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How to Make Bath Bombs (& A Natural Bath Bomb Recipe with Shea Butter)

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July 21, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 4 Comments

Have you ever wondered how to make bath bombs? Considering how easy it is to get hooked on using bath bombs, it’s not a surprise that you’d want to learn how to make your own DIY bath bombs. Keep reading to learn how to make bath bombs with an easy, natural bath bomb recipe with shea butter.

It’s not hard to get hooked on bath bombs. Especially if you love taking baths. However, if you’ve tried a lot of bath bombs, then you’ve likely noticed that there’s a big difference between cheap commercial bath bombs and ones that are handmade. As someone with extremely sensitive skin, I can’t indulge in bath bombs made with cheap fillers and synthetic ingredients. They not only cause skin irritation and rashes, but sometimes I’ll itch for days afterwards.

The same is true for soap fragrances. While the soap recipe might be perfect for my skin, the wrong fragrance can totally leave me itching for weeks. So much in fact, that I’ll wake up in the middle of the night scratching. Sometimes pinning down the ingredient that caused an allergic skin reaction can be a challenge. Therefore, I try to stick to natural colorants, scents and ingredients when I make my own homemade soap and skin care products. This is even more important when making bath bombs. Because unlike soap, which causes a reaction even after its been rinsed off, I’m soaking in a tub with that bath bomb for quite some time

Let’s Learn How to Make Bath Bombs

My natural bath bomb recipe is perfect for anyone who suffers from skin sensitivities and allergies. Not only is it made with natural colorants for bath bombs – in this case pink kaolin clay and orange peel powder – it also contains hydrating shea butter and an uplifting essential oil blend. Are you ready to to learn how to make bath bombs? Keep reading to learn no just how to make my natural bath bomb recipe, but also about the skin care benefits of the bath bomb ingredients I used.

What Gives Bath Bombs Their Fizz?

There are two key ingredients that give bath bombs their fizz. They are citric acid and baking soda. When combine, the chemical reaction between these two ingredients creates carbon dioxide. This in turn makes the bath bombs fizz. Some bath bombs, such as the bath bombs made popular by Lush, also contain synthetic foaming agents such sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate (SLSA) or sodium coco-sulfate (SCI.) The addition of these ingredients gives bath bombs amazing bubbles in addition to the fizz.

Tips on How to Make Awesome Bath Bombs

When learning how to make bath bombs, I recommend starting with a simple basic bath bomb recipe. This will give you a feel as to how bath bombs are made and familiarize you with the process. The basic idea behind making bath bombs isn’t difficult. However, there are tips and tricks you need to know when making bath bombs. Otherwise, you may end up with bath bombs that fizz prematurely. Or, in the process of making round bath bombs with a two-piece mold, you may find that your two halves don’t stick together.

Beginners mistakes, however, are easy to make. In fact, I’ve made them myself in the past. Luckily, with a little research first on how to make bath bombs, you can minimize or even prevent making these mistakes entirely.

Formulating Your Own Bath Bomb Recipes

Once you get the hang of how to make bath bombs, you can begin formulating your own bath bomb recipes. There are some basic rules that can help you either create your own bath bomb recipes from scratch or customize and existing recipe.

Tip #1

I recommend using ingredient weights when formulating your bath bomb recipes, rather than unit measurements. Not only is this a more accurate way to create a bath bomb recipe, it also makes it easier to determine the amount of fragrances or other ingredients needed for your recipe as recommended usage rates are provided as a percentage. This will also make it easier to scale your bath bomb recipe up or down at a later date. As such, you will need a digital scale to weigh out the ingredients when you make your bath bombs.

Tip #2

When using baking soda and citric acid as the base for your bath bombs, the recommended ratio is to use two parts baking soda to one part citric acid. If you’d like to use a foaming agent, such as SLSA or even sodium cocoyl isethionate, it should account for anywhere between 15%-25% of your recipe.

You can make bath bombs without citric acid. However, a combination of baking soda and citric acid produces the best fizz. Using lemon juice as a substitute can set off your fizz prematurely. And it can be a challenge in high humidity. While using cream of tartar, reduces the fizz reaction even further. Therefore, if you want to make the best bath bomb recipe, I recommend using citric acid.

Tip #3

Additional dry ingredients are typically added to a bath bomb recipe to prevent premature fizzing. Dry ingredients such as arrowroot powder, cream of tartar, cornstarch and clay can be use based on your preference. I like to choose my own dry ingredients for bath bombs based on the desired result and skin care benefits of those ingredients. These dry ingredients can be added to your bath bomb formulation with or without a foaming agent such as SLSA. When adding dry ingredients, it’s important that they don’t comprise of more than one half of the amount of citric acid in your recipe. Otherwise the fizzing performance of your bath bombs may be affected.

Tip #4

It’s not recommended that you add Epsom salt or Dead Sea Salt to your bath bomb formulations. This is because the magnesium in these ingredients draws moisture from the air into your bath bombs. This in turn can cause premature fizzing. However, I’ve made a number of bath bomb recipes using salt with success. (These bath bomb recipes include my Epsom salt bath bomb recipe for chronic pain as well as my rose essential oil bath bomb recipe. I also have a hidden color bath bomb recipe with magnesium flakes.) By adding a hard butter to your recipe, I’ve found that it does prevent premature fizzing. Just be sure to wrap your creations tightly once they’ve dried.

Tip #5

Rather than using a liquid for making bath bombs, such as witch hazel, I instead use a combination of carrier oils and/or body butters. As I live in a humid area, I’ve found that these ingredients work better at preventing your bath bombs from exploding early due to high humidity. If you prefer to use a liquid rather than oils or butters in your bath bombs, then stick with 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol. It evaporates more quickly than witch hazel, thereby making it more suitable for humid climates.

Tip #6

There are a number of options when it comes to choosing colorants for your bath bombs. You’ll learn more about different colorants and how they react in bath bombs – and ultimately bath water – as you experiment more and learn how to make your own recipes. Natural colorants, such as colored clays or botanical powders are one option. While lake dyes and micas are another. If you love a show in your bathtub, like the ones you get from hidden rainbow colored bath bombs, then lake dyes or dyes formulated specifically for bath bombs are the way to go. They will give the biggest color show and won’t leave a colored ring around your tub once the bathwater drains out. Lake dyes typically account for 28-34% of the total weight of a bath bomb recipe.

Tip #7

You should not use food coloring in your bath bomb recipes. Not only can food coloring stain both your skin and the tub, it’s simply bad practice especially if you’re formulating recipes to sell or give as gifts. In addition, it’s also important to note that not all colorants are approved for use in bath bombs. Some green colorants, for example, including green chromium oxide, are not approved by the FDA for use in bath bombs. Therefore you should do your research on colorants before deciding which ones to use. While some colorants can be used in wash off products such as soaps or body wash, it’s not always true for things like lotions or bath bombs where there is a longer exposure time.

On the other hand, for little to no color show, you can use natural colorants or mica powders. Natural colorants, such as the spinach powder and French green clay I used in my natural mango butter bath bombs, are an easy way to create a green color. Alternately, mica powder can be used in significantly smaller quantities than both natural colorants for bath bombs or lake dyes. They’ll give your bath bombs bright colors before they go into the tub, but very muted tones once diluted in bathwater.

Tip #8

If you choose to use skin safe cosmetic micas, then you will need to also use polysorbate 80. Polysorbate 80 works as an emulsifier when used in bath bomb bombs. Soluble in water and alcohol, it binds with the colorants and oils used to make your bath bombs and helps disperse them evenly throughout your bathwater. This keeps any oils or fragrances you used in your recipe from floating on top of your bathwater. It also prevents the colorants used from sticking to both your skin and the tub and it helps glitter disperse more evenly. As such, if you don’t mind using non-natural ingredients to make your bath bombs, polysorbate 80 makes a wonderful addition to your bath bomb recipes whether you use mica or not. The suggested usage rater for mica is 1-2% of your recipe.

Skin Care Benefits of My Natural Bath Bomb Ingredients

Now that you know how to make bath bombs, let’s move on to my natural bath bomb recipe and why I chose to use the ingredients I did.

Having sensitive skin can make it challenge to find the perfect skin care products. From anti-aging skin care to anti-acne treatments, there’s a whole world of potential skin reactions waiting to happen. Therefore, I chose each of the ingredients used in my bath bomb recipe for their specific skin care benefits. These ingredients include orange peel powder, shea butter, pink kaolin clay and an easy, aromatherapeutic essential oil blend.

Orange Peel Powder

Vitamin C is the new anti-aging skin care treatment. However, daily doses of vitamin C serums or creams, while practical for our faces, isn’t quite so practical for our bodies. By adding orange peel powder to your natural bath bombs, you can give your entire body a boost of Vitamin C’s antioxidant benefits. Not only does Vitamin C help stimulate collagen production, it can also help repair damage from free radicals, brighten skin and fade dark spots caused by hyperpigmentation.

In addition, orange peel powder can also help unclog pores, tone skin, diminish the appearance of scars and reduce inflammation. It’s also an effective treatment for body acne. So if you struggle with back acne – or even acne anywhere on your body – adding orange peel powder to your bath can prevent acne breakouts and promote healing.

Pink Kaolin Clay

Pink kaolin clay is a naturally occurring cosmetic clay. Its color comes from combination of both white and red kaolin clays. Suitable for sensitive skin, this natural rose colored clay helps balance out skin and absorb excess oils, while also gently cleansing skin. It also lends my natural bath bomb recipe a pink color. Combined with the orange powder, these two natural bath bomb colorants give the resulting bath bombs a peach-like color.

Refined Shea Butter

Shea butter is hydrating body butter that’s naturally rich in vitamins A and E. Rich in essential fatty acids as well as other vitamins and minerals, shea butter offers a number of skin supporting properties. Commonly used as a natural moisturizer, shea butter is also used as a component in skin care formulations that target acne. I used refined shea butter, which has been deodorized, for my natural bath bomb recipe in order to allow the fragrance of my essential oil blend to shine through.

Essential Oils

Essential oils offer a number of aromatherapeutic and skin care benefits. For my natural bath bomb recipe, I created an essential oil blend containing grapefruit essential oil, sweet orange essential oil and cardamom essential oil for their uplifting and re-energizing properties.

Grapefruit essential oil, specifically, is often used in aromatherapy to combat acne, reduce stress, stimulate circulation, increase energy, enhance mood and improve digestion.

Tips for Making No Fail Bath Bombs

Now that you’ve learned about the ingredients that went into my natural bath bomb recipe, here are some easy tips for success when you’re ready to get started.

Tip #1

As you are working with fine powders such as SLSA or even citric acid, it’s recommended that you wear a face mask respirator or dust mask. This keeps small particles from being inhaled when mixing your bath bomb ingredients together. In addition, nitrile gloves are also recommend. Not only will this prevent colorants from staining your hands, it will also keep the citric acid from burning any open cuts or scratches.

Tip #2

Some ingredients, such as orange peel powder as well as certain essential oils, can cause photosensitivity. Therefore you should take extra care to use sunscreen and wear protective clothing if you plan to spend time in the sun. (You can learn which essential oils are phototoxic along with safe usage instructions for phototoxic essential oils here.)

Tip #3

When using a two part bath bomb mold, it’s important not to pack each side before pressing the two sides of the mold together. Otherwise, the two sides won’t stick together resulting in two half spheres rather than a single solid one. Instead, you should pile each side of the mold loosely with your bath bomb mixture. Lightly compact each side, then pile more of the bath bomb mixture into each side of the mold. Finally, firmly press both sides of your bath bomb mold together. (It’s important not to twist the two sides of mold together when using a round bath bomb mold.) Then gently tap around the edges of the mold with a spoon to release your bath bomb.

For one piece bath bomb molds, use the same process. However, instead of pressing the mold against another half, firmly pack the remaining bath bomb mixture into the mold with your hands. Tap the mold with a spoon to help release the bath bomb if necessary. I suggest you set the molds onto a cutting board, then tap until the bath bomb slides out when the mold is lifted off.

Tip #4

Your bath bomb mixture, once mixed, should be the consistency of wet sand. When picking up a clump of the mixture with your hands, it should hold together when squeezed then dropped back into the container. This is important. If your bath bombs are too dry they may crumble and not hold together. On the other hand, if they are too wet, you may get a premature fizz in addition to having difficulty releasing the bath bombs from the mold.

Natural Bath Bomb Recipe with Shea Butter

Ingredients:

8 oz. baking soda
4.5 oz. citric acid
2 oz. refined shea butter
.5 oz. orange peel powder
.25 oz. pink kaolin clay
.25 oz. arrowroot powder
2.5 mL grapefruit essential oil
1 mL sweet orange essential oil
.5 mL cardamom essential oil
carrier oil of choice, as needed

Instructions:

My natural bath bomb recipe is made using the peach bath bomb mold from this set. However, you’re welcome to use any bath bomb mold of your choosing when making my shea butter bath bombs. Likewise, you can always substitute the essential oil blend I used for my natural bath bomb recipe with a peach fragrance oil at the manufacturer’s suggested usage rate.

Begin by weighing out refined shea butter using a digital scale. Place the shea butter into a heat safe container. Heat at 30% power in the microwave until melted. Alternately, you may also use the double boiler method. Once the shea butter has melted, remove from heat.

Next, measure out the essential oils using a fresh graduated plastic transfer pipette for each essential oil. Then add to the melted shea butter. Mix to combine. Then set aside.

Next, weigh out the baking soda, citric acid, arrowroot powder, orange peel powder and pink kaolin clay into a in a separate container. Mix the dry ingredients until thoroughly combined.

Now add the melted shea butter with the essential oils to the dry ingredients mixing as you go. Mix until the entire concoction is the consistency of wet sand. If it’s too dry, stir in a small amount of a carrier oil of your choice, a little at a time, until it reaches the proper consistency.

To make my natural bath bomb recipe, pile the mixture into the peach shaped bath bomb mold. Lightly compact the bath bomb mixture into the mold, then repeat the step. Follow by firmly pressing the bath bomb mixture into the mold. Then unmold. Repeat for each shea butter bath bomb until you’ve used up all of your natural bath bomb mixture.

Once your shea butter bath bombs have hardened, wrap or package as desired for personal use or gifting.

More Bath Bomb Recipes to Try

Once you’d tried my shea butter bath bomb recipe, be sure to give one of these other homemade bath bomb recipes a try.

Natural Bath Bomb Recipes

Spinach & French Green Clay Bath Bombs with Natural Colorants
Epsom Salt Bath Bombs for Natural Pain Relief
Lavender & Chamomile Bath Bombs with Natural Botanicals
Homemade Holiday Peppermint Bath Bombs with Essential Oil
Lavender Essential Oil Bath Bombs with Shea Butter
Lemongrass & Sage Bath Bomb Minis
Natural Cola Bath Bombs with Essential Oils
Rose Petal Vanilla Bath Bombs with Natural Colorants

Creative Bath Bomb Recipes

Fizzing Shamrock Bath Truffles
Cranberry Fig Fizzing Bath Truffles for the Holidays
Moisturizing Bath Fizzy Powder Recipe
Halloween Pumpkin Bath Bomb Recipe
DIY Easter Egg Bath Bombs with Glitter
DIY Mermaid Bath Bombs with Moisturizing Cocoa Butter Shells
Hidden Rainbow Bath Bomb Embed Bars
Hidden Color Pineapple Bath Bombs for Summer Self Care
Rose Essential Oil Bath Bomb Recipe
Homemade Milk & Honey Bath Bombs
Moisturizing Strawberry Milkshake Bath Bomb Recipe

Once you’ve gotten comfortable creating your own natural bath bombs, invite your friends to join in the fun! Learn how to throw a bath bomb party for a girls night in to create self care treats. Or get together to craft homemade holiday gifts for friends and family.

I’m so excited that you’ve chosen to start your natural skin care journey! I hope you’ll stick with me as I continue to share new recipes for natural bath bombs, homemade soaps and fabulous skin care products! You can keep up with my new recipes and healthy lifestyle posts by following me across your favorite social media platforms. Follow me now via Pinterest, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my newsletter to stay in the loop.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: anti-acne, anti-aging, bath bomb recipe, bath bombs, bath tutorial, crafts, diy, essential oils, natural skin care, shea butter, vitamin c

Easy Bath Bomb Recipe with Natural Ingredients for Beautiful Glowing Skin

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

July 15, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 3 Comments

This easy bath bomb recipe is crafted with a combination of skin conditioning butters and essential oils. Naturally colored with spinach powder and French green clay, this natural bath bomb recipe not only fights the visible signs of aging, it can also help prevent or clear up back acne. While the other skin care ingredients prevent your skin from being stripped of beneficial oils – a known cause of overproduction of sebum that can lead to oily skin and acne.

Easy Bath Bombs Your Skin Will Love

If you’ve never made bath bombs before, you may have found that first time a little challenging. There are a number of factors that go into making bath bombs, and unfortunately, they can easily be affected by humidity. While you can’t control the weather, there are tips and tricks for making that perfect no fail bath bomb. These tips, in combination with an easy bath bomb recipe, can help guarantee success from the start.

Many store bought bath bombs are filled with cheap, synthetic ingredients. Not only can these ingredients irritate sensitive skin, they really don’t offer any skin care benefits. Therefore, I created an easy bath bomb recipe that contains natural ingredients that skin loves.

If you’re familiar with my previous bath bomb recipes, then you know how much I love using natural butters like cocoa, shea and mango butters in my bath bomb recipes. Including a body butter in your bath bomb formulation makes the finished product more moisturizing. Additionally, you’ll also find that adding butters to your homemade bath bombs helps your bath bombs harden faster. And it can even help them resist the unwanted effects of high humidity. Therefore, I chose to include mango butter in this homemade bath bomb recipe.

Additionally, rather than use mica powder or lake dyes to color this easy bath bomb recipe, I chose to work with natural, plant-based colorants instead. For this particular bath bomb recipe, I used both French green clay and nutrient rich natural spinach powder. When combined, these two natural ingredients give this easy bath bomb recipe a forest green tint. This is, of course, in addition to the natural skin care benefits these ingredients offer.

Skin Care Benefits of Natural Bath Bomb Ingredients

So, just what are the benefits of using these natural ingredients in your homemade bath bombs? And why are ingredients like mango butter, spinach powder and French green clay good for our skin?

Skin Care Benefits of Spinach Powder

Spinach plays an important role in skin care, whether you’re consuming it and incorporating it into your natural skin care routine. Spinach is naturally rich in iron, folate, chlorophyll, Vitamin E, magnesium, Vitamin A, fiber, plant protein, and Vitamin C. As Vitamins C, E, and A have antioxidant abilities, they are are especially beneficial for your skin. These antioxidants destroy free radicals that cause premature aging. Antioxidants can also help fight the visible signs of aging and even out your complexion. Thereby making your skin look and feel more radiant.

Spinach powder is also amazing at reducing acne to promote clear skin. Whether you use spinach powder as a mask, or in my easy bath bomb recipe, you’ll find that it removes both dirt & oil and reduces inflammation for rejuvenated skin. This makes spinach powder especially useful at treating back acne which tends to be more prevalent in the summer, regardless of your skin type, when incorporated into a bath bomb. However, you can also use spinach powder as an added ingredient in both melt and pour soap and cold process soap recipes.

Skin Care Benefits of French Green Clay

As with other clays, French green clay offers a variety of skin care benefits when incorporated into natural skin care products, such as my easy bath bomb recipe. Green, due to its high content of iron oxide and decomposed plant matter, French green clay (also known as Illite clay) is also rich in dolomite, manganese, silica, copper, phosphorous, magnesium, zinc and calcium. Not only does this clay detox skin to remove impurities, it also cleanses and gently exfoliates skin.

French green clay, like spinach powder, is also suitable for oily, clogged and acne prone skin. As it’s a highly absorbent clay, it is able to hold almost equal its weight in liquid. However, there’s no need to be concerned if you don’t have oily or acne prone skin. French green clay is gentle enough that it’s suited for all skin types. Therefore it makes a wonderful addition to facial masks, soaps and deodorants to gently detox and clarify skin.

Skin Care Benefits of Mango Butter

Like spinach powder, mango butter is also vitamins like A and E, essential fatty acids and natural antioxidants. A highly moisturizing plant-based butter, mango butter is light and non-greasy. And, because mango butter is non-comedogenic, it won’t clog pores or aggravate acne prone skin. This makes mango butter suitable for pretty much every skin type – even if you have acne prone skin.

Tips & Tricks for Making My Easy Bath Bomb Recipe

Now that you’re familiar with the ingredients I added to my natural bath bomb recipe for their inherent skin care properties, here are a few tips and tricks to help you create the perfect bath bombs.

Bath Bomb Tip #1

When formulating your own bath bomb recipes, it’s important to add dry ingredients in addition to the baking soda and citric acid that give bath bombs their fizz. This not only helps to bind your bath bombs together, it can also prevent a premature fizz. Dry ingredients that are commonly used for this purpose include arrowroot powder, cream of tartar, cornstarch and clay. Just be sure that the additional dry ingredients don’t equal more than one half the weight of the citric acid called for in your bath bomb recipe.

Bath Bomb Tip #2

Before mixing the dry ingredients for your bath bomb formulations, you should sift them first through a sieve. This will help avoid lumps and bumps in your bath bombs.

Bath Bomb Tip #3

Naturally scenting your bath bombs with citrus essential oils can hinder your bath bombs’ ability to fully dry. You can counteract this, however, by adding hard butters to your bath bomb recipe.

Bath Bomb Tip #4

Use water soluble colorants to color your bath bombs such as lake dyes or dyes specifically formulated for use in bath bombs. Otherwise, if you use micas to color your bath bombs, you’ll also need to use Polysorbate 80 to prevent your colorants from staining the tub or skin. It will also prevent a ring around the tub or floating mica. The recommended usage rate for Polysorbate 80 is 1-2% of the total batch weight and should be added to the liquids prior to mixing the dry and wet ingredients together.

It’s also important to keep in mind that not all green colorants, including green chromium oxide, aren’t approved by the FDA for use in bath bombs. So be sure to do your research on colorants before deciding which ones to use. Additionally, if you are selling your homemade bath bombs, it’s important that you use batch certified colorants.

Bath Bomb Tip #5

When using a two part bath bomb mold it’s important not to pack each side before pressing the two sides of the mold together. Otherwise, the two sides won’t stick together. Instead, you should pile each side of the mold loosely with your bath bomb mixture. Lightly compact each side, then pile more of the bath bomb mixture into each side of the mold. Finally, firmly press both sides of your bath bomb mold together. (It’s important not to twist the two sides of mold together when using a round bath bomb mold.) Then gently tap around the edges of the mold with a spoon to release your bath bomb.

For one piece bath bomb molds, use the same process. However, instead of pressing the mold against another half, firmly pack the remaining bath bomb mixture into the mold with your hands. Tap the mold with a spoon to help release the bath bomb if necessary. I like to set these molds onto a cutting board, then tap until the bath bomb slides out when the mold is lifted off.

Bath Bomb Tip #6

Your bath bomb mixture, once mixed should be the consistency of wet sand. When picking up a clump of the mixture with your hands, it should hold together when squeezed then dropped back into the container. This is important. If your bath bombs are too dry they may crumble and not hold together. On the other hand, if they are too wet, you may get a premature fizz in addition to having difficulty releasing the bath bombs from the mold.

Bath Bomb Tip #7

If you’re new to making bath bombs, then I highly recommend Amanda Gail Aaron’s book, Fun in the Tub: Creating Bath Bombs, Solid Bubble Bath, Bubble Frosting and Bubble Scoops. Amanda, the author behind the blog Lovin’ Soap, shares an array of helpful tips and tricks for making bath bombs in this DIY bath bomb book. In addition, she not only provides a combination of easy to advanced bath bomb recipes, she also focuses on formulation and teaches you how to modify recipes to work in your environment.

Making My Easy Bath Bomb Recipe

Are you ready to try my easy bath bomb recipe with mango butter and essential oils? Let’s get started!

As I formulated my easy bath bomb recipe with only natural ingredients, I chose to scent my bath bombs with a combination of essential oils. This essential oil blend is an uplifting combination of lemongrass (or lemon), palmarosa and bergamot essentials oils. However, you have the option of substituting my essential oil blend with one of your choice. Alternately, if you don’t mind using synthetic fragrances, you can also use a skin safe fragrance oil at the recommended percentage rate. (This is determined by the manufacturer and can vary by scent.)

I used the leaf mold and the small round mold from this bath bomb mold collection for my easy bath bomb recipe. (I cannot tell you how much I LOVE these molds!) However, you’re welcome to use any molds of your choosing.

Easy Bath Bomb Recipe with Mango Butter

Ingredients:

8 oz. baking soda
4.5 oz citric acid
.5 oz. spinach powder
.25 oz. arrowroot powder
.25 oz. French green clay
2 oz. mango butter
liquid carrier oil of choice, as needed
2 mL lemongrass (or lemon) essential oil
1 mL palmarosa essential oil
1 mL bergamot essential oil

Instructions:

Begin by weighing out mango butter. (You will need a digital scale for this step.) Place the mango butter into a heat safe container. Heat at 30% power in the microwave, or using the double boiler method, until melted. Remove from heat.

Next, measure out the essential oils using a fresh graduated plastic transfer pipette for each essential oil. Then add to the melted mango butter. Mix to combine. Then set aside.

Next, weigh out the baking soda, citric acid, arrowroot powder, spinach powder and French green clay into a in a separate container. Mix the dry ingredients until thoroughly combined.

Now add the melted mango butter with the essential oils to the dry ingredients mixing as you go. Mix until the entire concoction is the consistency of wet sand. If it’s too dry, stir in a small amount of a carrier oil of your choice, a little at a time, until it reaches the proper consistency. (See tip #6.)

To make this easy bath bomb recipe, pile the mixture into your bath bomb mold of choice. Lightly compact the bath bomb mixture into the mold, then repeat the step. Follow by firmly pressing the bath bomb mixture into the mold. Then unmold. (See tip #5 for more detailed instructions.)

Once your homemade bath bombs have hardened, wrap as desired for personal use or gifting.

If you’d like to sell your natural bath bombs, then you will need to follow all labeling requirements for your product. If you aren’t familiar with how to label your homemade bath bombs for sale, then I recommend the book, Soap and Cosmetic Labeling: How to Follow the Rules and Regs Explained in Plain English, by Marie Gale.

More Easy Bath Bomb Recipes

Now that you’ve tried my easy bath bomb recipe with mango butter, here are some other homemade bath bomb recipes you can make.

Once you’re comfortable making bath bombs, you can also make rainbow bar embeds for rainbow hidden color bath bombs. You can find the recipe for rainbow hidden color bath bomb embeds here.

For more natural bath bomb recipes, check out my boards on Pinterest board. You can also find 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 Tagged With: anti-acne, anti-aging, aromatherapy, bath and body, bath bomb recipe, bath bombs, bath tutorial, crafts, diy, essential oil blend, essential oils, french green clay, gift idea, mango butter, natural skin care, self care, stress relief

Coffee Scrub Recipe for Natural Summer Skin Care & Homemade Gifts

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

June 6, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 6 Comments

Made with a blend of aromatherapeutic essential oils, this homemade coffee scrub recipe resembles potted succulents and is the perfect treat for your natural summer skin care routine. Learn how to make this DIY beauty recipe today to naturally pamper your skin and reduce the visible appearance of cellulite. Or make this natural body scrub to create unique homemade gifts for friends and family.

Getting Around to Summer Skin Care

I am one of those people who lacks a green thumb. While I’m not a serial plant murderer, my thumb varies from shades of putrid yellow to brown. I never kill my plants right off the bat. Instead, I tend to slowly torture them to death through a series of overwatering and underwatering then back again. My succulents always suffer the most. I’ll typically keep them alive for a year or so before sending them into a downward spiral that leads to rotting roots and leaves.

Granted, I do consider myself an intelligent person. I honestly do grasp the concept of plant care. The problem, however, isn’t that I don’t know HOW to care for succulents. It’s that my anxiety gets the better of me.

Normally, I’m a mostly sane person. (I’m not sure anyone is completely sane all of the time, so I prefer not overvalue my own sanity.) Unfortunately, I’ve never been great at handling the emotional overload that comes with that monthly visit from Aunt Flo. She’s quite challenging, especially now that perimenopause has set in. So I find myself, at least once a month, trying to compartmentalize the emotional whirlwind and anxiety that accompanies the hormone changes she packs for every visit.

To cope, this sometimes means, the OCD gets the better of me. And so I water my succulents thinking they aren’t getting enough to drink. Then I do it again the next day. And the day after that. And when they start to suffer, it must be they need more water! Or I go entirely the other direction and forget about them for months on end. At which point, there’s nothing left to salvage.

Luckily our skin can be salvaged. (Visibly anyway.) And whether or not you have a green thumb, this potted succulent coffee scrub recipe is the perfect way to pamper skin you’ve neglected prior to shorts season.

Skin Care Benefits of Coffee Scrubs

Coffee scrubs are exactly what you think they’d be. A body scrub comprised of coffee as the primary exfoliant. Typically, additional ingredients are also added to meet your skin’s personalized needs. Seeing as I’m turning 44 this month, I like to customize my body scrubs in a way that targets aging. By choosing carrier oils and essential oils that address aging, in addition to coffee’s caffeine content, I’m able to attain a variety of skin care benefits from my coffee scrub recipe.

Like most body scrubs, coffee scrubs are a wonderful way to naturally exfoliate skin. Exfoliation, which helps to promote cellular turnover, leads to brighter, smoother looking skin. This helps to reduce the appearance of aging. (Bye bye, fine lines.) By adding carrier oils, such as coconut oil, to a coffee scrub recipe, it also moisturizes skin which generally leads to a more youthful appearance.

Additionally, you may have heard, that coffee scrubs can help you can annihilate your body’s cellulite like I did last year’s succulents. But does it really?

Does a coffee scrub really help cellulite?

The one thing my homemade coffee scrub recipe cannot do is completely tackle cellulite. There is no magic remedy for reducing the amount of cellulite your body has. Much of cellulite is based on hereditary factors such as age, genetics, gender and ethnicity. However, both diet and activity level also play a role.

Nonetheless, by using a body scrub, such as a coffee scrub, you can diminish the appearance of cellulite. The massaging motion used when slathering on a scrub works much like dry brushing. It can help increase lymphatic drainage and it also increases body circulation. While the caffeine found in coffee assists in the dilation of blood vessels to tighten skin and aid in an overall firmer appearance.

Additional ingredients in my coffee scrub recipe.

I’ve seen coffee scrub recipes online that advice using cinnamon essential oil to further increase body circulation for cellulite reduction. However, as cinnamon oil is a known skin irritant, I strongly advise against its use. Instead, I’ve formulated my coffee scrub recipe using an aromatherapeutic blend of essential oils. These oils include both peppermint and eucalyptus, which can also aid in improving circulation without irritating sensitive skin.

In addition, I’ve also included Epsom salt in my potted succulent coffee scrub recipe. This salt, which is rich in magnesium, can help ease daily aches and pains that become commonplace as we age.

And, while I crafted this coffee scrub recipe with coconut oil, you can honestly use any carrier oil of your choosing. Hazelnut oil, for example, is great for massage. Alternately, I have another wonderful coffee scrub recipe without coconut oil – similar to Frank’s Original Coffee Body Scrub – that you can try here.

How to Make a Coffee Scrub Recipe

Ready to make a succulent themed summer coffee scrub recipe? Then let’s get started!

My potted succulent coffee scrub recipe is comprised of two parts. The actual coffee scrub recipe and a recipe for a simple succulent shaped soap that rests on top of the scrub. The coffee scrub is meant to be used after washing with the soap. When paired, the combination of these two natural summer skin care products make a beautiful presentation for homemade gifts.

The following recipes will yield four potted succulent coffee scrubs for seasonal gift giving. Should you not wish to make that many products at once, simply halve each of the recipes. It’s also important to note, that while I did use a small amount of cosmetic mica to add richer color and shimmer to my succulent soaps, you may omit the mica for all natural products.

Coffee Scrub Recipe with Coconut Oil

Ingredients:

8.5 oz. ground coffee
5 oz. Epsom salt
6 oz. fractionated coconut oil
4 oz. French green clay, suitable for all skin types
.25 oz. essential oil blend, found below

Essential Oil Blend:

.15 oz. eucalyptus essential oil
.1 oz. peppermint essential oil
.1 oz. wild orange essential oil
.05 oz. rosemary essential oil
.05 oz. tea tree essential oil

Instructions:

Begin by making the essential oil blend. Simply weigh out each essential oil into a glass container. Mix to combine, then pour into an amber jar for use later.

Next, use a digital scale to weigh out the fractionated coconut oil (which is always liquid at room temperature) and .25 oz. of the essential oil blend. Combine in a glass bowl or a glass Pyrex measuring cup. Stir to combine, then set aside.

In a separate container, weigh out and combine the ground coffee, Epsom salt and French green clay. Mix well to fully incorporate all the ingredients evenly throughout the mixture.

Pour the dry ingredients into the container with the coconut oil and essential oil blend. Mix with a fork to combine. Then spoon evenly into four 8 oz. thick walled PET amber jars. Set aside.

Succulent Soap Recipe

Ingredients:

11 oz. clear melt and pour soap base
1/2 teaspoon French green clay
1 teaspoon 99% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
.1 oz. essential oil blend, found above
1/4 teaspoon apple moss green mica
additional mica for dusting, to suit

Instructions:

Weigh out the clear glycerin soap base using a digital scale. Using a sharp knife, cut the soap into chunks and combine in a glass Pyrex measuring cup or other heat safe container.

Heat the soap in a microwave in 30 second increments until all the soap has melted. Set aside.

In a separate container, measure out the French green clay and isopropyl alcohol. Combine in a small glass bowl or measuring cup. Stir well to combine. Then stir into the melted soap base.

If desired, measure out the apple green mica, then add to the soap base as well.

Now weigh out a portion of the essential oil blend you made previously and stir into the melted soap. Stir to incorporate all the ingredients evenly throughout the melted soap base.

Next, place your succulent mold onto a cutting board.

If desired, dust the the inside cavities of the mold with skin safe, cosmetic mica powder. I like to sprinkle a small amount of mica powder into the mold then blow the excess out over the sink. For my succulent soaps, I used the same apple moss green mica I tinted the soap with along with a pink mica powder.

Remix the melted soap base, then pour the melted base evenly into each of the four cavities of your succulent mold. If needed, spritz the tops of the soap with isopropyl alcohol (in a spray bottle) to remove any air bubbles.

Use the cutting board to transport the soap to the refrigerator.

Allow the soap to set in the fridge until the soap has fully cooled and solidified.

Then remove the succulent soaps from the mold.

All that’s left now is to pair the containers of coffee scrubs you made previously with a bar of soap each.

To do this, simply wrap the succulent soaps tightly in foodservice film. Screw the lids onto the containers of coffee scrub. Then rest the succulent soap bars onto the lids of the coffee scrubs.

Tie the two natural skin care products together using pretty pink ribbon from the craft store. Your coffee scrub and succulent soap duo are now ready to give as homemade beauty gifts!

It’s been a while since I’ve mentioned it, but if you’d like to sell the products you make using my homemade coffee scrub recipe and succulent soap tutorial there are some guidelines you’ll need to follow. In addition to your state and country’s laws, you’ll also need to follow good manufacturing practices (GMP) when making your natural skin care products. I therefore recommend the book, Good Manufacturing Practices for Soap and Cosmetic Handcrafters by Marie Gale. This industry praised book is a valuable resource if you’re just getting started making your own homemade soaps, skin care products and cosmetics.

In addition to GMP, you’ll also need to follow FDA guidelines (in the United States) for labeling your products. If you’re unsure about the rules and regulations regarding labeling cosmetics, the book, Soap and Cosmetic Labeling: How to Follow the Rules and Regs Explained in Plain English by Marie Gale, spells out everything you need to know to legally label your products. (And avoid a visit and inspection from the FDA.)

I hope you love my coffee scrub recipe with coconut oil as much as I do. If so, then make sure to pin my coffee scrub recipe for cellulite on Pinterest for homemade gift ideas down the road.

Also be sure to check out my other summer skin care recipes and homemade gift ideas below!

More Summer Skin Care Recipes

If you enjoyed my potted succulent coffee scrub recipe and succulent soap tutorial, then you should try these other homemade summer skin care recipes! Formulated for fun and function, these skin care products are made using a combination of natural ingredients including essential oils, body butters and carrier oils to nourish skin. Discover new ways to craft homemade beauty products for your natural skin care and beauty regimen now!

For more DIY beauty and summer skin care recipes, be sure to follow me across your favorite social media platforms. You can find and follow me on Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my semi-weekly newsletter to stay in the loop.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: anti-aging, bath and beauty, beauty products, beauty recipes, body scrub recipe, coffee body scrub, coffee scrub, epsom salt, essential oil blend, essential oil recipes, essential oils, gift idea, natural beauty, natural skin care, salt scrub recipe, succulent, summer, summer skin care

Anti Aging Serum Recipe for Maturing Skin, Acne & Even Eczema

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

January 7, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 12 Comments

Add this homemade anti aging serum recipe to your natural beauty and skin care routine to hydrate skin, fight acne and calm eczema and inflammation. It even removes makeup! Plus a simple 2-ingredient recipe for a hyaluronic acid serum recipe that saves you money! So you can have beautiful, healthy looking skin without breaking your beauty budget!

One of my favorite beauty secrets, in addition to using a plumping hyaluronic serum, is a simple oil-based anti aging serum. There are a number of skin care benefits to using an oil based, homemade anti aging serum recipe. Not only does this natural anti aging serum keep my skin moisturized, it’s also helped diminish scarring from a dog bite last year. In addition, it also effortlessly removes waterproof makeup. Plus it’s incredibly easy to make. Simply weigh out the ingredients and mix to combine. In five minutes or less, you’ll be on your way to more youthful looking skin that not only looks healthy, but feels healthy as well!

I’d had this homemade anti aging serum recipe – like most things – on my to do list for quite some time. (Which is why tackling my to list is NOT one of my goals for the New Year. I mean, life happens. Right?) I’d purchased the ingredients for this natural beauty recipe many months ago. However, it wasn’t until my friend’s eczema got really bad that I finally committed myself to this project.

You see, one of the ingredients I used for my anti aging serum recipe has some pretty stellar skin care benefits. Not just for maturing skin, but for treating eczema as well. So I made my anti aging serum recipe first. Then I worked with the same ingredients to formulate a natural beauty balm to soothe my friend’s eczema. (Subscribe to my newsletter so you don’t miss my upcoming eczema relief salve recipe! Or shop for natural remedies.)

Anti Aging Serum Recipe: Ingredients & Benefits

So, just what ARE the ingredients I chose for my anti aging serum recipe? And what are their natural skin care benefits? The main components of my anti aging serum are rosehip seed oil, borage oil, raspberry seed oil and moringa seed oil.

Skin Care Benefits of Borage Oil

You may be most familiar with borage oil from its use in hair care products to promote scalp health. However, borage oil is also an exceptional carrier oil for other natural beauty and skin care recipes as well. Because borage oil is rich in both GLA and Omega 6 Fatty Acids, it’s especially useful at fighting skin inflammation. So conditions such as acne, skin reddening and rosacea are naturally calmed when borage oil is applied due to its natural anti-inflammatory properties.

Additionally, borage oil, which comes from a flower known as the starflower, has shown benefits for those who suffer from topical skin problems such as eczema, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. This is because borage oil contains high amounts of Gamma Linolenic Acid (or GLA.) Borage oil is also a superior moisturizer for dry skin. And, it’s also suitable for sensitive skin. On babies, borage oil is a common treatment for skin conditions such as cradle cap.

Research has shown that the high amount of GLA in borage oil makes it an effective topical treatment for promoting skin health when used as a treatment for dry skin, inflammation, wounds, dermatitis and eczema. What makes borage oil unique is that it is comprised of 20%-24% GLA. Where, in comparison, other carrier oils used in anti aging formulations contain less. Evening primrose oil, for example, contains only 8%-10% GLA.

So whether you suffer from eczema or acne, or simply moisture loss in skin due to aging, borage oil is a must for any anti aging serum recipe. (It’s also why I used it as a key ingredient in my eczema relief salve.) You’ll love its ability to calm irritated skin, combat acne and lock in moisture to hydrate maturing skin. (Shop for natural anti-aging facial care products with borage oil here.)

Skin Care Benefits of Moringa Seed Oil

Like borage oil, moringa seed oil is another nutrient dense carrier oil with anti aging skin care benefits. It’s rich in antioxidants, like vitamin E, as well as vitamins A and C. So it helps fight the free radicals that lead to the visible signs of aging. In addition, it also has a high oleic acid content of more than 72%.

Not only does moringa seed oil help fight the visible signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles, it also has both antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that can help prevent and treat acne. Commonly used in anti-aging skin care formulations, moringa seed oil also promotes glowing skin and reduced pore size. Likewise it aids in collagen production to improve skin elasticity and firmness as well.

Additionally, you’ll also find that moringa seed oil promotes healing of minor wounds. Plus it’s incredible moisturizing properties help to hydrate maturing skin as well as help with eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis. This makes this carrier oil a great choice not just for my anti aging serum recipe, but also for moisturizing body butters, herbal salves, eczema remedies and beauty & lip balms. (Shop for natural moisturizers and facial care products containing moringa seed oil here.)

Skin Care Benefits for Raspberry Seed Oil

Much like moringa seed oil, raspberry seed oil also boosts collagen for firmer skin. And it contains antioxidants that fight free radicals. This natural carrier oil also targets acne, age spots and premature aging in addition to combating sun damage. You’ll love that this oil is also suited for eczema prone skin – much like the other oils used in my anti aging serum recipe. Similarly it also has anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties when used in skin care applications.

Similar to composition to pomegranate seed oil, raspberry seed oil is commonly found in homemade creams and makes a nice addition to sunscreens for its ability to absorb UV light. It’s natural scent is earthy, fresh and light – almost like cucumber – and therefore adds a pleasant, natural fragrance to products. However, as raspberry seed oil has a slower absorption rate than both borage and moringa seed oil, it’s recommended this oil not be used as a base oil for your formulations. Therefore, you’ll find that I use less of this oil in my anti aging serum recipe.

Skin Care Benefits for Rosehip Seed Oil

You may recall the natural anti-aging and beauty benefits of rosehip seed oil from my simple plantain salve recipe. This gentle, hydrating carrier oil absorbs quickly making it wonderful base oil for my anti aging serum recipe. Rich in essential fatty acids, rosehip seed oil offers many of the same natural skin care benefits as the other other oils used in my anti aging serum.

In addition to hydrating dry or maturing skin, rosehip seed oil also helps boost collagen production, reduce inflammation, reduce hyperpigmentation, protect against sun damage and brighten skin. It has also been shown to reduce fine lines and scars. So whatever your skin type – dry, maturing, acne or even eczema prone – you’ll have healthy looking, glowing skin. (Shop for natural skin care products with rosehip seed oil here.)

Anti Aging Serum Recipe with Borage Oil

Ingredients:

2 oz. rosehip seed oil
.25 oz. borage oil
.2 oz. moringa seed oil
.1 oz. raspberry seed oil
4-5 drops vitamin E
12 drops frankincense or carrot seed essential oil, optional

Recipe Notes:

My anti aging serum recipe yields approximately six 1/2 oz. glass vials. (I bottled my anti aging serum in these 1/2 oz. clear glass Boston round bottles with child resistant glass droppers from SKS Bottle & Packaging.) While you can reduce this anti aging serum recipe as needed, I gave the extra vials of my anti aging serum as gifts.

Additionally, as is your preference, you can substitute the essential oil in the recipe with one of your choice. Or, if price isn’t an issue, my homemade anti aging serum recipe is lovely with a few drops of rose damask absolute.

Instructions:

I did use a digital scale to weigh out the ingredients for my anti aging serum recipe. As the oils used are different weights, be advised that if you use liquid measurements, the final product will vary slightly.

To make this serum, simply weigh out the carrier oils into a glass container. Then use a plastic transfer pipette or glass dropper to add the vitamin E and essential oil. Mix to combine, then use a fresh plastic transfer pipette to fill the container(s) of your choice.

Usage:

To use your natural anti aging serum recipe, simply apply a few drops to clean, dry skin after applying your toner. Then massage into skin. Follow with your favorite moisturizer.

To use as a makeup remover, massage a dropper full of this anti aging serum onto skin and eye makeup (with your eyes closed.) Then wipe clean with a damp washcloth. Follow with your regular facial cleanser, toner and facial serum. (Or try this 2-ingredient anti-aging argan cleansing facial oil recipe.

What Order You Should Apply Skin Care Products In?

Not sure what order to apply your skin care products? It’s easy. Simply apply products in the following order:

Makeup Remover
Cleanser
Exfoliator or Toner
Treatments (Acne spot medication, antioxidant serums, leave-on hydroxy acids or retinols.)
Hydrating Mist
Cream Moisturizers & Eye Cream
Mineral Sunscreen
Foundation

How to Make A Simple (Affordable!) Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Making a skin plumping, moisturizing hyaluronic serum recipe is super easy and affordable. With as few as two ingredients, you can create your own hyaluronic serum for your natural skin care routine.

I previously shared a recipe that makes a large container of hyaluronic serum so you can use it EVERYWHERE. However, you can make a smaller amount as well. Simply combine one teaspoon of Bos Essentials Hyaluronic Acid Powder with 3.5 ounces of water in an airtight glass container. Shake vigorously to mix. Then refrigerate for several hours until the mixture gels.

If desired, you can also add 1/2 teaspoon of glycerin for extra hydration. Or even add a drop or two of rose damask absolute.

More Anti Aging Beauty Recipes

Once you’ve made my natural anti aging serum recipe, you may want to explore more of my other anti aging beauty secrets! Following are some of my other popular anti aging beauty recipes that you can craft in your kitchen!

You may also want to check out my most loved homemade beauty recipes of 2018. For more homemade beauty recipes, sign up my semi-weekly newsletter to discover more of my original beauty and skin care recipes and projects to try throughout the new year!

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness Tagged With: anti-aging, antioxidant, beauty recipe, borage oil, essential oils, facial serum, moringa oil, natural beauty, natural skin care, raspberry seed oil, rosehip seed oil, women over 40

Keep it Simple: Natural Skincare for Women Over 40

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

November 15, 2018 By guestblogger Leave a Comment

Our skin changes as we age. We’ve come to expect that. However, once those fine lines and wrinkles start to set in, it can be a challenge to figure out which products work best – without causing more harm. Guest writer, Alyson Monaco, shares 12 simple, natural skincare ingredients for women over 40.

Natural Skincare for Women Over 40

Love the skin you’re in! At least that is the goal most women have as age creeps up. It is no secret that skin changes as we age and some women face dramatic changes, whether it be with a sudden surge of acne, dryness, skin elasticity, and so on. Yes, even after 40, acne can suddenly become an issue! Who wants to deal with that?! It is important to create an age-friendly skincare routine.

Luckily, the skincare industry has made a point to provide thousands of options to tackle any number of these woes. Take a trip down your local drugstore aisle and you can see the proof. So much proof, it can be overwhelming to decide what to choose. You may pick up containers of face washes and creams and not even recognize the long list of ingredients that promise to brighten your complexion and erase the signs of aging. Are these chemicals actually helping?

You have a right to be concerned about what goes into your products and eventually ends up on your skin. In fact, skin absorbs these ingredients incredibly fast – in under 30 seconds – so it is important to weed out the harmful toxins. This is why a handful of brands have come out with all natural skincare that you can trust. There are even natural skincare products you can integrate into your skincare routine that are not found in your typical drugstore. In fact, you will probably be more successful at the supermarket!

Best Natural Skincare Ingredients

Honey

That’s right! Honey not only tastes delicious, but it can be beneficial to your skin as well. A natural antibacterial, honey is great for battling unwanted blemishes with just a few dabs. It is also loaded with those helpful antioxidants that help to soothe and moisturize skin. It becomes a great anti-aging tool, as it can be worn on its own as a mask or mixed with other skin-loving ingredients. Either way, you’ll want to eat it right up!

Green Tea

While drinking a cup of green tea is a nice way to start the day, it is also a great addition to your skincare routine, transforming the surface from the inside out. This tea packs a punch with a high concentration of powerful antioxidants that protect your skin cells from damage. Combined with the caffeine stimulation of green tea, these antioxidants provide some amazing anti-aging effects. Green tea can be found as an ingredient in masks and moisturizers as well, so it is worth putting on your list the next time you hit the store.

Avocado

They may be all the rage on your morning toast, but did you know that avocado is actually an incredible moisturizer? Fact. We eat avocado because they are full of “good fats” for our diet, but those fatty acids are also perfect for keeping your skin supple and nourished. The oils in avocados contain both vitamin E and potassium, making them a perfect addition to your routine. Want a perfectly hydrating mask for your entire body? Mash up an avocado and mix it with honey for an all-over treat!

Sea Salt

As skin ages, it slowly starts to shed dead cells and can show signs of dryness, causing those unwanted wrinkles to be a little more exaggerated than you may like. Therefore, it is important to add exfoliation into your skincare routine. Enter the perfect exfoliator – sea salt. Adding this simple ingredient to your cleansing regimen will help remove dead skin cells as well as keep your skin’s oil production balanced, preventing extra dryness and breakouts.

Essential Oils

Essential oils have been around for a long time, but over the past five years or so the industry has taken some heavy strides, and with good reason. There is an essential oil for almost everything, including skin. If you have sensitive skin, try a chamomile oil for its soothing properties. If you find that your skin suffers from inflammation, causing discoloration, give lavender or tea tree oil a try. Dull skin? Carrot seed oil is for you! There are hundreds of options and dozens of brands. A few drops go a long way and can be mixed with cleansers, toners, and moisturizers to create the perfect mixture for your unique skincare needs.

Vitamin E

You may love the sun, but it is not uncommon to see aging skin associated with sun damaged skin. Prolonged sun exposure, as we know, can lead to skin melanomas and other unwanted medical issues, so it is so important to protect the skin from harmful UV rays. Vitamin E can really make a difference here and can be found in oil form as well as within some of your favorite foods like broccoli, salmon, and sunflower seeds, and has been shown to significantly reduce UV damage.

Spearmint

Wrinkles be gone! Spearmint is here to save the day! The subtler of the mints, spearmint holds a skin-loving secret. Another amazing antioxidant to add to the list, spearmint increases skin elasticity. When skin loses its elasticity, or tightness, wrinkles form, immediately giving way to one of the most common signs of aging. As an added bonus, this magic mint can aid with acne struggles and discoloration from breakouts. Spearmint, like many other natural ingredients can be found in a concentrated oil format, but is also commonly found in teas.

Hyaluronic Acid

One of the major aspects of keeping skin looking young is to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. You may have seen hyaluronic acid in the list of ingredients in your natural skincare moisturizer or lip balm, and you should be thrilled it was included. Hyaluronic acid is actually made naturally by your body and is responsible for helping your skin retain moisture. When skin is moisturized, it creates that plumping effect, filling in the fine lines caused by aging, making them less and less noticeable. By adding hyaluronic acid to your products, your skin is sure to remain firm and bright for years to come.

Collagen

You may have heard about collagen over the years, but did you know that it is one of the most abundant proteins found in your body? Found in everything from skin and muscles to bones and ligaments to your blood, collagen may just be one of the most important natural skincare ingredients for skin health. Similar to hyaluronic acid, collagen aids with the elasticity of skin. Unfortunately, as you age, the body does not produce as much collagen as it did when you were in your twenties. Collagen can be taken as a supplement, but is also found in many natural skincare products on the market today.

Shea Butter

A product that has been around for seemingly forever, shea butter is a wonderful addition to consider when it comes to a natural body moisturizer. While it is not recommended for the face, shea is perfect for any skin type because it is gentle, as not to irritate those who have sensitivities, such as eczema or body acne. It absorbs quickly and can provide a thin UV barrier, making it perfect for those who just want to grab something light and get out the door. Luckily, the news of shea butter’s benefits spread like wildfire and the product can be found virtually anywhere.

Aloe Vera

Your first thought of aloe may lead you to the green gel in the sun-care aisle of the drugstore, as this is probably the most commonly sold variety. However, pure aloe vera gel can be taken right off the leaf of the plant and used to fight the signs of aging. The reason aloe vera is so often used as a treatment for sunburn is the same reason it is great for skin in general. Aloe is able to keep your skin hydrated while also stimulating new cell growth. Not only that, but it also contains both vitamins E and C, making it a triple threat of skincare items. An aloe plant is fairly simple to tend to, so it is definitely worth keeping around the house. From plant to skin – how much more natural can it get?

Rosehip Oil

Still a part of the family of magical oils to help the skin, rosehip seed oil holds a special place in the mix. This oil, while sounding dainty and light, works deep within the skin to urge cells to produce more collagen. Remember, more collagen equals tighter skin. When skin elasticity is improved, wrinkles are reduced and other bodily signs of aging such as stretch marks, dark spots, and scars begin to fade away. Don’t let the title fool you. A little rose can make a big difference.

Women over 40 rejoice! There is hope for your skin and it is all natural – and may be just a supermarket aisle away. You no longer need to worry about the insanely long list of chemically-derived ingredients in your skincare. Your natural skincare regimen does not need to be complicated or incredibly expensive. There are so many simple options you can mix and match on your own, as well as some fabulous makers who have already done the work for you.

Natural skincare is worth the time and effort finding the right combination for your skin. It is safe and effective and you are in complete control over what you do and do not use. Treat your most troubling signs of aging with ingredients you can trust and go back to again and again. It will be one less stress and a lot less wrinkles! The natural route allows you to age gracefully so you can spend the next 40 plus years fielding compliments like, “Your skin looks incredible!” Now that’s what every woman wants. It is time to love that skin you’re in.

Alyson Monaco is a published writer, expert in health and fitness, and professional dancer hailing from New Jersey. Her love of how the body works began through early dance training, which lead to a major in Dance at internationally renowned Boston Conservatory. Aside from movement studies, she was trained extensively in kinesiology, anatomy, and nutrition. These would only aid in her pursuit of both Group Fitness and Personal Training certifications through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA)/National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Alyson has been actively working as a fitness instructor, Personal Trainer, and nutrition coach since 2013 and has been writing on her areas of expertise since 2016. She loves working one on one with people of all ages and ability, and truly enjoys helping people find a better quality of life.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, antioxidant, bath and beauty, beauty, beauty products, natural beauty, natural skin care, natural skincare, skin health