Botanical Skin Care Course Review (Plus A Vanilla Whipped Body Butter Recipe)

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September 18, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 4 Comments

This post is sponsored by The Herbal Academy. All opinions are my own.

Expand your knowledge of herbal skin care and discover the relation between nutrition and your skin with the Botanical Skin Care Course from The Herbal Academy. Keep reading to learn why I recommend this in depth course, plus how to make a vanilla whipped body butter recipe for dry skin.

When we think of back to school, our thoughts instantly go to school buses, packed lunches and hopefully a little bit of peace and quiet. That’s not always the case however. I have several acquaintances, also in their forties, who have gone back to school recently in order to start new careers. While my sister-in-law recently finished her teaching degree and just started teaching pre-k students in low income areas – something she’s always wanted to do.

Unfortunately, not all of us have the luxury or the means to head back to college later in life. That doesn’t mean we don’t want to further our education. In fact, I love learning! It’s one of the reasons I became a blogger. Being a blogger encourages me to research new ingredients on a regular basis and explore new techniques in my field. While the internet offers a wealth of information online through an unguided quest, not everything is readily available with a keystroke. So how do I gather further insight and the knowledge I need to go further my craft? The answer is an easy one. It’s The Herbal Academy.

Botanical Skin Care Course Review

I didn’t realize how much more there was to learn about natural skin care and whole body wellness until I enrolled in The Herbal Academy’s Botanical Skin Care Course. This online course offered so much more than I expected. I can honestly say that I learned way more than I’d expected. As it was thoughtfully and well presented, I found myself wanting to learn even more after I completed the course. The Botanical Skin Care Course not only offered in depth information on the natural ingredients used in skin care, it also taught me the biology behind our skin and how its makeup relates to herbal skin care.

Why I Love (& Recommend) The Botanical Skin Care Course

There are number of things I really loved about this course.

For those new to The Herbal Academy, a video tutorial was available to make the process of navigating the course even easier.
There were notable facts about the history of cosmetics and skin care that were especially intriguing and found throughout the course lessons.
As this course offered in depth information on skin biology and whole body health, I felt this was definitely a college level course.
The information was broken up into different lessons and sections, so it was easy to stop at any time and pick it back up later.
There was no endless reading. The informational sections of each lesson were broken up with instructional videos and recipes, as well as graphics and herbal knowledge.
All of the information provided can be printed or viewed as a PDF. So everything is printable including the lessons, graphics and charts.
The Herbal Academy also provides printable pdf transcripts of video lessons to refer back to later.
The course is much more affordable than taking a college course and can be completed at your own pace.
Once you start the course, you have full access to that course for a full year from the day you begin.
There’s a private facebook group for additional help as well as to share tips and recipes. (I checked it out and signed up. It’s pretty awesome – plus zero drama.)
The course offers a brief overview of terminology on how to share the benefits of herbal skin care products without making medical claims.
If you want to further expand your knowledge on a topic covered in the Botanical Skin Care Course, there are additional resources provided at the end of each lesson.

Some of My Favorite Information from The Course

There’s so much information to soak up through the Botanical Skin Care Course. Therefore, it’s really hard to share a full overview of everything it entails. However, some of my favorite things were learning how to use herbal allies to care for skin – as well as how skin care connects to whole body wellness. (ie. Gut-Brain-Skin Axis.) I also like that this course covers herbs that address acute and chronic skin ailments with special consideration for anti-aging skin care. And there aren’t just skin care recipes to accompany the lessons. There are also herbal remedies AND food recipes that offer nutritional support for skin. You’ll also love their chart on skin-friendly dietary guidelines!

I loved learning about the basic energetic categories of Western herbalism—hot, cold, damp, and dry—to provide a more nuanced view of skin health. It was highly enlightening as were the sections on Ayurveda skin care and skin care in Chinese medicine. One of the more important lessons, however, covered the commercial ingredients we should be avoiding and why they are harmful. I was most surprised to learn that retinol, which is practically a staple in anti-aging skin care products, should be avoided due to its numerous negative side effects.

In contrast, the Botanical Skin Care Course from The Herbal Academy, also educates you on the carrier oils and butters that you SHOULD be using in your natural skin care products. Fatty acid content, comedogenic ratings, properties, shelf life and absorption rate are covered for each ingredient. There’s also a printable chart so you can keep this information handy when referring back to it later. Additionally there is information on salts, waxes and emulsifiers, clays and natural skin safe pigments, humectants, natural preservatives and essential oils.

For those of you just getting started with essential oils, you’ll find the chart for essential oil dilution guidelines especially helpful along with the properties and aroma of common essential oils used in skin care. I also learned the right way to make herbal vinegars, while expanding my knowledge on hydrosols, salves and oil infusions. There are a number of great recipes in the lesson on making botanical body care products. This section also offers video tutorials, troubleshooting information, additional graphics and printable charts as well as information on storing your products.

Botanical Body Care Recipes Within the Course

In fact, you’ll discover video instruction, printable property charts, troubleshooting tips, preservatives needed and recipes for making a number of botanical skin care products. These herbal skin care recipes include:

Natural bath care product recipes.
Recipes for creams, lotions & body butters.
Instructions for crafting herbal gels.
How to make herbal soaps with recipes.
Hair care recipes.
Cosmetic recipes.
Recipes for herbal vinegars.
Information on making herbal hydrosols.
Herbal salves and balm recipes.
How to make oil infusions & recipes.

The sheer volume of information provided throughout this course is priceless. I know that I will personally be referring back to this course throughout the year.

Botanical Skin Care Recipe Book

You also have the option to add on the Botanical Skin Care Recipe Book with this course. It’s filled with 194 favorite tried and true herbal skin care recipes. Inside are recipes for pretty much everything you can imagine – eye shadows, toners, face masks, deodorant, foot scrubs and baths, body butters, facial serums, homemade soaps and more. (You can also purchase this book separately here.) I really love this book and would definitely recommend it as an addition to your collection.

Now that you’ve decided to sign up for the Botanical Skin Care Course, be sure to also check out the recipe for making a daily moisturizer for acne prone skin. You can find this natural skin care recipe both within unit 4 of the course (for support for chronic conditions) as well as inside the Botanical Skin Care Recipe Book.

Vanilla Whipped Body Butter Recipe

The great thing about body butters is that they don’t contain any water-based ingredients. This means there’s less potential for microbial contamination (such as bacteria) which gives body butters a longer shelf life than lotions and creams. Because the ingredients used can be damaged by exposure to air, light or excess heat – causing the oils to go rancid, vitamin E or rosemary extract can be used to help prevent oxidation.

This vanilla whipped body butter recipe is adapted from Plant-Powered Beauty by Amy Galper and Christina Daigneault. The finished whipped body butter is both fluffy and decadent with a fragrance reminiscent of an orange creamsicle.

Ingredients:

¼ cup (2 fl oz) coconut oil
¼ cup shea butter
¼ cup cocoa butter
¼ cup (2 fl oz) jojoba oil infused with vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) bean
35 drops sweet orange (Citrus x sinensis) essential oil and 5 drops ylang ylang (Cananga odorata) essential oil (optional)

Instructions:

Make the vanilla-infused jojoba oil using the instructions in the herb-infused oil tutorial (found in the Botanical Skin Care Course) using ¼ vanilla bean and ¼ cup jojoba oil. Note that ¼ cup is the amount of finished herbal oil to include in the recipe—you may need to start with more oil when making the herb-infused oil, as the herbs will soak up some of the oil (if you forget to do this, just top off with some plain oil as needed for this recipe).

Gently heat coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter in a double boiler over low heat (or a glass or ceramic bowl or canning jar over a small saucepan of simmering water) until melted.

Add the vanilla-infused jojoba oil, stir until mixture is melted and consistent, and turn off the heat.

Let cool for approximately 10 minutes, and once it is still warm, but not hot to the touch, cover and transfer to the refrigerator for approximately 1 hour, or until there is no longer a semi-liquid center.

Using an immersion blender or electric mixer, whip the mixture on high for 5 minutes or until it changes color and looks fluffy. You may need to periodically scrape the mixture from the sides of the bowl.

Add essential oil, if desired, and mix.

Label, and store in a cool, dark place. This vanilla whipped body butter recipe will keep for up to 1 year.

Not quite ready to commit to the Botanical Skin Care Course? Then be sure to pin this post for later! Otherwise, you can sign up for the Botanical Skin Care Course here.

For more botanical skin care recipes like the vanilla whipped body butter recipe from the Botanical Skin Care Course, be sure to follow my boards on pinterest. You can also find and follow me on your favorite social media platforms, including Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my newsletter to stay in the loop.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: bath and beauty, bath and body, body butter, body butter recipe, botanicals, health and wellness, herbal infusion, herbal skin care, herbalism, herbs, homemade soap, natural beauty, natural living, natural remedy, natural skin care, non-toxic, online course, review, salves, skin care recipes, whipped body butter

Homemade Daily Face Wash Recipes for Your Natural Skin Care Routine

September 11, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 2 Comments

It’s important to care for your skin. A homemade daily face wash is an easy way to do just that. There are a number of benefits to making your own homemade daily face wash. Not only is it an effective way to cleanse your skin as part of your natural daily beauty regimen, it can also save you money.

Homemade Daily Face Wash Recipes

Benefits of Making A Homemade Daily Face Wash

There are many reasons I love making my own homemade face daily wash. Following are my top contenders for investing in natural homemade skin care.

The ability to customize my daily face wash to my skin type.
I have control over the ingredients I use and I know where they come from.
I’m able to create dupes of luxe skin care brands for less money.
It’s simple to adapt my facial skin care routine to the (new) season.
My skin looks younger and feels healthier using natural ingredients.

Different Types Of Homemade Daily Face Wash

Like our personalities, our skin is individual and unique to us. Therefore there are a variety of facial cleansers available to take advantage of. While cleansing balms may work well for one person, they may not for another. So you may have to try a few homemade daily face wash recipes to find your perfect fit. If you already use a store bought facial cleanser that works well for you, then that type of cleanser is a good starting point when deciding to make your own.

So what are the different types of homemade daily face washes available for your natural skin care routine? Following you’ll discover the main types of facial cleansers. As well as homemade daily face wash recipes for each type, including cleansing balms, oil cleansers, soap cleansers, facial scrubs, cleansing clays, milk cleanser and micellar water.

Homemade Daily Face Wash: Cleansing Balms

Cleansing balms are similar to cold creams that my mom and grandmother used in the way back. These rich and creamy facial cleansers are usually the consistency of a homemade body butter. Because they are thicker and heavier than other facial cleansers, cleansing balms are well suited for those with dry or maturing skin. Not only are cleansing balms effective at removing dirt and makeup, they also moisturize and hydrate thirsty skin. So they are perfect for dry or dull skin. And will impart all skin types with a healthy looking glow.

Depending on the formula used to make cleansing balms, they can be used for oily and acne prone skin as well. Much like oil cleansers, cleansing balms help to balance skin. So instead of overstripping skin of all its natural oils, which can lead to overproduction of oil, it helps your skin achieve the perfect natural balance. In addition, you’ll also find that homemade cleansing balms help clear out clogged pores to reduce the occurrence of acne and blackheads.

If you have oily or acne prone skin, you don’t want to use a cleansing balm made with coconut oil or olive oil as they can clog pores. Instead, look for cleansing balm recipes that are formulated with non-comedogenic oils such as argan oil, hemp seed oil and camellia oil. (You can learn more about non-comedogenic oils for oily or acne prone skin here.) You can also opt for cleansing balms with essential oils or other ingredients, such as activated charcoal, proven to combat acne.

Cleansing Balm Recipes

Some of my favorite homemade daily face wash cleansing balm recipes are:

For more DIY ideas for formulating your own cleansing balms for your daily skin care routine, or to buy pre-made makeup melting cleansing balms, check out these natural Etsy beauty finds. Alternately, you can explore more anti-acne skin care solutions here. Or explore the best natural skin care products for acne prone skin to buy or DIY.

Homemade Daily Facial Cleanser: Oil Cleansers

Unlike cleansing balms, oil cleansers are liquid. Comprised primarily of non-comedogenic carrier oils, oil cleansers can easily be customized for every skin type. This is done by choosing carrier oils that work with your skin’s needs. Essential oils may also be added to address issues such as acne, aging or dry skin.

What’s so remarkable about using oil cleansers as a daily facial cleanser, is that you can get a quality product with as little as a single ingredient! Not only does oil remove makeup, dirt and toxins, it won’t strip your skin like some soap based cleansers can. So skin is balanced and perfectly moisturized in one simple step. As someone with maturing, combination skin prone to hormonal acne, I tend to stick to dry carrier oils. My favorite carrier oils for oil based cleansers are argan oil, rosehip seed oil and jojoba oil. While I have tried oil cleansers with other ingredients included, I always steer clear of carrier oils known to clog pores such as olive oil.

If you’re looking for clear, glowing skin, choose carrier oils that rank low on the non-comedogenic scale. Non-comedogenic oils are carrier oils that won’t clog pores and have a comedogenic rating of 2 or less. You can explore the comedogenic ratings database at Skin Reference to help you make more informed choices about the ingredients to look for in your natural daily facial cleansers. (Also be sure to check out my anti-acne essential oil blend recipe.)

Oil Cleanser Recipes

Learn how to formulate your own custom, homemade daily face wash oil cleanser recipes here:

Also be sure to try out my anti-aging facial serum recipe. Not only does it moisturize skin and diminish the visible signs of aging, it works great at removing heavy eye makeup. You can also shop for custom oil cleansers for your natural beauty regimen here.

Homemade Daily Facial Cleanser: Soap Cleansers

Just like soap removes dirt and grime from your body, facial soaps are also designed to remove dirt, sweat sebum and excess oils from the skin. However, you likely learned early on that not all soaps are created equal. If you’ve ever had your skin feel tight and dry after bathing, then you fully understand that some soaps are harsher than others. And that means they can strip too much oil from your skin leaving it feeling dry, itchy and irritated. Luckily facial soap cleansers are normally formulated to be gentler on skin than body soaps.

If you’re a no frills kind of girl, you may find that soap cleansers are not only more convenient, but also more practical. They also tend to cost less than some of the other homemade daily face wash cleansers. Soap based facial cleansers are typically either a solid cold process soap bar or a liquid Castile based soap formulated specifically for your skin type. I prefer to use soap cleansers for my facial skin care routine in the summer when I sweat more and my skin tends to be on the oily side. Plus, who has time for eighty different products when the lake or that hiking trail is calling your name?

If you’re trying to go zero waste, then bar soaps are also a more eco-friendly option than a facial wash that comes in, what is usually, plastic packaging. When I make bar soaps to use as a homemade daily face wash, I skip the packaging entirely. It goes right into my shower and is ready for me when I’m ready for it. While scrubs, and other liquid soap-based facial cleanser, go into a plastic container when I whip them up, I do reuse my packaging to reduce waste. (You can reuse your plastic containers by washing them thoroughly, then running them through the dishwasher. A final spritz of rubbing alcohol before you pour your product will help to ensure nothing nasty is left lurking in your containers when it’s time for fresh product.)

Facial Soap Recipes

Following are a number of soap-based, homemade daily face wash recipes, including soap-based facial scrubs.

For more homemade bar soap recipes for natural skin care, visit Soap Deli News blog here. Or shop for handcrafted artisan facial soaps on Etsy.

Homemade Daily Face Wash: Clay Facial Cleansers

Clay facial cleansers are another option for a homemade daily face wash, especially if you are looking for a soap free facial cleanser. Formulated with clay as a primary ingredient, the primary purpose of these facial cleansers is to remove impurities and toxins from the skin. Depending on the clay used, they can also help remove excess oil and dry out acne breakouts for improved healing times. A simple wash off homemade daily face wash, I like to use clay facial cleansers when my skin leans more toward the oily side or during acne breakouts. And, for acne prone skin, these cleansers also double as a facial mask if desired. You’ll also find that you skin will benefit from the naturally occuring minerals found in the clays used.

There are a number of different types of clay. While bentonite clay is best suited for oily skin that’s prone to evil blackheads and whiteheads, there are clays that are also suited for dry or maturing skin. Here’s the skinny on the most common clays used in homemade daily face wash clay cleansers.

Benefits of Common Clays Used in Clay Facial Cleansers

Benefits of French Green

French green clay, also sometimes called sea clay, is also great for occasional breakouts or combination skin. Not only does it“drink” oils, toxic substances and impurities from skin, its natural toning action also stimulates the skin. This clay is great at clearing occasional skin blemishes. And, when used daily it can tackle those pesky trouble spots.

Benefits of Fuller’s Earth Clay

Fuller’s earth clay is considered a “whitening” clay. Not only is this sedimentary clay coined as a “facial bleach” that acts as a skin lightening agent, it also possesses an extraordinary ability to absorb oil. Best suited for oily skin, this clay is often used as base ingredient in facial clay recipes. A great addition to any clay facial cleanser recipe formulated for oily skin, Fuller’s earth clay works best when combined with a small amount of bentonite clay.

Benefits of Bentonite Clay

Like Fuller’s earth clay, Bentonite clay is sedimentary clay. Composed of weathered and aged volcanic ash, this cosmetic clay rapidly swells as it absorbs water. As it becomes hydrated, the electrical and molecular components of Bentonite clay rapidly changes and produces an electrical charge. (You may have heard that using metal to mix Bentonite clay will “deactivate” it. This is why.) Rich in minerals calcium, magnesium and iron, this clay is also well suited for oily or acne prone skin. Not only can it help remove oil from the skin’s surface, it can also have a calming effect on skin inflammation caused by acne breakouts.

Benefits of Rhassoul or Moroccan Red Clay

Rhassoul clay is a mineral rich, spa quality clay unearthed from ancient deposits in the mountains of Morocco. It blends easily with water for a smooth application and has been used for centuries as a soap, shampoo and skin conditioner. Mineral rich, cleansing and detoxifying, Rhassoul clay is well suited for dry or maturing skin. It can help rebalance dry, flaky or mature skin, while also improving texture and elasticity. However, it can be used for all skin types.

Benefits of Kaolin or White Cosmetic Clay

White cosmetic clay also makes a great addition to any clay based homemade face wash recipe. Like Rhassoul clay, white cosmetic clay can be used for any skin type. This fine, light clay is highly versatile and is found in virtually all powdered and dry cosmetics, as well as most wet cosmetics. It’s a common ingredient in soaps, scrubs, poultices, deodorants, facial powders and face masks. Suitable for even the most sensitive of skin, this clay gently cleanses and exfoliates skin while also helping to stimulate skin circulation.

Cleansing Facial Clay Recipes

Here are a few natural cleansing facial clay recipes you can try to use as a homemade daily face wash.

Activated Charcoal Detox Mask & Clay Cleanser Recipe (with Kaolin Clay)
Exfoliate & Detox Skin Polish & Cleansing Clay Recipe (with Bentonite Clay)
Soap Free DIY Clay Cleansing Bars (for Acne Prone & Maturing Skin)
Kaolin Clay Facial Cleanser Recipe
Coconut & Clay Facial Cleanser Recipe
DIY Tamanu Oil & Clay Facial Cleanser
Soothing Chamomile & Oat Facial Cleanser (with Bentonite Clay)

Homemade Daily Facial Cleanser: Milk Cleansers

If you have sensitive skin, there’s nothing like a gentle milk cleanser to help soothe and calm inflammation. A soap free cleanser, which in some ways is similar to an oil cleanser, milk cleansers are made with naturally emollient ingredients that erase dirt and makeup without stripping your skin. Typically milk cleansers are a combination of carrier oils, such as jojoba and squalene, that also moisturize skin. Yet, unlike a cleansing balm, milk cleansers are a much thinner milk-like consistency. So they are more likely to wash completely off.

Not all milk cleansers contain milk. The term refers more to the consistency of the product. However, the cleansers that do include milk may contain coconut milk or rice milk in lieu of cow or goat milk. Unfortunately, making a DIY milk cleanser that contains milk can be tricky to preserve. Therefore if you choose to create a DIY milk cleanser, I recommend using dry ingredients – such as buttermilk powder or powdered coconut milk – that you mix with a liquid of your choice just prior to use.

Alternately, you can also mix a dry exfoliants such as clay or colloidal oatmeal with milk to use as a homemade daily face wash. The dry ingredients will keep and you never have to worry about your facial cleanser spoiling. Cleansing grains are absolutely perfect for making a simple DIY milk cleanser! Keep reading below to discover some simple DIY milk cleansers that you can safely make at home.

DIY Milk Cleanser Recipes

Homemade Daily Face Wash: Micellar Water Cleansers

Micellar water cleansers are another soap free cleanser designed to cleanse skin without being drying. These gentle, water based cleansers are comprised primarily of tiny balls of oil cleansing molecules known as micelles, which attract dirt and oil to draw out impurities from skin. However, micellar water is more than just another facial cleanser. Not only does micellar water remove makeup and cleanse skin, it also acts as a toner cutting out the number of skin care products you need in your daily beauty routine. And, micellar water cleansers also work with all skin types – whether you skin is dry, oily or acne prone.

Micellar Water Recipes

Some of my favorite micellar water homemade daily face wash recipes are:

I hope you love my roundup of amazing, homemade daily face wash recipes. But if you’re not quite ready to dive into making your own natural skin care and beauty products, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite ready made products. I have a lovely collection of my favorite makeup, beauty and skin care products compiled on Etsy here. (Just be sure to pin these DIY facial cleansers when you’re ready to make DIY a part of your everyday life!)

For more daily face wash recipes and homemade skin care recipe, follow my boards on pinterest. You can also find and follow me on your favorite social media platforms, including Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my newsletter to stay in the loop.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Lifestyle Tagged With: bath and beauty, bath and body, beauty balm, beauty recipes, clay cleansers, clay cleansing bar, cleansing balm, cleansing cream, cleansing oil, face care, face wash, facial care, facial cleanser, facial cleanser recipe, facial recipe, facial scrub, homemade soap, micellar water, milk cleansers, natural beauty, natural skin care, oil cleansers, soap cleansers, soap recipes

Aromatherapy for Sleep: 3 Ways to Make An Insomnia Sleep Spray Recipe

August 13, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 10 Comments

Sometimes, falling asleep, much less getting a good night’s sleep can be a challenge. Without proper rest, however, we suffer not just physically but emotionally as well. Luckily there are ways to help combat sleeplessness and enable you to get a good night’s rest. By utilizing aromatherapy for sleep, you can promote a restful night’s sleep. Not only can my easy DIY aromatherapy sleep spray assist in helping you fall asleep faster, it may also help you sleep more soundly.

Trouble Sleeping?

Sleeping and night and getting a good night’s sleep are two entirely different things. As someone with fibromyalgia, my body definitely knows the difference. It also responds accordingly. Therefore, it’s important to me to get a restful sleep so I can function the next day. Sometimes, however, that can be a huge challenge. Not only do I wake to pee every two hours – a combination of age and fibro overstimulating those muscles – I’m also constantly dealing with a barge of emotional stress.

The current events as of late haven’t been pleasant. And trying to filter out that chaos with social media being what it is, has been a challenge. More recently, I found myself deeply affected by the mass shootings in Dayton and El Paso. The senselessness of the killings breaks my heart. It also leaves me a little terrified. I’m still freaked out knowing my son had just left UNC Charlotte campus the day that school shooting took place. I can’t imagine the struggle to move past that trauma as a survivor. And as someone who was previously diagnosed with agoraphobia, I have to consciously push myself to move past that fear and be present in the world, while also not allowing myself to be overwhelmed by the emotional toll we all feel from such tragedies.

Natural Aromatherapy Sleep Sprays

Luckily there are ways to make sure we get a restful sleep so we are better equipped to deal with chronic illnesses and day to day stressors. Whether you use essential oils in a diffuser, as an aromatherapy roll on or as a pillow spray, aromatherapy is a natural way to promote a good night’s sleep. And it can safely be used in conjunction with natural supplements or sleep aids if needed.

My essential oil aromatherapy sleep spray recipe is a natural way to promote rest and relaxation in order to help you fall asleep. Made with a blend of three essential oils – lavender, ylang ylang & vetiver – this DIY insomnia sleep spray is easy to make and simple to use. Simply mist the spray onto your pillow or bed linens prior to going to bed.

Following you’ll learn how to make you own natural sleep spray recipe using essential oils with three different ways to make it depending on whether or not you choose to use a preservative.

DIY Sleep Spray Formulation

Ingredients Used to Make a Sleep Spray

My insomnia sleep spray contains several key ingredients. These include rose water, an aromatherapeutic essential oil blend and polysorbate 20. The rose water, which can be substituted with distilled water if desired, adds its natural scent to the recipe. While the polysorbate 20 is an emulsifier used to bind oil and water together. It’s derived from the lauric acid found in coconut oil.

Sleep Spray Preservative Options

There are also two preservative options. One being Optiphen ND and the other ethanol or 100 proof vodka. Optiphen ND is a paraben- and formaldehyde-free preservative design for water-based recipes. It protects against mold and bacteria growth when incorporated homemade recipes for facial toners, room sprays and perfumes. You’ll find Optiphen ND works best in products with a pH of 6 and lower.

If you choose not to use a preservative you won’t be able to include any water in your sleep spray. However, I don’t recommend this option for a linen or pillow spray as it can stain linens and takes longer to dry. You can use this sleep spray recipe as a body spray though by reducing the amount of essential oils called for in my insomnia sleep spray recipe. You can find more information on making a body spray below.

Tips & Tricks for Essential Oil Measurements

Should you desire to scale any of my insomnia sleep spray recipes, there are some tips that make measuring out the essential oils easier. You can find these tips along with an essential oil conversion chart at Mountain Rose Herbs here.

Insomnia Sleep Spray Recipe #1

Ingredients:

1.8 oz. rose water
2 oz. 91% (or higher) isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
.2 oz. polysorbate 20
.05 oz. Optiphen ND
48 drops vetiver essential oil
32 drops lavender essential oil
32 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Recipe Notes:

This insomnia pillow mist spray uses isopropyl alcohol, more commonly known as rubbing alcohol, to help the water evaporate more quickly. This will also help prevent your pillow sleep spray from staining linens. While it does have a strong alcohol smell when first sprayed, this scent of the rubbing alcohol fades quickly as it evaporates in the air. So you are left with only the fragrance of the insomnia essential oil blend. As rubbing alcohol is not a preservative, but a disinfectant, you should use a preservative to prevent mold and bacteria growth. Optiphen ND is recommended at a usage rate of 1% for this application.

Should you choose to use this recipe and omit the preservative, your formula will last up to one month when kept store in the refrigerator.

Instructions:

Using a digital scale weigh out the polysorbate 20 in a 250 mL glass beaker. Then use a dropper to add each of the essential oils to the polysorbate 20. Mix to combine.

Now weigh out the rose water and the rubbing alcohol. Pour the liquids into the polysorbate and essential oil blend. Mix well.

Finally, weigh out the Optiphen ND and stil into the sleep spray. Mix thoroughly. Then pour your sleep spray into a single, sterilized 4 oz. spray bottle or two 2 oz. containers with a fingertip mister.

Shake your insomnia sleep spray before each use, then mist onto pillows and bed linens before going to sleep.

Insomnia Sleep Spray Recipe #2

Ingredients:

2 oz. rose water
1.8 oz. 100 proof vodka
.2 oz. vegetable glycerin (or polysorbate 20, as desired)
48 drops vetiver essential oil
32 drops lavender essential oil
32 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Recipe Notes:

This aromatherapy sleep spray recipe uses alcohol as a natural preservative. Like rubbing alcohol it helps the water evaporate more quickly. Unlike rubbing alcohol however,which can be drying to skin, vodka is not drying when used as part of a moisturizing base. It also acts as an emulsifier. This makes this recipe suitable as a body spray as well. To make a skin safe body spray, make the recipe as is, but reduce the amount of essential oils called for in the recipe by half.

As many of us don’t have access to ethanol, which is 200 proof, I formulated this insomnia sleep spray recipe using 100 proof vodka. If you have access to ethanol, you can substitute ethanol for the vodka. When doing so, increase the amount of rosewater in the recipe to 2.95 oz. and reduce the ethanol to .85 oz. (or 20% of the total recipe weight.) You can learn more about using alcohol as a preservative here.

Adding Magnesium Oil to Your Sleep Spray Recipe

If desired you can also add magnesium oil to your sleep spray when utilizing it as a body spray. To do this, you can either substitute the rosewater with ready made magnesium oil or make your own magnesium oil by adding magnesium flakes to the rosewater. If adding magnesium flakes to the rosewater, simply dissolve one Tablespoon magnesium flakes in the rosewater by mixing well. Then, with either option, reduce the essential oils to 24 drops vetiver essential oil and 16 drops each of lavender and ylang ylang. (Also be sure to try my magnesium body butter recipe to reduce the symptoms of restless leg syndrome and promote restful sleep.)

Instructions:

Using a digital scale weigh out the polysorbate 20 in a 250 mL glass beaker. Then use a dropper to add each of the essential oils to the polysorbate 20. Mix to combine.

Now weigh out the rose water and the vodka. Pour the liquids into the polysorbate and essential oil blend. Mix well.

Then pour your sleep spray into a single, sterilized 4 oz. spray bottle or two 2 oz. containers with a fingertip mister.

Shake your insomnia sleep spray before each use, then mist onto pillows and bed linens before going to sleep.

Insomnia Sleep Spray Recipe #3:

Ingredients:

2 oz. jojoba oil, or other dry carrier oil
2 oz. cyclomethicone
24 drops vetiver essential oil
16 drops lavender essential oil
16 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Recipes Notes:

This recipe is designed to be used as an aromatherapeutic body spray. It is not recommended for use as a linen or pillow spray as it’s primarily oil based. As it doesn’t not contain water, there is no need to use a preservative for this body spray recipe.

Instructions:

You can use liquid measurements for this recipe. Simply measure out the jojoba oil and cyclomethicone and combine in a 250 mL glass beaker.

Then use a dropper to add each of the essential oils to body spray mixture. Mix well to combine.

Finally, pour your aromatherapeutic body spray into a single, sterilized 4 oz. spray bottle or two 2 oz. containers with a fingertip mister.

To use, simply shake your body spray before each use, then mist onto skin as desired, avoiding your face. (For a facial spray, the amount of essential oil called for in this recipe should be reduced by half.)

Once you’ve made your insomnia sleep sprays, you can easily decorate your bottles using scrapbook paper. (I like catching paper stacks when they’re on sale for $10!) Simply cut a sheet of decorative paper to fit your container. Then tape it to your spray bottle to secure it in place. (I used a strip of tape for each side of the paper.) Easy peasy!

Where to Buy Ready Made Sleep Sprays

If you’d like to try an aromatherapy sleep spray for your pillows and bed linens, but aren’t ready to make your own, there are a number of ready made options that you can purchase. This Sleepy Head Pillow Mist from Made By Coopers Apothecary is made with a calming blend of lavender essential oil and a soothing blend of chamomile and frankincense to help you de-stress and unwind. You can buy it here.

Or try one of these other natural essential oil sleep remedies to explore aromatherapy for sleep.

Alternately, you can purchase other natural remedies here. Or explore home remedies you can make yourself right here on Soap Deli News or via my Home Remedies Pinterest board.

You can also follow me across your favorite social media platforms for regular DIY ideas for soap, bath and beauty recipes you can craft at home. Follow me now via facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my newsletter to stay in the loop.

This article is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment or medical advice and is provided for informational purposes only. Information on products mentioned are based on my own personal experience and have not been evaluated by the FDA. Please consult a physician prior to making any changes that may impact your health.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: aromatherapy, essential oil blend, essential oil recipes, essential oils, health and wellness, healthy living, home remedies, home remedy, lavender, natural, natural alternative, natural remedy, self care, sleep, vetiver essential oil, ylang ylang

DIY Shower Steamers Recipe with Menthol Crystals

August 1, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 8 Comments

Learn how to make DIY shower steamers with menthol crystals and eucalyptus essential oil as a natural home remedy for stuffy noses caused by colds, flu and seasonal allergies. Easy natural relief from congestion caused by colds or allergies, this easy shower steamer recipe is a must for back to school season. Learn more about this home remedy as well as the benefits of menthol crystals when used to promote health and wellness.

Shower Steamers for Natural Symptom Relief from Seasonal Allergies, Colds & Flu

My seasonal allergies have been terrible this year. I mean generally they aren’t great, but I’ve had to pull out the big guns recently. Meaning I stood in line at the actual pharmacy to buy Sudafed. Unfortunately that didn’t work quite as well as I’d hoped, being that it was a last resort. So I made DIY showers steamers with menthol crystals as a last ditch effort to avoid getting a sinus infection. And they worked great at easing my allergy symptoms by opening up my nasal passages so I could breathe better. Better than the Sudafed, in fact. They also conquered that irritating sinus headache I’d had for two days straight.

With back to school right around the corner, there’s really no better time to make your own DIY shower steamers. After all, if you have kids, you know that schools are a cesspool of germs and viruses. When my son started kindergarten I’d had him out of daycare for over year. He got community acquired pneumonia his first week. Of course, seeing as how he inherited my stubborn streak, he ran around like a little chicken with his head cut off anyway. It took two months for him to fully recover.

And of course there are the joys of sports practices. Whether my son was struggling through a cold, or suffering with seasonal allergies himself, I quickly learned that yes, all boys hock loogies the size of a small country.

No one wants to over medicate their kids if they don’t have to. After all, you want them to develop a healthy immune system while also avoiding the overuse of antibiotics. At the same time, however, you don’t want them to suffer either. It’s no fun struggling to breathe through your mouth or fight a sinus headache. Luckily, shower steamers with menthol crystals are a great natural remedy for chest and nasal congestion.

What Are Menthol Crystals?

Menthol crystals are derived from a species from the mint family known as mentha arvensis. These flowering plants, which are found in the mint family known as Lamiaceae, include corn mint, field mint and wild mint and contain the organic compound known as mentol. The menthol is extracted from the plant by freezing the essential oil of said plants, then removing the resulting menthol crystals through a filtering process.

Menthol crystals have a number of therapeutic properties that make them useful in aromatherapy as well as medicinal and cosmetic applications. The medicinal properties they are believed to exhibit make menthol crystals analgesic, anesthetic, antibacterial, cooling, circulation-stimulating, expectorant, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, decongestant, antiemetic and antitussive. While cosmetically they offer antibacterial, invigorating, soothing, cooling, circulation-stimulating and skin plumping properties.

Due to their inherent chemical makeup, menthol crystals are a popular choice for a number of medicinal applications. You may be most familiar with menthol crystals from the over-the-counter product, Vicks VapoRub, in which they are a key component.

Benefits of Menthol Crystals in Shower Steamers

Menthol crystals have a number of benefits when used in aromatherapy. Whether you have a stuffy nose, chest congestion or even a sore throat, menthol crystals have been historically used in aromatherapy to relieve the symptoms of colds, flu and allergies. Not only do menthol crystals help promote easier breathing and offer temporary relief from nasal congestion, they can also be used to soothe sore throats, alleviate fever symptoms, coughs, headaches and sinus related discomfort. Additionally, their aromatherapeutic properties also support immunity and can help with nausea.

While menthol crystals also have a number of both cosmetic and hair care applications, for this purpose I chose to use menthol crystals as a key ingredient in DIY shower steamers. As, when used as a decongestant agent, menthol crystals in combination with eucalyptus essential oil, offer natural symptom relief from stuffy noses and sinus headaches.

Precautions for Using Menthol Crystals in Shower Steamers

It is important to note that menthol crystals are not recommend for use by children ages 7 and under. Likewise, if you are pregnant or nursing you should consult a physician before using menthol crystals. You should also seek out guidance from your doctor before use if you have cancer, heart-related ailments, skin disorders or hormone-related ailments. Additionally, do not use menthol crystals if you have an open wounds as high levels of absorption may be toxic and take care to keep menthol crystals out of contact with mucous membranes.

The maximum dilution rate for using menthol crystals is 5% in order to protect respiratory system and skin from any distress or discomfort.

How to Make DIY Shower Steamers

Made with menthol crystals and eucalyptus essential oil for their aromatherapeutic benefits, these easy DIY shower steamers are the perfect addition to your morning shower. Just take care not to mistake them for bath bombs. As soaking in a tub filled with menthol crystals is likely leave your lady parts in an overly frigid state.

You make shower steamers in much the same way you would make bath bombs. The main difference is, however, you don’t need additional dry ingredients in your shower steamer recipe aside from the baking soda and citric acid. Nor will you need to use more expensive oils or butters to bind these two ingredients together. As you aren’t soaking in a tub with your shower steamers, you can use an inexpensive carrier oil instead. Additionally, you’ll find that DIY shower steamers harden and dry out much faster than bath bombs as the menthol crystals recrystalize once the shower steamers are made.

Like bath bombs you are working with citric acid. Therefore you may want to use a face mask or respirator to avoid inhaling this ingredient should it become airborne. I also highly recommend wearing gloves to make your DIY shower steamers so you are able to protect your hands from the cooling action of the menthol crystals and eucalyptus essential oils.

You don’t necessarily need a bath bomb mold for this recipe. I used my favorite heavy duty round bath bomb molds to make my shower steamer with menthol crystals. However, as these mold rather easily, you can also use a meat baller for smaller sized shower steamers, or simply mold them into balls with your hands. Other than that, if you need additional tips on making shower steamers, you can find tips and tricks for molding and unmolding bath bombs here.

Shower Steamer Recipe with Menthol Crystals

Ingredients:

10 oz. baking soda
5 oz. citric acid
3 oz. carrier oil, such as sweet almond or fractionated coconut oil
.5 oz. eucalyptus essential oil
.5 oz. menthol crystals

Instructions:

Using a digital scale, weigh out the carrier into a small glass measuring cup. Then weigh out the menthol crystals. Add the menthol crystals to the container with the carrier oil, then stir until the crystals have dissolved. Then weigh out and mix in the eucalyptus essential oil. Set aside.

Next, weigh out the baking soda and citric acid into a large glass or ceramic bowl. Use a whisk to mix the ingredients together until they are evenly combined throughout.

Now pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients, slowly mixing as you go. Mix thoroughly then use your hands, a meat baller or a bath bomb mold to form your shower steamers.

If using a round bath bomb mold, loosely pile the ingredients into each half of the mold. Then lightly pack. Follow with additional mixed ingredients, lightly tap down, then firmly press both sides of the bath bomb mold together. Then unmold your DIY shower steamers.

Repeat until all the ingredients from the shower steamer recipe have been used. Then set your finished shower steamers with menthol crystals aside for several hours, until dry.

Once dry, wrap your DIY shower steamers tightly in foodservice film or store in an airtight container until ready for use.

Shower Steamer Recipe with Menthol Crystals

Learn how to make DIY shower steamers with this easy 5-ingredient shower steamer recipe with menthol crystals & essential oils as a natural home remedy for stuffy noses caused by colds & seasonal allergies.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Materials

10 oz. baking soda
5 oz. citric acid
3 oz. carrier oil, of choice
.5 oz. eucalyptus essential oil
.5 oz. menthol crystals

Tools

digital scale
bath bomb mold or meat baller
large glass or ceramic bowl
glass Pyrex measuring cup
utensils for mixing

Instructions

Using a digital scale, weigh out the carrier into a small glass measuring cup. Then weigh out the menthol crystals. Add the menthol crystals to the container with the carrier oil, then stir until the crystals have dissolved. Then weigh out and mix in the eucalyptus essential oil. Set aside.
Next, weigh out the baking soda and citric acid into a large glass or ceramic bowl. Use a whisk to mix the ingredients together until they are evenly combined throughout.
Now pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients, slowly mixing as you go. Mix thoroughly then use your hands, a meat baller or a bath bomb mold to form your shower steamers.
If using a round bath bomb mold, loosely pile the ingredients into each half of the mold. Then lightly pack. Follow with additional mixed ingredients, lightly tap down, then firmly press both sides of the bath bomb mold together. Then unmold your DIY shower steamers.
Repeat until all the ingredients from the shower steamer recipe have been used. Then set your finished shower steamers with menthol crystals aside for several hours, until dry.
Once dry, wrap your DIY shower steamers tightly in foodservice film or store in an airtight container until ready for use.

More Natural Remedies for Cold & Allergy Symptom Relief

If you’re looking for more natural alternative for symptom relief of cold and allergy symptoms, then try one of these natural remedies.

You can also explore more natural remedies on my natural health and wellness board on Pinterest as well as my home remedies Pinterest board.

If you like my DIY shower steamers, then be sure to pin my shower steamer recipe with menthol crystals for later. You can also follow me across your favorite social media platforms for regular DIY ideas for soap, bath and beauty recipes you can craft at home. Follow me now via facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my newsletter to stay in the loop.

This article is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment or medical advice and is provided for informational purposes only. Information on products mentioned are based on my own personal experience or research and have not been evaluated by the FDA. Please consult a physician prior to making any changes that may impact your health.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness Tagged With: aromatherapy, bath bomb recipe, bath bombs, cold relief, colds, congestion, congestion relief, cough relief, essential oil recipes, essential oils, eucalyptus, flu, health, health and wellness, healthy living, home remedies, home remedy, immunity, menthol crystals, natural, natural alternative, natural remedy, self care, shower steamers

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bath Bombs with Coconut Oil & Buttermilk Powder

July 26, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 4 Comments

Learn how to make moisturizing chocolate chip cookie dough bath bombs with coconut oil. Scented with a sweet cookie dough fragrance, these homemade bath bombs are made with richly hydrating buttermilk powder and coconut oil for a calorie free self care treat.

Cookie dough is my jam. Specifically chocolate chip cookie dough. I admit, Ben & Jerry’s makes me a swoon a little. And when my hormones are taking the lead on my stomach’s food choices, it’s no chore to down a pint in one sitting. So how could I resist making chocolate chip cookie dough bath bombs?

Just as real deal chocolate chip cookie dough is a treat for PMS, these chocolate chips cookie dough bath bombs are a self care delight for bath time. These moisturizing bath bombs are made with powdered buttermilk and coconut oil to nourish and hydrate skin. While a cookie dough scented fragrance oil sweeps your senses off to a sweetly scented, calorie free dreamland.

If you’ve never made bath bombs before, you can learn how to make bath bombs here. Filled with handy tips and tricks, this post is not only filled with tips and tricks for making bath bombs, it also directs you on how to formulate your own bath bomb recipes. You’ll also find a number of bath bomb recipes – some of which are all natural – to inspire your creativity.

As I know a lot of you may be new to making bath bombs, it’s possible you don’t have a digital scale on hand. However, by using weights as the unit of measurement, you will be able to scale this bath bomb recipe with coconut oil accurately, as needed.

Cookie Dough Bath Bombs with Coconut Oil

Cookie Dough Bath Bomb Ingredients:

16 oz. baking soda
8 oz. citric acid
1 oz. powdered buttermilk
.5 oz. white kaolin (cosmetic) clay
.5 oz. arrowroot powder
4 oz. coconut oil
.6 oz. Polysorbate 80 (to help disperse the fragrance oil & mica)
.6 oz. Cookie Dough fragrance oil
Flax seed or poppy seeds, to suit
pinch of skin safe brown mica powder

Additional Tools & Supplies:

Heavy duty round bath bomb molds
Spray bottle with isopropyl alcohol (or witch hazel)
Mixing bowls
Digital scale

Instructions on How to Make Bath Bombs with Coconut Oil:

Using a digital scale, weigh out the baking soda, citric acid, powdered buttermilk, clay and arrowroot powder into a large mixing bowl. Then add a pinch of the brown mica and either the flax seed, or poppy seeds, to suit. (These will serve as the chocolate chips in your cookie dough bath bombs.)

Next, whisk the ingredients together until they are thoroughly combined.

Now weigh out the coconut oil into a separate container. If solid, gently heat the coconut oil until melted. Then weigh out and stir in the Polysorbate 80.

Add the fragrance oil to the coconut mixture, then mix thoroughly to combine.

Now add the scented coconut oil to the dry ingredients, mixing as you go. (You don’t want to overdo it.)

You want your bath bomb mixture to be the consistency of wet sand. It should also hold together when you press a clump into your hand and drop it back into the bowl. If the bath bomb mixture is too dry, you can use your spray bottle with isopropyl alcohol (or witch hazel) to moisten the ingredients further. Alternately, you may also add additional coconut oil as needed.

Now it’s time to make mold the chocolate chip cookie dough bath bombs with coconut oil. Using a two-part round bath bomb mold of your choice, make each bath bomb one at a time, unmolding the first and then following with the next. (The molds I linked too have two sizes to choose from.)

To mold your bath bombs with coconut oil, pile the mixture into each side of the round bath bomb molds. Lightly compact the bath bomb mixture into each half of the mold, then pile more of the bath bomb mixture into each half.

Next, firmly press both sides of the the bath bomb molds together. Don’t twist.

Then unmold the bath bomb you just made.

Repeat for each of your bath bombs with coconut oil until you’ve used up all of the bath bomb mixture.

Finally, allow the bath bombs to dry and harden, about 24 hours.

You can now either wrap your bath bombs tightly in foodservice film, shrinkwrap bags or package them in boxes for homemade gifts. Alternately, you can also store your bath bombs with coconut in an airtight container until they’re ready for use.

If you like this recipe for making chocolate chip cookie dough bath bombs with coconut oil & buttermilk, then be sure to pin this bath bomb recipe to save for later. Or check out all of my bath bomb recipes here.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bath Bombs with Coconut Oil

Prep Time 10 minutes

Active Time 10 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Materials

16 oz. baking soda
8 oz. citric acid
1 oz. powdered buttermilk
.5 oz. white kaolin clay
.5 oz. arrowroot powder
4 oz. coconut oil
.6 oz. Polysorbate 80
.6 oz. Cookie Dough fragrance oil
Flax seed or poppy seeds, to suit
pinch of skin safe brown mica powder

Tools

Stainless steel round bath bomb molds
Spray bottle with isopropyl alcohol (or witch hazel)
Mixing bowls
Digital scale

Instructions

Using a digital scale, weigh out the baking soda, citric acid, powdered buttermilk, clay and arrowroot powder into a large mixing bowl. Add a pinch of the brown mica and either the flax seed, or poppy seeds, to suit.
Next, whisk the ingredients together until they are thoroughly combined.
Now weigh out the coconut oil into a separate container. If solid, gently heat the coconut oil until melted. Then weigh out and stir in the Polysorbate 80.
Add the fragrance oil to the coconut mixture, then mix thoroughly to combine.
Now add the scented coconut oil to the dry ingredients, mixing as you go. You want your bath bomb mixture to be the consistency of wet sand. If the bath bomb mixture is too dry, you can use your spray bottle with isopropyl alcohol (or witch hazel) to moisten the ingredients further.
Using a two-part round bath bomb mold of your choice, make each bath bomb one at a time, unmolding the first and then following with the next.
Repeat for each of your bath bombs with coconut oil until you’ve used up all of the bath bomb mixture.
Finally, allow the bath bombs to dry and harden, about 24 hours.
You wrap your bath bombs tightly in foodservice film, or store in an airtight container, until they're ready for use.

Recommended Products

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More DIY Bath Bombs to Make with Coconut Oil

For more ideas for bath bombs with coconut oil, be sure to check out these other homemade bath bomb recipes. Coconut oil can easily be substituted in each of these easy, no fail bath bomb recipes for the body butters. Or try them with a combination of both!

Discover more homemade skin care recipes on my Pinterest boards. You can also follow me across your favorite social media platforms for regular DIY ideas for soap, bath and beauty recipes you can craft at home. Follow me now via facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my newsletter to stay in the loop.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: bath bomb recipe, bath bombs, bath tutorial, coconut oil, crafts, diy, gift idea, self care, skin care, skin care recipes, stress relief