Made of Aotearoa Cream

DIY Recipe for a Kiwi Skincare Treat

Experience the essence of Aotearoa New Zealand with this deeply nourishing cream, crafted with locally sourced ingredients that celebrate our land and growers.

This rich yet easily absorbed formula brings together the best of New Zealand’s botanicals:

• Mānuka hydrosol – refreshing and balancing, distilled locally from mānuka leaves and twigs
• Kawakawa infused oil – a traditional favourite in rongoā Māori, valued for its soothing properties
• Sunflower oil (NZ grown, high oleic) – lightweight, conditioning, and beautifully stable
• Blackcurrant seed oil – nutrient-dense and packed with essential fatty acids to help support the skin barrier

To complete the formulation, we’ve included mānuka extract for an extra botanical boost and kānuka essential oil for its crisp, uplifting scent. Together these ingredients create a cream that hydrates, comforts, and leaves skin feeling soft and cared for.

This recipe is designed to give you not only a nourishing moisturiser, but also a connection to the landscapes of Aotearoa, from native flora to locally grown oils. Perfect as a daily face or body cream, or as a base to adapt with your own favourite actives.

Ingredients

Makes 200g - Create a larger or smaller batch: Use the percentages in this recipe, in Go Native NZ's Batch Size Calculator to easily adjust the volume of your batch.

Phase A
60% | 120g Distilled water
20% | 40g Mānuka hydrosol
Phase B
6% | 12g Emulsifier O
6% | 12g Kawakawa infused in sunflower oil
3% | 6g Sunflower oil, NZ
1.5% | 3g Blackcurrant seed oil, NZ
Phase C
2% | 4g Mānuka hydroethanolic extract
1% | 2g Geogard 221 (preservative)
0.5% | 1g Kānuka essential oil

Method

• In separate pots heat both Water Phase and Oil Phase to 65°C. (Make sure the emulsifier in the Oil Phase is completely melted, Oil Phase may heat faster and need to be taken off the heat to cool to 65°C while Water Phase catches up.)
• When both are at 65°C pour Oil Phase into Water Phase and blend with stick blender until thick.
• Let cool to 40°C then add Last Phase and blend again.
• Allow to cool to below 25°C. Check/adjust the final pH to 5 - 5.5  (Check out our blog on pH testing and adjusting)
• Cover and leave overnight, the mixture will reach its full thickness and be ready to package the following day.
• Give product a final stir, pour into pot/s and you're done!

Containers: Store your homemade skincare cream in Glass Pots in a cool place, away from direct sunlight