We love that weed markets are opening everywhere, but we also love that weed’s increasing popularity has led to a massive DIY world. Sometimes consumers want to know that their product is specifically what they want it to be, especially when its going in, or on, their body. When it comes to looking great, check out this DIY cannabis skin cream recipe, for glowing skin, and no unnecessary chemicals.
Who wants a store bought product when you can make DIY cannabis skin cream in the comfort of your own home? Best way to know you’ve got a great product, is to make it yourself. This site focuses on independent reporting of the cannabis and psychedelic landscapes. You can follow along by subscribing to the THC Weekly Newsletter, which comes full of deals on products likes vapes and edibles, for those who’d rather just buy. Plus, we’ve got tons of offers for popular cannabinoid products including HHC-O, Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC. There are a lot of great products out there, so do your research, and make sure to make the best purchase possible.
Why DIY?
There are plenty of reasons why a person might want to make their own product, rather than buy from a store. Stores generally have standard and streamlined items, which are the same from store to store, state to state, and sometimes country to country as well. There’s not a lot of individualism in product marketing on a large scale, so when buying from a store, you’re getting the same basic product that everyone else gets.
This doesn’t leave a lot of room for variation. And though providers often do supply product listings that include alternative options (no-sugar options, gluten-free options, animal-friendly options, vegan options), it’s sometimes hard to get all your needs met in a regular store. Even a specialty store generally runs off specific recipes, so though it might provide different options to bigger marketplaces, it still can’t necessarily get you the exact product you want.
Besides the inability for personalization, standard product markets are oftentimes dirty. If you want a skin cream, you might prefer it without a bunch of toxic chemicals. Those chemicals are there because these products are made via mass production, whereby they’re expected to travel long distances, and sit on store shelves without going bad. Sometimes, you won’t have the benefit of knowing (or trusting) anything about a product you’re buying off a shelf. As more information comes out about the dicey ingredients in cosmetics, making your own products becomes that much more enticing.
DIY products come out exactly how you desire, since you’re choosing what goes in, and all cooking/processing techniques. When you do it yourself, you don’t have to question what added chemicals there might be, what processing techniques were used (and if they could have left behind residue), and what quality of ingredients went into making the product. When you make it yourself, you can control for all the mentioned factors. Plus, if you happen to like your product with just a little more of this, or just a little less of that, you can make it specific to your needs.
DIY cannabis skin cream can be used for different purposes. Cannabis creams are often used to strengthen the skin and remove blemishes, while other skin ailments like rashes or infections, are also treatable with the same creams. For some, the main purpose is simply to achieve glowing skin, and general beauty maintenance. When it comes to skincare, there are different terms to know, like salve, lotion, ointment, balm, and cream.
A salve can be defined as anything that goes on the skin, whether a lotion, ointment, cream, or balm, although there are more specific definitions. Often, the amount of water in the product will dictate what it’s called. Lotions and creams have more water, for example, while balms are made without water. According to the water definition, salves are in between, but are the starting point for making creams and lotions.
Tons of things can be made at home. Read on for DIY cannabis skin cream options, and also check out other DIY guides for cannabis tea, making your own hash, creating CBN at home, making cannabis tinctures, and infused oils, which are necessary for making salves and creams.
Before you start
The first part of making a cannabis salve, is to start with an infused oil. We already went over the process for making an infused oil, and it remains the same here. First, the cannabis must be decarboxylated if the user wants a THC or CBD cream (rather than THCA and CBDA). On the other hand, as a lot of creams are medicinal, this step is not necessary for many users. Either way, if its to be decarbed, this part comes first.
Different people have their own decarb methods, and the most important thing about getting it right, is matching up your temperature with the amount of time its left in the oven. The general range is 200-300º F (93.3-149º C). At the lower limit, a longer decarb is usually done of between 45 minutes-1 hour, while at the higher limit, its more like 15-20 minutes.
It’s possible to go as high as 325º F (162º C) and only leave it in for about 5 minutes. Before sticking it in an oven, the weed should be broken up to just above a powder, and spread out evenly on a baking sheet, pan, or tin foil. Some opt to cover with a baking sheet or tin foil to catch (and re-condense) vaporized cannabinoids, but how much this helps, is hard to say.
Another option here is to use an already-made infused oil. In this case, you might actually find it best to pick something up from your local dispensary, if that’s an option, or use something you already have lying around. Your third option is to do the raw-cannabis-directly-in-the-oil method, which will decarboxylate the weed, but maybe not as completely as with an oven.
On the plus side, for this last option, an oven isn’t necessary, so if you don’t have one, you don’t need one. Interested salve-makers can decide what works best for their specific situation. The instructions for in-oil decarbing, and making a cannabis infused oil, are here. The following ingredients are necessary once you have your oil.
- 1.5 cups of infused cannabis oil
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup beeswax (vegan options: organic soy wax, candelilla wax, or carnauba wax – in the same amounts)
- A double-boiler, or standard pot
- Container for the salve, glass is best.
- Your choice – want to smell nice? Add in a few drops of your favorite essential oil, like lavender or peppermint
- Your choice – want it to help your skin more? Add in 1 tablespoon of Shea butter, or 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil
DIY cannabis skin cream instructions
Now that you’ve got your infused cannabis oil, the next part is to turn it into a salve. Always remember, that more heat equals more ruined cannabinoids, so in all parts where heat is necessary, never go above the intended limit, or for longer than a safe amount of time. If you’re using a pre-made oil, and its solidified, you’ll need to melt it first, for which a double boiler works best. Once its liquified, or if you just made some oil, the next step is to mix stuff together.
- Put 1/3 cup beeswax in a pot or double boiler, and heat until melted. You can have the heat up for this, but turn it down to low upon melting.
- Stir in 1.5 cups of cannabis-infused oil, along with 1/3 cup olive oil. If you’re adding in vitamin E or a few drops of an essential oil, now is the time.
- Stir until everything is evenly mixed together.
- Once mixed completely, immediately remove from heat and put in storage containers.
- It will harden in the containers as it cools. And is ready for use once its stiff and at a resting temperature.
- Best to store in a cool dark location, and if possible, use storage containers that don’t allow in the sun (tinted glass, for example).
That’s actually about it. The process is pretty quick, and nets you an oil you can use all over your body. Sometimes, the salve will crack as it cools down, and though this has no bearing on the product, for those who prefer a cleaner aesthetic, the salve-maker can put the salve in a mixing bowl when its still hot, allow it to partially cool down, and then whip it with the mixer, before putting in storage.
If you want a more cream-like or lotion-like product, you can create this from your salve. You’ll always need your salve first, as making a lotion is the last step. To do this, take your salve, along with 1 cup Aloe vera, 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil, and 2 tablespoons of shea or cocoa butter. And then mix it all together. Voila, your salve is now a lotion.
Conclusion
There you have it. If you’re in the market for some skin care products and don’t want the standard off-the-shelf offering, get in there with some DIY cannabis skin scream, from your very own kitchen. Luckily, cannabis products are some of the easiest to make, and when done properly, create healthy options, for which you as the maker, know exactly what went down to create them. As always, remember there are multiple recipes for everything, so if you’re not quite happy with what’s in this article, do a little research to find your perfect recipe.
Hey everybody! Thanks for joining us at Cannadelics.com (formerly known as CBDtesters.co), a fully independent news publication offering up comprehensive coverage of the cannabis and psychedelics industries. Come by daily to get your updates, and sign up for The Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, to ensure you’re never late on getting a story.
