Friday, September 30, 2011

All Natural Lip Balm - From Scratch

Use lip balm quite frequently? How would you like to create your own? Here is an All Natural (from scratch) Lip Balm recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus.

What I found really interesting about this recipe is that is uses both beeswax and candellila wax. I have never seen a recipe before that used both - it is usually one or the other. Also too, that the recipe calls for wintergreen essential oil. It is my understanding that wintergreen essential oil is a dangerous one to use. For those who are knowledgeable in the essential oil arena could probably answer why this particular essential oil is dangerous. Can it be used in small amounts or what?

For those who are looking to make and sell their own lip balms, this recipe contains the INCI names for labeling if you use all of the ingredients on the list for this particular recipe.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Vegan Lotion Recipe

If you are a person who is a vegan and cannot seem to find a lotion recipe that suits your needs, then you may want to try this Soothing Lotion from VegWeb.com. The basic ingredients for this recipe are pure vegetable oil-based lotion, jojoba oil, calendula (macerated/infused) oil, lavender essential oil, Roman chamomile e.o., and sandalwood e.o. But I find interesting that it does not have an emulisfer (Ewax) and does not contain water. So for those experts out there, would you really consider this a lotion? Your thoughts?


Wednesday, September 28, 2011

How to Use Aromatherapy To Keep Your Home Clean and Smelling Fresh

Are you interested in trying not to use the cleaning products from the grocery story because the smell is overwhelming? Do like the sound of using aromatherapy to keep your home clean and smelling fresh? May I suggest reading the article from Ezine @rticles titled, How to Use Aromatherapy To Keep Your Home Clean and Smelling Fresh by Stacy Richford. In her article Stacy will give you some tips on how to start right away and how fund and cost-effective to make your own housecleaners. She includes how to choose the right aromatherapy ingredients, an all-purpose cleaner and more!


Tuesday, September 27, 2011

All Natural Tub Tabs - Muscle Rescue

This great beginning product is perfect for the shower or bath tub. This recipe for All Natural Tub Tabs - Muscle Rescue is from Wholesale Supplies Plus and all supplies can be purchased through their website. It should take you about 1 hour to complete and you should be able to make 12 tabs. You can package them in sets of three in cute cellophane or organza bags. These would be a great gift to give out to your friends or given out as party favors.








Monday, September 26, 2011

Body Butter Bath Bar (Cold Process) Recipe

If you like butters in your homemade soaps, then this recipe is sure to be a pleasure for you. This recipe for Body Butter Bath Bar appears on the website Free Bath Recipes is a bit expensive to make, you’ll find the expense well worth it the first time to use a bar. They combine a variety of exotic butters (Sweet Almond Butter, Hemp Seed Butter, Kukum Butter, Mango Butter) with safflower oil to create a soap recipe that produces stable and moisturizing lather. This is not something one would want to use every day, but it does make a soap that is wonderful for a weekly treat. So for those cold process soap makers, you may want to make a special batch of this soap and give the special people in your life a wonderful gift at the holidays.


Sunday, September 25, 2011

Neopolatin Ice Cream Scrub

As a kid did you love a Neopolatin Ice Cream Sandwich? Well you may want to try this recipe for a scrub in your favorite ice cream treat. I have to be honest with you, I am not sure where I originally found this recipe because the link is broken, but I thought it was interesting enough to share. If anyone knows this recipe belongs to, please let me know. But the most interesting ingredient is the Shealoe Butter. I never heard of it before and wonder if it is similiar to shea butter. So I decided to look into what is is. I found out that Shealoe is a combination of Shea butter and Aloe Vera. If you would like more information on Shealoe, then I would recommend the DIY Skincare blog which has the information on this ingredient. If you are interesting in learning more about Shealoe, I am sure that there are other resources out there with more information on it. Like most handmade skin care products, this Scrub should be used up quickly, as it has not been formulated for long term storage.

The ingredients needed for this recipe are 6 ounces Shealoe Butter, 1 1/2 cups Dendritic Salt, 1/2 teaspoon Milk Chocolate Fragrance Oil, 1/2 teaspoon Strawberry Fragrance Oil, 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Non-Browning Fragrance Oil, (1) .15 cc scoop of FDA Red Mica and (2) .15 cc scoops of Umber Oxide.

To make this recipe you will need to following these instructions. In a large mixing bowl combine the Shealoe Butter and Dendritic Salt. Shealoe is naturally soft, so you should be able to mix this without heating the Butter. However, if it is necessary, you can heat the Butter gently by warming the container in hot water. (Be careful not to let the water get inside the container though.) After the Butter and Salt are fully mixed, split the mixture into three parts in three seperate mixing bowls. Add one Fragrance Oil to each bowl, thouroughly mixing each into the mixture. Next, add two .15 cc scoops of Umber Oxide to the Milk Chocolate scented batch of salt, and mix well to combine. Add 1 .15 cc scoop of FDA Red Mica to the Strawberry scented batch of salt next. Leave the Vanilla scented batch uncolored. Once the batches are fully mixed they can be spooned into jars.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Honeysuckle/Peach lotion recipe

Is honeysuckle your favorite floral fragrance? You may have never thought of combining your favorite floral fragrance with peach but this recipe from Majestic Mountain Sage. This Honeysuckle Peach Lotion recipe from Majestic Mountain Sage just may change your mind. This recipe make about 65 fl oz. so you would be able to make several bottles and give them out as gifts.

The ingreidents you will need to make this lotion are 28 grams Stearic Acid, 44 grams Emulsifying Wax, 18 grams Liquid Glycerin, 46 grams Golden Jojoba Oil, 49 grams Macadamia Nut Oil, 40 grams Avocado Oil, 30 grams Grapeseed Oil, 20 grams White Cocoa Butter, 1648 grams distilled water, 18 grams Germaben, II6 grams Peach Fragrance Oil, and 3 grams Honeysuckle Fragrance Oil.

The equipment you will need are measuring cups or glass beakers, transfer pipettes, immersion blender, microwave and your favorite lotion bottles.

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Friday, September 23, 2011

Easy Body Scrub Soaps

Want to create your own textured aromatic soaps that will gently remove unwanted dead skin cells and leave your skin soft and healthy looking, not to mention clean? You should check out this tutorial from Majestic Mountain Sage on how to create Easy Body Scrub Soaps.

If you are wondering, the ingredients in the glycerin melt and pour soap base from The Sage are Glycerin, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Propylene Glycol USP, TEA Lauryl Sulfate, Sorbitol, Acetamide MEA, Sodium Laureth Sulfate. White soap also contains Titanium Dioxide. They also sell an Olive Oil version if you are interested. These version are not a suspension version so you will have to adapt the dry scrub ingredient appropiately ie start off with a small amount and stir. You do not want the ingredient to settle at the bottom of the soap.



Thursday, September 22, 2011

Bath Bombs with Salts Recipe

Love making your own bath bombs? Here is a new twist on an old bath bomb recipe from The Soap Queen. Bath Bomb with Salts Recipe appears on the blog Soap and the Finer Things in Life. What is new to this recipe is the addition of fine Brazilian Sea Salt. According to the Brambleberry website, Brazilian Sea Salt Brazilian salt crystals are made by the natural evaporation of Atlantic sea water in shallow ponds using the sun and wind. A process that takes one to five years after which the "crop" is washed, screened and packaged.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Plum Wild Body Scrub (revised)

There seems to be two camps on body scrubs. Either you like the oily gooey ones or the paste variety. The spa style scrub, it has an oily texture much like many of the commercial brands that I'm sure many of you are familiar with. Majestic Mountain Sage provides two different types of recipes on their website. This Plum Wild Body Scrub has a much more solid feel to it similar to a type of body scrub paste. So if you are one of those who do not like the oily version of a body scrub, you might want to try this one.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Lining Your Wooden Soap Molds with Freezer Paper

If you are having difficulties with lining your wooden soap molds with freezer paper, I found a few sites that detailed instructions on how to do so. Here are a few that I found in my search. There plenty of others out there. I prefer the instructions with the photographs. However, my favorite on the list is from Bitter Creek. If you would like to share your favorite, please do.

Chestnut Farms (http://www.chestnutfarms.com/Soap_and_supplies/line_mold/)

Soap Making Resource (http://www.soap-making-resource.com/line-wooden-soap-molds.html)

Bitter Creek (http://www.candlesupply.com/how2pumpkincp/how2lineamold.html). I found this to been an interesting way of do it. The same appears on the blog The Soap Bar but I found the article title quite different Lining Your Soap Molds With Silicone Caulk.

Go Planet Earth (http://www.goplanetearth.com/project_lining_wooden_loafmold.html)

River County SoapWorks (http://www.rivercountysoap.com/blog/handmade-soaps/lining-a-wood-mold.php)

Symphony Scents (http://symphonyscents.com/lineamold.html)

Soap Supplies (http://www.soapies-supplies.com/shop/wooden-soap-molds/)

SMF Tutorials (http://www.smftutorials.com/how-to-line-a-wooden-soap-mold-tutorial.html)

Monday, September 19, 2011

Sugared Lime Foam Bars

Here is a new and refreshing way to take your melt and pour soap to the next level. It is a recipe for Sugared Lime Foam Bars from The Soap King. This recipe combines foaming bath whip, white sugar, melt and pour soap base, coloring and essential oils to make this lathery dream. Is lathery really a word? I need to run to the dictionary to check it out. While I check out if lathery is a really word, you should try and make this refreshing soap for your guest bathroom.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Quick and Easy Mango Butter Recipe

Do you love the fresh natural scent of Mango Butter? How would you like to try the White Body Butter recipe? If you are looking to make your own mango butter recipe, I found on the site Skincare Natural a recipe for Quick and Easy Mango Butter Recipe.

Many of you find that you like to take a recipe and try it with something else, very often one ingredient change can make something completely different. It’s one of the beautiful things about making it yourself.

If you having problems with grainy projects, you should read the article, Avoid Grainy Body Butters – How To Gently Melt Mango and Shea Butter by Skincare Natural.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

What Is Dendritic Salt?

I really never heard of Dendritic Salt until I took Lori Nova's Bath Salts class at DeAnza/Foothill College several years ago. So, the only use I have use Dendritic Salt for incororporating color and scent into my bath salts. But I did not know that it when highly scented dendritic salt is blended with other types of sea salt, the resulting mixture is free-flowing and resists caking. The super-fine grain size of this type of salt is beneficial in facial and body scrub applications as well as offering a cost effective alternative to more expensive specialty salts.


And how did I learn this? Well, but reading a posting on the blog DIY Skincare on What is Dendritic Salt? If you want some more info on this particular skincare ingredient, there are some more interesting facts that you may come across.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Peanut Butter & Jelly Lip Balm

School is now in session. And I have found memories of taking a PB&J sandwich in my lunch. When I saw this Peanut Butter and Jelly lip balm recipe from Free Bath Recipes. If you make this lip balm recipe for your kids and their friends it will become a favorite of children because it actually looks and tastes just like peanut butter & jelly.

This lip balm recipe is a bit harder to make than most recipes because the colors are separated in the tube for a unique look. If you have the patience to make this lip balm, then you will have something that makes great stocking stuffers and gifts for the special children in your life. They absolutely love this one! But one you get the hang of making it, it will be very simple to make a batch in no time.

This recipe will make 6 .15 ounce tubes or 4 .25 ounces containers of lip balm.

Ingredients
1/4 Ounce Beeswax
1/4 Ounce Cocoa Butter
1/4 Ounce Sweet Almond Oil
1 ML Peanut Butter & Jelly Lip Balm Flavor
1 ML Lip Balm Sweetener Or Liquid Stevita
Purple Lip Balm Colorant
Red Lip Balm ColorantBlue Lip Balm Colorant
Yellow Lip Balm Colorant
A Sheet Of Thin Copy Paper & Scissors

Instructions:
First cute some strips of paper that are slightly wider than your lip balm tubes or tins. Place these strips of papers in the middle of your tubes or tins, they will be used as dividers to keep your colored bases separated when you pipe them into your containers. For tubes, you can curve the paper like an S around the middle with the lower part of the S being a bit larger than the top part of the S. This makes a very lovely design in your lip balm tubes. Melt the Beeswax, Cocoa butter and Sweet Almond oil in a double boiler. Let cool for 5 minutes then add the flavor oils and sweetener or Stevita. Divide the mixture into 2 parts and color one part purple until is desired color resembling grape jelly. In the second part, add 2 drops each of red and blue colorant and 4 drops of yellow colorant. Mix well and the balm should be a light brown tone that resembles peanut butter. If it does not, add a few more drops of yellow.This take times to mix to desired color, so the base may cool as you are trying to achieve the peanut butter color. If it does, place back in the double boiler and re-melt. You may also have to do the same with the purple balm, just do not use the same containers for each color. Once you have the desired colors, re-melt again until both base mixtures are hot enough to pipe into tubes. Now using two pipes, pipe purple on one side of your tube or tin and your peanut butter colored balm on the other side each at the same time. As you add the colors together, your paper strips will keep them from mixing together so long as you pipe them at the same time and of the same amount each.I hold a pipette full of each base in each hand and squeeze together as I fill my tubes and tins.You may accidentally mix the colors together as you are learning to make this lip balm recipe. If so, that’s ok too, you will have a more marbled looking lip balm, which is still very attractive.Once you have filled your tubes and tins, let them cool for a few minutes before removing the paper strips. Carefully grab the edges of the paper strips and pull the paper straight up. If you let them cool too much the paper will rip, if this happens you can heat your tins in the oven for a minute, tubes in the microwave for about 5 to 10 seconds to re-melt the base so that the paper will remove better.


Source: http://www.freebathrecipes.com/lip-balm-recipes/peanut-butter-and-jelly-lip-balm.html

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Super-Gloss Roll-On Lip Gloss Recipe

Have you ever heard of Lava Lamp Lip Gloss? It is a really and cool lip gloss project that fun for girl of all ages. If you are looking for something different, why not try this Super-Gloss Roll-On Lip Gloss Recipe appears on Bathbodysupply's Blog DIY Skincare.
According to the author. rhis is a great project for discussing viscosity, weight vs. volume, primary colors vs. secondary colors, units of measure and more!



Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Rolled Beeswax Taper Candles


Photo by Simple Mama
 How would you like to create taper candles with out the mess? Here is a rolled beeswax taper candle tutorial that I found on the blog by The Bonnie Bath Company. This project was created by Simple Mama and was originally posted on her blog Homemade Serenity back on October 10, 2010. What is great about rolling your own beeswax candles is that making these types of candles are very easy to make and you can make many candles in one sitting plus the beeswax sheets come in a wide range of colors. In this picture these are regular candle stick size but you can make a variety of sizes from a votive to a large pillar. It it all up to you!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Sweet Suds Salt Scrub

Did you know that salt scrub recipes is great for using in the kitchen? It leaves hands feeling soft and pampered after one has completed household chores. Most of us would use it primarily in the shower. But why not try this Sweet Suds Salt Scrub recipe from Free Bath Recipes and leave it by your sink the next time you do chores.

For this recipe you will need the following ingredients: 2 Oz Babbasu Oil , 2 Oz Jojoba Oilm 4 Oz Soap Shreds, 1 Pound Sea Salt, 2 Oz Cocoa Butter, 1 Tablespoon EO or 2 Tablespoons FO
Several Drops Favorite Colorant.

Complete instructions on how to make this salt scrub recipe is provided at http://www.craftlets.com/.


Monday, September 12, 2011

Recipe: Cashmere Coconut Perfume Roll-On

When I hear the word Cashmere, I think of the Seinfeld episode where George buys a white cashmere sweater as a Christmas gift for Elaine. But in this case it is not a sweater that we are taling about it is a recipe for Cashmere Coconut Perfume Roll-on from DIY (Do It Yourself) Skincare. If you cannot afford to buy a cashmere sweater how about making this perfume roll-on and give it as a gift instead?

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Dressed Up Bath Bombs!

Do you love using bath bombs to jazz up your bathing experience? Well, here is a tutorial project from Kim of Pepo Park which appears on Soap and the Finer Things in Life blog.

The instructions for these Dressed Up Bath Bombs can be dress up plain bath bombs to indicate scent or to personalize them for the recipient. What a great gift to make for that special person for any occassion. I think the bombs featured would be adorable for a boy which may encourage them to take a bath. Do not leave out the girls because they would love them too. Matter of fact, this project would great for any age.




Saturday, September 10, 2011

Beer Soap (Cold Process)

Did you know that you can make CP soap with beer? Yes, you can. Basically, you replace the water in your recipe with beer. Now in this Beer Soap recipe from Soap Making Essentials it asks for flat beer which sounds like you can add any brand you wish. So if your male companion had a party with leftover (flat beer) go ahead and use it for this recipe.

If you would like to learn more about taking soap with alternative liquids such as beer, coffee and juice, I would recommend checking out The Nova Studio because they are now offering a class in this very subject.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Vacuum Cleaner Air Freshener Beads

Does your vacuum have that funky smell while running? Have you ever thought of using Vacuum Clean Air Freshner Beads in it? IF you are scratching your heading wondering what these wondering beads are? According to DIY Skincare, Vacuum Beads help eliminate odors from detritus in your vacuum cleaner. Adding scented beads to the bag (or canister) of your vacuum cleaner will release a fresh scent while vacuuming without harming carpets or leaving a powder residue.

Would you like to learn how to make these incredible beads? Then I would suggest you check out the recipe called Vacuum Cleaner Air Freshener Beads which appears on the blog DIY Skincare (brought to you by BathBodySupply.com). Since the winter months are just around the corner and the house will be all closed up, this would be a great project to make as gifts for the holiday season.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Checkered Soapsicles - by Soapylove!


I have made a single colored of a soap pop. How would you like to step it up an notch and create these Checkered Soapsicles by Soapylove. The instructions for this advanced technique appears on Aussie Soap Supplies. I have to admit this reminds me of the floor of a 50's diner such as Johnny Rockets or Taxi's. Or even a checkered flag from Nascar race. If you love this look, then you should take a look at this unique soap. What really interests me about this project is how the author has made the white opaque soap base black. Normally when adding a colorant to white opaque base it would make the soap base into a pastel color or in this case - gray. I took Debbie's class at The Nova Studio and found out that she uses clear soap base and uses black pigment to color her soaps. That makes total sense to me. Really did not even think about it.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Trick or Treat Mini Scrubs

Happy Halloween! Are you hosting a Halloween party? Well, how about giving your guests a party favor that they will not forget? You can create these Trick Or Treat - Mini Scrubs by The Natural Beauty Workshop. I really like the packaging of wrapping it to look like a piece of candy. This is really adorable! My only concern is if the oil leaks. You would want to use a shrink wrap band to seal prior to wrapping.

I just thought that this would be an excellent packaging idea for alot of other jar product such as single use sugar cube scrubs, cream or anything that you would put into a jar.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Sugar Scrub Embedded Tutorial

It is been almost a year since I took the Sweet Sugar Scrubs class at The Nova Studio. My favorite recipe was the Sugar Cube Scrub recipe and I have gone through the product made in class. I am planning to make another batch of the sugar scrub.

If you like Erin Pikor's Sugar Cube Scrub recipes like I do, then you may like to take your sugar cube recipe to the next level by making these Embedded Sugar Scrubs by Soap Much Love. Since I found this recipe, I am eager to try making it. So I am going to kick it up a notch and add this recipe to my collection.

Monday, September 5, 2011

MP Soap: Candy Swirl Lollipop Soap

Halloween is just around the corner. Instead of giving out candy. how about creating these adorable Candy Swirl Lollipop Soap from Wholesale Supplies Plus. These are pretty easy to make and would be great not only for Halloween but great favors to give out at a children's birthday party. But make sure to label them because they do look good enough to eat.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Apple Pickin Sugar Scrub Recipe

Here is a sugar scrub recipe from Alison Kontur from Bath and Body Supply that would happens to celebrate the fall and apple picking season. It is called Apple Pickin Sugar Scrub. The ingredients are simple enough but just to let you know that this particular recipe calls for you to purchase 20 oz of a bulk sugar base from Bath and Body Supply.

The ingredients in this particular scrub base include: Sugar, Sunflower Oil (Helianthus Annuus), Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii), Rice Bran Oil (Oryza Sativa), Jojoba-Golden Oil (Buxus Sinensis), Behenyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid, Polysorbate 20. If you choose not to use their sugar base then you will have adjust the recipe with a carrier oil of your choice and sugar.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Tub Tablets

Here is an interesting twist on a bath fizzy recipe - Tub Tablets. Besides the ingredients of citric acid and bicarbonate soda to make the normal fizzing action, Alison has added Kaolin Clay and Aloe Butter. The addition of bubble gum fragrance and strawberry fruit powder may be too tweeny for you that you may want to scent your tablets with another fragrance. Otherwise it is perfect for young daugther or niece.

This recipe appears on the Bath Body Supply's blog DIY Skincare, make sure to check out the other bath and body recipes on this site. You may find something to your liking.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Leaf Soap Tutorial

Is autumn your favorite time of the year? It is so beautiful when the leaves on the trees turn from green to shades of yellows and orange. Decorators say that you should bring alittle of the outside in. Well, why not create these autumnal soaps an scatter them in your powder room? This simple leaf soap tutorial from Greenbean's Crafterole can help you do that. Why not get started and bring in the beauty of the season into your home?

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Spooktacular Halloween Soap Recipe

If you love making soap by the cold process method, but have not found a project that celebrates Halloween? Well, here is a tutorial from Skincare Naturals blog that just might fit the bill. This cold process soap recipe for Spooktacular Halloween Soap may be the perfect party favor to give out at your next halloween party. But just remember to give yourself enough time to create these soaps because the curing time for cold process soap recipes. Also, you may want to consider the age of the party attendees. Some younger visitors may be scared from these soaps, so you may want to consider making more friendly halloween soaps for them.