Vital Cream

A medium-rich, velvety day/night moisturiser that cushions on application, then settles to a soft, satin finish that layers well under sunscreen and makeup. A subtle golden hue comes from carrot and calendula, with a light botanical aroma (customisable with the optional chamomile EO).

Built from a balanced blend of certified organic oils—almond for silky slip, evening primrose (GLA-rich) for supple feel, jojoba to mimic skin and reduce tack, rosehip for lightweight brightness, and marula for quick-absorbing plush glide—plus calendula-infused oil and NZ calendula extract for a comfortable finish. Glycerin draws in moisture, vitamin E supports the oil phase, Emulsifier O (olive-derived) creates a creamy, stable emulsion, and Geogard 221 provides broad-spectrum preservation for this water-based formula.

Ingredients

Makes 200g - To scale up or down your batch size use our Batch Size Calculator

Phase A
51% | 102g Distilled water
10% | 20g Glycerin, certified organic

Phase B
6% | 12g Emulsifier O
5% | 10g Almond oil, certified organic
5% | 10g Evening primrose oil, certified organic
5% | 10g Jojoba oil, certified organic
5% | 10g Rosehip oil, certified organic
5% | 10g Marula oil, certified organic
5% | 10g Calendula infused oil, certified organic

Phase C
1% | 2g Vitamin E, certified organic
0.5% | 1g Carrot oil, certified organic
0.75% | 1.5g Calendula extract, NZ
0.5% | 1g Geogard 221 (preservative)
0.25% | 0.5g Chamomile essential oil, roman, certified organic (optional)

Method

1. In separate pots heat both Phase A and Phase B to 65°C. 
2. When both are at 65°C, pour Phase B into Phase A and blend with stick blender until thick.
3. Let cool to 40°C then add Phase C and blend again.
4. 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)
5. Cover and leave overnight, the mixture will reach its full thickness and be ready to package the following day.
6. Give product a final stir, pour into pot/s and you're done!

To use

• Apply as the final step of your skincare routine (though before sunscreen for daytime use)
• Massage in and allow a minute or two to absorb

Substitutions

• If you don't have all the carrier oils required you can substitute one for more of another.
• If you don't have all of the Last Phase ingredients you can replace that percentage with more water. DO NOT replace the preservative Geogard 221 that is essential.
• Keep in mind any substitutions can change the final colour, smell, feel and/or viscosity of the final product.

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

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