Manuka Essential Oil Salve Recipe: A Magic Beauty Balm for Natural Skin Care

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March 24, 2020 By Rebecca D. Dillon 5 Comments

Stuck at home searching for ideas for a spa day at home? This manuka essential oil salve recipe is the perfect, natural skin care project! Unlike all those clay mask and bath bomb recipes, this all purpose salve can be used in a number of different ways! Not only does this magic beauty balm replenish and hydrate dry hands, skin and lips, it also promotes healing. So it’s perfect for relief of dry hands and chapped lips. Or throw some mica into the mix for a custom tinted lip balm or a highlighting, makeup primer for glowing skin!

Keep reading to learn how to formulate my manuka essential oil salve recipe to enjoy in unlimited ways. It’s perfect for hydrating skin and promoting skin health, as well as giving your makeup looks that extra wow factor. So, it’s the perfect clean beauty solution for happy skin.

What Can I Make for a Spa Day At Home?

The world kind of feels like it’s going crazy at the moment. And, as one meme put it, this year is being written by Stephen King. Yesterday our Governor ordered all non-essential businesses to close. Thankfully, one person asked the right question. Will VA ABC stores stay open? For now, at least, that answer is yes. In times of chaos, it seems, self medicating is king. What this means, however, is that a LOT of people are now stuck at home during the day. I’m also predicting that day drinking will become less of a social stigma as society tries to navigate the continual changes.

Plus, there’s the boredom to consider. As someone who works from home, I’m well versed in entertaining myself. However, if you’re used to daily interaction with people and a fixed schedule, being cooped up at home can be both unsettling and boring AF.

According to current trends on Pinterest, a LOT (and I mean a LOT!) of you are seeking an escape through self care. Specifically through a spa day at home. While I have tons of holistic skin care recipes for a spa day at home, including face masks, bath bombs, coffee scrubs, sugar scrubs, salt scrubs, bath salts and milk baths, I wanted to share a brand new skin care recipe with you all instead.

This manuka essential oil salve recipe is like a magic beauty balm for skin. It has so many applications, and it’s perfect if your skin is dry from repeated hand washing throughout the day. However, you can use it on your skin to relieve more than just your dry hands! It can also be used hydrate dry skin elsewhere on your body, tackle cracked heels and chapped lips, and even soothe cold sores while reducing the severity of symptoms. In addition, my manuka essential oil salve can also be used to add healthy looking color and shine to lips. Or try it as a highlighting face primer for skin. I especially love this essential oil salve as a makeup melting DIY cleansing balm! It’s an absolute dream for my maturing skin AND it helped clear up my hormonal acne.

Use this essential oil salve as a magic beauty balm as your final step to hydrate and nourish skin as a last step after enjoying skin care treatments during your spa day home. Then incorporate it into your everyday skin care routine for natural beauty, as part of your daily self care routine. Also be sure to check out more recipes ideas for a spa day at home after the recipe!

How to Make an Essential Oil Salve for Natural Skin Care

Making my manuka essential oil salve is quick and easy. This beauty DIY is a lot like making homemade lip balms. However, you don’t need to fuss with trying to pour this into tiny lip balm tubes. For smaller applications, you can use three 1 oz. metal tins, or a 3 oz. low profile jar for larger applications, such as all over body care.

Benefits of Manuka Essential Oil

You may be most familiar with manuka honey, rather than manuka essential oil. However, like manuka honey, the essential oil is offers many of the same benefits. It also makes a wonderful substitution for tea tree oil, which is endemic to Australia.

Like tea tree oil, manuka essential oil comes from a plant in the Myrtle family. This small flowering shrub, however, is indigenous to New Zealand. Whereas tea tree is harvested in Australia. Both essential oils are possess antifungal and antibacterial properties.

However, there are some major differences between tea tree oil and manuka essential oil. Unlike tea tree oil, manuka essential oils is a non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing essential oil. Its benefits also extend beyond those of tea tree oil. Manuka essential oil is 20-30 times more active than tea tree oil against gram positive bacteria. It is also several times more effective against strains of fungi and viruses.

Manuka essential oil is generally safe for all ages to use. Therefore, it’s a better choice over tea tree oil in skin care applications for which you desire antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. Manuka essential oil helps soothe symptoms of itching skin and dandruff, rashes, eczema and other common skin diseases. It also promotes healing of minor abrasions and eases muscle and joint pain. In addition, manuka also helps to relieve symptoms of congestion or respiratory distress, when utilized in aromatherapy. As such, you’ll find that manuka essential oil makes a wonderful addition to many bath and beauty recipes, including those for skin care and hair care products.

Benefits of Bergamot Essential Oil

In addition to manuka essential oil, I also use bergamot essential oil in this all purpose salve recipe. Like manuka essential oil, bergamot essential oil also has anti-inflammatory properties as well as antibacterial and antifungal effects. So it’s great at soothing dry, itchy skin and eczema. And, it can also help with acne and promote healing of minor wounds or abrasions.

It is important to note, however, that bergamot essential oil does increase photosensitivity. Therefore, I don’t recommend using this essential oil salve on your face or exposed areas of the body if you’ll be spending time outdoors in the sun. If you’re a sun lover, you’ll want to substitute bergamot essential oil with patchouli essential oil or even chamomile. Alternately, you can also use a bergapten-free version of bergamot oil.

Benefits of Lavender Essential Oil

Just like bergamot and manuka essential oils, lavender also has antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties when used in natural skin care applications. It’s also great at fighting acne and can help promote healing from acne breakouts and minor wounds. In addition, lavender essential oil also works great at soothing dry skin and eczema. So it’s a wonderful choice for any essential oil salve.

Manuka Essential Oil for Stress and Relaxation

Not only do all of these essential oils help to improve skin appearance, fight acne and promote healing, they are also perfect for times of stress. You can easily create an aromatherapy essential oil blend to reduce stress and promote relaxation for your essential oil diffuser. Simply combine 5 drops manuka essential oil, 5 drops bergamot essential oil and 1 drop lavender essential oil in an amber glass bottle. Then swirl to combine. Add a few drops to your diffuser to help ease away stressors and promote calm.

Alternately, you can also add this essential oil blend to a 10 mL rollerball bottle. Then fill the remainder of the bottle with fractionated coconut oil for aromatherapy on the go.

(Like the essential oil diffuser pictured above? Sign up for the Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box and receive a coupon for $40 off to use on the purchase of this diffuser when you use coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE Or use it to score free essential oils. You check out reviews and essential oil recipes from past boxes here.)

Excited to make my manuka essential oil salve? Awesome! You will LOVE it! Just be sure to check out the notes after the recipe to learn about simple substitutions or additions you can make to this all purpose salve to best meet your skin care needs.

Manuka Essential Oil Salve Recipe

Ingredients:

.5 oz. hemp seed oil
.5 oz. sweet almond oil
.5 oz. deodorized cocoa butter wafers
.5 oz. cosmetic beeswax
.25 oz. refined coconut oil
dollop vitamin E oil, optional
10 drops manuka essential oil
10 drops bergamot essential oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
lip safe dark gold mica, optional

Directions:

Using a digital kitchen scale, weigh out the cocoa butter wafers, coconut oil and beeswax. Combine the ingredients in a double boiler and heat over medium high heat until halfway melted.

Reduce the heat to medium. Then weigh out and stir in the hemp seed oil.

Once all the ingredients have fully melted, remove from heat.

Now add a dollop of vitamin E oil. Stir to combine.

Follow with the drops of essential oil, then mix well.

If desired, add a pinch of mica (to color your essential oil salve, if desired) or more if you’d like to use your magic beauty balm as a tinted lip balm or highlighting face primer. Mix well to combine.

Now pour the manuka essential oil salve into the container(s) of your choice.

If you are using mica powder, I recommend using three 1 oz. tins. Be sure to stir the essential oil salve mixture well after each pour. Otherwise, for an all over magic beauty balm with no color, or a cleansing balm, you can use a 3 oz. low profile jar.

Allow the manuka essential oil salve to cool completely. Then cover with the lid and label as desired.

To use your all purpose salve, simply apply to skin or lips as desired, and massage in. I do recommend a less is more approach when using this product as a face primer or facial moisturizer.

More Ways to Use Your Manuka Essential Oil Salve: Swaps & Substitutions

Natural Cold Sore Relief

Because the essential oils used in my essential oil salve are analgesic and antiviral, it’s the perfect remedy for soothing cold sore and reducing pain. It can even lead to faster healing times. By adding neem oil, you can up the ante in the fight against this frustrating skin issue. To upgrade this essential oil salve to use as a cold sore lip balm, simply substitute .1 oz. of the sweet almond oil with neem oil. (Learn more about the skin care benefits of neem oil here.)

Dry or Cracked Skin Relief

If you hands, heels, elbows or lips are incredibly dry or cracked, you can add lanolin to my manuke essential oil salve recipe to further protect and hydrate skin. Simply add .25 oz. of lanolin, by weight, to the double boiler when heating the wax, butter and oils. Alternately, you replace up to .25 oz. of one of the carrier oils with liquid lanolin. (Learn more about the skin care benefits of lanolin here.)

Facial Moisturizer or Highlighting Makeup Primer

As coconut oil rates high on the non-comedogenic scale, I recommend substituting the coconut oil with fractionated coconut oil, which has a lower rating of 2 and is less likely to clog pores. Additionally, if you have dry or maturing skin, consider swapping all or part of the sweet almond oil with rosehip seed oil. Also be sure to check out my anti-aging serum recipe for maturing skin as well as my recipe for making a DIY hyaluronic acid serum.

Yield: Approximately 2.25 oz.

Essential Oil Salve Recipe

This multipurpose essential oil salve with manuka essential oil hydrates skin and lips and naturally promotes healing. Add mica powder to the recipe for a tinted lip balm or highlighting makeup primer, for the perfect all over magic beauty balm.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Active Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 15 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

.5 oz. hemp seed oil
.5 oz. sweet almond oil
.5 oz. deodorized cocoa butter wafers
.5 oz. cosmetic beeswax
.25 oz. refined coconut oil
dollop vitamin E oil, optional
10 drops manuka essential oil
10 drops bergamot essential oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
lip safe dark gold mica, optional

Tools

Digital Kitchen Scale
Double Boiler
Utensils for Mixing
3 - 1 oz. Metal Tins

Instructions

Using a digital scale to weigh out the beeswax, cocoa butter and coconut oil.
Heat the ingredients in a double boiler over medium high heat until halfway melted.
Reduce the heat to medium.
Weigh out and stir in the hemp seed oil.
Remove the ingredients from heat once full melted.
Stir in the vitamin E oil and essential oils. Mix well.
Add mica powder to suit, and stir to combine.
Then pour the essential oil salve evenly into three 1 oz. lip balm tins.
Allow to cool completely, before placing the lids on the tins.

Essential oil salve recipe with manuka essential oil for natural skin care. A magic beauty balm for clean beauty, this manuka essential oil salve recipe is the perfect, natural skin care project! This DIY essential oil salve has a number of different skin care and beauty applications. This all purpose salve recipe with essential oil helps to replenish and hydrate dry hands, skin and lips, as well as promote healing. So it's perfect for relief of dry hands and chapped lips throughout the year.

If you like my manuka essential oil salve recipe, then make sure you pin this recipe to Pinterest for later. Then be sure to check out more ways to enjoy a spa day at home below.

More Beauty Recipe Ideas for a Spa Day at Home

If you’d like more ideas for your spa day at home, then be sure to check out these other natural skin care and beauty recipes.

Or explore more holistic beauty and skin care recipes for a spa day at home here. You can also follow me on Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram for more beauty recipes and ideas for a spa day at home. As well as sign up to receive an email whenever I share a new post!

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: bath and body, beauty balm, beauty diy, beauty recipes, chapped lips, dry skin, dry skin balm, dry skin recipe, essential oil recipes, essential oils, healing salve, herbal salve recipe, lip balm, lip balm recipe, makeup, manuka essential oil, natural beauty, natural skin care, primer, salve recipe, skin nourishing salve

Exfoliating Body Polish Recipe with Anti-Aging Essential Oils for Natural Skin Care

November 25, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 4 Comments

Skip the synthetic foaming agents, fragrances and other artificial ingredients in Dove exfoliating body polish and make your own! My natural exfoliating body polish with anti-aging essential oils is a natural alternative that you’ll absolutely fall in love with. Plus discover more natural ways to care for your skin through whole body care using natural plant-based ingredients, botanicals and essential oils.

If your skin is like mine, you probably grew up with itchy bumps from dry skin. Or maybe dairy triggered excruciating eczema. My mom used to rinse our clothes twice because the synthetic fragrances in everything (EVERYTHING!) back then would break both my brother and I out in hives. Luckily, we know more about the ingredients in the everyday products we use. And there are a lot more options.

Unfortunately, factors outside of our control such as seasonal changes and age, can still make skin care a challenge. As we age it becomes more important than ever to care for your skin both from the inside and on the outside. There are a number of herbal remedies and foods we can ingest to care for our skin in addition to staying hydrated by drinking more water. But sometimes that’s not always enough. That’s where external skin care comes in. Together, both nutrition and external skin care are able to work in tandem for skin that looks and feels healthy.

Using An Exfoliating Body Polish for Natural Anti-Aging Skin Care

As winter weather starts sneaking in, I always always have to increase my water intake. Unfortunately, dry skin still likes to sneak in – even if I keep my gut health in check. And, as I’ve ventured into my forties, it’s actually gotten worse. My biggest skin care pet peeve has to be unsightly skin tags though. I mean, what are those? Due to the cold weather coupled with aging (OMG my hands betray my age every single time if not properly moisturized) I really have to amp up my natural skin care care routine in the winter.

My favorite way to fight both the visible effects of aging as well as dry skin is by using an exfoliating body polish. It’s really an incredibly simple and easy way to exfoliate and hydrate skin. Plus, by simply adding a few essential oils, I can give my exfoliating body polish an extra anti-aging boost to help fight the visible signs of aging and encourage cellular turnover. Used regularly, my natural exfoliating body polish not only gives me beautiful soft skin, it also helps to diminish the visible signs of aging. So (fingers crossed) I can on looking a decade younger than my real age.

Why Use a Natural Exfoliating Body Polish?

If you have sensitive skin or even chronic health issues, then you probably already avoid artificial fragrances and other synthetic ingredients. It’s through personal experience, and that unpleasant reaction, that you understand the impact certain ingredients can have. For me, I know artificial fragrances not only irritate my skin but often they trigger an allergic reaction in other ways, whether it’s a pounding headache or sneezing. Likewise, the aluminum in many commercial deodorants also throws my body out wack. (Since switching to natural deodorant, I have fewer problems. I also sweat less AND my sweat doesn’t stink like it did.)

As my exfoliating body polish recipe is all natural, I don’t have to worry about allergies or sensitivities to synthetic ingredients. I’m able to source my ingredients for my skin care recipes from businesses I trust. Therefore I always know what’s going onto (and possibly into) my skin. Because skin care is so important to me, I love to use fair trade and organic ingredients from Mountain Rose Herbs whenever possible. I’ve been shopping with them since 1995 and I’ve found that their ingredients make a huge difference in my natural skin care recipes. I also know I can always trust them to provide pure essential oils at a reasonable price for maximum quality.

By choosing quality skin care ingredients and combining them in recipes designed for anti-aging skin care, I’m able to naturally care for my maturing skin without the fear of accelerating aging or causing additional skin damage.

Formulating Your Own Custom Skin Care Products

While making your own natural skin care products is fine and dandy, it’s important to know if the recipes you’re using are safe. It’s also important to have a solid understanding of the ingredients that are beneficial to your skin in addition to why and how they are useful. This lays the foundation for you to begin formulating your own customer skin care recipes. Therefore, before I share my natural exfoliating body polish recipe with you, I first want to tell you how to get started creating your own custom body formulations.

Getting Started Making Natural Skin Care Recipes

Twenty short years ago, I started making my own soap. The Internet was in its infancy, so there weren’t a lot of resources available online. I had to go to the actual library and order real books online to get more information. When I made the natural transition to DIY natural beauty and skin care seven years ago, there still wasn’t a lot of information online. What was available was hard to find and not always reliable or even safe. (The very first olive oil Castile soap recipe I tried didn’t even mention WEIGHING the ingredients!)

Even though I consider myself somewhat advanced when it comes to making natural skin care products, I still have a lot to learn. And I’m amazed by just how much there is to learn. There are so many different ingredients I don’t know enough about. Not to mention safe usage for herbs and essential oils. These vary not just based on the ingredient but a person’s age as well as health can play a huge factor as well.

Of course, going back to school is not an option for me. Tuition, as you know, is completely out of control. (My son’s college was $43k a year to live off campus! Thank goodness scholarships covered the bulk of it.) So instead, I take the courses offered by The Herbal Academy. I recently took their Botanical Skin Care course and learned so much about herbs and their role in natural beauty. Not only is this course full of skin care recipes for the face and body, but it also has advice for using herbal supplements for better skin health. And that additional insight was invaluable! I love how everything I need to know is one place so I don’t have to hunt down information. And, if I want to learn more, additional resources are provided so I can access more research if needed.

What’s In The Botanical Skin Care Course?

If you’re new to The Herbal Academy, they offer full courses on how to use herbs in your daily life. The courses are all online, and you can complete them at your own pace. Once you buy access to a course, you’ll have online access to the course for one year. Once completed, you’ll earn your certificate. (Don’t worry about losing access to the course after a year, however. The entire course can be downloaded via PDF format so you can refer back to it for as long as you need. Just like old school paper books.)

They have classes for general herbalism learning from beginner to advanced, so you can take classes no matter your current skill level. They also offer specialized courses a few times a year. (Alternately, if you can’t take on a huge course at this time – because life – then consider a membership to The Herbarium.)

In the Botanical Skin Care Course, you’ll learn:

The Foundations of Supporting the Skin
Skin and Sun
Choosing Herbs for Your Skin Type
Support for Chronic Skin Conditions (including topical and how to care for your skin from the inside out)
Support for Acute Skin Conditions

This course is full of natural skin care recipes that you can make at home. The best part is that the recipes are formulated for every skin type. They give several recipes for cleansing, masks, scrubs, toners, serums and moisturizers for your daily skin care routine. Each recipe has information about the type of skin it’s best for, so you can create a custom skin care routine for your skin’s needs.

It also has a module on protecting your skin from the sun, which can help reduce the signs of aging from sun damage. There are several natural skin care recipes to use on your skin after spending time in the sun to keep your skin looking amazing after sun exposure.

One module is devoted to choosing the best herbs for your skin type beyond the typical dry or oily skin. It takes into consideration both your natural skin type and the climate in which you live. There’s a printable worksheet so you can determine your skin’s needs and choose the best herbs for your skin type.

Learn more about both chronic and acute skin conditions in the next two modules. Internal factors can cause some chronic skin conditions like eczema, acne, psoriasis and rosacea. It not only teaches you about the best herbs for these conditions both topically and to use as a supplement, but it also has several recipes to make at home.

The Herbal Academy recommends using Mountain Rose Herbs. As previously mentioned, I’ve been using Mountain Rose Herbs for many many years. They offer high quality herbs at affordable prices. Pus, when you sign up for the Botanical Skin Care Course, you’ll get a discount on herbs through Mountain Rose Herbs as an extra perk.

Why I Love the Botanical Skin Care Course

Like I said, when I started making DIY bath and body products, there wasn’t a lot of information available. Now there is, but I want to make sure that I’m using being responsible with herbs, essential oils and other natural ingredients. I also want to make sure that you, my readers, are getting the most accurate information.

The Herbal Academy is a trusted source for using herbs at home. Their team of herbalists have studied herbs and how to use them safely for years. I feel confident using their courses because they have done the research and know how to use herbs for natural beauty.

I love the fact that I can learn at my own pace. Some weeks I have several hours to devote to working on the course, but other weeks I only have an hour or two to learn. Since the courses are self guided and available for download, you have plenty of time to read through the course and learn.

The online format is very convenient for me. It’s perfect for most people because you can learn at any time, day or night. For those who have full time jobs or families, this is an easier way to learn than taking a class. You can also learn on your couch in your pajamas if you want to. It’s also a great option for those who don’t live close to an herbal class because you don’t need to worry about getting there for each class.

Not only is The Herbal Academy convenient, but it’s also affordable. If you attended these classes in person, expect to pay a lot more per class. Taking an online course is a great way to learn about herbs without investing a lot of money.

As you read through the course, you may have some questions. The Herbal Academy offers support with printed materials and live forums. They are also active on social media. They answer phone calls and emails to help you understand the course and answer questions that you may have.

I’ve taken several courses at The Herbal Academy, but the Botanical Skin Care course is probably my favorite so far. It has a lot of information in it, but it’s broken down into manageable modules for easier learning.

I use herbs both as natural supplements and topically for skin care. This course taught me more about using them as a supplement to help my skin from the inside out. There are recipes for herbal teas that you can make to support your skin’s health.

The course is also available as a PDF, so you can print it and read it on paper if you want. I like that option so I can highlight and make notes. After spending most of my day on the computer editing photos and writing, my eyes need a break from the screen. This is a great option for those who want to reduce screen time or eye strain from blue light.

In fact, it was the Herbal Academy Botanical Skin Care course that inspired my anti-aging, exfoliating body polish recipe! (Which you can learn to make – and customize -below!)

About My Natural Exfoliating Body Polish

Helping your skin from the inside out with herbs takes a while. You won’t see the effects for weeks or even months, so don’t get discouraged. If you want to see a more immediate result, try my natural exfoliating body polish recipe.

My exfoliating body polish is similar a body scrub. It helps slough off dead skin cells for brighter and fresher looking skin. If you have dry skin, this can help reduce itching and flaking by removing the top layer of dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. The sweet almond oil and mango butter also help to hydrate skin with fatty acids and nourish the skin with vitamins and minerals.

Using salt in an exfoliating body polish can help slough off more dead skin cells than sugar can because of the texture of the salt. For my exfoliating body polish recipe I chose to use fine grain Himalayan pink salt as it’s rich in trace minerals. The salt is then balanced with pink kaolin clay, which is a milder exfoliant. Since it is more abrasive than sugar, use this no more than once a week. Alternately, you can easily substitute the exfoliants to make my exfoliating body polish suitable for everyday use, as well as a scrub for facial care. (I’ll explain more after the recipe.)

Anti-Aging Essential Oil Blend

Of course, because I am in my mid-forties (shhhhhh.) I used an anti-aging essential oil blend for this exfoliating body polish recipe. It kept the essential oil usage low. However, you can increase the them if desired. Typically you can use essential oils up to 2% of your natural skin care recipes for a wash off product. However, it is important to note that some essential oils, such as cinnamon or clove, should be used at a lesser percentage to avoid skin irritation.

I used the following essential oils for my exfoliating body polish recipe:

Frankincense essential oil
Rose essential oil
Helichrysum essential oil
Myrrh essential oil
Lavender essential oil

Frankincense is probably the most common anti-aging essential oil. It can help even the skin tone by reducing dark spots. It also helps tone and tighten the skin. (There are four varieties of frankincense essential oil available. You can learn about the different types and their properties here as well as discover my natural rose body butter recipe.)

Rose essential oil is excellent for dry skin. It has vitamin C to promote collagen production to decrease the signs of aging. (You can try either geranium essential oil or palmarosa essential oil in lieu of the rose if it is cost prohibitive.)

Helichrysum is excellent for the skin. It can help rejuvenate and restore the skin and help make your skin glow.

Myrrh essential oil is often used for its anti-aging properties. It also helps fade age spots and can reduce the appearance of fine lines.

Lavender has some anti-aging properties and can help reduce the appearance of lines. It’s a gentle oil and can help soothe the skin.

My anti-aging essential oil blend, while effective, doesn’t smell like roses. (Despite the inclusion of rose essential oil.) So feel free to swap out the essential oil blend with one of your choosing if scents are important to you. One of my favorite multi-purpose essential oil blends for natural skin care is my eucalyptus and orange essential oil blend. (You can find that essential oil blend recipe here.)

Natural Exfoliating Body Polish Recipe

Ingredients:

.25 ounces emulsifying wax
.4 ounces stearic acid
1.5 ounces sweet almond oil
1.25 ounces mango butter
.15 ounces pink kaolin clay
10 ounces Himalayan pink salt, finely ground
5 drops rose essential oil
5 drops frankincense essential oil
3 drops helichrysum essential oil
2 drops myrrh essential oil
2 drops lavender essential oil

Instructions:

A natural preservative is recommended for this product as it may come in contact with water doing use. Should you choose to omit a preservative, I would remove desired amount from the container before showering or bathing to retain the integrity of this exfoliating body polish.

You will need to digital scale to weigh all the ingredients for my exfoliating body polish recipe. If you are using a natural preservative (covered in the Botanical Skin Care course) then use the percentage called for by the manufacturer. Also be sure to the add the preservative at or below the temperature called for by the manufacturer based on the preservative you’ve chosen.

To begin, use a double boiler to melt the emulsifying wax, stearic acid and mango butter. When these ingredients are fully melted, remove from heat.

Stir in the sweet almond oil. Then, using a glass dropper, add each of the essential oils called for in my exfoliating body polish recipe. Stir well.

In a separate container, combine the pink kaolin clay and the pink Himalayan salt, Mix well to ensure all ingredients are thoroughly combined.

Then add the dry ingredients to the melted wax, oils and butter. Stir well. Allow the mixture to thicken, then restir before packaging.

Spoon evenly into three 4 oz. low profile jars. You can also use a 6 oz. mason jar. Screw on the lid then label as desired for personal use or homemade gifts.

How to Use Your Exfoliating Body Polish

To use your exfoliating body polish, scoop about ¼ of a cup of the body polish out of the jar and massage onto wet skin in a circular motion. Rinse well, then pat dry.

I recommend using this natural, exfoliating body polish once a week for soft, beautiful skin.

Customizing Your Exfoliating Body Wash

Exfoliant Alternatives for Your Exfoliating Body Polish

To use this exfoliating body polish recipe for sensitive skin or for facial care, try using an extra fine Himalayan pink salt. Alternately, you can also use superfine caster sugar or a combination of both depending on your skin’s sensitivity. You can also mix the two together at a 50/50 ratio or a 25/75 salt to sugar ratio. Using a milder exfoliant makes this exfoliating body polish suitable for daily use.

How to Make a Skin Cleansing Version of This Body Polish

Making a natural skin cleansing version of my exfoliating body polish recipe is easy. And you won’t need to add any synthetic cleansers or foaming agents, such as Sodium Laureth Sulfate, that the Dove exfoliating body polish has. Simply substitute part of the carrier oil with a natural, unscented liquid Castile soap. I recommend subbing between .25 oz. and .5 oz.

Swap Out Your Carrier Oil for More Custom Skin Care

You don’t have to use sweet almond oil for my exfoliating body polish recipe. My favorite anti-aging carrier oils include rosehip seed oil, pomegranate seed oil, camellia (tea) seed oil and argan oil. Hemp seed oil is also a great option. To learn more about the benefits and properties of carrier oils, check out the book, Carrier Oils, by Cari Dunn. This book is a beginner’s guide to using over 40 carrier oils in bath and beauty recipes.

If you love my natural exfoliating body polish recipe with anti-aging essential oils, then don’t forget to pin this natural skin care recipe for later. Or, if you’re ready to learn more about the Botanical Skin Care course, click here to sign up. (You can also check out my detailed review of the Botanical Skin Care course here.)

More Exfoliating Body Polish Recipes

If you like my natural exfoliating body polish recipe with anti-aging essential oils, then you’ll also want to try these other homemade body scrub recipes.

To discover more great, natural skin care recipes from Soap Deli News blog, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up for my newsletter. Alternately, you can explore my own easy melt and pour soap recipes for beginners here.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: anti-aging, bath and beauty, beauty recipes, beauty tips, body polish, body scrub recipe, exfoliating, moisturizing, natural skin care, plant based, salt scrub recipe, skin care recipes, vegan

Homemade Daily Face Wash Recipes for Your Natural Skin Care Routine

September 11, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 2 Comments

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

Homemade Daily Face Wash Recipes

Benefits of Making A Homemade Daily Face Wash

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

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

Different Types Of Homemade Daily Face Wash

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

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

Homemade Daily Face Wash: Cleansing Balms

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

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

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

Cleansing Balm Recipes

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

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

Homemade Daily Facial Cleanser: Oil Cleansers

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

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

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

Oil Cleanser Recipes

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

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

Homemade Daily Facial Cleanser: Soap Cleansers

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

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

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

Facial Soap Recipes

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

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

Homemade Daily Face Wash: Clay Facial Cleansers

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

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

Benefits of Common Clays Used in Clay Facial Cleansers

Benefits of French Green

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

Benefits of Fuller’s Earth Clay

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

Benefits of Bentonite Clay

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

Benefits of Rhassoul or Moroccan Red Clay

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

Benefits of Kaolin or White Cosmetic Clay

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

Cleansing Facial Clay Recipes

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

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

Homemade Daily Facial Cleanser: Milk Cleansers

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

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

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

DIY Milk Cleanser Recipes

Homemade Daily Face Wash: Micellar Water Cleansers

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

Micellar Water Recipes

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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