This South African Milk Tart is a delightful dessert that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser. While I opted for a store-bought tart shell for convenience, you can certainly make your own from scratch if you prefer.
INGREDIENTS
Tart Shell (or use a premade one)
2 cups plain flour
1 egg
125 g butter
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/2 tsp salt
Filling
500 ml milk
65 g cornflour
6 tbsp sugar
2 eggs, separated
Pinch of salt
25 g butter
2 tsp vanilla essence
Cinnamon
INSTRUCTIONS
Tart Shell
Grease and line a pie pan.
Cream together the butter and sugar until well combined.
Beat in the egg thoroughly.
Sift the flour and baking powder into the mixture, then add the salt. Mix until the dough comes together.
Wrap the dough in cling film and refrigerate for about one hour.
Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface and press it into the prepared pie pan.
Prick the base with a fork, cover with baking paper, and fill with baking beans for blind baking.
Bake at 180˚C for 15-20 minutes or until golden. Set aside to cool.
Filling
Heat the milk and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until warm.
In a small bowl, combine some of the warm milk with the cornflour to form a smooth paste. Stir this back into the saucepan.
Add the egg yolks and a pinch of salt, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens.
Remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla essence until fully incorporated.
Gently fold in the lightly beaten egg whites until smooth.
Pour the filling into the prepared tart shell and sprinkle with cinnamon.
Chill in the refrigerator until set.
Note: Nutritional information is approximate and provided as a courtesy. For precise values, use your preferred nutritional calculator based on the specific ingredients and tools you use.
DIY SEAWEED & CUCUMBER FACE MASK
Face masks are a fun and effective way to pamper your skin, and this Seaweed and Cucumber Face Mask is packed with skin-loving ingredients that work for a variety of skin types. The mask is made by emulsifying oils with water and adding a blend of dry ingredients like sea clay and spirulina powder.
The oils used in this mask were selected for their light texture and nourishing properties. Cucumber seed oil is a fantastic moisturizer that absorbs quickly into the skin, while the seaweed extract is infused in fractionated coconut oil, which is also light and hydrating. Together, they leave your skin feeling refreshed, moisturized, and non-greasy.
This seaweed extract is part of the new Seascape Collection, which includes an array of fragrance oils, exfoliants, powders, and more.
The combination of kaolin clay and sea clay creates a thick yet spreadable texture that isn’t overly drying, making this mask perfect for normal to combination skin. If you have dry skin, you can reduce the amount of clay, similar to the DIY Lavender Clay Face Mask, while those with oily skin might benefit from increasing the clay content, as shown in the DIY Sea Clay Mask.
Spirulina powder adds both color and skin benefits, packed with vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants. Its deep green hue gives the mask a beautiful color, though keep in mind that spirulina does have a fishy odor, which the ginger essential oil in this recipe helps to mask.
Substitutions & Notes:
Polawax Emulsifying Wax is used here for a smooth, reliable emulsion. You can substitute it with a generic emulsifying wax, though this recipe wasn’t tested with it.
Oils: Avocado and cucumber seed oils are chosen for their lightweight, hydrating qualities, but you can substitute other liquid oils that absorb easily into the skin. Altering the oil amount will affect the texture of the mask.
Preservative: Since this recipe contains water and is essentially a lotion, a preservative like Optiphen is necessary to prevent mold and bacteria. Alternatives like Phenonip will also work.
Clay: Adjust the amount of clay based on your skin type. More clay is better for oily skin, and less is ideal for dry skin, though this will make the product thinner.
Clay Variety: You can swap clays based on your preferences. Different clays absorb differently, which will affect the mask’s feel on the skin.
Fragrance & Essential Oils: If you have sensitive skin, it’s best to omit these, as they may cause irritation.
Seaweed Extract: Feel free to replace with a different extract of your choice.
What You’ll Need:
Four 8 oz. Bail Jars 21.4 oz. Distilled Water 1 oz. Cucumber Seed Oil 1.3 oz. Avocado Oil 1 oz. Polawax Emulsifying Wax 0.8 oz. BTMS-50 Conditioning Emulsifier 5 oz. Kaolin Clay 2 oz. Sea Clay 0.4 oz. Spirulina Powder 3 mL Ginger Essential Oil 0.5 oz. Seaweed Extract 0.2 oz. Optiphen
Equipment Preparation:
Before beginning, ensure all equipment is disinfected to keep your mask free from germs and bacteria. Prepare a 5% bleach water solution and dip all utensils—mixing containers, stick blender, spoons, and spatulas—allowing them to air dry completely before use.
Instructions:
Step 1: In a medium-sized container, measure out:
5 ounces of kaolin clay
2 ounces of sea clay
0.4 ounces of spirulina powder
Mix the clays and spirulina powder thoroughly until fully combined.
Step 2: In a heat-safe container, combine the following ingredients:
1.3 ounces of avocado oil
1 ounce of cucumber seed oil
0.8 ounces of BTMS-50
1 ounce of Polawax
Heat the container in the microwave in 30-60 second bursts, stirring in between, until the waxes are fully melted. Be cautious when removing the container, as it will be very hot. Once melted, set the container aside.
Step 3: In a separate large container, heat 21.4 ounces of distilled water in the microwave (or on the stovetop) until it reaches about 160-170°F. If some water evaporates, remeasure and add more distilled water as needed to ensure you have the correct amount.
Step 4: Once the water has reached the correct temperature, check the temperatures of both the water and the oil-wax mixture. Both should be around 160°F. If the oil and wax mixture has cooled, reheat it in the microwave. Next, submerge the stick blender into the water and burp it to release any air bubbles.
Pour the oil and wax mixture into the hot water, using a spatula to scrape out every bit. Start pulsing the stick blender. As the ingredients begin to emulsify, the mixture will turn a milky white. Continue pulsing and stirring for about a minute to fully combine.
Step 5: Gradually add heaping spoonfuls of the clay mixture to the emulsified water and oil blend. Use the stick blender to pulse and blend until the clay is fully incorporated and the mixture reaches a smooth, thick consistency. Continue blending until the mask is well-combined and free of lumps.
Step 6: Continue stick blending the mixture for about 1-2 minutes, ensuring it stays smooth and well-incorporated. Use a spatula to scrape down any clay that may have stuck to the sides of the bowl.
Check the temperature of the mixture. Once it has cooled to about 130-140°F, add the following ingredients:
0.2 ounces of Optiphen preservative
3 mL of ginger essential oil
0.5 ounces of seaweed extract
Stick blend again, remembering to burp the stick blender to release any air bubbles. Continue blending until all the ingredients are fully combined.
Step 7: Carefully pour the finished mixture into your bail jars or preferred containers. Tap the jars gently on the counter to help release any air bubbles. Alternatively, you can spritz the surface with alcohol to further eliminate bubbles.
Leave the lids off and allow the containers to cool for several hours to prevent condensation from forming inside the jars. Once fully cooled, you can secure the lids.
Once fully cooled, the mixture will have a thick, lotion-like texture. To use, apply a medium layer of the mask to clean, dry skin, avoiding the immediate eye area. Allow the mask to sit for at least 15 minutes to allow the ingredients to work their magic.
After 15 minutes, rinse off the mask with warm water. There’s no need to wash your face afterward, but you can do so if you prefer. Enjoy the refreshed, hydrated feel of your skin!
CONCLUSION
This DIY Seaweed & Cucumber Face Mask is a nourishing and effective way to pamper your skin with natural ingredients. The combination of sea clay, kaolin clay, spirulina powder, and hydrating oils leaves your skin feeling refreshed, smooth, and deeply moisturized. With customizable options to suit different skin types and simple, straightforward steps, this mask is a great addition to your skincare routine. Enjoy the process of making it yourself and the glowing results afterward!
