beauty diy Archives - Soap Deli News

Botanical Skin Care (200+ Herbal Beauty Recipes & More)

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

June 18, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 2 Comments

Take your hobby to new levels through an exploration of botanical skin care. Discover 200+ herbal beauty recipes through an instructional course that will teach you basic skills for designing, producing and using homemade herbal skin care products.

Crafting Natural Skin Care Recipes

If you’re a regular reader of Soap Deli News, then you’re likely already a fan of making your own skin care and beauty products. Compared to my first soapmaking adventure, a lot has changed. These days it can seem like there are unlimited resources to help you on your journey. Everything from group forums and YouTube videos to free botanical skin care recipes on blogs. The challenge can be, however, finding reliable sources for those recipes. As well as help when you need it.

Perhaps you want to take your journey a step further. You may want to formulate your own unique skin care recipes. To do this however, you sometimes need more information than what’s readily available online or at the library.

It’s an awful feeling to invest your hard earned money into natural skin care ingredients and then have a recipe go bust. For some of us, it can sour the experience of creating moving forward. And that experience may prevent us from from otherwise falling in love with a craft we know we’d enjoy.

The very first time I ~~made~~ attempted to make cold process soap, it was a complete failure. I spent my last bit of money on a jug of olive oil from the grocery store and a container of lye. There were no YouTube videos then. And blogs were still in their infancy. In fact, I’m mostly certain MySpace was still a thing. Still, I used a basic soap recipe on a blog with no photos and incomplete directions. I made the recipe as directed and it failed. All because one vital note was missing from the recipe – you need to WEIGH out the ingredients.

I later purchased a soapmaking book that clarified the soapmaking process. However, it took some time before I was ready to dive back into my second attempt. I was very much an introvert at that stage in my life, so that didn’t do me any favors. If you’re a dabbler, like I was – and pretty much still am as I’m always learning and experimenting – then you may be seeking something more to help you move onto that next step. Whatever that next step may be for you.

This is where The Herbal Academy comes in.

New Botanical Skin Care Course

Enrollment just opened on The Herbal Academy’s new Botanical Skin Care Course. I’ve seen a preview of this course, and as with their other online courses, I’m super impressed.

Here’s an overview of the course so you know what to expect.

Described as a makers quest, this potentially life changing exploration of botanical skin care teaches you the many ways that herbs can benefit the skin both inside and out. This educational course will empower you to create your own botanical skin care recipes using natural herbs and other safe, nourishing non-toxic ingredients. With over 200 herbal recipes in the course, you’ll learn how to stock your herbal cupboard with an array of customized herbal preparations for skin so it looks healthier and more radiant.

This informative botanical skin care course also covers the internal use of herbs in teas, tinctures and foods, using an inside-out approach to skin care. You’ll also learn how to craft topical herbal skin care products for glowing skin through the exploration of skin on both a cellular and functional level. This includes valuable information on anatomy and function, as well as nutrition and lifestyle tips will help you better understand the practices that influence the health of your skin. While also giving you a robust foundation in skin health that you can expand on.

You will learn basic skills for designing, producing and using homemade herbal skin and body care products. Detailed video and written tutorials guide you as you make botanical body care products, ranging from infused oils, salves, and creams to deodorant, soap, hair care products, and even some cosmetics, plus so much more. The Botanical Skin Care Course also provides plenty of recipes to inspire your skin care journey, as well as suggestions for their use. (Sign up here now!)

Course Overview

Following is an outline of the Botanical Skin Care Course. It has me pretty excited, and I’m sure it’s easy to see why!

UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE SKIN

Course Introduction; Anatomy of the Skin; Functions of the Skin

Take a trip down memory lane with a fascinating timeline of the history of skin care. You will then zoom in on the skin and discuss basic anatomy and structure, with an emphasis on the many functions of the skin.

UNIT 2: SKIN CARE FROM THE INSIDE

The Skin as an Eliminatory Organ; Nutrition for Healthy Skin; Digestive Health and the Skin; Skin Care in Ayurveda; Skin Care in Chinese Medicine

Discover the connections between the skin and other organ systems with a focus on supporting the skin through dietary and lifestyle interventions. You will gain an understanding of the fundamental importance of considering the individual as a whole and using an “inside-out” approach when addressing chronic skin conditions.

UNIT 3: MAKING HERBAL BODY CARE PRODUCTS

Choosing Ingredients; Making Vinegars, Hydrosol, Oils, and Salves; Bath Products; Creams and Lotions; Herbal Gels; Herbal Soaps; Hair Care and Cosmetics

Build an understanding of the basic preparation methods you’ll need to create a range of herbal skin care products. You’ll be guided by both text and video tutorials and gain confidence in creating bath products, herb-infused vinegars and oils, salves, hydrosols, creams and other emulsions, gels, hair care products, and herbal soap.

UNIT 4: SKIN CARE FROM THE OUTSIDE

Foundations of Skin Support; Skin and Sun; Beyond Oily and Dry: Choosing Individual Herbs; Support for Chronic Conditions; External Care for Acute Skin Conditions; Conclusion

Dive deep into the fundamental concepts and specific herbal approaches for maintaining skin health and supporting acute skin conditions. You will receive plenty of recipes that apply the basic techniques from Unit 3, allowing you to create a range of products for different skin types and specific skin concerns. We’ll also cover herbal energetics as applied to skin conditions, and inspire you with ideas for your herbal first aid kit!

In addition to the course and materials available, you’ll also be able to discuss the materials and ask questions with fellow students and teachers in the student-only online community group.

Ready to get started? Early enrollment is open now. Visit The Herbal Academy to sign up for their Botanical Skin Care Course now. Early registration means big discounts, so don’t delay! The course officially opens on July 1st. Learn more now.

Interested in learning more? Explore The Herbal Academy’s other online herbalism courses here.

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

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: bath and beauty, bath and body, beauty diy, beauty recipes, botanicals, education, healthy living, herbalism, herbs, natural beauty, natural skin care, online course, skin care, skin care recipes

Lip Gloss Recipe with a Pop of Color for Fresh Summer Looks

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

April 18, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon Leave a Comment

Learn how to make this natural lip gloss recipe for a fresh fun way to add a pop of color to your summer look. Tinted with shimmering mica pigment powder, this homemade lip gloss recipe looks stunning solo or over your favorite lipstick. Scent yours with natural essential oils or add some fun with a jelly donut or watermelon flavor oil.

A few months back I fell in love with some scrapbooking embellishment stickers. They were shaped like donuts and covered with glitter. I bought them at the time thinking they’d be super cute for handmade soap gifts. I was planning to wrap ribbon around the soap and then accent the ribbons with donuts. While I still think that’s a great idea, I love the way the stickers looked on little lip balm jars and tins. So I decided to make a donut inspired lip gloss recipe to add to my list of donut skin care recipes.

Ingredients Used In Natural Lip Gloss

Unlike my homemade lip balm recipes, my natural lip gloss recipe combines two waxes to give lips shine. While castor oil is commonly used for this purpose, I found that the combination of candelilla wax and cera bellina wax worked even better. I love that this lip gloss isn’t sticky like some store brand lip glosses. And the punch of color makes this tinted lip gloss look great whether it’s layered over lipstick or worn solo.

Properties of Candelilla Wax

Candelilla wax is a unique odorless plant wax with a high melt point. It’s harvested from the leaves of candelilla shrubs that are native to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. As this wax is extremely hard and brittle, it’s commonly sold as flakes or micro-beads. When mixed with other waxes, it hardens the formulation it’s incorporated into without raising the melting point. Often used in the cosmetics industry for skin care products and lip balms, candelilla wax is also used as a binder in chewing gum. When refined, candelilla wax can reach high levels of brilliance which add to shine when used in lip gloss formulations.

Properties of Cera Bellina Wax

Cera Bellina wax is a hydrophilic derivative of beeswax. It differs from regular beeswax in that it has excellent oil gelling properties. Adding cera bellina wax to lip balms, lotion bars or and emulsion will give the product a smooth, luxurious texture. It’s also a great wax to gel oils or butters with a low wax concentration as a small percentage of the recipe. Because cera bellina’s ability to prevent the crystallization of oils, it also works great as a second emulsifier or thickener in lotion formulations as well as natural beauty serums.

Benefits of Cupuacu Butter

Cupuacu butter is wonderful at hydrating skin and hair, making it a wonderful choice for a moisturizing lip gloss recipe. This natural Brazilian butter can be used solo, or incorporated with other ingredients, for a richly moisturizing lip balm. But don’t stop there. Because cupuacu butter is a humectant, similarly to honey, it is able to attract up to 240% more water. This makes this natural beauty butter especially beneficial to dry skin or chapped lips.

Benefits of Acai Berry Oil

Another natural skin care product from the Brazilian Amazon forest, acai berry oil is a luxe carrier oil that is rich in essential fatty acids. A powerful antioxidant with natural emollient properties, acai berry oil offers a number of benefits when used in skin care formulations. Not only is this carrier oil highly moisturizing, it can also help restore skin elasticity and promote healing of dry, chapped and cracked skin. It’s suitable for all skin types and has been found to help alleviate symptoms of skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. In addition, this oil possesses anti-aging skin care properties. Plus it won’t clog pores!

Ready to get started on my tinted lip gloss recipe? You’ll find the recipe and directions to make it below.

Natural Lip Gloss Recipe

Ingredients:

.5 oz. roasted cocoa butter (Learn more.)
.5 oz. cupuacu butter
.3 oz. candelilla wax
.3 oz. acai berry oil
1.2 oz. sweet almond oil, or other carrier oil of choice
.5 oz. lip safe coral mica powder
.1 oz. cera bellina wax
flavor oil or essential oil blend, of choice

Essential oil blend:

20 drops blood orange essential oil
12 drops amyris essential oil (Learn more.)
8 drops tea tree oil

Lip gloss flavor oil:

.03 – .1 oz. jelly donut flavor oil

Lip Gloss Recipe Instructions:

I recommend using the double boiler method when making my tinted lip gloss recipe. However, you can also use a microwave if desired at 20%-30% power.

Start by weighing out the roasted cocoa butter, cupuacu butter, cera bellina wax and candelilla wax. Combine in a heat safe container and gently heat until all the ingredients have melted.

Once the butters and waxes have melted, remove from heat. Then weigh out the the acai berry oil and stir into the lip gloss mixture.

Now add the essential oils or your choice of flavor oil to suit. Mix well to combine. (It’s important to note that some flavor oils recommend different usage rates so be sure to check with the manufacturer. They can tell you the recommended percentage of flavor oil to use. I’ve provided a range of 1-3% in the above lip gloss recipe.)

Next, weigh out the lip safe mica pigment powder. Stir the mica into the mixture until it is evenly distributed throughout the lip gloss. It should be uniform in color and completely smooth with no clumps.

Now pour your tinted lip gloss into containers of your choice. I used a combination of 1/2 oz. white polypropylene double wall radius jars and 1 oz. metal tins with rolled edge covers. (My natural lip gloss recipe makes approximately five 1 oz. lip glosses.)

If desired, you can then decorate your homemade lip gloss containers for personal use or to give as handmade gifts.

Prefer to use tube lip gloss containers? You can use squeeze tube lip gloss containers as well as clear lip gloss tubes with applicators. Simply use half the amount of candelilla wax called for in my homemade lip gloss recipe.

Experiment with lip gloss recipe flavors & colors.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with my tinted lip gloss recipe! Not only can you mix up the flavor or scent by changing out flavor or essential oils, you can also adjust the shade of your lip gloss as well as the color. For a sheer tint try cutting the amount of mica powder in half. For a richer, more intense lip color, double the amount of mica. And, of course, don’t be afraid to try other lip safe mica powders with this lip gloss recipe.

Learn more about essential oils.

Want to explore essential oils in correlation with beauty and skin care recipes in an easy all-in-kit? Check out the essential oil recipe box from Simply Earth. Each box makes it easy to get started with essential oils and includes simple essential oil recipes and ingredients for home, health and beauty. Order your first essential oil recipe box and get a free bonus supply box with code: SOAPDELIFREE You’ll also receive a $40 discount on your second box.

More Donut Skin Care Recipes

If you like my tinted lip gloss recipe, then be sure to try these other fun donut beauty and skin care recipes. Learn how to make homemade donut soap for DIY gifts as well as exfoliating solid salt scrub bars.

Natural Lip Gloss Recipe with a Pop of Color for Fresh Summer Looks. Learn how to make this natural lip gloss recipe for a fresh fun way to add a pop of color to your summer look. Tinted with shimmering mica pigment powder, this homemade lip gloss recipe looks stunning solo or over your favorite lipstick. Scent yours with natural essential oils or add some fun with a jelly donut or watermelon flavor oil.

Repin it here.

If you like my tinted lip gloss recipe, be sure to save it to your Pinterest boards. In the meantime, you can also keep up with all my newest bath and beauty recipes by following me on Pinterest, Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter to stay updated on new recipes.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: bath and beauty, beauty diy, beauty recipe, cosmetics, gift idea, green beauty, lip balm recipe, lip gloss, lip gloss recipe, lipstick, lipstick recipe, makeup, mineral makeup, natural beauty, stocking stuffers, summer, summer skin care, tinted lip balm

Mineral Bronzing Body Butter Recipe for a Sun Kissed Summer Look

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

April 15, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 2 Comments

Learn how to make a body highlighting bronzer for your summer beauty regimen with this homemade mineral bronzing body butter recipe. With as few as 4-ingredients you can add a sun kissed look to your summer skin. Experiment with mica pigment powders, coffee oil and bacuri butter for a beautiful summer beauty product that’s easy to customize. (I swear, you are going to LOVE this beauty DIY!)

Get That Sun Kissed Glow Without the Sun

I grew up in the 80’s. So during summers, from around age fourteen through much of high school, I tried hopelessly to tan. Whether I was drowning myself in Hawaiian Tropic tanning oil while laying out, or hitting the tanning bed, I did everything I could to try to achieve the perfect tan.

This was of course, in addition to a futile attempt to go blonde. I was all about using Sun In to try to get that bleached blonde look without actually having to buy hair color. (Being fourteen at the time, I obviously didn’t have money of my own.) Of course, the use of Sun In turned my hair orange, seeing as how I have red undertones from my mother’s side. Somehow that didn’t seem to stop me though.

Unfortunately, my mostly Irish and English ancestors ensured I never reached my tanning goals. So I piled chemical based sunless tanners on top of my often sunburned skin. This ultimately left my skin matching my hair. It gave my skin an unnatural orange tint that was common among my other pale skinned comrades trying to look like magazine cover models.

Since then I’ve learned to love my ~~translucent see through~~ pale skin. However, adding a touch of natural looking, non-permanent color is a easy way to give your skin a sun kissed look when the seasons change. It’s also great for covering up a farmer’s tan.

Greg, as he often works outside, never actually got rid of his farmer’s tan this winter. So I actually tested my mineral bronzing body butter recipe his skin in addition to my own. It worked like a charm at disguising the change in skin tone so his “guns” – which is wear he told me to put it (I swear.) – matched the color of the rest of his arms. He was EXTRA happy, however, that my bronzing body butter washed off, rather than fading into a blotchy mess like the sunless tanner I used on him last year.

About My Mineral Bronzing Body Butter

There a few things that I really love about my natural bronzing body butter recipe. The first is that it’s so easy to make. Therefore it won’t matter if you’re just a beginner dabbling in making your own homemade beauty products. This recipe would be really hard to mess up. (Just keep in mind that substitutions can impact the final outcome of this product, much like any other natural skin care recipe. For example using unrefined shea butter when the recipe calls for refined shea butter does matter as unrefined shea butter has a lower melting point than the refined version.)

Secondly, it blends well with all skin tones. It’s also easily customized by adding more (or less) mica or by mixing up the mica colors in the recipe. However, if you want a completely natural product (or zero shimmer) you don’t even have to use mica powder in my bronzing body butter recipe at all.

Third, as I used bacuri butter in my body highlighting bronzer for color in addition to the coffee oil, it’s easier to achieve a deeper color brown as the base. This also means it absorbs more quickly than many other body butter recipes. Additionally, there’s no greasy after feel and it’s suitable for all skin types – even if you’re prone to body acne.

Natural Bronzing Body Butter Recipe

Get that summer kissed look this spring with this homemade coffee bronzing body butter recipe.

Ingredients:

2 oz. unrefined bacuri butter
1 oz. coffee seed oil
.8 oz. polawax emulsifying wax
1/4 teaspoon copper sparkle mica
1 teaspoon (.05 oz.) copper lip safe mica

Bronzing Body Butter Recipe Notes:

In order to ensure you can exactly duplicate my mineral bronzing body butter recipe, I’ve linked the ingredient list to the very same products I used. Unfortunately the copper lip safe mica is no longer available. (Which I wasn’t aware of until I after I created my bronzing body butter recipe.) However you can substitute this mica was another regular copper mica of your choice. Alternately, using 1 1/2 teaspoons of copper sparkle mica (and omitting the regular copper mica) will give this product extra highlighting power. Or experiment a bit of brown oxide pigment powder for a deeper matte color.

You may also note that I used a polawax emulsifying wax in place of where beeswax would typically be called for in a recipe. While my bronzing body butter recipe does not contain water, the emulsifying wax helps with absorption rates and keeps the final product from feeling heavy. Things you really don’t want when the summer heat is on. If you prefer, however, you can substitute this wax with a basic emulsifying wax. (This is the one I typically use.)

I recommend using the double boiler method for making my mineral highlighting bronzing body butter recipe. However, you can get away with using the microwave at 20% power. In addition, you’ll also need a digital scale to weigh out the ingredients.

This product has natural earthy coffee scent from a combination of the bacuri butter and coffee oil. If you find the fragrance of my bronzing body butter recipe is too earthy for your taste, you can add a bit of chocolate absolute to the recipe. I mean, who doesn’t love the scent of coffee and chocolate, right?

Instructions:

Begin by weighing out the bacuri butter, wax and coffee seed oil. Combine in a heat safe container and gently heat until all of the wax has melted. Remove from heat and stir to combine.

Next, weigh (and/or measure) out the mica powder called for in my bronzing body butter recipe. Set aside. Allow the body butter mixture to cool slightly.

When it just starts to cool and thicken, but is still fluid, mix in the mica powders. Mix thoroughly to combine, then pour into containers of your choice. I used two 1 oz. white polypropylene thick wall plastic jars.

Allow to cool completely. Once solidified, screw on the jar lids.To use your homemade bronzing body butter, simply massage onto skin as desired.

As this product may stain light colored clothing, allow your body butter to absorb completely before getting dressed. You can also lightly apply a setting powder over the application using a soft brush if desired.

This product is suitable for both your body and face. However, avoid applying your bronzing body butter to lips and/or eyes if not using a lip safe mica powder or pigment.

More Ways to Use Bacuri Butter for Skin Care

If you love my mineral highlighting bronzing body butter recipe as much as I do, then I encourage you to also try my other bacuri butter recipes. This natural Brazilian beauty butter is a delightful treat for skin and possesses both anti-acne and anti-aging properties when used in skin care applications. A rich moisturizer with a deep earthy scent, bacuri butter is one of my favorite body butters, right up there with shea and cocoa butter.

Don’t forget to pin this mineral highlighter bronzing body butter recipe to your Pinterest boards to save for later. (You can also discover my favorite bath & beauty finds on Pinterest here.)

Mineral Highlighter Bronzing Body Butter Recipe for a Sun Kissed Summer Look. Learn how to make a body highlighting bronzer for your summer beauty regimen with this homemade mineral bronzing body butter recipe. With as few as 4-ingredients you can add a sun kissed look to your summer skin. Experiment with mica pigment powders, coffee oil and bacuri butter for a beautiful summer beauty product that's easy to customize. (I swear, you are going to LOVE this beauty DIY!)

Repin it here.

Discover more summer beauty recipes by following me across your favorite social media platforms. Follow me on Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter to stay updated on new recipes.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: bacuri butter, beauty balm, beauty diy, beauty highlighter, beauty recipe, body butter recipe, bronzing body butter, cosmetics, highlighting bronzer, makeup, makeup bronzer, mineral makeup, natural skin care, spring, summer, summer skin care, sunless tanner

Homemade Beauty Recipes: The Most Loved Recipes from the Past Year

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

December 31, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon Leave a Comment

My favorite part of blogging is being able to share my homemade beauty recipes with all of you, my readers. My hope is that we can explore new ways to create beauty and skin care products together – both for fun and as a more natural alternative to commercial products. Knowing that my readers enjoy and share my homemade beauty recipes helps to keep me inspired to create more homemade beauty recipes. And hopefully my recipes in turn inspire you to make some of your own natural skin care products.

I shared quite a few new natural skin care and homemade beauty recipes in 2018. And while I previously recapped my most pinned posts for 2018, they included crafts and homemaking projects in addition to my skin care, soap and beauty recipes. Surprisingly, none of those posts were actually written in 2018. Therefore, I wanted to create a second post with your most loved homemade beauty recipes from 2018.

It brings me so much joy to be able to share these beauty favorites with you once again. Every single one of these homemade beauty recipes had at least 1000 shares over the course of the year – all because of you! My number one post however, had over 12K shares this year alone. Crazy, right?! That article was for my natural shaving soap recipe. Some of the other recipes were guests posts from other beauty bloggers. These blogs included Everything Pretty and Country Hill Cottage. I’m so happy that all of you have been part of this journey that brought me to this point. Enjoy!

Most Loved Homemade Beauty Recipes

In no particular order, here are 20 of your favorite homemade beauty recipes and Pinterest favorites written over the past year.

#1 Soothing Moisture Whip Recipe

Formulated specifically to tackle my dry hands, this soothing moisture whip recipe is a dream for dry hands and skin. This homemade beauty recipe is made using all natural ingredients and melts instantly into skin when applied. Skin soothing butters, aloe vera and witch hazel extract work to both moisturize skin and promote skin health. While a blend of lavender and vanilla essential oils lend their calming aromatherapeutic properties. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#2 Tinted Moisture Lip Whip Recipe

When I put on lipstick, I want it stay put! Unfortunately, most lipsticks with any kind of staying power tend to leave my lips feeling dry afterwards. So I created a tinted lip whip recipe for days I don’t need long lasting wear. It helps to moisturize lips while still giving them that fresh pop of color. So they not only look healthy, but they also feel amazing! One of my all time favorite homemade beauty recipes, this tinted moisture lip whip recipe is formulated to smooth, protect and condition lips to help reduce your chance of chapped lips from regular use of long wear lipsticks. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#3 Aloe Vera Soap Recipe

Dry skin, maturing skin and especially eczema prone skin all need some extra love to keep it from becoming itchy and irritated. This includes what you use to wash your skin when you take a shower. Therefore, I created a natural skin soothing aloe vera soap recipe to gently cleanse skin without stripping it of natural beneficial oils. Therefore my cold process aloe vera soap uses aloe vera gel in place of water in the recipe for its natural skin care benefits. I also included neem oil for its ability to promote skin health. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#4 Raspberry Lemonade Melt & Pour Soap Recipe

With over 6k shares in under a year, it’s easy to see why this simple melt and pour soap is one of your favorite homemade beauty recipes. It’s incredibly easy to make and is perfect for last minute gifts. Crafted from start to finish in just 10 minutes. A guest post written by Cari Dunn of Everything Pretty, this articles delves into not just how to make this recipe, but also how to customize melt and pour soaps. Plus Cari also shares the ins and outs of additives you can use for your own homemade melt and pour soap recipes. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#5 Skin Softening Hand Scrub Recipe

With winter here, it’s more important than ever to wash your hands regularly to avoid getting sick. Unfortunately, that also means you are more likely to develop dry hands. And during winter, dry skin can quickly become cracked and painful. To help solve this common dilemma, I created this easy skin softening hand scrub recipe. To make this recipe super easy to make, I started with a basic liquid Castile soap then added a variety of natural ingredients proven to hydrate skin and promote skin health. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#6 Natural Shaving Soap Recipe

If you’ve been wanting to reduce household waste, then a shaving soap is a great place to start! Shaving soaps eliminate the need for packaging and aerosol cans. They also deliver a closer shave than most traditional shaving creams. I created my natural shaving soap recipe using lanolin and neem oil to help protect skin and promote skin health. So you can get a great shave while also taking care of your skin free of toxins and preservatives! Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#7 Whipped Cucumber Hand Cream Recipe

If you had to pick just one of my handmade beauty recipes to make this weekend, I think this one would be it. Not only does this whipped hand cream recipe smell amazing, it’s an absolute delight for dry skin and hands. Made using cucumber hydrosol, this natural skin care recipe also contains bergamot essential oil, skin protecting lanolin and soothing aloe vera. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#8 Sea Salt Shampoo Bar Recipe

Finding the right no poo shampoo option can be a challenge. While shampoos free of both sulfates and surfactants are becoming more common, they can be expensive to buy on a regular basis. So why not make your own natural hair care recipes? This sea salt shampoo bar recipe is made with coconut oil, sea salt and real milk & egg as ingredients for a healthy, natural hair care alternative to commercial products. Another one of my waste free homemade beauty recipes, this shampoo bar is formulated to not only moisturize and condition hair, but also to strengthen hair and promote shine. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#9 Best Scar and Stretch Mark Treatment

Another guest post from Cari of Everything Pretty, this natural scar and stretch mark salve recipe is formulated using carrier and essential oils prized for their natural skin care benefits to promote healing and collagen production as well as reduce dark spots and boost cellular turnover. Plus its anti-aging properties also make it great for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles! Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#10 Arnica & Ginger Pain Relief Salve Recipe

One of my personal favorites from among my herbal homemade beauty recipes, this arnica & ginger salve recipe! Made with just four simple ingredients, this herbal pain relief salve not only relieves pain from bumps and bruises, it also helps with muscle pain, arthritis, sprains and carpal tunnel. The moisturizing formula also makes it a lovely herbal salve or balm for dry hands, feet and elbows. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#11 Homemade Callus Balm Recipe

If you’ve ever used a foot peeling mask, then you’ll appreciate this homemade beauty recipe. Avoid the trauma of peeling feet and whip up this natural homemade callus treatment balm instead! It’s naturally formulated with herbs and essential oils to promote skin health and soften tough calluses for healthy looking feet. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#12 Wildflower Bath Tea Recipe

This natural herbal skin care recipe is perfect for self care any time of the year. A guest post from Irena of Country Hill Cottage, this indulgent herbal bath tea is made using a combination of herbs & botanicals, natural essential oils and skin soothing oatmeal & Dead Sea salt. This fragrant wildflower bath tea is a great way to relax and care for your skin. Plus it’s perfect for homemade gifts with Valentine’s Day right around the corner! Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#13 Natural Gardeners Soap Recipe

Winter is the perfect time to make a homemade gardeners soap for spring! By making your soaps early, they have plenty of time to cure. An extended cure time not only makes your soap bars harder, but it also increases the lather and results in a gentler soap bar. This natural gardeners soap recipe is made using the cold process soapmaking method and is filled with scrubby bits of seeds and herbs to help scrub away dirt and grime. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#14 Snowflake Glitter Soap Recipe

Snow is one of my favorite things about the winter season. Unfortunately, living in Virginia we don’t see as much snow as the Northern states. However, that simply makes snow days even more enjoyable. These glitter snowflake soaps are a homage to winter and its natural glittering beauty. And these homemade melt and pour snowflake soaps are the perfect winter craft project when you find yourself in the midst of a snow day of your own! Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#15 DIY Sensitive Skin Sheet Masks

If you’re ready to dive right into more homemade beauty recipes then make sure this DIY makes your to do list! Sheet masks are all the rage but they don’t have to expensive. This guest post from Cari of Everything Pretty illustrates how to make your own DIY sheet masks for sensitive skin for less than 10¢ each! Plus learn about the natural ingredients that go into caring for your sensitive skin. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#16 Natural Antifungal Foot Salve Recipe

Don’t let your feet keep you from wearing your favorite shoes! Help treat and prevent foot and toenail fungus with this antifungal foot salve recipe instead! Crafted using coconut oil, neem oil and a blend of organic essential oils that naturally fight fungus, this can help to treat fungal foot infections as well as prevent their recurrence when used daily. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#17 Essential Oil Lip Balm Recipe

No list of homemade beauty recipes would be complete without the ever popular lip balm. Learn how to make this ginger cardamom lip balm recipe using organic essential oils for less than 50¢ each! Plus explore 30 more homemade lip balm recipes to nourish and protect lips from chapping this winter. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#17 Bacuri Butter Body Balm Recipe

When I first started using bacuri butter as a natural ingredient in my homemade beauty recipes, I had no idea they would be so popular. Once you try bacuri butter for the first time, however, you’ll understand why. This natural bacuri butter body balm recipe not moisturizes dry skin and promotes healthy looking skin, it also reduces the appearance of aging! It truly is a magical beauty product. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#18 Bacuri Butter Body Butter Recipe

Like my bacuri butter body balm recipe, this 3-ingredient bacuri body butter recipes is also a natural beauty gem. In fact, it’s possible it will be the last only body butter your skin will ever need! Formulated to moisturize and nourish dry and maturing skin, this natural bacuri body butter recipe made with three simple ingredients from the Brazilian Amazon forest that possess unique anti-aging skin care properties. So skin looks and feels younger with every use. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#18 Natural Homemade Beauty Recipes

Rather than being a single recipe, this post highlights five natural homemade beauty recipes that you can make with ingredients from your kitchen. Using ingredients like turmeric, beet root powder, coconut oil, aloe vera leaf juice and activated charcoal you can make a variety of homemade beauty recipes to fit into your natural self care beauty regimen. Create your own charcoal face mask, natural blush powder, acne treatment stick, hydrating facial mist and a 2-in-1 lip & blush beauty stick. Learn to make them here. (Shop for similar products.)

#19 CBD Natural Pain Relief Salve Recipe

You don’t need to take CBD oil internally to enjoy its natural pain relieving properties. You can also use it make a natural pain relieving salve. Learn how CBD oil can help with fibromyalgia and other types of chronic pain, including arthritis. Plus how to make your own pain relief CBD oil salve. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#20 Triple Brazilian Butter Soap Recipe

Made with a fabulous combination of three Brazilian butters – cupuacu butter, tucuma seed butter & ucuuba butter – this natural soap recipe is a dream for dry winter skin. One of the very BEST homemade soaps for winter this natural beauty bar is made with skin conditioning ingredients that nourish dry skin without stripping it. Making it the perfect soap recipe for dry skin and eczema hands down! Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

Curious about other favorite homemade beauty recipes from years past? Check out these top bath and body recipes from 2015!

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 Tagged With: bath and beauty, bath tutorial, beauty diy, beauty recipes, body butter recipe, essential oils, hand cream, herbal salve recipe, lip balm recipe, moisturizer, natural remedy, natural skin care, pain relief salve, salve recipe, soap recipe

DIY Chocolate Cleansing Balm with Bacuri Butter

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

November 13, 2018 By A Life Adjacent 10 Comments

Learn how to make a rich and decadent DIY chocolate cleansing balm with this guest post from Kim and Kyla of A Life Adjacent. This cleansing balm contains a natural emulsifier that effortlessly dissolves even the most stubborn makeup, while cocoa butter and exotic bacuri butter deeply nourish your skin. Your face will be left clean and soft while you enjoy the subtle aroma of deep, dark chocolate.

When it comes to makeup removing products, there is a truly overwhelming number of options. Between the vast selection of cleansing oils, cleansing creams, makeup wipes and micellar waters, it can be difficult to choose the right product for your skin.

We believe it’s ideal to switch your skin care products with the seasons, and that also includes your choice of makeup remover. For instance, we prefer using our DIY micellar water during the summer, as it has a light and cooling skin feel that’s perfect for offsetting the heat.

However, when the temperatures fall, we gravitate towards textures that feel a little more nourishing. This makes fall or winter the perfect time to switch to a cleansing balm — or better yet, a chocolate cleansing balm.

This DIY chocolate cleansing balm has a luxurious, velvety feel that’s reminiscent of warm chocolate fudge. And thanks to the addition of cocoa butter and cocoa absolute, it smells just like dark chocolate, too.

Our DIY vanilla cleansing balm is our go-to cleansing balm, but this chocolate cleansing balm has quickly become our new favorite!

Before we get into the recipe, let’s take a look at why cleansing balms are so good for your skin.

Why use a cleansing balm?

Between the many options for makeup removal, a cleansing balm is the most nourishing of them all. Not only is the rich, creamy texture of a balm perfect for emulsifying even the most stubborn waterproof makeup, but it also helps mitigate the inevitable skin dryness that comes with fall and winter weather.

Not only that, but cleansing balms are gentle. Since like dissolves like, cleansing balms are able to melt away oil and makeup effortlessly without disturbing the skin’s delicate balance. Many people are simply too rough with their skin, using abrasive scrubs and astringents that can do more harm than good.

A feeling of tightness or dryness after cleansing shouldn’t be confused with cleanliness. If your face feels tight after washing, it’s likely that your skin’s acid mantle has been disrupted. Disturbing this protective barrier raises the pH of your skin, making it too alkaline.

Our skin prefers to be slightly acidic, so a pH that is too alkaline not only leaves your complexion vulnerable to dryness, but it also makes issues such as acne and dermatitis more likely.

By creating a buffer between your skin and your cleanser, cleansing balms help protect your acid mantle and prevent your skin from being over-cleansed. Instead of feeling dry and stripped after washing, your skin will be left feeling soft and hydrated.

Benefits of bacuri butter for skin.

We created this DIY cleansing balm recipe after reading Rebecca’s post on bacuri butter body balm. We knew we had to get our hands on some bacuri butter after she called it the most magical of all beauty butters!

Exotic bacuri butter hails from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest and is a highly versatile butter. It has a wonderful skin feel that is intensely smooth and emollient, making it a perfect ingredient for a DIY cleansing balm.

Rather than sitting on the surface of the skin, bacuri butter sinks in readily, leaving the skin feeling like silk. Its texture is so luxurious that we might even prefer it to shea butter.

Bacuri butter’s stellar nutritional profile is another aspect of what sets it apart. It’s incredibly rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals that promote skin health. As well, it contains the important sulphur-containing amino acid methionine. Sulphur is one of the main building blocks of healthy skin, which means bacuri butter is particularly beautifying.

Bacuri butter smells very earthy in its raw form, and its deep color and rich texture immediately reminded us of chocolate fudge. For all these reasons, using bacuri butter as the base of a chocolate cleansing balm was an obvious choice.

DIY chocolate cleansing balm ingredients.

In addition to bacuri butter, cocoa butter and cocoa absolute, this DIY cleansing balm recipe also contains:

Macadamia oil

Macadamia oil has a an impressive fatty acid profile. It’s rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and low in polyunsaturated fatty acids, making it much more heat stable than other nut oils.

It’s important to use heat stable lipids when formulating a cleansing balm, as the hot water used to wash your face will oxidize unstable oils. There has been some debate, but some research has suggested that using oxidized oils on your skin can accelerate aging.

Olivem 1000

This cleansing balm’s secret ingredient is Olivem 1000, a natural olive-derived emulsifier. Olivem 1000 is what makes this balm able to effortlessly emulsify and cut through makeup, sunscreen, and sebum.

Due to Olivem 1000’s viscous texture, it’s best to remove the cleansing balm using a hot washcloth before following it up with your usual cleanser.

DIY Chocolate Cleansing Balm Recipe with Bacuri Butter

Ingredients:

1/4 cup/54.5 g bacuri butter
1/4 cup/54.5 g cocoa butter
2 tbsp/26.7 g macadamia oil
1 tsp/4.8 g Olivem 1000
5-10 drops cocoa absolute

Supplies:

Double boiler
Whisk
Glass jar or stainless steel container for storage

Instructions:

Begin by melting the bacuri butter and cocoa butter in a double boiler (or makeshift double boiler) on medium heat. Whisk frequently to break any lumps.

Add the Olivem 1000 and whisk until combined. Once the Olivem 1000 has been completely incorporated, remove the mixture from heat and allow it to cool for 5-10 minutes.

Turn the heat to low and add the cocoa absolute, if desired. Leave it to infuse for at least 10 minutes, whisking frequently. Note: cocoa absolute is not soluble in oil, so it will not dissolve completely into the mixture. Allowing it to infuse ensures that its aroma will permeate the balm.

Once the cocoa absolute has infused, remove the mixture from heat and allow it to cool once again for 5-10 minutes, but do not allow it to solidify. Once cooled, add the macadamia oil and whisk again to combine.

Pour your cleansing balm into a glass or stainless steel container of your choice. Place in the refrigerator to set for at least an hour. After it sets, your balm can be kept at room temperature.

Chocolate Cleansing Balm Recipe Notes:

The cocoa absolute is an optional ingredient. The cocoa butter alone will give the cleansing balm a lovely chocolate scent; but if desired, the cocoa absolute will provide an even more potent dark chocolate aroma. Please be aware that since cocoa absolute can be a sensitizing ingredient, we recommend omitting it if you have sensitive skin.

How to use this DIY chocolate cleansing balm.

To use your DIY chocolate cleansing balm, massage a generous amount into dry skin and allow it to emulsify your makeup. Then, soak a dark colored washcloth in hot (but not too hot) water and drape it over your face to open your pores. (We recommend using a dark colored washcloth since bacuri butter has the tendency to stain lighter fabrics.)

Gently glide the cloth over your skin to remove the balm, taking care not to tug, especially around the delicate eye area. Your skin should feel clean at this point, but you can follow it up with your usual face cleanser to remove all traces of makeup. As always, a gentle, sulfate-free cleanser is preferable.

If using the oil cleansing method, you can repeat this process until your skin feels completely clean of makeup, omitting the cleanser.

If you prefer not to use a washcloth, you can also use wet cotton pads to remove the balm. We recommend high-quality, unbleached organic cotton pads whenever possible.

Who is this DIY chocolate cleansing balm suited for?

Due to the composition of this cleansing balm, it’s best suited to normal, dry, or mature skin types that require a lot of moisture. This recipe may also work for oily skin types, but only when not accompanied by acne. Bacuri butter, cocoa butter and especially macadamia oil are all very high in oleic acid, which can exacerbate both regular and fungal acne.

If you enjoyed this DIY chocolate cleansing balm recipe, then you might also like our DIY vanilla cleansing balm, our DIY micellar water with witch hazel, and our other DIY beauty recipes on our site A Life Adjacent. For even more natural beauty ideas, follow us on Pinterest. You can also find us on Instagram.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: bacuri butter, bath and body, beauty diy, beauty recipe, chocolate, facial cleanser, facial cleanser recipe, natural beauty, natural skin care