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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, aren’t approved by the FDA for use in bath bombs. So be sure to do your research on colorants before deciding which ones to use. Additionally, if you are selling your homemade bath bombs, it’s important that you use batch certified colorants.

Bath Bomb Tip #5

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

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

Bath Bomb Tip #6

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

Bath Bomb Tip #7

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

Making My Easy Bath Bomb Recipe

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

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

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

Easy Bath Bomb Recipe with Mango Butter

Ingredients:

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

Instructions:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More Easy Bath Bomb Recipes

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

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

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

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

Rubber Ducky Soap Tutorial for Kids Who Love Sesame Street

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

June 25, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 1 Comment

Learn how to make fun DIY rubber ducky soaps for children’s gifts or party favors with this easy rubber ducky soap tutorial. They’re the perfect bath time treat for kids who love Sesame Street!

Growing Up with Sesame Street

I was born in the 70s. So, like many other Genexers, I grew up watching Sesame Street. My favorite character was always a toss up between Oscar the Grouch and Cookie Monster. However, my mom bought me a Cookie Monster plush – which is hiding out somewhere in my parents basement right now – that I absolutely adored. I’d make him paper chocolate chip cookies as a child to feed to him. And occasionally I’d even try to feed him real chocolate chip cookies. While they certainly created a crumbly mess, I was determined to never let my Cookie Monster go hungry.

And then of course, there is the famous pair, Bert and Ernie. Their unique sibling like relationship reminded me, that while we may not always get along, at the end of the day we make up with one another and move forward. It’s also hard to forget Ernie’s rubber ducky song. Tub treats, whether it’s a rubber ducky soap or a bath bomb, definitely make bath time more fun – even in adulthood. Thus, Sesame Street was the inspiration for this rubber ducky soap tutorial.

No matter who your favorite Sesame Street character is, or was, they are all amazing and unique individuals. I love that the characters are all so very different from another. Yet they still find ways to connect, come together and help each other out. Looking back, Sesame Street was educational in many ways. The show helped me excel not just through teaching letters, words and numbers. It also offered a social education. Sesame Street is, and always has been, a safe space where every child can find acceptance and learn kindness. And that is why I’m so excited about Sesame Street’s Yellow Feather Fund.

Sesame Street Yellow Feather Fund

Sesame Street started was created almost 50 years ago as a way to help level the playing field for underprivileged children. They have since continued to do that in a multitude of ways, and in more than 150 countries around the world. The Sesame Street Yellow Feather Fund is a continuation of this goal. A grassroots avenue for fans and supporters, this charity is working to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children wherever they are.

I actually just learned about this charity last week. However, I found their mission to help every child meaningful to me on a personal level.

Education is so important. It teaches us more than just reading, math and facts about the world around us. It also teaches us how to think for ourselves, reach for goals and strive for success. The mission of the Sesame Street Yellow Feather Fund is really an extension of the show’s goals. It’s objective is to bring education to children in need. Not just to kids in the United States (where we are so fortunate to be afforded so many opportunities) but also to children around the world.

Some of their work includes the following.

Their “See Amazing in All Children” initiative helps reduce stigma and misconceptions about autism which affects 1 in 68 kids.
They help military families cope with tough situations like deployment, injury or even returning to civilian life.
Their girl Muppet characters, such as Zari in Afghanistan and Chamki in India, show both girls and boys the importance of educating and empowering girls, while also encouraging them to dream big.
To help young refugees who have had to flee homes and schools, this charity also works with the International Rescue Committee to bring education directly to children affected by this humanitarian crisis.

You can learn more about the Sesame Street Yellow Feather fund on their website here.

Rubber Ducky Soap Tutorial

If you have a Sesame Street fan of your own at home, then add this rubber ducky soap tutorial to your project list! Not only are these melt and pour soaps a cute gift idea for a child or grandchild, you can also make them for rubber ducky party favors for a child’s birthday party or baby shower.

Rubber Ducky Soap Recipe

This recipe rubby ducky soap recipe yields six 3.5-ounce bars with approximately 1.5-2 ounces of whipped soap.

Ingredients for Rubber Ducky Soaps:

3/4 pound of clear suspension melt and pour soap, cut into cubes
2 teaspoons banana fragrance oil
Blue mica soap dye
1 tablespoon blue eco-friendly fine cosmetic glitter
2 teaspoons white eco-friendly fine cosmetic glitter
1 cup whipped soap base
2 tablespoons liquid vegetable glycerin
1 tablespoon cornstarch

Materials & Supplies:

Oval silicone soap mold
Small rubber ducks
Spray bottle of rubbing alcohol
1 microwave safe measuring cup
Reusable piping bag
Large frosting tip

Rubber Ducky Soap Making Instructions:

To make these DIY rubber ducky soaps, you’ll start by adding 1/2 pound of the clear melt and pour soap to a measuring cup. Melt in the microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring and repeating until completely melted.

Next, mix in banana fragrance oil, blue mica and blue cosmetic glitter.

Spray your soap mold with the rubbing alcohol to prevent bubbles on the bottom of the soap.

Then pour the soap mixture into your mold.

Now spray the tops of soap you just poured with rubbing alcohol to prevent air bubbles on the tops of the soap.

Allow the soap to harden at least 3 hours or until completely firm. Then gently remove from the mold.

Once the oval soaps have hardened, you’re ready for the next step.

Add whipped soap base and glycerin to mixing bowl. Mix for 1 minute using an electric hand blender.

Then fold the cornstarch into mixture. (This will help to avoid having the cornstarch dust up when you use the mixer.)

Now add the remaining 1/4 cup of melted clear soap base to mixture. Mix for 1 minute.

Follow with the white cosmetic glitter. Add the glitter to the mixture then beat until the mixture forms peaks. (This is the same process as basically making meringue.) If your frosting is not stiff enough, add a bit more cornstarch and mix in. Repeat until the mixture is firm.

Now add the soap frosting to your piping bag.

Spray the tops of the oval soaps with rubbing alcohol. (This will help the whipped soap adhere to the soap.) Then, working quickly, pipe the frosting onto your soap. (The frosting will begin to harden after about 5 minutes, so you may want to practice before hand.)

Once you’ve piped on the soap frosting, add a rubber duck to the top of each bar of soap.

You can then package your cute rubber ducky soaps as desired. I recommend using large cellophane treat bags with a ribbon to tie the top closed.

The kids will LOVE these fun rubber ducky soaps at bath time! The ducks even squeak when you squeeze them.

Don’t have time to make these DIY rubber ducky soaps? Then be sure to pin this easy melt and pour soap making project for later!

More Soap Making Ideas Kids Will Love

If you like this rubber ducky soap tutorial, then you may also enjoy some of my other melt and pour soap recipes. The following soap making tutorials use melt and pour soap bases and make great DIY gifts for kids!

For more homemade soap recipes and ideas be sure to follow my boards on pinterest. You can also find me on your favorite social media platforms! Follow me on Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my newsletter to stay in the loop.

Filed Under: Soapmaking Tagged With: crafts, diy, gift idea, gifts for kids, kids, melt and pour soap, melt and pour soap recipe, melt and pour soapmaking, party favor, soap tutorial, soapmaking

Gardeners Soap Recipe with Exfoliating Botanicals

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

June 21, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 1 Comment

This homemade cold process gardeners soap recipe is made with exfoliating botanicals and three skin conditioning body butters. So it doesn’t just get you clean, it also helps to nourish skin!

Life is messy. Sometimes it’s even dirty. So when it comes time to clean up the dirt left behind from your summer shenanigans, projects and gardening, you need a soap that’s created just for such situations.

Formulating a Gardeners Soap Recipe

The problem with a lot of gardening soaps is that they are super cleansing. Obviously if you need soap that’s powerful enough to get off that caked on grime – and whatever else water is fleeing in sheer horror from – they’re likely to strip your skin. You’re clean, but your skin also feels tight and dry. So you try an extra conditioning soap bar instead. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t work as well as you need it to on your muck and mayhem. And in this day and age, no one has time to scrub their skin into next weekend.

So why not make a gardeners soap recipe that embraces BOTH of these characteristics? That’s just what I did! Formulated to be extra cleansing – with the inclusion of exfoliating botanicals to help scrub dirt away – this cold process gardeners soap recipe is also extra conditioning. So you get clean AND your skin stays balanced.

I then took my gardeners soap recipe to the next level by adding a simple blend of essential oils that outdoor bugs and mosquitoes prefer to stay very far away from. And while the general consensus is, that soap being a wash off product, isn’t effective at discouraging biting insects, I figure it can’t hurt.

I used to make my brother lemongrass soap every year before his annual camping trips. He swore up and down it worked for him – he never came home with mosquito bites – so I’m not about to knock that notion totally out of the water.

If you’re looking for a leave on mosquito repellent, however, be sure to check out my insect repellent body butter recipe here. You may also want to check out these research based tick repellent recipes with essential oils from the Tisserand Institute.

Now let’s make this cold process gardeners soap recipe!

Homemade Gardeners Soap Recipe

Ingredients:

2.4 oz. babassu oil (15%)
1.6 oz. castor oil (10%)
4.8 oz. pomace olive oil (30%)
2.4 oz. mango butter (15%)
2.4 oz. unrefined shea butter (15%)
2.4 oz. tucuma butter (15%)

5.3 oz. distilled water (33% of oil weight)
2.1 oz. sodium hydroxide/lye (8% superfat)

.1 oz. lemon eucalyptus essential oil
.1 oz. marjoram essential oil
.1 oz. Virginia cedarwood essential oil
1 Tablespoon French green clay
1/2 teaspoon calendula flower powder
1/2 teaspoon cornsilk powder
1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds
1 teaspoon Alpine green mica, optional

Gardeners Soap Making Notes:

If you’ve never made cold process soap before, I encourage you to check out my soap making tutorial on how to make soap from scratch. Or check out the book, The Complete Guide to Natural Soap Making, by Amanda Gail Aaron.

This homemade gardeners soap hardens up rather nicely and is easily cut the next day if using a loaf mold. If you’re using individual cavity molds, however, I recommend waiting an extra day or so before unmolding so your edges come out clean. Alternately you can use a steeper water discount – I’d recommend 30% of the oil weight – or you can also add either a teaspoon of sodium lactate or salt to this gardeners soap recipe to get a firmer bar out of the mold.

I used both the succulent silicone soap mold from Brambleberry as well as this silicone chrysanthemum mold for my gardeners soap recipe. The end recipe yielded four 2.5 oz. succulent shaped soaps and three 4 oz. chrysanthemum shaped soaps.

I chose the botanical exfoliants for this soap based on what I had on hand. While pumice is common in a gardeners soap recipe, I decided to use gentler exfoliants instead. However, you can swap out any of these exfoliants as desired with those of your choice.

Instructions:

This gardeners soap recipe is made using the cold process soapmaking method. You need to follow all safety precautions when making cold process soap from scratch. This includes using heat safe containers and non-aluminum containers and utensils. Protective clothing and eyewear is also highly recommended.

To make this homemade soap, begin by measuring out the water (or other liquid) called for in the recipe in a heat safe container. Then use a digital scale to weigh out the lye into a separate container. Carefully pour the lye into the water in a well ventilated area. Then mix well until all the lye has dissolved and set aside. (This step can emit fumes. Therefore I recommend using an exhaust fan. Alternately, you can mix the lye into the water outdoors.)

Next, weigh out all the soapmaking oils and butters. This includes the babassu oil, castor oil, olive oil, mango butter, shea butter and tucuma butter. Combine the carrier oils and soap making butters in a heat safe container. Then melt the ingredients on the stove, in a crockpot or at reduced power in a microwave. Once melted, remove the melted oils and butters from the heat source and set aside.

While the lye-water and soapmaking oils cool, weigh the essential oils out and combine in a glass measuring cup. Likewise, measure out the clay, mica and exfoliants and combine in a small dish or container separate from the essential oils.

Once both the lye-water and soapmaking oils are about 95°F, you’re ready to continue making my gardeners soap recipe.

Start by adding the clay, exfoliants and mica to the melted soapmaking oils and butters. Mix briefly with an immersion blender to distribute the additives throughout the oil mixture.

Follow with the lye-water. Then mix until you achieve a light trace.

Add the essential oils.Continue mixing the soap batter until you reach a medium to heavy trace. (I overmixed my soap batter to be sure I did not get a false trace as my gardeners soap recipe calls for a high percentage of hard butters.)

Finally, pour the soap into your molds. Cover the tops of the soap with plastic wrap or parchment paper. Then set a tea towel on top of the soap to insulate the soap and ensure goes through gel phase. (You can learn more about the gel phase in soap making at Lovin’ Soap here.)

Unmold your soaps after 24 hours, then leave in a cool, dry location to cure for four to six weeks. At which point, you can wrap and label your soaps for personal use or handmade gifts.

If you’d like to sell the homemade soaps you make from my gardeners soap recipe, you need to follow good manufacturing practices (GMP) when making your homemade soaps. 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 also need to follow FDA guidelines for labeling your homemade soaps. 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 in the United States.

If you like my gardeners soap recipe, then be sure to pin it for later. You can also try my gardeners soap recipe from last year. It can can be found here.

Not quite ready to make my gardeners soap recipe or simply need a scrubby soap you can use right away? Shop for handmade artisan gardeners soaps on Etsy here.

Filed Under: Soapmaking Tagged With: cold process soap, cold process soap recipe, cold process soapmaking, crafts, diy, essential oils, exfoliating soap, gardener's soap, gardening soap, gift idea, mosquito repellent, natural skin care, soap recipe, soap tutorial, soapmaking, spring, summer, summer skin care

Coffee Scrub Recipe for Natural Summer Skin Care & Homemade Gifts

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

June 6, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 6 Comments

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

Getting Around to Summer Skin Care

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

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

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

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

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

Skin Care Benefits of Coffee Scrubs

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

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

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

Does a coffee scrub really help cellulite?

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

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

Additional ingredients in my coffee scrub recipe.

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

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

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

How to Make a Coffee Scrub Recipe

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

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

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

Coffee Scrub Recipe with Coconut Oil

Ingredients:

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

Essential Oil Blend:

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

Instructions:

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

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

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

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

Succulent Soap Recipe

Ingredients:

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

Instructions:

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

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

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

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

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

Next, place your succulent mold onto a cutting board.

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

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

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

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

Then remove the succulent soaps from the mold.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More Summer Skin Care Recipes

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

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

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

Father’s Day Gifts from Kids (That Anyone Can DIY)

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June 3, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 1 Comment

There’s nothing better than giving the gift of handmade. Something you made with your own two hands for someone special in your life. However, it can be challenging to come up with gift ideas for men. Especially when you’re hunting for Father’s Day gifts from kids that they can either make themselves, or with a little help. Since dads, in particular, can be a challenge to craft for, I’ve put together a roundup of my favorite DIY Father’s Day gifts that just about anyone can DIY.

I still remember the delight I felt when I first discovered fabric crayons. We were asked to bring in a white t-shirt to class so we could make Father’s Day gifts. We drew designs representing our families in crayons onto white paper. Then they were ironed onto the t-shirts we’d brought to class. Houses, rainbows, stick figures and dogs were common themes. And of course beautiful fluffy blue clouds and birds in the sky chasing through them. Far superior to the clay ashtrays of the previous year, these t-shirts allowed us to express our love for family through pictures. And besides, my parents didn’t smoke anyway.

Coming up with fresh new ideas for Father’s Day gifts from kids year after year however can be a challenge. So this year, I’ve put together a collection of Father’s Day gifts that anyone can DIY as a special gift for Dad. Grown ups included. So whether you’re five or forty five, or somewhere in between, you can create the perfect DIY Father’s Day gift. (Although younger kids may need a little extra help from Mom.)

Father’s Day Gifts from Kids (to DIY)

One of my most popular Father’s Day gifts from kids comes from a project my son completed six years ago. He upcycled a soda carton and its empty bottles to make a custom six pack of his Dad’s favorite snacks. The bottles are filled with things like pistachio nuts, Skittles and M&M’s. While the carrier is painted with chalkboard board paint so a personalized message can be added to this Father’s Day gift from kids. Learn to make it here.

My suncatcher DIY has also been trending on Pinterest this month. It’s another great gift idea for Dad. Simply upcycled old CD’s and trace on images with marker that you can then fill in with paint. A motorcycle suncatcher – or another image of something representing Dad’s loves or hobbies – is perfect for his office or the patio door of his man cave.

Tweens and teens will have a blast crafting these handmade candles for Dad. Scented with a leather fragrance oil, this candle making project makes another easy DIY Father’s Day gift from the kids. And one they aren’t embarrassed about being shown off to his friends and coworkers. (Plus, hello. Moms will love this gift idea too! Not only will his man cave no longer be tinged with the scent of man sweat and stout beer, he won’t yell about you coming through during the game with the freshness of Febreeze.)

These DIY pasta planters from Handmade Charlotte are another great Father’s Day gift idea. The perfect gift from kids of all ages, these planters are not only easy to make, they’re the perfect gift when paired with Dad’s favorite herbs for his famous chili or pizza recipes. I also like this “Me and My Peeps” flower pot craft from Me and My Inklings.

Older kids will delight in making these DIY Star Wars inspired soaps for Dad. Plus they’ll learn a few soap making tricks. Like how to make their Millennium Falcon soaps look like painted metal. These fun Father’s Day gifts from the kids can be customized with Dad’s favorite cologne by simply using a fragrance oil dupe. Or use essential oils like pine or patchouli for a natural scent.

They can also further explore their creativity by making galaxy soaps if you’ve already taken them under your ~~mother hen~~ soap making wing. It’s just a matter of melting soap base and swirling in different colors.

Or combine a variety of soap shapes to make this Cool Water dupe scented soap DIY that resembles pebbles in a stream.

Other easy soap gift ideas for Dad this Father’s Day include this simple moisturizing body wash recipe and this DIY hand milled coffee & bourbon soap.

Beard oil is another equally awesome handmade gift idea for Father’s Day. Plus it’s super easy. This natural beard oil recipe from Beauty Crafter uses volume measuring so you won’t need a skill. Simply measure out the carrier oils with measuring spoons and add in drops of essential oil as called for in the recipe. If this isn’t quite what you were looking for, Mountain Rose Herbs has three additional beard oil recipes you can try.

I also love this Father’s Day gift idea for making faux wood burned signs. Because this project doesn’t require a wood burning tool, this tutorial for a faux wood burned sign and wood slice coasters from Printable Crush is safe for all ages.

There are also a number of free printables that are perfect for last minute Father’s Day gifts. The kids can help shop for the ingredients and assemble these gifts at any age. Tried and True blog has a free popcorn printable for an easy popcorn Father’s Day gift from kids. She also has an easy idea for a DIY Father’s Day gift can with a printable label. Or consider the printable Father’s Day bottle tags from Skip to My Lou for Dad’s favorite soda, beer or hard cider.

If your kids love Legos, have them put their block building skills to good use with this DIY Father’s Day gift from Laly Mom. Kids will love making this rad DIY pen holder for Dad’s desk. Not only is it the perfect place for him to stash his pens, they can also add their favorite photo of a special memory together.

More Great Kid Made Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Need even more ideas for DIY Father’s Day gifts from kids? Keep reading to discover just a few of the Father’s Day gift ideas that I’ve compiled on my Father’s Day Gift Ideas Pinterest board.

This shaving cream recipe from The Nourished Life contains witch hazel so it’s perfect for Dad’s sensitive skin.

Print a hugs and fishes gift tag to pair with a fishing lure box and colorful Swedish candy fish at Eighteen 25.

This marimo moss ball aquarium is super easy to make and the perfect accessory for Dad’s desk.

A mechanic’s hand scrub is a great gift for the car hobbyist. This DIY from Everything Pretty is the perfect gift!

Crafty Staci has a tutorial for a Dad inspired BBQ towel to keep by the grill this summer.

Learn how to create a DIY shaving kit for Dad over at one of my favorite blogs, Hello Glow.

If Dad’s a gardener, then he’ll love this DIY garden tool bag from So Sew Easy filled with gardening tools.

Toddlers can get their craft on with this Father’s Day gift idea for a handprint baseball with printable poem from Sunny Day Family.

Young children can also make this cute Father’s Day handprint craft from The Best Ideas for Kids.

What’s your favorite kid-made Father’s Day gift idea? Be sure to share your ideas for Father’s Day gifts from kids in the comments. Then don’t forget to follow me across your favorite social media platforms. You can find me on Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my semi-weekly newsletter to stay in the loop.

Filed Under: Gift Guides, Holiday DIY, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: crafts, diy, easy, Father's Day gift, gift idea, gifts for dad, holiday gift, kids project