As skin changes during perimenopause and menopause, it may begin to feel drier, thinner or more sensitive than it once did. A moisturiser that previously felt rich enough may no longer provide lasting comfort, while strongly fragranced or highly active products can sometimes feel overwhelming.

This rich DIY night cream is designed with midlife skin in mind. It combines moisture-attracting ingredients with nourishing plant oils, shea butter and squalane to help soften the skin and support its natural moisture barrier.

Despite its name, a night cream does not have to be heavy or greasy. This formula uses a carefully balanced combination of water, humectants and emollients to create a creamy moisturiser that feels comforting without relying on an excessively oily base.

Jump to recipe
What makes this a good cream for mature skin
What each ingredient does
How to use your night cream
Storage and shelf life

Why does skin often become drier during menopause?

Oestrogen plays an important role in maintaining skin hydration, thickness and elasticity. As oestrogen levels fluctuate during perimenopause and decline following menopause, the skin may produce less sebum and become less efficient at retaining moisture.

Common changes can include:

• Dryness, tightness or itching
• Increased sensitivity
• A more fragile skin barrier
• Reduced firmness and elasticity
• More noticeable fine lines
• A duller or less plump appearance

These changes are a normal part of ageing, but a gentle and consistent skincare routine can help the skin feel softer, smoother and more comfortable.

You can read more about these changes in our guide to navigating skin changes during perimenopause and menopause.

What makes this a good night cream for mature skin?

This cream contains three different types of moisturising ingredients:

Humectants, including glycerin and panthenol, help attract water to the skin.

Emollients, such as avocado oil, squalane and shea butter, soften the skin and help smooth its surface.

Occlusive ingredients, particularly shea butter, help slow moisture loss by forming a light protective layer over the skin.

Together, these ingredients provide both immediate softness and longer-lasting moisture—something dry or mature skin often needs.

DIY Rich Night Cream Recipe

This formulation makes approximately 100 g of night cream. Because the formula is written in percentages, each percentage is equal to the same number of grams when making a 100 g batch.

Phase A: Oil phase

• 8% avocado oil — 8 g
• 6% squalane — 6 g
• 4% shea butter — 4 g
• 5% emulsifying wax — 5 g
  
  

Phase B: Water phase

• 67.5% distilled water — 67.5 g
• 2% vegetable glycerin — 2 g
  
  

Phase C: Cool-down phase

• 3% panthenol or vitamin B5 — 3 g
• 2% water-soluble green tea extract — 2 g
• 1% Geogard ECT — 1 g
• 1% vitamin E oil — 1 g
• 0.5% skin-safe essential oil — 0.5 g, optional

Total: 100%

Always check the recommended usage rate and instructions supplied with your particular emulsifying wax, botanical extract and preservative. Ingredients sold under the same general name can differ in strength, solubility and recommended usage.

Equipment you will need

• Digital scales accurate to at least 0.1 g
• Two heat-safe glass beakers or jugs
• Two saucepans or a double-boiler setup
• Thermometer
• Mini mixer, milk frother or small stick blender
• Spatula
• Small bowl for the cool-down ingredients
• Clean 100 g jar or pump bottle
• Isopropyl alcohol for sanitising equipment

For small cosmetic batches, a mini mixer is generally easier to use than a full-sized kitchen stick blender.

Before you begin

Wash your hands and clean your work surface thoroughly. Wash your equipment and container, allow them to dry, and sanitise them with 70% isopropyl alcohol.

Accurate weighing and good hygiene are especially important when making products that contain water. Water-based cosmetics can support the growth of bacteria, yeast and mould, which is why this recipe requires a suitable broad-spectrum preservative.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that can help slow the oxidation of oils, but it is not a preservative and cannot protect a water-based cream from microbial contamination.

How to make your night cream

1. Prepare the oil phase

Weigh the avocado oil, squalane, shea butter and emulsifying wax into a heat-safe beaker.

2. Prepare the water phase

In a second beaker, weigh the distilled water and glycerin.

A small amount of water can evaporate during heating. For greater accuracy, weigh the complete water-phase container before heating. Check it again afterwards and replace any water that has been lost through evaporation.

3. Heat both phases

Place the two beakers into separate water baths and heat both phases to approximately 70°C.

Hold them at this temperature only for as long as necessary to melt the oil-phase ingredients completely and bring both phases to a similar temperature.

4. Combine the phases

Slowly pour the heated water phase into the oil phase while blending.

Blend in short bursts until the mixture becomes evenly emulsified. Continue stirring gently as the cream cools. It may initially appear quite thin, but it should gradually thicken as it approaches room temperature.

5. Add the cool-down ingredients

When the emulsion has cooled to below 40°C, add the panthenol, green tea extract, preservative, vitamin E and optional essential oil.

Mix thoroughly, making sure the cool-down ingredients are evenly dispersed throughout the cream.

If your panthenol or green tea extract is supplied as a powder, follow the supplier’s instructions for dissolving it before adding it to the formula.

6. Check the pH

For best results, check the finished cream with a properly calibrated digital pH meter. Aim for a skin-friendly pH of approximately 5.0 to 5.5, while also remaining within the effective range specified for your preservative.

Adjusting pH requires appropriate cosmetic ingredients and careful measurement. If you are new to formulating, use ingredients that are already suitable for the intended pH and follow your supplier’s directions closely.

7. Package and label

Transfer the finished cream into a clean, sanitised jar or, ideally, an airless pump bottle.

Label it with the product name, date made and full ingredient list. Allow the cream to settle for approximately 24 hours before assessing its final texture, as emulsions often continue to thicken after they have cooled.

What each ingredient does

Avocado oil
Avocado oil is a rich emollient containing fatty acids, including oleic and linoleic acids. It helps soften dry skin and reduce the rough or tight feeling that can occur when the skin barrier is lacking lipids.

Its richness makes it particularly well suited to dry and mature skin, although people who prefer a very light moisturiser may want to use the cream sparingly.

Squalane
Squalane is a lightweight, highly stable emollient. It helps improve softness and suppleness without leaving the skin feeling excessively oily.

Although squalane can be derived from different sources, the type commonly used in natural and vegan skincare is obtained from plants such as olives or sugarcane. Check the supplier’s information if the source is important to you.

Shea butter
Shea butter gives this night cream some of its richness and protective quality. It contains fatty acids that help soften the skin and form a light barrier to reduce moisture loss.

Because it is more substantial than a liquid oil, shea butter is particularly useful in a night product intended for dry or moisture-depleted skin.

Emulsifying wax
Oil and water do not remain mixed on their own. An emulsifying wax brings the two phases together and helps create a stable, creamy emulsion.

Olivem 1000 and Polawax are different emulsifiers and may produce different textures. Although either may be suitable, follow the usage rate and processing instructions provided by the supplier of the particular emulsifier you choose.

Distilled water
Water provides much of the cream’s immediate hydration and creates a lighter texture than an oil-only balm.

Distilled water is preferred to tap water because it contains fewer minerals and potential contaminants. For a first attempt, it is also a more predictable choice than fresh plant infusions or homemade aloe preparations.

Glycerin
Glycerin is a humectant, which means it attracts and holds water. In a moisturiser, it helps keep the skin feeling hydrated and can reduce the dry, tight sensation commonly experienced by mature skin.

Panthenol
Also known as provitamin B5, panthenol is a humectant and skin-conditioning ingredient. It supports hydration and is often included in formulas intended for dry or sensitive-feeling skin.

Green tea extract
Green tea contains naturally occurring polyphenols with antioxidant properties. In skincare, green tea extract is used to help condition the skin and provide antioxidant support.

Use a cosmetic-grade, water-soluble extract and follow its specific recommended usage rate. Green tea extracts vary considerably in strength and composition, so they are not always interchangeable.

Geogard ECT
Geogard ECT is a broad-spectrum preservative used to help protect water-containing cosmetics from bacteria, yeast and mould.

It must be added at the supplier’s recommended percentage and within its effective pH and temperature ranges. A preservative helps make a homemade emulsion safer, but it does not replace hygienic preparation or professional microbial stability testing.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E acts primarily as an antioxidant in this formula. It helps slow oxidation and rancidity in the oils while also providing emollient skin-conditioning benefits.

Vitamin E should not be confused with a broad-spectrum preservative—it does not adequately protect products containing water.

Essential oils
Lavender, geranium or frankincense essential oil can add a light botanical aroma, but fragrance is not necessary for the cream to work.

For sensitive, reactive or fragrance-intolerant skin, it may be preferable to leave essential oils out and replace the 0.5% with additional distilled water. Always use genuine essential oils within appropriate dermal limits, weigh them accurately and patch-test the finished product before regular use.

How to use your night cream

After cleansing in the evening, apply a small amount to slightly damp skin. Massage it gently over the face, neck and décolletage, avoiding the immediate eye area.

If you use a hydrating serum, apply the serum first and follow with the night cream to help seal in moisture.

The formula can also be used during the day if your skin is particularly dry, but it does not provide sun protection. Apply a separate broad-spectrum sunscreen as the final step of your morning routine.

Storage and shelf life

Store the cream in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and excessive heat. An airless pump offers better protection from fingers, water and environmental contamination than an open jar.

Without laboratory stability and microbial testing, it is not possible to assign a reliably validated shelf life to a homemade cosmetic. Make small batches, practise good hygiene and discard the product if you notice any change in its smell, colour, texture or appearance.

Prefer an easy, beginner-friendly option?

If you would love to make a nourishing night cream but do not want to source and measure every ingredient separately, our DIY Chamomile and Squalane Night Cream Kit includes the ingredients and step-by-step instructions you need.

It is a lovely introduction to making emulsified skincare at home—and a thoughtful gift for someone who enjoys natural skincare and creative self-care.

You can also explore our complete collection of DIY skincare kits.

This recipe is provided for general educational purposes. Patch-test before use and discontinue use if irritation occurs. Seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for persistent irritation, significant skin changes or an existing skin condition.