From our smallholding · 100g batch
Homemade honey
hand cream
A rich, properly emulsified hand cream made with fresh honey, beeswax and nourishing oil.
The recipe
A farm-made cream with measured protection
Honey and water make this a high-risk product for microbial growth, so accurate weighing, careful hygiene and the correct preservative are essential. Use a digital scale reading to at least 0.1g; do not measure these ingredients by spoon or volume.
This recipe is designed specifically for Liquid Germall Plus. Germall Plus powder is a different product and must not be substituted at this quantity.
Formula by phase
Water phase
- Distilled water56.5g
Heated oil phase
- Sunflower or sweet-almond oil22g
- Emulsifying wax7g
- Beeswax3g
Cool-down phase
- Fresh honey10g
- Vitamin E1g
- Liquid Germall Plus0.5g
Step by step
Making the hand cream
Clean and sanitise
Wash your hands and clean the work area. Sanitise the utensils, containers, blender head and final dispenser with 70% isopropyl alcohol, then allow everything to air-dry fully.
Weigh the three phases
Accurately weigh the distilled water into one heatproof container. In a second container, weigh the oil, emulsifying wax and beeswax. Keep the honey, vitamin E and Liquid Germall Plus aside for the cool-down phase.
Heat both main phases
Heat the water phase and oil phase separately to approximately 70–75°C. Hold only long enough for the waxes to melt completely and both phases to reach a similar temperature.
Combine and emulsify
Slowly add the hot water phase to the hot oil phase while mixing continuously. Blend in short bursts, with gentle stirring between bursts, until the mixture becomes smooth, even and creamy.
Cool before adding Phase C
Continue stirring occasionally while the emulsion cools. Once it is below 40–45°C, thoroughly mix in the fresh honey, vitamin E and 0.5g Liquid Germall Plus.
Check, fill and label
Check the finished pH with cosmetic pH strips or, preferably, a calibrated meter. Liquid Germall Plus is generally used around pH 3–8; a mildly acidic finished cream is normally desirable. Transfer into a clean pump bottle or airless dispenser and label it with the batch date, batch number and final pH.
Before you begin
Useful kit to have ready
- Digital scale accurate to at least 0.1g
- Two heatproof containers and a water bath
- Thermometer and cosmetic pH strips or meter
- Stick blender or mini cosmetic mixer
- 70% isopropyl alcohol for sanitising
- Clean pump bottle or airless dispenser
Personal/home use: Without professional stability and microbiological challenge testing, a reliable shelf life cannot be claimed. Stop using the cream if its smell, colour, texture or appearance changes. Selling cosmetics in the UK requires the appropriate safety assessment, documentation, notification and compliant labelling.