french green clay Archives

Easy Bath Bomb Recipe with Natural Ingredients for Beautiful Glowing Skin

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July 15, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 3 Comments

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

Easy Bath Bombs Your Skin Will Love

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

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

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

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

Skin Care Benefits of Natural Bath Bomb Ingredients

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

Skin Care Benefits of Spinach Powder

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

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

Skin Care Benefits of French Green Clay

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

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

Skin Care Benefits of Mango Butter

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

Tips & Tricks for Making My Easy Bath Bomb Recipe

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

Bath Bomb Tip #1

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

Bath Bomb Tip #2

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

Bath Bomb Tip #3

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

Bath Bomb Tip #4

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

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

Bath Bomb Tip #5

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

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

Bath Bomb Tip #6

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

Bath Bomb Tip #7

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

Making My Easy Bath Bomb Recipe

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

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

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

Easy Bath Bomb Recipe with Mango Butter

Ingredients:

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

Instructions:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More Easy Bath Bomb Recipes

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

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

For more natural bath bomb recipes, check out my boards on Pinterest board. You can also find me on your favorite social media platforms including Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my newsletter to stay in the loop.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness Tagged With: anti-acne, anti-aging, aromatherapy, bath and body, bath bomb recipe, bath bombs, bath tutorial, crafts, diy, essential oil blend, essential oils, french green clay, gift idea, mango butter, natural skin care, self care, stress relief

Ginger Mint Soap Recipe for Nourishing Dry Skin

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

January 6, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

This homemade ginger mint soap recipe is a wonderful skin care option for caring for and nourishing dry skin! Made with gentle ingredients that include cocoa butter, olive oil and black cumin seed oil, this ginger mint soap is a year round delight for anyone in need of a gentle cleanser to soothe irritated or dry skin.

Winter is most definitely here. With the recent arctic outbreak, dangerously cold temperatures and even winter storms in some areas, my skin is not my best asset right now. It’s dry and ashy and itchy and my hands, well, they straight up give my age away. So, in an effort to stem my skin’s downward spiral into mimicking the desert, I developed a new homemade soap recipe to nurture my skin and minimize the effects of those harsh winter elements.

Care for Dry Skin with this Ginger Mint Soap Recipe!

My ginger mint soap recipe is formulated to produce a low cleansing, high conditioning soap. What that means is that it won’t strip your skin of beneficial oils or make it drier. Rather this homemade soap gently cleanses skin while nourishing it in the process.

I used soapmaking oils known for their skin conditioning properties once saponified during the soapmaking process. These oils include olive oil along with sweet almond oil and cocoa butter. I also used a newer carrier oil I’ve recently started working with – black cumin seed oil.

(I recently shared a soothing rosacea cream recipe with black cumin seed oil in a guest post at The Nourished Life blog if you’re looking for more recipe ideas for this oil. You can find it here.)

Black cumin seed oil is a highly moisturizing carrier oil, rich in vitamins, minerals, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids and amino acids. It’s often use in skin care applications to promote skin regeneration as well as reduce swelling and skin irritation. So whether you’re also struggling with dry skin or even eczema, black cumin seed oil is a wonderful product to add to your DIY skin care arsenal to promote skin health.

In addition, as with my homemade lavender bergamot deodorant, I included French green clay in my ginger mint soap recipe. French green clay not only gives this soap its beautiful color, but it is also valued for its rich mineral content and its toning and acne fighting skin care properties.

Finally I scented my ginger mint soap recipe with a ginger mint frost fragrance oil. If you’re looking for a soap fragrance that’s not strictly a seasonal scent, then you’ll want to give the ginger mint frost fragrance oil from Symphony Scents a try. This fragrance oil is a blend of sweet and spicy ginger tangled with cool mint and behaves beautifully in cold process soap. Whether it’s mid-winter or even summer, this fragrance is perfect for everyday use any time of the year.

If you’ve never made cold process soap before, I highly recommend that you check out my soapmaking tutorial prior to getting started. Additionally, you may also want to start with my beginner cold process soap recipe.

Ginger Mint Soap Recipe

Ingredients:

.8 oz. black cumin seed oil (5%)
.8 oz. castor oil (5%)
1.6 oz. cocoa butter (10%)
3.2 oz. refined coconut oil (20%)
3.2 oz. sweet almond oil (20%)
6.4 oz. pomace olive oil (40%)

5.25 fl. oz. distilled water
2.2 oz. lye/sodium hydroxide

.5 oz. Ginger Mint Frost fragrance oil
.45 oz. (1 Tablespoon) French green clay

Instructions:

Before you begin, you’ll need to make sure you take all necessary safety precautions when working with lye. This includes wearing eye protection and gloves as well as ensuring none of your containers or utensils are made from aluminum.

My ginger mint soap recipe has water discount at 33% of the oil weight and 5% superfat. It will yield six homemade soap bars when using this rectangle silicone mold.

Begin my measuring out the distilled water in fluid ounces in a heat safe container. Then using a digital scale (I recommend this Bakers Math Scale) weigh out the lye. Slowly pour the lye into the water and stir until it has completely dissolved. Set aside to cool.

Next, weigh out the soapmaking oils and combine in a stainless steel pot or heat safe container. Heat on the stove top or at reduced power in a microwave or crock pot until melted. Remove from heat, then set aside to cool.

Once the lye-water and soapmaking oils reach about 90°-95°F, you’re ready to make soap!

Weigh out the French green clay and mix into the soapmaking oils using an immersion or stick blender.

Then slowly pour the lye-water into the soapmaking oils and mix with your stick blender until you reach a light trace.

Weigh out the fragrance oil and add to the soap batter. Then continue mixing to fully incorporate the scent. Once you reach a medium to heavy trace, pour the soap batter into your soap mold.

Cover the mold with plastic cling wrap if desired, then set aside in a safe location where it won’t be disturbed.

Your ginger mint soaps should be ready to unmold 24-48 hours later.

Once you’ve unmolded your homemade soaps, set them aside in a cool location for a minimum of four weeks to cure. Then wrap and label as desired for personal use or gifting.

If you’re planning to sell your ginger mint soaps, you’ll need to label them according to FDA guidelines. If you’re not sure how to label your homemade soaps, I highly recommend the book, Soap and Cosmetic Labeling: How to Follow the Rules and Regs Explained in Plain English, by Marie Gale.

If you enjoyed my ginger mint soap recipe, then you may also want to check out my latest guest posts on The Nourished Life. There you’ll find natural skin care recipes for making a winter worthy calendula face scrub as well as my lavender bergamot salt bar soap. You can also find my new basic Bastille soap recipe with essential oils via my guest post at Everything Pretty. Or, you may also like my naturally tinted lip balm recipe for dry or chapped lips.

For more of my homemade soap recipes and tutorials, be sure to follow my Simply Soapmaking Pinterest board along with my DIY Bath and Body Pinterest board. You can also find and follow me on G+, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram. Or subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

If you make homemade soaps or bath & body products I’d love to see them! Simply add the hashtag #soapdelishowoff to your instagram and twitter posts!

Filed Under: Soapmaking Tagged With: black cumin seed oil, cold process soap, cold process soap recipe, cold process soapmaking, crafts, diy, french green clay, moisturizing, palm free soap, soap tutorial, soapmaking, winter

Lavender Bergamot Deodorant Recipe with French Green Clay

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

November 28, 2017 By Rebecca D. Dillon

Whether you prefer a stick or a cream deodorant, this versatile lavender bergamot deodorant recipe with French green clay offers some of the best wetness and odor protection yet! And it’s completely 100% natural.

I’ve accumulated quite the stash of lifestyle and beauty tips over the past several decades. Like retinol will clear up your hormonal acne at any age and flossing can not only prevent a receding gum line, but also stop it in its tracks. But I’ve also learned that antiperspirant will, over time, make you both sweat and stink more.

Why Should I Switch to a Natural Deodorant?

Our bodies evolved to sweat. It’s what sets us apart from other mammals. Sweating keeps our bodies from overheating. As a result, we are able to work harder and longer. Antiperspirants run counteractive to this. Aluminum-based ingredients block our sweat glands to prevent this very necessary and vital function. In turn it traps odor causing bacteria from exiting our bodies – odor that the antiperspirant then masks. This can lead to some pretty negative side effects and cause worsening odor over time. (Which is why you now need a clinical strength antiperspirant but didn’t when you were younger.)

When you then also compound this with the other potentially harmful ingredients found in some brands of antiperspirants. These ingredients include triclosan which can disrupt hormones and environmental estrogen like BHT and parabens. And over time it’s possible that these ingredients can lead to health problems.

While there’s no definitive research that can state absolutely that these ingredients – which are used well outside of moderation – do cause health problems as components of antiperspirants, there’s also no research that proves it doesn’t. And as time passes and we learn more about how the products we use can affect our bodies, it may be time to err on the side of caution.

Having personally made the switch from an antiperspirant to using my own homemade deodorant recipe over a year ago, I can say I will never go back. Not only do I stink less now than I did when I used antiperspirants, I also sweat less. And as someone who suffers from fibromyalgia, I also FEEL better the majority of the time.

However, because I am who I am, whenever I run out of my current batch of deodorant I come up with an entirely new recipe. Because, hey. Why not? Life’s short. Mix it up. Yada yada yada. Doesn’t matter. What this means for you, is every few months I throw out a new natural deodorant recipe for you to try. So there you go.

About My Lavender Bergamot Deodorant Recipe

My latest and greatest is a lavender bergamot deodorant recipe. It contains my staple ingredients like arrowroot powder and magnesium hydroxide, but omits coconut oil which has a tendency to clog pores due to its high non-comedogenic rating.

As a twist, I also included French green clay in my lavender bergamot deodorant recipe. And instead of my usual candelilla or carnauba wax, I used beeswax instead. The bonus? This recipe works as a cream deodorant in a jar or as a stick deodorant in a tube.

Why Do You Use French Green Clay?

French green clay, sometimes also called sea clay, is made up of micro molecules that are able to “drink” oils, impurities and even toxic substances from your skin. (Kind of like activated charcoal but without the mess.) Commonly used to fight and prevent acne in addition to routine weekly face masks, this light green clay is naturally rich in minerals and is valued for its toning properties.

Even more interesting is that French green clay obtains its light green color from naturally occurring iron oxide and decomposed plant material – the same life cycle that the earth uses to regenerate herself. In turn, its soft texture and elemental composition lends itself well to a variety of skin care preparations.

While it’s a common misconception that all French green clay comes from France (it does not) I specifically used the French green clay sold by Mountain Rose Herbs. Their untreated French green clay is specifically quarry mined from naturally occurring deposits in France and makes a lovely addition to this natural deodorant recipe.

Lavender Bergamot Deodorant Recipe

Ingredients:

6 oz. arrowroot powder
3 oz. magnesium hydroxide
1 oz. French green clay
2 oz. cocoa butter
2 oz. baobab oil
.5 oz. 100% neem oil
.5 oz. refined shea butter
1/2 teaspoon beeswax pastilles
.1 oz. lavender essential oil
.05 oz. bergamot essential oil

Instructions:

You’ll need a digital scale to weigh all of the ingredients for my lavender bergamot deodorant recipe, except for the beeswax pastilles. You will need a teaspoon measuring spoon to measure out the wax.

To make my lavender bergamot deodorant recipe with French green clay, begin by weighing out the cocoa butter and shea butter into a large glass Pyrex measuring cup or glass bowl. (It’s important to note that refined shea butter has a higher melting point than unrefined shea butter. Therefore substitutions may cause variations in the recipe.)

Next, measure out a level teaspoon of the beeswax pastilles and add it to your container. Melt these ingredients either in a microwave at 30% power or a double boiler until melted.

Once melted, weigh out the baobab oil and neem oil. Stir these oils into the melted butters and wax. (If needed, you can gently heat the deodorant mixture again then mix well to combine.)

While the lavender bergamot deodorant mixture is still hot, weigh out and stir in the arrowroot powder, French green clay and magnesium hydroxide. Mix well to combine.

Then follow with the essential oils, weighing out the amounts first, then stir them into the deodorant mixture until thoroughly incorporated.

Finally, pour your lavender bergamot deodorant into your desired containers of choice. I used 4 oz. paperboard containers for mine.

These eco-friendly paperboard jars are renewable, recyclable, compostable, and biodegradable. They also have an oil resistant paper barrier so they work well with products such as lip balms, salves, deodorants and even body butters. You can purchase these eco-friendly jars in bulk from SKS Bottle & Packaging here. Another alternative is to pour these into empty deodorant tubes.

Allow your deodorant to cool and solidify, then cap and label as desired for personal use or gifting.

If you’d like to recreate my lavender bergamot deodorant recipe to sell, then you’ll need to follow good manufacturing practices (GMP) when making your product. You’ll find that the book, Good Manufacturing Practices for Soap and Cosmetic Handcrafters by Marie Gale, 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 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 handcrafted products.

More Natural Deodorant Recipes

If you enjoyed my lavender bergamot deodorant recipe, then you may also enjoy my other natural deodorant recipes as well.

For even more great bath, body and skin care recipes be sure to check out my boards on Pinterest. You can also follow me via your favorite social media platforms including G+, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram. Or subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

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

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Lifestyle Tagged With: bath and body, crafts, cream deodorant, deodorant, deodorant recipe, deodorant stick, diy, essential oil, essential oils, french green clay, health, natural, skin care, wellness

Natural Carrot and Rosehip Oil Clay Mask Recipe

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

March 29, 2015 By Rebecca D. Dillon

This natural carrot and rosehip oil clay mask recipe is ideal for toning and detoxifying maturing or dry skin that is occasionally prone to acne.

Rosehip seed oil is prized for its anti-aging and anti-wrinkle properties in skin care as well as helping to nourish dry, weathered, and dehydrated skin. As rosehip seed oil is considered a “dry” oil it soaks easily into skin without leaving a greasy residue behind.

Carrot seed essential oil is also believed to aid in removing wrinkles and helping to rejuvenate skin.

French green clay, another key component of this carrot and rosehip oil clay mask recipe, “drinks” oils, toxic substances, and impurities from skin while also toning skin, revitalizing the complexion, and tightening pores. It’s also wonderful for helping to clear problem skin.

Carrot and Rosehip Oil Clay Mask Recipe

Ingredients:

.25 oz. French green clay
.5 oz. white kaolin (cosmetic) clay
.25 oz.lavender flower powder or calendula flower powder
.75 oz. rosehip seed oil
21 drops carrot seed essential oil

Directions:

To make this natural carrot and rosehip oil clay mask recipe you’ll need a digital scale.

Begin by weighing the clays and flower powder and combining in a glass bowl or small glass Pyrex measuring cup.

Now weigh out the rosehip seed oil and pour into your container of clays and flower powder.

Use a dropper or plastic transfer pipette to add the carrot seed essential oil.

Mix well with a whisk or fork until the ingredients are completely incorporated.

Pour into a 2 oz. glass salve jar.

To use simply apply this carrot and rosehip oil clay mask to clean, dry facial skin. After about ten minutes rinse and pat dry. (You can gently massage as you rinse this clay mask off your face for exfoliation.) Follow with your favorite toner and moisturizer. (Go here for a natural rosewater toner recipe. Or here for a natural anti-aging night cream recipe.)

For a rosehip and clay mint mask, add 12 drops of peppermint essential oil to this rosehip oil clay mask recipe.

If you liked this clay mask recipe, you may also want to try my natural Rhassoul clay mask recipe, my nutrient rich clay face mask recipes and my agave and dead sea mud detoxifying face mask recipe.

For more homemade clay mask recipes, natural beauty DIY’s and skin care recipes as well as homemade soap recipes be sure to follow my boards on Pinterest. You can also follow me on Blog Lovin’, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, G+ and Instagram for regular updates and behind the scene sneak peeks.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: anti-acne, anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, beauty diy, clay, clay facial, crafts, diy, diy spa, face care, face mask, french green clay, natural, skin care

Soaping with Meagan – DIY Cold Process Soapmaking

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

October 2, 2012 By Rebecca D. Dillon

Over the weekend my friend, Meagan, came over to my house to dig in and learn how to make soap! Cold process soapmaking is a lot like baking a cake. I know a lot of people who are afraid to give it a shot though because of the dangers of lye. I was pretty freaked making soap on my own the first few tries. But you quickly overcome that!

How to Make Handmade Cold Process Soap - DIY Soapmaking

Meagan had it easy since she had a teacher so there was no hesitation on her end. You basically just weigh out your ingredients and combine. The lye goes into distilled water and is then set to the side cool. The oils and butters go into a big non-aluminum pot, are melted, then set aside to cool as well.

How to Make Soap - DIY Cold Process Soapmaking

Once the lye-water and oils have cooled, you mix them together with a stick blender. Then you pour the soap into molds and insulate for 24 hours. Once that’s done you can unmold your soaps, cut into bars and set aside for 3-4 weeks to cure. Okay, so the gratification of soapmaking does take a bit longer than that of baking a cake.

Handmade Aloe and Cucumber Sented Shea Butter Soap with French Green Clay

Meagan and I made three batches of soap. We made one batch of Aloe and Cucumber Scented Shea Butter Soap with French Green Clay which is known for its ability to remove toxic impurities from skin, tone and revitalize complexion, tighten pores and clear problem skin.

To celebrate the arrival of fall we also made a batch of Handmade Spiced Pumpkin Pie Shea Butter Soap with Cow’s Milk. This bar will darken into a rich brown as it cures due to the vanilla content of the fragrance oil used, though it’s a rich warm, orange-brown at the moment.

Handmade Vanilla Buttercream Shea Butter Soap with Pink Himalayan Salt

And we also made a batch of Handmade Vanilla Buttercream Scented Soap with Pink Himalayan Salt. Pink Himalayan Salt is favored for its wide range of uses in both bath products and gourmet cooking. It contains 84 trace elements and iron. Unfortunately the salt lost it’s pink tinge in the soapmaking process – it’s a very lovely, coarse salt! This bar, like the Pumpkin Pie Soap, will turn a dark brown through and through once it finishes curing due to the vanilla content.

If you’d like to learn to make cold process soap for yourself, be sure to check out my DIY Cold Process Soapmaking Tutorial. Now is the perfect time to get started on making handmade soaps for Christmas gifts for the holiday season!

Filed Under: Soapmaking Tagged With: cold process soapmaking, crafts, cucumber, diy, french green clay, handmade, pumpkin pie, scented soap, shea butter soap, soap, soap tutorial, soapmaking, vanilla buttercream