beauty recipes Archives - Soap Deli News

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

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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

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

Summer Beauty Recipes: An Easy Seashell Soap Tutorial & More Ways to Care for Skin This Summer!

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

May 23, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 9 Comments

Celebrate summer with nine summer beauty recipes from top bloggers. Easy recipes for DIY seashell soaps, mermaid fizzing bath salts, an aloe vera face mask and more!

Summer Beauty Recipes

Summer means more time outdoors, vacations and fun! So to celebrate the excitement and opportunities of summer, I wanted to share an amazing collection of summer beauty recipes. Not only will you enjoy making these summer skin care products (on a rainy day perhaps?) you’ll also love using them! Keep reading to discover how to make a super easy seashell embed soap. Plus find eight more summer beauty recipes you can make from some of my favorite fellow bloggers.

Summer Beauty Recipe Inspiration

I grew up on trips to Myrtle beach every summer until I was sixteen. Most of those years, we saved money by camping out in a campground. Not only did it give me a greater appreciation for the outdoors, I also learned that you should ALWAYS wear flip flops when using a campground shower. (Thanks, Mom!)

One of my favorite things about staying on a beach campground was the lack of hotels. Sure, there were lots of people, but there were no hotels to mar the skyline. Just beach and plants and trees. It was easy to make daily discoveries of beautiful shells, sand dollars, tiny crabs and clams in the sand.

Much like my early adventures in a hometown creek that fed into our river, I always tried to take at least one of my live discoveries home with me. While at home, I tried to create a habitat for crawdads I caught. At the beach, I took baby clams and other small (yet to be identified) creatures home in a bucket of sand and water.

Being that Myrtle Beach is a good 8-9 hour drive from my home in Virginia, these tiny sea creatures never managed to survive the trip. However that didn’t stop me from trying. Being the stubborn girl that I was (and still am apparently) I tried again year after year, until the camping trips ended. My parents, probably in their wisdom to never argue with a strong willed little girl over something so simple, never protested. Although I’m not sure how they DIDN’T looking back. An eight hour drive in an old school Dodge van with zero air conditioning and sea water left quite the lingering aroma.

Making Beach Themed Seashell Soaps

My DIY seashell soaps are a nod to those carefree summer beach trips of days past. They are reminiscent of time spent outdoors in the sun and sand. Long days hunting for seashells and mysterious creatures hidden just under the sand as the waves roll in and onto the beach.

What makes this summer beauty soap project so easy?

Made using a melt and pour soap base, this soap making tutorial incorporates pre-made soap embeds into the recipe. This eliminates some of the challenges that come with working with embeds as a beginning soapmaker. It also saves you money, as you’ll only need one soap making mold for this soap tutorial. This helps reduce the otherwise more expensive costs of investing in multiple soap making molds. There’s also no need to work with lye. So if you’re still not ready to make cold process soap, then this soap making project is perfect for you!

Save on materials & time by purchasing pre-made elements for your summer beauty recipes.

While you can make your own melt and pour soap embeds for my beach soaps, this can be challenging and time consuming. Therefore I chose to use pre-made seashell soap embeds that I purchased from a fellow soapmaker. I used seashell soap embeds that I purchased from Spruce Mountain Soap to make this soap making project both simpler and faster.

My seashell soap is the perfect summer beauty recipe for cleansing your skin on hot summer days. Made with a blend of fresh litsea cubeba and peppermint essentials oils, these fun beach inspired soaps help to brighten and energize dull skin. Discover my summer soap making tutorial and recipe below. And don’t forget to check out the other summer beauty recipes for everything from an aloe vera face mask to mermaid fizzing bath salts after the recipe!

Summer Beauty Seashell Soap Recipe

Soap Ingredients:

21 oz. clear melt and pour soap base
3 mL litsea cubeba essential oil
1 mL peppermint essential oil
12 drops amyris essential oil
1-2 oz. white melt and pour soap base
skin safe blue mica powder, of choice

Soap Exfoliate Ingredients:

1 teaspoon calendula flower powder
1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds
1/2 teaspoon cornsilk powder

Additional Materials & Supplies:

seashell, beach rocks or sea glass soap embeds
rectangle silicone soap mold
digital scale
graduated transfer pipettes
glass measuring cups or bowls
spray bottle with 99% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
utensils (for mixing) and a large Chef’s knife
cutting board
measuring spoons
microwave
your imagination

Instructions:

Being by weighing out the clear melt and pour soap base. Cut the base into chunks and combine in a large Pyrex glass measuring cup. Heat the cubed soap the microwave in 30-second increments until melted.

Once melted, use the graduated transfer pipettes to measure out and add the litsea cubeba and peppermint essential oils to soap. Follow with the amyris essential oil. Then stir the soap to mix in the fragrance.

Now pour a few ounces of the clear melted soap base into a separate measuring cup. Stir in a pinch of the blue mica and set aside.

Position your soap mold at an angle on a stable surface on a cutting board. (I used a cardboard box I cut at an angle for this step. I place the cutting board on the box, then put the mold on top of the cutting board for easy transport.)

Next, measure out the exfoliants into a small bowl. (You can make substitutions as desired for this step. The purpose of the exfoliants is to mimic the look of beach sand.) Mix to combine.

Then add a small amount of the mixture to each of the cavities of your soap mold.

Now slowly pour the clear melt and pour soap base onto the exfoliants and into the soap mold. Be sure to leave room for the seashell embeds by only filling each cavity about 1/3 of the way.

Use a utensil to reposition the exfoliants along the bottom of the mold as desired. Then spritz the top of they poured soap with alcohol to remove any air bubbles. Allow the soap to cool and harden before proceeding to the next step.

Once the first layer of soap has hardened, place the mold flat onto your work surface.

Now weigh out the white melt and pour soap base. Cut into chunks then heat in a microwave safe container in 20-30 second increments until melted. Set aside.

Spritz the tops of the soap in the mold with rubbing alcohol. Then place your seashell soap embeds onto the hardened soap, arranging as desired.

If necessary, gently reheat the remaining clear melt and pour soap base as well as the blue soap base. Then pour the clear soap base into each of the mold cavities leaving a small amount of space at the top.

Add a drizzle of both the blue and the white soap base into the melted clear soap base in each of the cavities. Use a utensil to gently swirl the white and blue bases as desired.

Spritz with rubbing alcohol to remove any air bubbles. Then allow the soaps to cool completely.

Once the seashell soaps have fully solidified, gently remove the soaps from the mold. You can clean up the tops or edges of your soap bars with a small knife or a potato peeler.

All that’s left is to tightly wrap your seashell soaps in foodservice film. They’re now ready for use or gifting!

Like my easy seashell soap tutorial? Then be sure to pin it (along with the other summer beauty recipes you’ll find below) for later.

Alternative Ways to Make Seashell Soaps

Of course, you don’t have to make your seashell soaps the same way I did. The great thing about artisan soap making is that is unique to the creator. So don’t be afraid that you’ll mess up or get it wrong. There really is not right or wrong way to craft your own artisan soaps for summer.

If you have a loaf mold, you can go into more detail creating water designs. Pictured above is a slice from the ocean portion of my mermaid soaps I made two years ago. You can find the tutorial for my melt and pour mermaid soaps here.

Alternately, Spruce Mountain Soap sells a beautiful Island Dreams Soap (pictured) that you can draw further inspiration from.

More Summer Beauty Recipes to Try

Ready to try your hand at even more summer beauty recipes. Following you’ll discover eight more gorgeous skin care recipes that are perfect for your summer skin care routine!

After Sun Aloe Face Mask Recipe

This easy DIY aloe vera face mask recipe from A Life Adjacent is a wonderful addition to your summer beauty routine. It’s not only moisturizing — it can also soothe sunburn, irritation, and redness, as well as aid in calming the inflammation caused by acne breakouts. (Also be sure to check out my own aloe after sun lotion bar recipe for natural after sun skin care!)

Beach Body Coffee Scrub Recipe

Coffee scrubs are by far one of my favorite summer beauty recipes for summer skin care. This beach body coffee scrub recipe from Botaneri is great for exfoliation and gives a teeny hint of color to the skin.

DIY Mermaid Fizzing Bath Salts

These DIY fizzing mermaid-inspired bath salts by Creative Green Living are easier to make than a bath bomb but just as fun to use! Your kids will love using this fun bath fizz as they splash and play in the tub.

Mermaid Whipped Soap Summer Beauty Recipe

This mermaid whipped soap recipe from Everything Pretty is so light and fluffy! Learn how to use a melt and pour soap based to make a creamy whipped soap that’s perfect for the shower or as a shaving soap before you head to the beach.

All-Natural Sunscreen Lip Balm Recipe

While you get chapped lips in winter, you can get burned lips in summer. Making this project from Garden Therapy a must for your to-do list of summer beauty recipes! Protect your lips with a homemade sunscreen lip balm. It will keep your lips safe from sunburn, make them kissably soft, and it’s made of all-natural ingredients!

Natural Solid Perfume Recipe

Learn how to make this solid perfume recipe at Life-n-Reflection. This natural perfume DIY is a luxurious multi-layered scent of the heady, rich florals jasmine and geranium with a top note of sweet, citrusy grapefruit. Blended with natural beeswax and oil and poured over delicate dried jasmine flowers into zero waste tins, this makes a lovely natural beauty gift.

DIY Melt & Pour Cactus Soap

Make these adorable shea butter melt and pour cactus soaps from Lydi Out Loud in just minutes for last minute gifts or party favors. Boasting a refreshing natural lime scent, these easy DIY soaps are perfect for an invigorating summer shower! (Discover more succulent soap inspiration and recipes at Soap Deli News here.)

DIY Strawberry Lip Scrub

This strawberry DIY lip scrub with coconut oil is another of my favorite summer beauty recipes. Perfect for exfoliating, this recipe from Country Hill Cottage makes dry, chapped lips feel and look smooth, soft, and supple. The scrub removes dead skin and moisturizes your lips at the same time. (You may also enjoy my own pink lemonade lip scrub recipe.)

Summer Beauty Recipes & Inspiration on Pinterest

I’m always amazed by the creativity of others. Pinterest is a great way to expand on that creativity and find inspiration. If you’re looking for more summer beauty recipes for your next DIY adventure, then be sure to follow my boards on Pinterest. You’ll discover great DIY ideas for making 42 homemade sugar scrubs, 12 summer skin care recipes for dry skin, 17 whipped sugar scrubs you can buy or DIY, 10 magical summer skin care recipes for your inner child, a foaming strawberry salt scrub recipe and a unicorn glitter butter recipe (pictured.)

For more DIY soap making ideas and summer beauty recipes, make 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, Soapmaking Tagged With: after sun, bath and beauty, bath salt recipe, beauty recipes, body scrub recipe, face mask, lip balm recipe, lip scrub, melt and pour soap recipe, melt and pour soapmaking, natural beauty, perfume recipe, soap tutorial, solid perfume, summer, summer skin care, sunscreen, whipped sugar scrub

Amyris Essential Oil Usage & Benefits (Plus Easy Essential Oil Recipes to Try!)

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

February 25, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 19 Comments

The March Simply Earth essential oil recipe box brought with it a few surprises. Not only did I discover amyris essential oil for the first time, I also learned a few other interesting things when making my amyris essential oil recipes. Keep reading to learn about the the usage and benefits of amyris essential oil. Plus discover the natural amyris essential oil recipes I tried.

About Amyris Essential Oil

To be honest, before receiving amyris essential oil in my Simply Earth essential oil recipe box, I’d never heard of it. I literally had to look it up. As it turns out, this thick, viscous essential oil is often used as an affordable alternative to sandalwood essential oil. Known as West Indian Sandalwood – though it’s not actually related to sandalwood – amyris essential oil boasts a rich, warm woody aroma that blends well with a number of other essential oils. These essential oils include cedarwood, citronella, conifer oils (like balsam fir or pine), cypress, frankincense, geranium, jasmine absolute, lavender, lemon, oakmoss, patchouli, sweet orange, tangerine, ho wood, rose absolute, vetiver, ylang ylang and sandalwood.

Considered generally safe for use, amyris essential oil is nontoxic, non-sensitizing and non-irritating. Despite this, it should still be diluted with a carrier oil for topical use. (A patch test on skin is recommended prior to use.) Additionally, it is important to note that amyris essential oil is not intended for oral consumption. And, as with other essential oils, always consult a medical professional if you are pregnant or nursing prior to use.

Amyris Essential Oil Usage & Benefits

Amyris essential oil has a number of uses and benefits. It’s commonly used as a fixative in perfume recipes in addition to a number of other cosmetic and therapeutic applications.

Studies show that amyris essential oil has antiseptic, sedative, decongestant and emollient properties. In addition, researchers have also found that amyris oil contains potent antibacterial and antifungal properties. Specifically, it’s effective against 12 strains of multidrug-resistant bacteria. These include Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella paratyphi, as well as Candida albicans fungi.Due to this oil’s high emerol content, it also makes an effective insect repellent. Not only does it deter biting insects, such as mosquitoes, it also repels brown dog ticks, blacklegged ticks and lone star ticks.

Due to its inherent properties, amyris essential oil is well suited for natural remedies that support the immune system. They also make this oil a beneficial ingredient in recipe formulations that focus on calming the mind, relaxing muscles and aiding with sleep. So it’s no surprise that amyris essential oil offers a variety of aromatherapeutic benefits that aid with both sleep and common illnesses such as colds and flu.

Simply Earth Essential Oil Box

Now that you’re caught up on the basic ins and outs of amyris essential oil, I want to share a few highlights that can be found inside the March Simply Earth essential oil box.

Not only does the March box come with a bottle of amyris essential oil, three other essential oils are also included. They are blood orange essential oil, coriander essential oil and a digest essential oil blend which aids with nausea, bloating and gas. (If you’re new to Simply Earth’s essential oil boxes, you can learn more about what’s inside and how they give back to the community here.)

There are also a number of great essential oil recipes. These recipes include the following:

Digest Essential Oil Rollerball Recipe
Mood Lifting Essential Oil Diffuser Blend Recipe
Anxiety Away Essential Oil Inhaler Recipe
Magnesium Whipped Body Butter Recipe
Magnesium Oil Sleep Spray Recipe
Essential Oil Sickness Support Bath Soak Recipe

My two favorite essential oil recipes from the March box were the sickness support bath soak recipe and the magnesium oil sleep spray recipe. Both of these recipes use amyris essential oil as a key ingredient. You can learn how to make two amyris essential oil recipes from the March Simply Earth box below. Or subscribe to Simple Earth now! (A la carte essential oils and other materials including containers, carrier oils and diffusers are also available for sale without a subscription.)

Easy Amyris Essential Oil Recipes

Magnesium Oil Sleep Spray Recipe

Magnesium oil is not an oil. Believe it or not, I had no idea. I was also somewhat skeptical about an external application of magnesium oil actually helping with pain and sleep issues caused by fibromyalgia. Once, I tried this recipe, however, I was stoked to find it helps not just with sleep. It also calmed the fibro flare ups I’ve been having in my wrists and arms lately. Pain that often makes it difficult to type. Simply spray it on and massage in.

This magnesium oil sleep spray recipe does contain water. However, the magnesium flakes (a salt) used in this recipe naturally preserve the water. Therefore no additional preservative is needed.

What are magnesium flakes?

Magnesium flakes, or magnesium chloride, differs from Epsom salt. Epsom salt is actually magnesium sulfate. While both are absorbed by skin, magnesium chloride is better suited for topical applications. Magnesium flakes therefore are well suited for stress relief, sore muscle recovery, improving circulation, headaches, joint pain, restless leg syndrome and cramps.

Notes about the recipe.

Magnesium flakes are included in the Simply Earth essential oil box. However, you will want to purchase more magnesium flakes, along with the fractionated coconut oil (available from Simply Earth), once the supply they send runs out.

Because I live with fibromyalgia, I did make a substitution in this recipe. Instead of water, I used witch hazel for its anti-inflammatory properties. While you dissolve the magnesium flakes in boiling water, I was able to dissolve them in the witch hazel by simply stirring the two ingredients together.

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon magnesium flakes
1/2 cup boiling distilled water
1 Tablespoon fractionated coconut oil
6 drops blood orange essential oil
4 drop amyris essential oil

Instructions:

Dissolve the magnesium flakes as called for in the recipe in 1/2 cup boiling water.

Meanwhile, in a small glass bowl, stir the essential oils into the fractionated coconut oil.

Next, pour all of the ingredients into the spray bottle (provided.)

To use, simply shake the bottle then mist onto your pillow at bedtime. Or spray onto arms and/or legs as needed and massage in.

Sickness Support Bath Soak Recipe

Simply Earth’s sickness support bath soak recipe is wonderful not just for boosting immunity to fight off illnesses, it also can help with sore muscles and body aches associated with the flu. It’s also effective at calming your body as well as relieving nausea or a distressed digestive system.

Made using amyris essential oil and magnesium flakes, this homemade detoxifying bath soak recipe also contains Epsom salt (not provided) and lavender buds (included.) As this bath soak recipe is diluted in bath water, I actually doubled the amount of essential oils called for in the recipe. (By the way, this smells absolutely AMAZING!)

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons magnesium flakes
1/2 cup Epsom salt
1 Tablespoon fractionated coconut oil
6 drops Amyris essential oil
4 drops Digest essential oil blend
2 Tablespoons dried lavender

Instructions:

In a small bowl, mix the magnesium flakes and Epsom salt together.

Using a separate glass bowl, combine the essential oils with the fractionated coconut.

Now add the salt mixture to the oils and mix well to ensure all the ingredients are evenly incorporated throughout the bath soak.

Then mix in the dried lavender buds. Spoon the bath soak into a small glass jar or container until ready for use.

To use, simply pour the entire contents of the bath soak into warm running bath water.

Can’t wait to get started using this amazing essential oil? Subscribe to Simply Earth today! Use coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE to get a free bonus box with your first order. Plus receive a gift card for $40 off your next order!

For more simple essential oils recipes, sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter to discover more of my original beauty and skin care recipes and projects to try throughout the new year! You can also follow me on facebook, twitter, pinterest and instagram.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: amyris essential oil, aromatherapy, bath tutorial, beauty box, beauty kit, beauty recipes, cold relief, colds, detox, essential oil blend, essential oil recipes, essential oils, flu, health and wellness, healthy living, home remedies, home remedy, immunity, magnesium, mineral bath soak, natural alternative, natural remedy, natural skin care, nausea, self care, simply earth

Simple Essential Oil Recipes for Home, Health & Beauty

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January 10, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon Leave a Comment

Creating simple essential oil recipes for your home, health and beauty is easier than you think. And it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Keep reading to discover how you can get started making your own products at an affordable price with no special equipment to buy!

There’s a universal truth about soapmaking. And it’s not really one we’re aware of until we actually devote ourselves to becoming soapmakers head on. It’s not a cheap hobby. In fact, getting started can require a pretty hefty investment. Throw in beauty and skin care recipes and you accidentally blew your entire grocery budget for the month. Even those DIY kits from soapmaking suppliers can run on the high side. I’ve seen a few that were over $100. And they only make a single recipe. Add essential oils to the mix and it can get expensive AF pretty quickly.

So why can’t there be an affordable way to explore multiple arenas of making simple essential oil recipes for home, health and beauty?

There is. It’s called Simply Earth.

What is Simply Earth?

Simply Earth is exactly what its name implies. Simple, plant based ingredients for crafting simple essential oil recipes for home, health and beauty. A monthly essential oil subscription box, Simply Earth provides you with everything you need to make simple essential oil recipes when you join. From the packaging and containers – like roller balls and lip balm tubes – to ingredients and recipe cards. There are even stickers for your finished products!

If I were ever to do an unboxing video, Simply Earth would be the box I’d start with. My lack of patience for such things aside, the monthly essential oil boxes from Simply Earth are, well, simply stunning. Beautifully packaged for both presentation and care, Simply Earth is everything one can hope for in a DIY essential oil box. In fact, the very first time I learned about Simply Earth, I knew I had to get one for myself!

And here we are.

What makes Simply Earth so amazing?

I received the January box from Simply Earth and can’t say enough great things about it. What makes it so amazing? Well, I’ll tell you.

1. It saves space.

If you’ve ever purchased materials in bulk for a project you know how much space they can take up. Living in a tiny *almost* studio sized apartment, I understand how important it is to save on space. So if you end up with a massive amount of containers and ingredients for a project you only plan to make once, it’s a challenge to find room for the leftover supplies. With Simply Earth you get all the materials you need in a SINGLE box for multiple recipes. There are still ingredients like essential oils, carrier oils and even beeswax leftover to use in future essential oil recipes. However, they aren’t going to take up three shelves in your cabinet.

2. You save money.

As previously mentioned, getting started with essential oils as well making natural home, health and beauty recipes can be costly. With Simply Earth, your up front costs are minimal. And with each new monthly essential oil box, you can make multiple new projects. All for an affordable price that fits most budgets. So creating your own simple essential oil recipes is fun, affordable and easy. It also makes it easy to grow your essential oil collection over time. Plus, all of the essential oils from Simply Earth have been tested and proven pure. So you know you’re getting a quality product.

3. You don’t need to buy any special equipment.

Most of my own natural beauty and skin care recipes require you purchase a digital scale for weighing out ingredients. Or you may need a special mold. However, if you aren’t a serious soapmaker, or just want a basic introduction to new ingredients, Simply Earth gives you just that. Everything you need to get started with no special equipment to buy. Plus there are six, brand new simple essential oil recipes to make each month.

4. It makes learning accessible.

Most of us have busy lives. And while we love learning new things, sometimes starting a new hobby or project can seem overwhelming – as well as time consuming. The essential oil boxes from Simply Earth introduce you to new essential oils slowly over time. So it’s easy to build on your knowledge and learn about the health and beauty benefits of essential oils. Plus, each of the simple essential oil recipes found in Simply Earth boxes can be made in around ten minutes or less. This allows you to take time out for self care while also creating something new that fits perfectly into your healthy lifestyle.

5. There are lots of recipes to get you started.

Want to make something new? Simply visit the Simply Earth website for a wide range of simple essential oil recipes for home, health and beauty. The Simply Earth blog offers simple essential oil recipes on how to make bath bombs, essential oil diffuser blends, body butter, sugar scrubs, face masks, candles, cold support chest rubs, natural germ cleaners, essential oil fruit & veggie wash – even essential oil jewelry diffusers!

6. Simply Earth boxes are fun for everyone.

Not only is Simply Earth fun for you, it’s also fun for the family. Their products are suitable for most ages including tweens and up. So you can enjoy learning about new essential oils as a family. Or, explore your new essential oil box from Simply Earth with friends or coworkers. (These boxes make great gifts too!)

7. They donate to charity.

Finally, Simply earth donates 13% of their profits to organizations that work to end human trafficking.

Inside my Simply Earth essential oil box.

I received Simply Earth’s January essential oil box for my very first box along with a free big bonus box. Inside were the ingredients and essential oils to make the following products (along with recipe cards.)

Confidence Diffuser Blend
Skin Renewal Sugar Scrub
Relaxing Textured Massage Bars
Lip Rejuvenating Lip Balms
Skin Healing Booster Roll On
Calming and Uplifting Body Butter

The ingredients included coconut oil and fractionated (liquid) coconut oil, sweet almond oil, tapioca pearls, cosmetic beeswax and a silicone soap mold. I also received multiple, empty essential oil bottles with droppers, glass amber bottles with metal roller balls, an amber glass jar and lip balm containers. Additionally, my box also included the following essential oils:

Ravensara Essential Oil
Bergamot Essential Oil
Farewell Scars Essential Oil Blend
Myrrh Essential Oil

My favorite essential oil recipe for January from Simply Earth is the relaxing textured massage bar with tapioca pearls. While my favorite essential oil this month is the Farewell Scars essential oil blend. (I love that information about the benefits of each essential oil or essential oil blend can be found on the back of the recipe cards!)

Get your essential oil box from Simply Earth!

I can’t wait to receive next month’s essential oil box from Simply Earth! The theme for February is natural makeup. Not only will this box contain six simple essential oil recipes for natural makeup, it will also include the following essential oils and blends: Beauty Within, Geranium, Coffee and Copaiba. Plus there are bonus items like eye makeup containers and natural colorants!

If you’re excited as I was when I first learned about Simply Earth, then make sure you start your monthly subscription! Not only will you receive a free bonus box, you’ll also get a gift card $40 off your next order when you use coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE If a monthly box doesn’t fit your budget, no worries. You can opt in to receive a quarterly essential oils box with six simple essential oil recipes instead. Or, it’s easy to skip a box or cancel your subscription for any reason! Get started now!

For more simple essential oils 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! You can also follow me on facebook and instagram.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Handmade Home, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: aromatherapy, beauty box, beauty kit, beauty recipe, beauty recipes, essential oil blend, essential oil recipes, essential oils, handmade home, health and wellness, healthy homemaking, natural beauty, natural skin care, self care, simply earth