Balneotherapy - Essential Oil Blend Recipes

If you love soaking in the bath tub, and would love to use essential oil blends to assist with relaxation, etc.Did you know this was called Balneotherapy (aka Hydrotherapy)?  It involves the use of water in any form or at any temperature (steam, liquid. ice) for the purpose of healing.  According to the author, water has been used for thousands of years by many cultures, including ancient China, Japan, India, Rome, Greece, the Americas and the the Middle East. Well, I learned something new today - a new word.  In the article Balnetherapy - Essential Oil Blend Recipes on the Sapphire Blue website has a long list of essential oil recipes that can be used in the bath.  This list includes a variety of different recipes from soothing and relaxing to anti-depression.  So you should find one that suits your needs.

Aromatherapy Facial Serum

 

Facial serums are mostly used at night and their purpose is to nourish the skin deeply with precious ingredients. They are very popular items in the cosmetic industry.  Alice Duvernell teaches a variety of  classes at The Nova Studio.  One of the classes she teaches is a Face Serums which one learns how to make two different types to help regenerate and heal the skin.  It is an informative class to learn about this subject. Her class looks very interesting and would be a great class to take.  But if you do not have the opportunity to take her class, there is a recipe from The East-West School for Herbal and Aromatic Studies called Aromatherapy Facial Serum.

Tropical Pina Colada Milk Bath Recipe

Many years ago I took a class from Lori (Nova) Endres on how to make our own milk baths.  We used a powdered milk. It has been awhile since I took the class. While searching the internet  I came across this recipe for a Tropical Pina Colada Milk Bath from Sapphire Blue Inc. and wanted to check it out.  Now the first ingredient is coconut milk.  I know that is comes in a liquid form and I am guessing that it what is applied here because I am not aware of it coming powder form.  I am going to have to inquire and ask. Once I find out, then I would let you know.

Coco-Nutter Body Butter Recipe

Do you love using body butters?  Here is a recipe by Jaime Neinstadt from Saffire Blue called Coco-Nutter Body Butter that is a nut oil based cream that is very rich and has the consistency of whipped butter.  It goes on smoothly and absorbs very well into the skin.  This recipe takes only 15 minutes to make and results in approximately 3.6 ounces.  This recipe has a shelf life of 3 months but the editor recommends adding a preservative for shelf life stability.  I would highly recommend adding a preservative since the first ingredient is distilled water. Also, I would consider this more of a cream than a body butter because of the fact that it has water in it.  From the classes I have taken at The Nova Studio that a true body butter does not contain water.

DIY: Homemade Lip Tint

Melanie Monteverde will be teaching a class at The Nova Studio this weekend on Natural Lip Trio: Lip Tint, Lip Balm and Lip Gloss as a part of the Original Bath and Body Boot Camp Series.  This portion of the boot camp, I am sorry to say that it is full and I hope The Nova Studio is offer this as a stand alone class in the future.  I have made lip balm before and I learned about making lip gloss from Melanie three years ago, but I never had the chance of learning about lip tint.

 So I started searching online and here is one I found called DIY:  Homemade Lip Tint from Mother Earth Living. According to Camilla a lip tint is a cross between a lip gloss and a salve, and it adds a hint of both sheer color and moisture to lips. It is a great natural look for everyday wear and the lighter texture also makes a great alternative if you if you don’t like the heavier look or feel of a lipstick. So I am going to have to try this recipe and search out for more.  If anyone out there has a favorite lip tint recipe they would like to share, please let us know about it.

Defying the Rules of Soapmaking: 100% Coconut Oil Soap with Aloe Vera and a Mantra Swirl

Did you know that there are some rules of soap making that get spread around like wildfire and most of them are true!  But unfortunately there are some that are not. For example, when making 100% coconut oils soap defies three of the soapmaking rules and one of them is the fact that  single oil soaps do not perform as well as syngerstic formulas with multiple oils.  In a recent post  on the Soap Queen's site called Defying the Rules of Soapmaking:  100% Coconut Oil Soap with Aloe Vera by Kenna of Amathia Soapworks talks about some of the rules and gives a recipe that defies the rules.  So check out this wonderful recipe.  It is a great one because it does not contain any palm oil if you are concerned about that issue.

How to Handle Potassium Hydroxide

If you are a cold process soap maker, you have used sodium hydroxide to make your soap. But did you know that you would use potassium hydroxide to make liquid soap. Working with potassium hydroxide is similar to working with sodium hydroxide.  If you would would like to learn more about it, then I suggest you read How to Handle Potassium Hydroxide post on the Soap Queen's site.

How to Fight Loneliness as a Solo-preneur

If you are currently an entrepreneur or maybe pursing your own business and you will be working all by yourself.  How do you handle the loneliness?  In this posting called How to Fight Loneliness as a Solo-preneur on the site Designing an MBA gives you some good tips on how to battle this aspect of working by yourself.

Quick Tip: What Type of Water to Use in Soapmaking

In cold process soap making, distilled water was always used in this process of making soap.  But have you ever wondered if you could use any other type of water?  In a recent post on The Nova Studio blog called Quick Tip:  What Type of Water to Use in Soapmaking discusses what happened when they tried to use Reverse Osmosis Water and why you need to use pure distilled water.

 

Bramble Business Series: How to set up a WordPress Blog

Brambleberry has been doing a series of business posts on The Soap Queen site.  In this last installment, Brambleberry Business Series:  How to Set Up a Wordpress Blog discusses the importance of having a successful online presence and blogging is one of them. I have been blogging on Blogspot for years and have enjoyed using it. And I have been interested in learning more about Wordpress for awhile to see what it has to offer.  I want to learn as much as I can so I can make a decision whether or not to change.  This tutorial about Wordpress will help you create a platform where you can develop your own brand, interact with customers and hopefully sell more products. So take a look to see if Wordpress would work for you.

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Have you ever used castor oil in any of your products?  Have you ever heard of hydrogenated or PEG castor oil?  I have not but I just learned about it in a recent post from Point of Interest called PET-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil. In this post you will learn all you need to know about this ingredient from how to use to it and more.

Hawaiian Shirt Cold Process Tutorial

It has been a long time since I have been to Hawaii, but this Hawaiian Cold Process Soap Tutorial from the Soap Queen brought back a lot of great memories.  So if you want to share your memories of Hawaii, then you might want to make this recipe.

Mottled or Spotted CP Soap

When you have created a batch of cold process soap and your soap batch comes out mottled or spotted and you cannot figure out why?  Well, Laura H. posed the question to The Nova Studio and here is the answer to her question in a recent blog post on The Nova Studio's blog titled Q&A: Mottled or Spotted CP Soap.  If this is happening to you, your answer might be solved right here.

French Macaron Inspired Bath Bombs

Do you love French Macarons?  What about bath bombs?  How would you like to combine your two favorite things into one?  This French Macaron Inspired Bath Bombs recipe from The Soap Queen bath treates made from bath fizzies and foaming bath whip instead of eggs and sugar, but they hope you enjoy them all the same. Yes, I know they look more like ice cream cookie sandwiches and I thought so too, but macarons the inspiration for this. 

Herbal Mouthwash Recipes

Do you use a mouthwash on a regular basis? And would you like to use one that uses less of the artificial colors, flavors, flouride and sweetners often found in them.  Well, would you believe that making your own is as easy as making tea?  Would you believe that is true?  If you would like to make your own mouthwash, then check out this posting from The Mountain Rose blog called Herbal Mouthwash Recipes.

Hibiscus Silk Leave-In Conditioner Recipe

Is your current conditioner not working for you anymore?  Well, I found this recipe from The Natural Beauty Workshop called Hibiscus Silk Leave-in Conditioner that you just might want to try on your hair. This recipe uses Marshmallow Root to help detangle your hair while the Hibiscus and Oat Straw will will pump up the softness and shine.

Emulsifiers: Natragem EW (Croda) - The Recipe

Yesterday I mentioned the post regarding the emulsifier Natragrem WE.  As I promised here is the second installment where the author includes a lotion recipe using this particular emulsifer.  The post entitled Emulisfier: Natragern EW (Croda) - The Recipe is now available for you to try this emulsifer in an actual recipe.

Emulsifiers: Natragem EW

Have you heard of the emulsifier called Natragem EW?  I have never heard of it before until I saw the blog post from Point of Interest called Emulsifier:  Natragem EW. This post details what this emulisfier is all about.  Basically it is added to the heated water or heated oil phase.  But according to the manufacturer if you add this emulsifier to the oil phase of your product it will create more viscosity product than if you were to add it to the water phase.  The author will be writing a post on creating an actual product with this emulsifier. So stayed tuned and I will share.

Gorgeous Geode Soap Tutorial

This past weekend I was at the Mountain View Arts and Wine Festival checking out all of the variety special wares that people were selling from soap to photos.  Of course when I go to these festivals I am checking out the people who are making soap.  At this year's event there were a couple of booths selling crystals and had some beautiful Amethyst Geodes for sale.  When I saw this Gorgeous Geode Soap Tutorial  from The Soap Queen I had to share this.

MP Soap: Scrabble Tile Favors

Is scramble your favorite board game?  Or would you like to send a message to someone?  Then why not create these Scrabble Tile Soaps from Wholesale Supplies Plus? These would be a great party favor to make.

Sudsy Shampoo Bars

Have you ever tried washing your hair with a bar of soap?  I have heard of it but I really never tried.  Of course I am the type who does not like my bars of soap sitting a dish collecting the soap gunk.  But if you want to try making a shampoo bar here is a Sudsy Shampoo Bars recipe from The Soap Queen. If you have made a shampoo bar before and would like to share their experience of how well it work, please chime in.

Bramble Baby Belly Butter

If you are having a baby or just had one you may want to try this recipe for Bramble Baby Belly Butter.  This recipe is easy enough for a beginner to make because it only takes 30 minutes resulting in (8) 4 oz jars.  I may just make this recipe to see if it works on my stretch marks. Too much information?

How to Troubleshoot Your Lotion/Cream

If you are trying to make your first lotion or cream after taking a class and it is just not coming out like it was demonstrated in class, then you want to check this recent post from The Nova Studio on How to Troubleshoot Your Lotion/Cream. There are some really simple reasons why your recipe just did not turn out and it maybe anyone of the situations listed in the post. So go back and see if it maybe any one of them.

Purple Calla Lily Soap Cakes

Is your favorite flower the Calla Lily?  Or is it going to part of your wedding ceremony? This is an intermediate melt and pour project from Wholesale Supplies Plus called Purple Calla Lilly Soap Cakes can be the perfect gift or party favor for your big event.. It takes an hour to make these beautiful soaps and you get a total of 12.

How to figure out the volume of a recipe?

Do you have the burning question on how to figure out the volume of a lotion recipe?  Well, Point of Interest's Susan recently posted an article on How to Figure out the Volume of a Recipe? which includes detail information on how to do so plus a recipe that you can make.

Gumball Soap

When I saw this Gumball Soap from I'd Lather Be Soaping, it reminded me of piece of Brach''s candy that you would get at the bin at Safeway. And it is very similar looking to the Wonderbread melt and pour project from SoapyLove.  I really like out this cold process soap project came out and would like to try doing  it some day. But I have to practice my cold process soap making before I venture out on this project.

Lip Balm Wedding Favors + Free Label Downloads

You may think wedding season is over, right? Wrong!  Even if your friend is getting married next summer, there is alot of planning to do.  But here is a clever idea of making lip balm as wedding favors for friends and family. Here is an article from the Soap Queen on how to make Lip Balm Wedding Favors + Free Label Downloads  that would be something different to give out.  I know I would love to get something like this.

Spooky Eyeball Cold Process Soap Tutorial

Even though Halloween is along time off, it is not too early to start thinking about making soap for the scariest holidays of the year. Now there are many melt and pour Halloween projects out there, but I have never seen a cold process soap tutorial that was dedicated to a scary soap.  This Spooky Eyeball Cold Process Soap Tutorial from The Soap Queen is really creepy but it does capture the essense of the day. But just remember if you want to make this soap, you better start making it now because of the curing time. Unlike melt and pour which can be used immediate once it hardens, cold process soap needs four to six weeks.

How to Use a Lye Calculator

Whether you are an experienced cold process soap maker or just beginning, you will need to figure out some calculations for your recipes.  Sometimes it can be daunting to figure out how much oils and lye you need to use so the best way to figure this out is with a lye calculator. But which one to use. Lori Nova Endres recently posted an entry on How to Use a  Lye Calculator  The easiest one Lori recommends is www.soapcalc.net and tells you step by step on how on to use it.  So check it out and see how easy it is to use.

Bramble Business Series: How to set up an Etsy Shop

Have you ever thought about setting up an Etsy shop to sell your soap or other body products? You do not know where to start?  Well, good news, I follow the Soap Queen's blog and recently they posted an entry on the very subject.  In the post entitled, Bramble Business Series:  How to Set Up an Etsy Shop tells you how to do so.  It provides some really great and easy follow information that can help you get started.  What is really great is that Anne Marie will have follow-up posts to her Bramble Business Series. So stay tuned and I will share them with you.