Hmm. I have not had that happen, could there have been temperature variations that would have made it more liquid again and then back to more solid?

      Reply

  66. Hey quick question. Is it supposed to turn to oily butter when put on skin mine looks great and thenjust turns to oil as soon as it makes contact with skin??? I havnt added the frankincense yet just in case I don’t want to waste it. Would that make a difference? Thank you darlin

    Reply

    1. It does look oily when you first put it on, because there are so many amazing skin oils and creams in it. It does soak in though, and I have never had issues with it clogging pores or anything.

      Reply
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  69. Love this! I can’t wait to try this recipe out! Im actually going to splurge and use it as a whole body cream!

    Reply

  70. I stay in a warm climate so although I made this it melts and becomes a liquid sludge if I don’t store it in the refrigerator. Is there any way to harden it and increase the shelf life? I want to retain the creamy soft texture.

    Reply
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  72. Hi I’m making the face cream and I accidently put in 1 cup cocoa butter instead of half I’m so bummed hoping it will still work what do you think

    Reply
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  74. My bookclub read Crimes Against a Book Club by Kathy Cooperman and I made jars of this face cream to give out to our members. You”ll have to read the book to find out how it relates to the hilarious story. Anyway, I followed the directions to a “T” because I really wanted it to work. It whipped up well and looked just like the picture. Putting it in the jars was a delight because the texture looked just like face cream. Once the jars sat for a while at room temperature, though, the mixture turned from creamy to liquid-y. After then storing it in the refrigerator, it solidified but was very grainy. I would love to know what to do now. What did I do wrong?

    Reply
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  79. Hi Kate! Thank you for sharing your skin care recipes. This post has been going strong for a few years! ???? I’m gathering ingredients to make your regime now. Yay!
    QUESTION: I love using organic virgin coconut oil on my skin and in cooking, but believe my face reacts poorly to it. What would you think about substituting HEMP OIL for the coconut oil in your recipes?

    Reply

  84. Hi Kate. I love, love, love your recipes. I’m just new to EOs and living clean so forgive me if this is a silly question. I find that all these oils are greasy when applied, even in small amounts. My absorption rate must be slower than most because I don’t see too many complaints about it. Is there any benefit to adding a tablespoon of arrowroot powder to this recipe? Thanks for your great posts.

    Reply

    1. Hi Mimi, I am not sure that adding arrowroot would help, might turn it into a paste. Maybe try using a very small amount when applying

      Reply
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  87. Hi,
    Thanks for sharing this great recibe,
    I made it and my cream is solid. I live in a could place. Do you think I whiped too much or is because of the temperature? I still love it, it melts as soon it touches my skin, but still wondering.
    Thanks.

    Reply

  88. It’s whipping as I type. Keeping my fingers cross for my face is oily. I hope this does not make it oilier.

    Reply

  89. Hi I’ve just made this, and its so oily!!! I thought it was going to be like a cream 🙁 I’m soo worried now

    Reply

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