A few months ago Meredith sent me a link to this product, accompanied by a hearty digital laugh. And a well deserved laugh it was. I’ve talked before about the astonishing markup that Josie Maran sells their argan oil (USA / Canada) at—closer to $1/mL than the $0.12/mL New Directions Aromatics sells it for. If that’s ridiculous, you’ll understand why their new “Argan Milk” is flat out hilarious. It’s mostly water with a hint of argan oil (USA / Canada), and it sells for close to $2/mL. They are literally charging you twice the price for watered down argan oil (USA / Canada). Wow… just… wow…
As I’m sure you can surmise, today we are making our very own argan milk, and it is not going to cost $2/mL (closer to $0.02/mL, in fact). I also really amped it up, taking the opportunity of adding water to introduce some awesome water soluble ingredients. My first change was to swap the water for aloe vera juice, which is a fantastic skin soother and healing agent.
After that I added some silk peptides, which are a natural protein with a composition very similar to that of our skin. That means they help boost healing and manage moisture depending on the conditions—brilliant, eh? They also add a hint of a silky sheen to the skin that translates to a wee silky glow here.
I emulsified the mixture with an all-natural blend of guar gum and Turkey Red Oil. Guar gum is a natural emulsifier and thickener. I used a bit extra here to help give the milk a bit of body so it’s more like whole milk than skim milk. Turkey Red Oil is castor oil (USA / Canada) that’s been treated with sulfuric acid, which magically makes it automatically emulsify with water, and it’ll bring other oils along for the ride—in this case, argan oil (USA / Canada).
Last but not least I’ve added a solitary drop of chamomile essential oil. This is optional, and you can feel free to swap it for a drop of something that works better for your skin if you want. Lavender, helichrysum, carrot seed, and tea tree are all good choices, depending on your skin type.
The final product is lightweight and moisturizing—fantastic for hot, humid days where you just need a touch of moisture. If you find you need something with a bit more of a kick, you can trade a gram or two of the aloe vera juice for an extra gram or two of argan oil (USA / Canada). If you encounter emulsion troubles, add another drop or two of Turkey Red Oil and you should be good to go.
Gentle Argan Silk Milk
11g | 0.38oz aloe vera juice
1/32 tsp guar gum
1/64 tsp silk peptides
10 drops Turkey Red Oil3g | 0.1oz argan oil (USA / Canada)
1 drop chamomile essential oil (optional)Broad spectrum preservative of choice (why?)
15mL | 0.5 fl oz glass bottle with a dropper top
Whisk the aloe vera juice, guar gum, silk peptides, and turkey red oil together, and then whisk in the argan oil (USA / Canada) and chamomile essential oil. Whisk in your preservative.
Decant into a 15mL (0.5 fl oz) bottle with a dropper top.
To use, spread a few drops across the face and enjoy!
this seems to fun to make! is this more of a facial moisturizer? what should it be used for?
and $2/mL for water and argan oil? yea. wow, indeed!
It’s super fun and easy to make—I love projects that only take about 10 minutes to pull together 🙂 It’s a light facial serum, just spread a few drops across your face whenever you need a moisture boost.
I came across your site randomly looking for soap recipes and I LOVE it! I’m so excited to try your recipes!
Awesome 😀 I’m so thrilled you stumbled over here—have fun & feel free to get in touch if you have any questions!
Ooh can’t wait to try this! I’ve been eagerly awaiting this post since I saw it on instagram. Thanks Marie!
Awesome! Thanks for following me & reading 🙂
Marie how do you measure smidgens and nips 🙂
Id love to make this…I see some birthday shopping in my future.
With a set of smidgen/nip/pinch/dash measuring spoons 🙂 They’re about $3 on Amazon!
I’ve been looking for something like this, because I feel my current homemade moisturizer is a bit too much for this time of year (as long as I’m hydrated properly). I was wondering, can I sub other emulsifiers? For example, I just bought ’emulsifying wax’ from Mtn Rose herbs and haven’t made anything with it yet. Would that be gentle enough in this application to sub for guar gum and turkey red oil? I like to use what I have on hand as much as I can, because it seems my cabinet of ingredients is already quite full. Thanks for this post, it looks like a great recipe!
Hi Charley! Emulsifying wax wouldn’t be a good sub here. For starters, emulsifying wax requires a recipe to be about 25% oils, which this one is not, and it will thicken the mixture quite a lot as emulsifying wax is for lotions—it both thickens and emulsifies. The benefits of the TRO/GG pair here is that they emulsify the mixture without thickening it substantially, giving as a “milk” instead of a thick cream. Both ingredients are also useful on their own, and nice and safe. You can also use Polysorbate 20 instead, though it’s not quite as safe (or natural) of an ingredient.
If you’re looking for something to do with your emulsifying wax, try one of my lotion recipes—I love my Lavender Hand Lotion 🙂
Thank you for clarifying that! I didn’t realize that different emulsifiers have such different purposes. That actually explains a lot from my previous experiments with making stuff…
No worries! I’m just scratching the surface of all the different types of emulsifying ingredients—I think I need to find a chemist to tutor me 😛
Thanks for this, sounds great! And thanks for sharing your recipes. Love them….!
Thanks Rosanna!
Hi,
Thanks so much for posting this brilliant recipe. Just wondering if you might suggest an alternative emulsifier? I am not keen on castor oil on the face. Thanks!!
Hi Diana! You can always use Polysorbate 20 (solubilizer), but you should know that TRO (sulfated castor oil) is chemically very different from straight castor oil—it even gets a whole new page on Skin Deep. It also gets a 0/10 for safety, while Polysorbate gets a 3/10.
Castor oil makes hair grow on the face, it’s my concern as well not to use it. Is Polysorbate 20 suitable for most emultions? TIA!
Polysorbate 20 has fairly limited uses—you can learn more about it here and here 🙂
What do you think the shelf-life of this would be, Marie?
Mine is 2 months and going strong 🙂
Hi! Love your site, super inspiring. I made my first soap using your awesome directions and have not looked back. I’ve been wanting to do something with silk for a while now. I have some silk amino acid and it is in a powder form, could I sub that for the silk amino peptides and still get as good of a result? Also, I went on amazon to look for the nip measuring spoons and only came across ones that had dash, dab etc, no nip included? Could you tell me what measurement is closest to a nip amongst those? Thank you!
Thanks, Jade! I’m so thrilled you’ve jumped into the soaping world with me 🙂 I did some digging around on the American Amazon site, and it looks like the sets that have a “drop” measurement are what you want—a drop looks to be 1/64th of a teaspoon, which is the same as a “nip” 🙂
Can you use this on your hair? Like a tamer or softener?
It’s for your face, but there’s nothing stopping you from smoothing a few drops through your hair 🙂
I don’t know if I should be upset that high-end cosmetics like you mentioned are so insanely overpriced, or happy that I can now make my own at home for much, much less. I’ll go with the latter.
Kudos to you, again, for coming up with awesome copycat recipes!
The thing I’m a bit angry about is not having been born 60 years earlier and coming up with the idea first! 😛 Estee Lauder must be laughing all the way to the bank.
Can arrowroot powder be substituted for silk peptide powder?
No, it doesn’t have any of the benefits of silk—just leave it out if you don’t have it 🙂
This recipe is simply amazing! I adjusted the oils to include Marula, Argan, Cherry, and Carrot Seed with Lavendar and Frankincense essential oils. I’m 57 and this blend is spectacular for my skin. I’m so thrilled with this site and wish I had discovered DIY when I was much younger. Keep up the great work!
Fantastic! That sounds like a wonderful blend 🙂 Enjoy it!
Can you emulsify with only guar gum? i don’t feel comfortable using sulfated castor oil. If not, what other organic ingredient can I use to emulsify along with the guar gum?
In my experience, no—it does not work very well, especially when you want the final product to be milky and not jello-like.
So, TRO is my organic emulsifier. Why are you uncomfortable? TRO gets a rating of 0 on Skin Deep—it is as safe as it gets. Fun fact—sulfated castor oil actually has a better safety rating than plain castor oil (which gets a 2). You could use Polysorbate 20 instead, but it gets a 3 and is definitely not all that natural.
Hi Marie, love the idea of argan silk milk, just not really keen about using a dropper type bottle for this. Can I use a dispenser pump bottle or amber gloss bottles with reducer (essential oil type bottle) or possibly even a roll-on bottle? Do you think the milk will dispense with any of the above packaging?
Either a pump or a roll-on should work, but I would look for a smaller pump-top (like this) rather than a big lotion pump due to the thinner texture of the milk 🙂
Hello,
Instead of purchasing Guar Gum {esp since I’m only using a smidge} can I use Xantham gum for the same effect… because I do have that on hand. 😉
Many thanks for your time!
Hi Shannon! I’ve included guar gum here instead of xantham because it both thickens and emulsifies. Xantham gum thickens, but it doesn’t have the same emulsifying properties. The Turkey Red Oil is also an emulsifier, so you might be ok with xantham instead of guar gum, but I can’t be sure as I haven’t tried it. If you have solubilizer (polysorbate 20) I would use 3g that instead of the TRO, and then thicken the entire mixture with a touch of xantham gum.
Have you checked your local health food store to see if they sell guar gum in their bulk bins? That would be a good way to get a wee amount of it 🙂
Thanks so much for taking the time to address my question, and give a detailed alternate option. Maybe I’ll just stick with your orig recipe. 😉 Sounds easier. I’ll have to check the local market – nice idea!
No worries! Have fun creating 🙂
Hello,
I was snowed in the other day and thought I’d try making some of your beauty products. I LOVE this serum! It feels a little tacky at first, but it quickly dries to a nice matte finish which is perfect for my oily skin. I also made your Argan lip balm and LOVE it as well. Feels creamy, not oily and lasts – still there even after a meal! I had extras for my co-workers and they love it, too! Thank you again for your awesome beauty recipes!
Awesome! I’m so glad I was able to keep you entertained during your snow day, and I’m so glad you love the silk milk and the lip balm 🙂 Thanks for DIYing with me!
I have just started to make some of your amazing recipes and I am impressed and amazed. What a phenomenal resource you are, Marie! Thank you so much for all your work and generosity in publishing your recipes. I love this. So light and soothing. I smooth it on when I first wake up as a refresher, then wash and moisturize after I’ve had some coffee. I also use it anytime my face is feeling a tad dry. Since others asked, I used silk amino acids and a very small pump top bottle from NDA with no issues.
Thanks so much, Megan! I’m so thrilled you’re loving the silk milk 🙂 Thanks for DIYing with me!
Hi,
Question for you. Help!
1. The Seabuckthorn berry oil you use in your anti-acne soap, for example, is that CO2 essential oil (thin oil consistencey, like Essential oils typically are), or is the consistency thicker, almost like a base oil version?
I have both, but m unclear as to which to use in that anti-acne facial soap cleanser recipe, and how much, considering the consistency/extraction/preparation(?) differences.
Thank you!
Diana
Mine is the Seabuckthorn (pulp) version that NDA no longer sells. It’s thick like a carrier oil. I haven’t played with the CO2 version, but I would think they’d be interchangeable. (Also, as an FYI this question would be much more helpful for other readers if it was with the recipe you’re asking about 😉 )
Thank you! Noted! 🙂
🙂
sorry…one more question.
In this Argan Silk Milk recipe…the Silk Peptides. Saphire Blue carries:
Hydrolized Silk Powder
and
Silk Amino Acids
I am thinking this recipe uses the Hydrolized Silk Powder, correct?
Just want to make sure before I go ordering it and whipping myself up a batch of serum! 🙂
Thank you!
You could use either—see this write up for more info 🙂
Thank you so much!
🙂
Hi I’ve been stalking your site for a while and i love it. i have one question however do you think if i add iron oxides and titanium and zinc oxide to this it would make a good serum foundation? similar to the jose maran matchmaker one (except the match making part that is)
I’ve found that too many oxides/TD/ZO in an oil can end up being a bit… eraser-shaving-y… on the face as things dry. You’re obviously more than welcome to try it, though 🙂
Thank you. I was thinking of melding the winterlight serum – the ratios of oxides to this as I don’t particularly like feel of oil on my face, as well as I live in a very hot climate so I am scared it would just mix with the sweat and roll right off my face.
You might consider making a batch of mineral make-up, and then blending a wee bit of it with a few drops of this in your palm. That way, you have two totally usable parts that can be custom-blended as needed 🙂 And… if it doesn’t work, you still have the parts 😛
Hi Marie! I’m a big follower of your blog, your work is great! I really love all your guides with the different ratios and all that stuff, girl you have a chemistry’s soul!.
I’m from Argentina and here it’s difficult to find some of the ingredients you use, for example I don’t find silk anywhere. But, i still think a could try to make a kind of Argan Milk with some other goodies, I know there’s no replacement for the silk but i have to live with that and go on! hahaha.
Now, my question, i don’t find guar gum neither, do you think i could replace it with xanthan gum or arabic gum in any case?
Thank you, soon or later you will receive a mail from me because i’m planning to make my own line of cosmetics, and i inspired a lot on your recipes (and also learned a lot from it). I will love to buy your book when it’s available.
Thank you again, kisses.
Corina.
Hey Corina! Thanks for reading 🙂 Guar gum has emulsifying properties that xantham gum doesn’t have, and I’m afraid I’ve never worked with arabic gum, so I’m not sure how that would work.
Happy monday!
I made this serum and it is lovely.
The only concern is when I leave still for 1 or 2 days, I can notice a clear ring on the top of the serum.
I used Xanthan instead of Guar. Is that the reason why a separation is forming?
best,
David
Hi David! Xanthan gum doesn’t have the same emulsifying properties as guar gum, so that is likely why. No worries, though, just shake it before use 🙂
Hi Marie. Really like your recipes and have made several.
For the Argan Milk, i am also getting separation issues. Used all ingredients as in the recipe. Do you think i need to add more TRO? Maybe a few more drops. I read up in other replies that you use that as an emulsifier. I don’t want to put more Guar Gum because i don’t want it too thick. I am planning to put it in a bottle with a dropper. Any thoughts?? Thanks!
Hey Febe! Thanks for reading and DIYing with me 🙂 you can add some more TRO, or just shake before using 🙂
Hi Marie! Love your site and the email subscription. I have noticed that you use silk peptides a lot. I have tussah silk. Can I disolve a bit into hot water, allowing that to cool to room temp and proceed as directed? Thanks in advance for answering. I would like to use what I have vs buying yet again more product. Am ramping up to create holiday gifts and love the idea of silk in both soaps and skin products.
Tussah silk really doesn’t dissolve into water without lye to break it down—the silk powders have been hydrolized, which makes them water soluble, and that’s a pretty big difference that you won’t be able to make up for at home. Personally, I find the silk peptides much more useful than tussah silk as the only thing I’ve been able to use tussah silk in so far is soap, and even then the peptides dissolve into lye water much more readily that the fibres of tussah silk. Sorry!
How do you think silica microspheres would do in this mix?? I would like it to have a bit more of a powdery finish rather than tacky and was thinking the silica might do that.
They’d be beautiful! Try it! 🙂
and I just had the thought that maybe it is the aloe juice that is making it more tacky feeling. Did you try it with just water before settling on using aloe juice?? If so, was that less tacky?
…and last comment….my silk smells! I have both the peptide and the amino from NDA and they both have quite a smell that I really can not even describe. Is that normal?
Honestly, I believe it’s the emulsifier that gives it that slight tack; I am planning on trying another version of this with a different emulsifier sometime soonish and seeing how that goes. And yes, silk does have a bit of a smell, but when you’re using it in the tiny percentages we use silk (usually 1% or less), I don’t find it to be problematic or even noticeable 🙂
Have you tried Aristoflex AVC yet? I am getting some from Lotioncrafter next week. So you think the TRO is making it sticky? Hmmmm, I love how this feels after it has been on my face after few minutes but oddly feel that after a few hours my face looks more tired and the skin feels more rough…not sure how to explain it. I think with some of the things I am getting from LC, I can make this into a super nice anti-aging milk….my plan is to add these items Resveratrol, Sea Kelp Bioferment, Niacinamide
dl-Panthenol, Allantoin….I guess it won’t be your argan milk any longer after I mess with it…lol.
I have, but just a wee bit. I need to play with it more ’cause it’s super cool! Have fun crafting, it definitely sounds like the DIY bug has bitten you 😉
Oh Marie, you have no idea how excited I got once I stumbled upon this recipe. I got quite upset knowing I couldn’t find oil-soluble titanium dioxide anywhere near me, so the urge to make your “winterlight argan serum” got held back for a long while. I even started to think of tweaking that serum recipe a little (or a lot?) by: dispersing water-soluble titanium dioxide into aloe juice, and adding a few tiny drops of that into the serum while adding soy lecithin (because I read that soy lecithin works as a water-in-oil emulsifier). *chuckling*
Now, with this recipe on hand, I think I’ll stir up a bit of my titanium dioxide and RCMA powder (it contains silicone microspheres) for a bit of opaque effect and powdery finish, just like the effects from your winterlight argan serum, but minus my gambling from using soy lecithin haha.
Your blog is such a treasure. xx
Woo! A thought… the different TD’s aren’t so much “soluble” as “dispersible”; neither is actually going to dissolve in water or oil the way sugar dissolves in water. Have you tried combining a few drops of oil and some of your TD to see how it works? I suspect it would probably be ok, though perhaps with a shorter wear time. Just a thought 🙂 All the TD I’ve found is the oil version, so I’m surprised you can only find the water stuff.
I can NOT wait to try this awesome recipe! Thank you for posting. However, what preservative do you use AND how much? Very excited to make :).
Hey Donna! I used liquid germall plus at 0.5% 🙂 You can learn more in my FAQ! Happy making!
Hi, just discovered your blog and I love it!! thank you for sharing. I have a question regarding castor oil, can I use the regular one instead of the red one? Thank you.
No, they’re really different. If you look them both up in the Humblebee & Me DIY Encyclopedia (https://www.humblebeeandme.com/diy-encyclopedia/) you can learn more!
Hi there! I was so pleased to find that placeI’m in Germany. I tried everything as described but my ‘milk’ didn’t end up being that milky and white, more light brown gel. I couldn’t find the turkey red oil but castor oil and the silk pouder is not white white but light brown. Are my result normal? What would you recommend? Thanks a lot!
This is “milky” because it’s emulsified, and you removed the emulsifier (the turkey red oil), so that’s why it’s not milky 🙂
Hi Marie, loving this formula. Just one question, can I use silk protein instead o silk peptides? they don’t sell them in Mexico. Please let me know. wishing you a lovely day.
Hey Natalia! Please read the Humblebee & Me DIY Encyclopedia (https://www.humblebeeandme.com/diy-encyclopedia/) entry on Silk 🙂 Happy making!
Hi Marie. I just found this recipe last Nov 3, 2021.
I have run across two of your recipes where you have struck out the words and put up a banner saying you no longer recommend an old recipe for one or the other reason.
My question to you is do you still recommend the Gental Argan Silk Milk Recipe above?
Would you make any changes to it today? If so, will you please share with us?
P.S. I spilled some, oh ok, I spilled quite a bit transferring a batch to a dropper bottle and the only thing to do was to rub it on my arms, décolletage, and neck. What a nice treat this spill turned out to be!
I love your heart and dedication. You got me started… I may never go to retail sales level but my friends and family love the things you have inspired me to make. I will be trying to find out what this Patreon thing is and see how I can donate to you.