Candy Cane Sugar Scrub

Author's Note: Dear readers, Thank you for making the Candy Cane Sugar Scrub the most popular Natural Beauty Workshop recipe ever! I am thrilled with the success of this recipe, and have truly enjoyed sharing it with you all.

Due to its success, we've added the Candy Cane Sugar Scrub Craft Kit to our line of New Body Care Craft Kits at FromNatureWithLove.com. Happy Holidays and Happy Crafting, from all of us, here at FromNatureWithLove.com!

Since scrubs are one of my all time favorite bath and body products, I've decided to feature a new scrub recipe every month on The Natural Beauty Workshop. Every month I will share a different recipe using some of our favorite natural and complimentary ingredients. I'm looking forward to the challenge of creating new and interesting scrubs on a regular basis.

The first scrub of this series was inspired by one of the season's sweetest mascots, the candy cane. Creamy Shealoe Butter has been scented with peppermint and mixed into white sugar. Red Jojoba Wax Beads give this recipe an added flair of color! Shealoe Butter is a wonderful base for scrubs. It adds a thick texture, an even consistency, and it rinses away without any additional emulsifier.

Candy Cane Sugar Scrub

Ingredients

1/2 cup Shealoe Butter*
10 tablespoons Granulated White Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Red Jojoba Wax Beads
2 teaspoons White or Pale Yellow Beeswax
1/2 teaspoon of Peppermint Essential Oil** or Fragrance Oil

Directions

To create a duo-colored scrub, like the one pictured, you'll need two small mixing bowls. Add 5 Tablespoons of sugar to each bowl. In a double boiler, melt 1 teaspoon of white beeswax completely.

Next, add 1/4 cup of Shealoe Butter to the double boiler and turn the burner off. Be careful to warm the Shealoe Butter very gently. Overheating Shealoe Butter can cause it to separate. When it has melted completely, stir the butter and wax mixture into one of the bowls of sugar.

Next, add 1/4 teaspoon of fragrance or essential oil to the bowl and stir. Add 1/2 teaspoon of Red Jojoba Wax beads and mix well. Pour the mixture into a resealable bag. Repeat this process with the second bowl of sugar, this time, leaving the Red Jojoba Wax Beads out of the mixture.

To make the piping easier, refrigerate the bags of scrub for ten-fifteen minutes. When the scrub is ready, roll one bag's contents into the corner of the bag and cut the corner. Just like piping icing onto a cake, pipe your scrub onto the walls of a clear jar. This may take some practice, but even if you're lines aren't perfectly straight, it should create a lovely effect. Repeat this step with the second color of scrub. When the walls are covered, pipe the remaining scrub into the center of the jar in whatever style you prefer.

This scrub can also be made in one color. This is a little easier, but it still looks lovely. Instead of mixing two separate bowls, as described above, simply mix all of your ingredients in one bowl and spoon into a clear jar!

Packaging, Usage & Preservation

A natural or synthetic preservative may be added to this recipe at your own discretion. For information on preservatives, please visit our informational library. Without a preservative, this product should be used up as soon as possible, ideally within 3 weeks. If it not preserved, or if it is preserved with a natural agent, please handle this product with care. Keep the jar closed and in a cool, dry area. Do not bring the jar into the shower or bath. Instead, use a clean spoon or popsicle stick to scoop single portions into a paper or plastic cup.

This beautiful scrub looks great in a clear container. Try a PET jar to show it off!

Directions

There are many scrubbing techniques out there, but this is one I am particularly fond of. Step into the shower and before turning the water on, scrub your body all over! (Of course, avoiding very sensitive areas or broken skin.) When you are thoroughly scrubbed, turn the shower on and rinse. When the shower is over, make sure to moisturize your skin with a body oil, cream, or lotion.

*This scrub yields about 4 ounces of scrub. However, you may lose some product in the piping bags. To ensure that you make enough to completely fill a jar, you may want to add 1-2 extra tablespoons of Shealoe Butter to this recipe.

**Peppermint Essential Oil should not be used around babies and small children.

Source: http://www.naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/scrub_of_the_month/page/2/

HOLIDAY PINE CONE POTPOURRI

Around this time of year, Michaels Arts and Craft Store has for sale the season pine cones with that great cinnamon blend fragrance.  I always want to purchase some but never do.  Then I found this recipe that I just may try.  Looks like I will be on the hunt for pinecones.

8 lbs (approximately) Pine Cones (any type of cones or pods)
3/4 oz Bayberry Fragrance Oil
1/4 oz Cinnamon Fragrance Oil
1/4 oz Clove Fragrance Oil
1/4 oz Orange Fragrance Oil
1/8 oz Bay Essential Oil

Use a 30 gallon trash bag 3/4 full with cones. Sprinkle the oils over the cones, mixing them so that the oils are distributed evenly. Fasten shut near the top of the bag, leaving room to jiggle and mix the cones around occasionally, for a few days 'til the scents are blended.

Display in decorative baskets or bowls along with, for color and variety, long cinnamon sticks, tangerines or pomegranates, cedar tips, or your own cut evergreen tips. Or keep by the fireplace and toss in for a quick burst of scent. 8/92

Source: http://www.aworldofplenty.com/1-ideas/2-blends.html

St. Patrick's Day Soap

Soapy Plaid (Inspired By Soapy Love)

Here's our version...

Here's What You'll Need

White and Clear Melt and PourBrownie Pan Tray Mold
Shamrock Mold
Colorants (mica)Fragrance Oil
Rubbing Alcohol
Microwave Safe Bowl (pyrex)
Knife, Paper and Pen

Directions

Step 1: First, we need to make 4 thin colored layers to cut our the plaid pattern. Melt just enough soap base to completely cover the bottom of the loaf mold (about 1/8"). Add your favorite fragrance oil and mica before pouring. Let the layer completely cool.

Step 2: Once the layer has cooled, remove this layer and cut into strips of random thicknesses. We found that cutting with a large butcher knife works the best. Cut them diagonally or straight across. Set the strips aside, we'll use them later.

Step 3: Repeat steps 1 and 2 for all four colors you want in the plaid design. We used sparkle gold mica, opalescent green mica, shamrock green mica and blue-green mica.

Step 4: While waiting for the layers to set up, this is a good time to make the shamrocks (you might need to make 2 batches). We used opaque melt and pour with green chrome oxide.

Hint: Oxides and micas mix into melt and pour a little easier if combined with a little rubbing alcohol first. This technique will eliminate spots and speckles. The tutorial on using oxides in melt and pour is here.

Step 5: Grab your brownie pan mold and trace the outside edges of the mold onto a piece of paper. This will allow you to make a blueprint of your plaid design on "dry land" before embedding them into the soap.

Step 6: It's time to start layering! The first layer will be the background layer. Pour just enough soap to completely cover the bottom of the mold (we chose a white background). Let cool completely.

Hint: Most soaps are built from top to bottom (upside down). When you flip them out of the mold then they are right side up. These soaps are just the opposite, the layers go from bottom to top. So the last layer you pour will be the top layer of your soap.

Step 7: While the bottom layer cools, we can set up the plaid design before the embedding step. Set up your strips of soap on the piece of paper with the traced mold on it.

Hint: The plaid design usually consists of two colors each. The colors are semi-random. The top layer should have some gaps so you can see though it to the bottom colors. (You will be left with quite a bit of scraps. Don't worry, we have another soapy project coming up that will put these scraps to good use).

Step 8: Once you have a plaid layout that you like, and the background layer has cooled, you can finally start to piece your plaid design together layer by layer.

Step 9: Spray the background layer of soap with rubbing alcohol to ensure your layers stick together, then pour a thin layer of clear soap base. Generously spray your cut out pieces with alcohol and place them directly into the clear soap. Finish this layer off with another spritz of alcohol to eliminate any bubbles.

Hint: This layer should consist of two alternating colors. Make sure you have enough clear melt and pour to completely cover the plaid layers. And temperature matters! Keep the overpour temperature below 130 degrees as to not melt the layers.

Step 10: Once the layer has completely cooled, repeat step 9 with your other plaid pieces.

Hint: Again, consisting of two colors. But this time, laying them in the opposite direction of the first plaid layer.

Step 11: It's time to add the shamrocks to the final layer. Pour a thin layer of clear melt and pour, generously spritz your shamrocks with rubbing alcohol and place them in the clear soap. Give it a final spritz to eliminate bubbles. Let harden and cut into bars.Hint: Remember to put the shamrocks in right side up!

For full color pictures of this project, go to http://soap-queen.blogspot.com/2009/03/soapy-plaid-inspired-by-soapy-love.html.

Source: http://soap-queen.blogspot.com/2009/03/soapy-plaid-inspired-by-soapy-love.html

Holiday Balsam Soap (Cold Process)

Recipe from Snowdrift Farms (http://www.snowdriftfarms.com/).

Please visit our Safe Soapmaking page before making soap.

All measurements are metric by weight except for water, which is by volume.
Oils:

400 grams sweet almond oil
400 grams avocado oil
300 grams coconut oil
200 grams palm oil
300 grams sunflower seed oil
200 grams lye (NaOH/sodium hydroxide)
500 milliliters distilled water
2 teaspoons hydrated chromium green oxide
2 teaspoons titanium dioxide
Holiday Balsam fragrance oil

Utensils: wire whisk for swirling; second mixing bowl for coloring soap base.

When soap mix comes to light trace add the fragrance oil. Divide in half by pouring half into a separate mixing bowl. Into first half of mix, add the green oxide and into the second half, add the titanium dioxide. Mix each color thoroughly. Pour half of green soap on bottom of mold. Pour half of white soap mix on top. Repeat. Insert wire whisk into soap mix and pull through, creating designs as you go. Be sure to drag whisk along bottom of mold to create swirls throughout the soap.

Pour into 5 pound rectangular slab mold.

Click here for more holiday soap recipes.


Source: http://www.snowdriftfarm.com/form_cpsoap_15.html

Candy Cane Bath Salts #2

Candy canes are one of the Christmas season's mainstays.  To me it just is not Christmas without them.  So I wanted to find a bath salt recipe that would be synomous with the season.  The first I found was this one.  It is a very simple recipe which makes 20 ounces and will only take 15 minutes to make.

Put these bath salts in a pretty container with a festive bow and a few real candy canes and you'll have a great holiday gift to give or to keep. Peppermint tends to be stimulating, so these bath salts are best for the morning or a mid-day pick-me-up rather than for use before sleeping. To use the salts, toss a handful into the bath.

Tools

* 2 mixing bowls or sealable plastic bags
* measuring cups
* spoon
* large jar or bottle
* ribbon or other decoration (optional)

Ingredients

* 2 cups Epsom salts
* 1/2 cup rock salt or sea salt
* 4-5 drops peppermint oil
* 2-3 drops red food coloring [may substitute natural red color (e.g., pickled beet juice) if desired]

Directions

(1) Mix 1 cup of Epsom salts and 1/4 cup of rock/sea salt in a bowl or baggie.

(2) Add 2 or 3 drops of peppermint oil and mix well.

(3) Mix 1 cup of Epsom salts and 1/4 cup of rock/sea salt in the other bowl or baggie.

(4) Add a drop of red coloring to the second bowl or bag.

(5) Mix well and continue to add color and mix until the desired color is achieved.

(6) Add 2 or 3 drops of peppermint oil to the red salt mixture.

(7) Mix the scented red salt mixture.

(8) Pour a layer of red salt into the bottom of the jar or bottle.

(9) Add a layer of the white salt mixture.

(10) Layer alternating bands of red and white salts to create a candy cane stripe effect.

(11) Seal the container and decorate it as desired.


I also found this recipe on ehow.com that you may also want to try - http://www.ehow.com/how_2149638_candy-cane-bath-salts.html. 

Holiday Sachet Beads

By: Dee & Debbie L.
Customer Service at Wholesale Supplies Plus

Ingredients
(1) 8 oz Mason Jars
(1) 70/400 Daisy Lid
8 Tablespoons Unscented Sachet Beads
2 Tablespoons Peppermint Candy FO
5 drops Red Liquid Candle Color
5 drops Hunter Green Liquid Candle Color

Equipment
(2) 8 oz Mason Jars (for mixing)
(2) 70/400 Smooth Lids
Measuring Spoons

Directions
So Simple! Place newspaper on work surface. Add 1 Tablespoon of fragrance oil in two different mason jars (1 Tablespoon in each jar). Add 5 drops of red color to one jar and 5 drops of green color to the other jar. Add 4 Tablespoons of unscented sachet beads to each jar. Place lid on each jar and shake well. Allow all of fluid to absorb into beads. This may take up to 3 days.

While you are waiting, have fun decorating your jar. Christmas is especially fun because there are so many options! Once your beads are dry, layer them in the third mason jar. Cover with daisy lid. Note: If you are making and packaging this as a gift, use a 70mm press and seal disc to protect beads from falling out of daisy cut lid.

Wishing You Much Success!
Debbie May
http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/
1-800-359-0944

Source: http://wholesalesuppliesplus.blogspot.com/search/label/Recipes:%20%20Room%20Scenting

Christmas Chunk Soap

Need a quick addition to a holiday basket? Looking for a little extra treat for your bathroom during the holidays? Try this easy melt and pour soap project - Christmas Chunk Soaps. Here is the link for step by step instructions.

http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/soaprecipes/ss/xmaschunksoap.htm

Have fun! And let us know how your soaps turned out.

Bath Snowballs from Martha Stewart

In the December 2008 issue of Martha Stewart Living there are some body product recipes that appear on pages 118 - 122. There are recipes for lip balms, body scrubs, bath fizzies, and snow balls. I wanted to particularly share this one because it seemed unique. And I want to try this one out for size.

These fragrant spheres for the bath (we scented ours with peppermint oil) are made by packing Epsom salts into a plastic mold. The bath "snowballs" can be tinted any color. You'll need 3 to 4 days to make the bath balls because of the drying time between steps.

Recipe Yields: 2 large or 4 small balls.

Tools and Materials

2 cups Epsom salts
2 tablespoons water
A few drops essential oil(s)
1 drop food coloring, plus more if desired (blogger note: I would recommend a skin safe liquid colorant rather than food coloring. You can find a liquid colorant in the soap making/candlemaking section at your local Michaels or Joann or whoever carries Life of the Party soap making products)

Special equipment: plastic pipette, large or small round bath-ball molds, storage jars

Directions

1. Stir together Epsom salts and water in a mixing bowl. Using pipette, add oil, 1 drop at a time, until strength of scent is to your liking. Add food coloring, 1 drop at a time, until desired shade is achieved; stir until color is even throughout.

2. Spoon a generous amount of mixture (more than necessary) into 1/2 of a bath-ball mold. Pack firmly. Repeat, packing mixture into second half of mold. Press pieces together until they connect. Remove top half of mold very carefully. Let bath ball stand, mold side down, overnight (set ball on an overturned jar lid to keep it from tipping over).

3. Remove mold carefully. Invert, and let ball dry completely, 2 to 3 days more. Transfer to jars.

Gift-Packaging Idea

Use a glass kitchen canister to present the bath balls, which the recipient can then display on a vanity. Wrap the jar with ribbon, tying a bow at the top, and add a vellum gift tag threaded with cord in a matching color.

Source: http://www.marthastewart.com/article/natural-beauties-bath-snowballs

Holiday Bath Scrubs

If you have taken my bath salts and body scrubs class, I found a clip on You Tube a recipe for making a holiday version.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vAtlR4LaT1o

Give it a try and let me know how you like it.

Striped Soaps from Martha Stewart

Delight someone with a fresh-scented and boldly striped soap. Purchase clear and white glycerin soap at a crafts store. Use a mini loaf pan as a mold; each "loaf" of soap requires 2 cups of each soap and yields six bars of soap.

How-To

1. Melt the glycerin according to the package instructions, using 1/4 cup at a time.

2. Stir in a drop of peppermint oil (available at most health-food stores) with a plastic spoon; for the clear glycerin, add drops of red food coloring, stirring until you get the desired hue.

3. Pour the 1/4 cup of melted soap into the loaf pan. Let cool for 20 minutes.

4. Score the top with a fork. Repeat, alternating colors, until the pan is full.

5. Let set for 4 hours. Pop soap out of pan, and slice into bars.

6. Wrap each bar in cellophane; tape it shut, and tie with bakery string.

7. Cut holly-leaf tags out of green construction paper.

Source: http://www.marthastewart.com/article/striped-soaps?autonomy_kw=peppermint%20layered%20soap&rsc=header_2

Perfect Pumpkin Whipped Soap Loaf

This soap is so cool. It will impress all of your customers. Great for the fall!!

Ingredients:
5 lb. Crafter’s Choice Ultra White Soap
1 lb. Crafter’s Choice Foaming Bath Whip
2.5 oz Crafter’s Choice Perfect Pumpkin FO
0.5 oz Crafter's Choice Vanilla Buttercream FO
Crafter’s Choice Red Liquid Pigment
Crafter’s Choice Citrus Orange Liquid Dye
Crafter's Choice Bronze Mica Powder
1 Silicone Loaf Mold
1 Jelly Roll Pan
Hand Mixer
Spatula or Spoon

Directions for Loaf:

Melt 4 lb. Crafter’s Choice Ultra White Soap. Add pumpkin fragrance. Set loaf mold on jelly roll pan (this will allow you to move the loaf while cooling). Pour fragranced soap into silicone loaf mold. Fill the mold approximately 2/3 full. While soap is cooling, prepare whipped topping. When soap has cooled enough to support whipped soap topping, add soap topping directly to loaf soap. (Do not spritz the loaf with rubbing alcohol before adding topping) Create peaks on loaf with spoon or spatula. Sprinkle topping with bronze mica powder.Allow soap to cool for 12 hours. Carefully remove from mold. Wait 24 hours to slice. Topping should be hard at this time. Package as directed.

Directions for Whipped Topping:

Measure Crafter's Choice Foaming Bath Whip and place in large mixing bowl. Melt 1 lb. of Crafter's Choice Ultra White Soap. Add fragrance to soap. Add soap to bowl with foaming bath whip. Using a hand mixer, mix well. As contents being whipped begin to return to room temperature, peaks will form on your topping. If you are having trouble getting peaks to form, add more melted soap. Once peaks have formed, your soap topping is now ready for use.

Working Hard for Your Success!
Debbie May
http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/
1-800-359-0944


Source: http://wholesalesuppliesplus.blogspot.com/2008/09/perfect-pumpkin-whipped-soap-loaf.html