Aromatherapy for Sleep: 3 Ways to Make An Insomnia Sleep Spray Recipe

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August 13, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 10 Comments

Sometimes, falling asleep, much less getting a good night’s sleep can be a challenge. Without proper rest, however, we suffer not just physically but emotionally as well. Luckily there are ways to help combat sleeplessness and enable you to get a good night’s rest. By utilizing aromatherapy for sleep, you can promote a restful night’s sleep. Not only can my easy DIY aromatherapy sleep spray assist in helping you fall asleep faster, it may also help you sleep more soundly.

Trouble Sleeping?

Sleeping and night and getting a good night’s sleep are two entirely different things. As someone with fibromyalgia, my body definitely knows the difference. It also responds accordingly. Therefore, it’s important to me to get a restful sleep so I can function the next day. Sometimes, however, that can be a huge challenge. Not only do I wake to pee every two hours – a combination of age and fibro overstimulating those muscles – I’m also constantly dealing with a barge of emotional stress.

The current events as of late haven’t been pleasant. And trying to filter out that chaos with social media being what it is, has been a challenge. More recently, I found myself deeply affected by the mass shootings in Dayton and El Paso. The senselessness of the killings breaks my heart. It also leaves me a little terrified. I’m still freaked out knowing my son had just left UNC Charlotte campus the day that school shooting took place. I can’t imagine the struggle to move past that trauma as a survivor. And as someone who was previously diagnosed with agoraphobia, I have to consciously push myself to move past that fear and be present in the world, while also not allowing myself to be overwhelmed by the emotional toll we all feel from such tragedies.

Natural Aromatherapy Sleep Sprays

Luckily there are ways to make sure we get a restful sleep so we are better equipped to deal with chronic illnesses and day to day stressors. Whether you use essential oils in a diffuser, as an aromatherapy roll on or as a pillow spray, aromatherapy is a natural way to promote a good night’s sleep. And it can safely be used in conjunction with natural supplements or sleep aids if needed.

My essential oil aromatherapy sleep spray recipe is a natural way to promote rest and relaxation in order to help you fall asleep. Made with a blend of three essential oils – lavender, ylang ylang & vetiver – this DIY insomnia sleep spray is easy to make and simple to use. Simply mist the spray onto your pillow or bed linens prior to going to bed.

Following you’ll learn how to make you own natural sleep spray recipe using essential oils with three different ways to make it depending on whether or not you choose to use a preservative.

DIY Sleep Spray Formulation

Ingredients Used to Make a Sleep Spray

My insomnia sleep spray contains several key ingredients. These include rose water, an aromatherapeutic essential oil blend and polysorbate 20. The rose water, which can be substituted with distilled water if desired, adds its natural scent to the recipe. While the polysorbate 20 is an emulsifier used to bind oil and water together. It’s derived from the lauric acid found in coconut oil.

Sleep Spray Preservative Options

There are also two preservative options. One being Optiphen ND and the other ethanol or 100 proof vodka. Optiphen ND is a paraben- and formaldehyde-free preservative design for water-based recipes. It protects against mold and bacteria growth when incorporated homemade recipes for facial toners, room sprays and perfumes. You’ll find Optiphen ND works best in products with a pH of 6 and lower.

If you choose not to use a preservative you won’t be able to include any water in your sleep spray. However, I don’t recommend this option for a linen or pillow spray as it can stain linens and takes longer to dry. You can use this sleep spray recipe as a body spray though by reducing the amount of essential oils called for in my insomnia sleep spray recipe. You can find more information on making a body spray below.

Tips & Tricks for Essential Oil Measurements

Should you desire to scale any of my insomnia sleep spray recipes, there are some tips that make measuring out the essential oils easier. You can find these tips along with an essential oil conversion chart at Mountain Rose Herbs here.

Insomnia Sleep Spray Recipe #1

Ingredients:

1.8 oz. rose water
2 oz. 91% (or higher) isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
.2 oz. polysorbate 20
.05 oz. Optiphen ND
48 drops vetiver essential oil
32 drops lavender essential oil
32 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Recipe Notes:

This insomnia pillow mist spray uses isopropyl alcohol, more commonly known as rubbing alcohol, to help the water evaporate more quickly. This will also help prevent your pillow sleep spray from staining linens. While it does have a strong alcohol smell when first sprayed, this scent of the rubbing alcohol fades quickly as it evaporates in the air. So you are left with only the fragrance of the insomnia essential oil blend. As rubbing alcohol is not a preservative, but a disinfectant, you should use a preservative to prevent mold and bacteria growth. Optiphen ND is recommended at a usage rate of 1% for this application.

Should you choose to use this recipe and omit the preservative, your formula will last up to one month when kept store in the refrigerator.

Instructions:

Using a digital scale weigh out the polysorbate 20 in a 250 mL glass beaker. Then use a dropper to add each of the essential oils to the polysorbate 20. Mix to combine.

Now weigh out the rose water and the rubbing alcohol. Pour the liquids into the polysorbate and essential oil blend. Mix well.

Finally, weigh out the Optiphen ND and stil into the sleep spray. Mix thoroughly. Then pour your sleep spray into a single, sterilized 4 oz. spray bottle or two 2 oz. containers with a fingertip mister.

Shake your insomnia sleep spray before each use, then mist onto pillows and bed linens before going to sleep.

Insomnia Sleep Spray Recipe #2

Ingredients:

2 oz. rose water
1.8 oz. 100 proof vodka
.2 oz. vegetable glycerin (or polysorbate 20, as desired)
48 drops vetiver essential oil
32 drops lavender essential oil
32 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Recipe Notes:

This aromatherapy sleep spray recipe uses alcohol as a natural preservative. Like rubbing alcohol it helps the water evaporate more quickly. Unlike rubbing alcohol however,which can be drying to skin, vodka is not drying when used as part of a moisturizing base. It also acts as an emulsifier. This makes this recipe suitable as a body spray as well. To make a skin safe body spray, make the recipe as is, but reduce the amount of essential oils called for in the recipe by half.

As many of us don’t have access to ethanol, which is 200 proof, I formulated this insomnia sleep spray recipe using 100 proof vodka. If you have access to ethanol, you can substitute ethanol for the vodka. When doing so, increase the amount of rosewater in the recipe to 2.95 oz. and reduce the ethanol to .85 oz. (or 20% of the total recipe weight.) You can learn more about using alcohol as a preservative here.

Adding Magnesium Oil to Your Sleep Spray Recipe

If desired you can also add magnesium oil to your sleep spray when utilizing it as a body spray. To do this, you can either substitute the rosewater with ready made magnesium oil or make your own magnesium oil by adding magnesium flakes to the rosewater. If adding magnesium flakes to the rosewater, simply dissolve one Tablespoon magnesium flakes in the rosewater by mixing well. Then, with either option, reduce the essential oils to 24 drops vetiver essential oil and 16 drops each of lavender and ylang ylang. (Also be sure to try my magnesium body butter recipe to reduce the symptoms of restless leg syndrome and promote restful sleep.)

Instructions:

Using a digital scale weigh out the polysorbate 20 in a 250 mL glass beaker. Then use a dropper to add each of the essential oils to the polysorbate 20. Mix to combine.

Now weigh out the rose water and the vodka. Pour the liquids into the polysorbate and essential oil blend. Mix well.

Then pour your sleep spray into a single, sterilized 4 oz. spray bottle or two 2 oz. containers with a fingertip mister.

Shake your insomnia sleep spray before each use, then mist onto pillows and bed linens before going to sleep.

Insomnia Sleep Spray Recipe #3:

Ingredients:

2 oz. jojoba oil, or other dry carrier oil
2 oz. cyclomethicone
24 drops vetiver essential oil
16 drops lavender essential oil
16 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Recipes Notes:

This recipe is designed to be used as an aromatherapeutic body spray. It is not recommended for use as a linen or pillow spray as it’s primarily oil based. As it doesn’t not contain water, there is no need to use a preservative for this body spray recipe.

Instructions:

You can use liquid measurements for this recipe. Simply measure out the jojoba oil and cyclomethicone and combine in a 250 mL glass beaker.

Then use a dropper to add each of the essential oils to body spray mixture. Mix well to combine.

Finally, pour your aromatherapeutic body spray into a single, sterilized 4 oz. spray bottle or two 2 oz. containers with a fingertip mister.

To use, simply shake your body spray before each use, then mist onto skin as desired, avoiding your face. (For a facial spray, the amount of essential oil called for in this recipe should be reduced by half.)

Once you’ve made your insomnia sleep sprays, you can easily decorate your bottles using scrapbook paper. (I like catching paper stacks when they’re on sale for $10!) Simply cut a sheet of decorative paper to fit your container. Then tape it to your spray bottle to secure it in place. (I used a strip of tape for each side of the paper.) Easy peasy!

Where to Buy Ready Made Sleep Sprays

If you’d like to try an aromatherapy sleep spray for your pillows and bed linens, but aren’t ready to make your own, there are a number of ready made options that you can purchase. This Sleepy Head Pillow Mist from Made By Coopers Apothecary is made with a calming blend of lavender essential oil and a soothing blend of chamomile and frankincense to help you de-stress and unwind. You can buy it here.

Or try one of these other natural essential oil sleep remedies to explore aromatherapy for sleep.

Alternately, you can purchase other natural remedies here. Or explore home remedies you can make yourself right here on Soap Deli News or via my Home Remedies Pinterest board.

You can also follow me across your favorite social media platforms for regular DIY ideas for soap, bath and beauty recipes you can craft at home. Follow me now via facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my newsletter to stay in the loop.

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, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: aromatherapy, essential oil blend, essential oil recipes, essential oils, health and wellness, healthy living, home remedies, home remedy, lavender, natural, natural alternative, natural remedy, self care, sleep, vetiver essential oil, ylang ylang

Best Scar and Stretch Mark Treatment You Can Make at Home

April 5, 2018 By Cari Dunn

This homemade salve recipe for the best scar and stretch mark treatment from guest poster Cari Dunn of Everything Pretty will teach you how to easily create a homemade salve that can help fade dark spots and promote cellular turnover.

Our scars tell a story. Whether you fell as a child, cut your finger while cooking a holiday dinner, or otherwise hurt your skin, each mark has a story. If you have stretch marks from children, then you have a lot of stories to tell about those marks.

Even though our scars are a part of our history, we don’t have to like them. Unfortunately, plastic surgery might be the only way to get rid of some scars, but there are natural products that you can make to help reduce scars and make them appear less noticeable. This homemade salve recipe for the best scar and stretch mark treatment is one of those ways.

You shouldn’t use this salve for the best scar and stretch mark treatment on broken or injured skin. Wait until your skin has healed to where you don’t have an open wound before you use this salve.

Fresh scars are easier to fade than old scars. If you have an old scar, you may not get results for three to six months with daily use.

For best results, use this best scar and stretch mark treatment salve with my scar and stretch mark sugar scrub. You should use the scrub three times a week and use the natural homemade salve twice a day.

For this homemade salve recipe for the best scar and stretch mark treatment, I wanted to use several carrier oils as they each have their own skin care benefits. You don’t have to use the same oils that I used, but I do recommend using at least two of them plus the vitamin E oil. Whatever you decide to use, use the same amount of oil or the recipe won’t turn out right.

Best Scar and Stretch Mark Treatment Ingredients

Rosehip Seed Oil

Rosehip seed oil is probably the most popular carrier oil for scars making it one of the key ingredients in this best scar and stretch mark treatment. This oil is extracted from the seed pod or the petals of the rose plant. The resulting oil is high in fatty acids and vitamins that make it a great oil for your skin.

Rosehip oil is a dry oil, which means that absorbs quickly into your skin. The oil has vitamin A, retinol, a natural way to treat fine lines and wrinkles. The vitamin A helps promote cellular turnover so skin can heal. Rosehip seed oil works so well on scars due to the linolenic acid, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids.

Rosehip seed oil is said help reduce redness and pigmentation, which can help make scars less noticeable. The fatty acids and vitamins in it have also been said to fade scars and prevent the formation of keloid scars.

It is important to note that rosehip seed oil can increase your sensitivity to the sun, so always wear sunscreen if you use this salve before you go outside.

Moringa Oil

I also used moringa oil, which is sometimes called ben oil. Moringa oil is high in oleic acid, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids. It’s high in vitamin E, a natural antioxidant.

Moringa oil has many benefits for the skin. It’s naturally anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant, and naturally antimicrobial.

Another benefit to using this oil is that it naturally exfoliates dead skin cells. It’s also a dry oil, so it absorbs quickly.

(Also be sure to try this recipe for a moisturizing sugar scrub for dry skin! Like my best scar and stretch mark treatment, it is also formulated with hydrating moringa oil and soothing oat butter.)

Sea Buckthorn Oil

For the third oil, I used sea buckthorn oil. It’s high in vitamin E, which can help boost skin healing. It’s high in omega-7 fatty acids, palmitoleic acid, which is rare in carrier oils. The oil is said to boost cellular turnover and boost your skin’s ability to heal, which is perfect for treating scars making it another must have ingredient for this best scar and stretch mark treatment.

It’s also a dry oil, so it soaks into your skin and goes deep to moisturize.

To learn more about different carrier oils and their benefits, check out my book Carrier Oils: A beginner’s guide to using over 40 carrier oils in bath and body recipes.

Vitamin E Oil

Even though the oils are all natural sources of vitamin E, I wanted to add more of the oil because it’s a wonderful oil for your skin. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, so it can protect your skin from free radicals.

It also acts like a natural preservative. Since it’s an antioxidant, it can preserve the shelf life of carrier oils. The recipe for my best scar and stretch mark treatment doesn’t have water in it, so it doesn’t need a preservative like you would need in a lotion with water. However, the oils can go rancid. Vitamin E helps keep the oils from going rancid.

Beeswax

Beeswax is obviously hard at room temperature, so it’s used to harden this recipe to turn it into a salve. But beeswax has several benefits for the skin beyond thickening this bes scar and stretch mark treatment recipe.

When applied topically, beeswax forms a protective layer on top of the skin. It traps the oils on your skin, so they can work to help heal your skin. Some creams and salves use petroleum based products, but these can clog the pores and don’t allow any air to flow through. Beeswax forms a barrier, but it can still allow air to flow.

Beeswax also works on healing skin because it’s a humectant. It attracts water molecules from the air, pulling them to your skin. This helps keep the skin moisturized and hydrated over time.

The vitamin A found in beeswax can help exfoliate the skin.

Shea Butter

Shea butter is one of my favorite butters to use for skin care products because it’s not oily and has a lot of skin loving benefits.

Shea butter is what’s known as an emollient. It penetrates the skin and seals the top layer. This traps moisture against your skin.

It’s also high in vitamin A. Vitamin A is important to promote collagen production and reduce dark spots on the skin, including those from scar.

High in antioxidants and vitamins, shea butter is one of the best butters to use on scars. It moisturizes, protects, and hydrates the skin so it can repair itself.

Helichrysum Essential Oil

There are actually four types of helichrysum, but I used Helichrysum italicum. It’s extracted from a Mediterranean plant, a flower that’s close to the daisy. Like chamomile, it’s a gentle oil that’s great for sensitive skin or, in this case, skin that has scars.

Helichrysum essential oil doesn’t leave your skin oily, but it does moisturize your skin. It can also fade dark spots on your skin, including hyperpigmentation due to scars.

It’s said to promote cellular turnover, which is what you want in a scar and stretch mark cream. It’s high in antioxidants, so it’s a great oil for anti-aging. (Try it as a substitute for carrot seed essential oil in this natural anti-aging night cream recipe!)

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender essential oil is a popular essential oil that’s used in many different skin care recipes. It’s a gentle oil, so it’s safe to use on scars.

Ready to make my natural skin care recipe for the best scar and stretch mark treatment? Great! Here’s how it’s done.

Best Scar and Stretch Mark Treatment Salve Recipe

Ingredients:

5 tablespoons rosehip seed oil
2 tablespoons moringa oil
1 teaspoon sea buckthorn seed oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
1 tablespoon beeswax
2 tablespoons shea butter
12 drops helichrysum essential oil
8 drops lavender essential oil

Directions:

Gather all of the ingredients called for in my natural homemade salve recipe for the best scar and stretch mark treatment.

Using measuring spoons, combine rosehip seed oil, moringa oil, sea buckthorn oil, vitamin E oil, beeswax, and shea butter in a heat proof glass container. I use a 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup.

Set the container on canning jar rings in a medium sized pan. Carefully add water to the pan to cover the oils. Be careful not to get water in the measuring cup.

Heat on medium until the beeswax and shea butter is melted, stirring occasionally.

Carefully remove from heat. Let cool until no longer steaming.

Add essential oils and stir well.

Pour into a 4-ounce mason jar.

I made a full 4-ounce mason jar with a little left over. I keep small souffle cups on hand to pour a little in. These are perfect for keeping in my purse or giving to friends and family.

For best results, use this scar and stretch mark salve with my scar and stretch mark sugar scrub.

More Skin Care Recipes to Try Right Now!

If you liked my recipe for the best scar and stretch mark treatment, then check out the following posts for more DIY skin care recipes!

Not Ready to DIY It? Buy It Instead!

Not quite ready to recreate the recipe for my best scar and stretch mark treatment? Buy one of these homemade versions instead!

Visit my Everything Pretty DIY bath and beauty recipe page for more recipes like this one. Never miss a post from Everything Pretty by subscribing to my newsletter.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: anti-aging, beauty, crafts, diy, healing salve, helichrysum essential oil, home remedy, lavender, moringa oil, natural, natural remedy, salve recipe, scars, sea buckthorn oil, shea butter, skin care, stretch marks, vitamin e

DIY Lavender Body Butter with Neem Oil

November 11, 2017 By Rebecca D. Dillon

This DIY lavender body butter with neem oil not only offers amazing skin protection and moisture, but it also helps to soothe shingles pain – phantom or otherwise. How do I know this? Because last Christmas I ended up with shingles. And I’m not elderly or immunocompromised. What I did have though, was a heck of a lot of stress.

I honestly had considering writing a blog post about how not to get shingles over the holidays. Sort, of a soapmaker’s guide with quips and puns that relate back to our quirky habits. Some of which could lead to an unfortunate virus uprising.

Through various soapmaking groups I’ve learned that quite a few of us do our shopping for ingredients and supplies while intoxicated on a wee bit of wine. This inevitably means we spend more. And anyone who drinks alcohol semi-regularly can become B6 deficient. I know that a B6 deficiency is one of the underlying causes of a shingles outbreak. Because after a visit to the doctor they recommended I take 50mg of vitamin B6 twice a day for two months.

I also know that overspending can cause us stress. I mean, if it didn’t, there wouldn’t be all of those memes with the UPS guy and that note requesting he hold your packages until later should your husband happen to be home. Sure overspending or lack of money can be stressful. But a husband who is disappointed in you – that can be worse. And everyone knows one of the leading causes of breakups and divorce are money problems. And fights or break ups, well they’re going to be stressful too.

So my best advice for you right now is to – well, obviously don’t stop drinking wine. Then we’d go batty for sure. But do be sure to keep your levels of B6 up during the entire holiday season. High amounts of B6 is found in foods like red meat and cashews. But supplements also do the trick.

In addition, I also highly recommend having your soap making supplies sent to a friend or neighbor’s house – even your place of employment if you don’t work from home. I mean it’s not really even a deception. You’re simply having those much needed supplies delivered elsewhere for safety reasons. A lot of packages do go missing this time of year. That he happened to miss seeing the orders coming or being unpacked, well, he probably just wasn’t paying attention. I mean there are plenty of other things men fail to notice on a daily basis when it comes to women. Or they simply forget. Or weren’t really listening to begin with.

But I digress. I first made a version of my DIY lavender body butter for my grandmother three years ago. Her all time favorite scent is lavender. And seeing as how it’s common for most of us to suffer from dry skin this time of year I thought a body butter was in order.

Why Use a DIY Lavender Body Butter?

At that time I had just started experimenting a lot with neem oil. Long used in both Ayurvedic and Unani medicine, neem oil has been shown to have natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain killing) properties. It’s often used topically to ease the symptoms of rheumatism, eczema, ringworm, athlete’s foot, cold sores, psoriasis, warts, chronic syphilitic sores, infected burn wounds, and slow-healing skin ulcers. Additionally it has also been shown to help control various skin infections including scabies and candida.

On the other hand, studies have also demonstrated that lavender essential oil also possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. When used in skin care applications, lavender can help to ease pain, promote the healing of cuts and burns as well as promote the reduction swelling and redness. When properly diluted, lavender essential oil can soothe everything from sore muscles, joint pain and rheumatism to sprains and backaches.

Little did I know that the combination of neem oil and lavender essential oil in my DIY lavender body butter would help to reduce my grandmother’s recurring phantom pain from shingles in addition to soothing and moisturizing dry, itchy skin. But that it did. So when I developed shingles the day after Christmas last year, I whipped up a batch for myself. During the onset of my shingles it certainly didn’t take the pain away completely. But it really helped to ease the pain so it was more bearable. (Learn more about the benefits and uses of neem oil for skin and hair here.)

I also found that applying heat went a long way towards helping ease the pain from shingles as well. So I used a heating pad during the actual breakout in addition to an ungodly amount of ibuprofen. Then, once there was no longer a mess of oozing gross blisters (for those of you who can remember having chicken pox – I was four and at best I remember one colloidal oatmeal bath and being told not to scratch) I used a combination of equal parts lavender, ginger and chili seed essential oils to warm my skin, increase circulation, ease pain and reduce inflammation. It also offered a lot of relief with the recurring phantom pain I experienced for about six months after the shingles had cleared up.

Following is the recipe for my DIY lavender body butter of awesome. Not only does it offer some amazing skin care benefits, but it’s also non-greasy. I hope you like the recipe. But what I really really hope, is that you never get shingles.

(One of my best friends and a recent breast cancer survivor just got shingles in her EAR! Yes. Her ear. It was not awesome and harder to treat. She also couldn’t hear out of that ear for about a week. While not a soapmaker, she is a jewelry artist and fellow wine drinker. She’s also going through a divorce so there’s no husband to worry her. However the advice on the B6 still stands.)

DIY Lavender Body Butter with Neem Oil

Ingredients:

3 oz. refined shea butter
.25 oz. refined/deodorized cocoa butter
.2 oz. baobab oil
.1 oz. lanolin
.1 oz. Cyclomethicone
.05 oz. arrowroot powder
.1 oz. lavender essential oil
1 ml pure 100% neem oil
1ml vitamin E oil
mica powder, to suit (for color if desired)

Instructions:

This recipe yields one 4 oz. container of my DIY lavender body butter with neem oil. You can easily double the recipe as needed to make extras for gifting.

Begin by using a reliable digital scale to weigh out the shea and cocoa butters. Combine in a large glass Pyrex measuring cup and heat at 30% power until fully melted. (Alternately, you may also use a double boiler.)

Then weigh out the arrowroot powder and stir into the melted butters until the arrowroot powder has dissolved.

Next, weigh out the lanolin. Then stir into the liquified butters until melted.

Now weigh out and stir in the baobab oil, lavender essential oil and Cyclomethicone. Follow with the vitamin E and neem oils, using a fresh graduated plastic pipette for each to measure out and add these ingredients. Add a pinch or two of mica powder in your color of choice if desired, then mix well.

Pour your DIY lavender body butter into a 4 oz. container of your choice or into two 2 oz. glass jars. (Pictured is a 2.3 oz. clear glass thick wall cosmetic jar from SKS Bottle & Packaging.) Then allow to solidify.

You can place your lavender body butter in the refrigerator to speed up the cooling process. (When it’s warm out it tends to take a lot longer for this body butter to solidify if left on a kitchen countertop.)

To use simply apply a small amount to skin as desired and massage in.

Yield: 2-2 oz. jars.

Lavender Body Butter Recipe with Neem Oil

This natural soothing, lavender body butter recipe is formulated with neem oil. So not only does it hydrate skin and help to protect skin from the elements, as neem oil is an analgesic, it also helps to soothe shingles pain. And it can even help with common skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

3 oz. refined shea butter
.25 oz. refined/deodorized cocoa butter
.2 oz. baobab oil
.1 oz. lanolin
.1 oz. Cyclomethicone
.05 oz. arrowroot powder
.1 oz. lavender essential oil
1 ml pure 100% neem oil
1ml vitamin E oil
mica powder, to suit (for color if desired)

Tools

digital scale
glass Pyrex measuring cups or glass bowls
utensils for stirring
microwave or double boiler
graduate plastic transfer pipettes
1-4 oz. glass jar or 2-2 oz. glass jars

Instructions

Weigh out the shea and cocoa butters using a digital scale. Combine in a large glass Pyrex measuring cup and heat at 30% power in a microwave until fully melted. (You can also use a double boiler.)
Weigh out the arrowroot powder and stir into the melted butters. Mix until the arrowroot powder has dissolved.
Next, weigh out the lanolin. Then stir into the liquified butters until melted.
Now weigh out and stir in the baobab oil, lavender essential oil and Cyclomethicone.
Add the vitamin E and neem oil using a fresh graduated plastic pipette for each.
If desired, add a pinch or two of mica powder in your color of choice if desired, then mix well.
Pour the lavender body butter into a 4 oz. container of your choice or into two 2 oz. glass jars.
Allow to solidify. Then screw the caps onto your container(s.)

Notes

To use simply apply a small amount of the lavender body butter to skin and massage into skin.

Arnica Pain Relief Salve Recipe for Sore Muscles and Inflammation! Whether you suffer from pain due to the occasional the bumps and bruises or sore muscles or more intense pain from chronic conditions such as arthritis or carpal tunnel, this arnica pain relief salve recipe is the perfect natural remedy for muscle pain and inflammation!

If you like my recipe for making DIY lavender body butter, then you may also like my recipe for making an arnica pain relief salve. This natural remedy for muscle pain and inflammation offers relief from occasional pain due to bumps, bruises and sore muscles or as a result of chronic conditions such as arthritis or carpal tunnel. Learn more about arnica as well as how to make this amazing salve here.

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

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Homemade Gift Ideas, Lifestyle Tagged With: bath and body, body butter recipe, crafts, diy, gift idea, home remedy, lavender, moisturizer, neem oil, shingles, skin care

Vegan Solid Lotion Bar Recipe with Soothing Oat Butter & Lavender

June 21, 2017 By Rebecca D. Dillon

This vegan solid lotion bar recipe is made with soothing oat butter, plantain infused olive oil and lavender essential oil. It’s the perfect treat for sunburned skin this summer. Also try this vegan friendly moisturizer DIY on dry or rough feet, hands and elbows!

Because plantain is currently growing wild in abundance this time of year, I chose to include plantain infused olive oil in my vegan solid lotion bar recipe. Plantain not only helps with sunburns, but it is also beneficial for those with skin rashes and chapped skin as well as insect and spider bites. For eczema and psoriasis, the regular use of this herb in a salve or cream can also help in relation to those skin conditions.

What is plantain?

Plantain has the distinction of being a weed. However, plantain has historically been used not only as food but also as a healing herb in numerous cultures around the world. Native Americans traditionally used this plant to treat wounds and fevers as well as to draw out toxins from stings and bites.

There are two types of plantains and often you’ll find both while foraging as they do often grow together in the same area. The plantains with broad leaves are called Plantago major while the other narrow-leaved plantains are called P. lanceolata. Both have similar properties for medicinal and herbal usage, however many herbalists prefer the broadleaf plantain for its larger and softer, edible leaves.

Plantains have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-microbial properties. Because of this plantain is well suited to soothe insect bites and superficial wounds in addition to promoting healing. It also contains allantoin which is used to help with skin regeneration making it an excellent component in formulations created to help reduce the appearance of scars.

When foraging for plantain leaves, you should choose an area where you know the plants have not been treated with chemicals. Choose unblemished slightly mature plantain leaves over new leaves as these will contain a higher concentration of potent phytochemicals that are beneficial for skin care applications. (Learn more about plantain here.)

To make my vegan solid lotion bar recipe you will first need to infuse foraged and dried plantain leaves in olive oil. You can learn how to make an herbal oil infusion here.

If plantain is not readily available in your area or you are unsure if the plantain in your area has been chemically treated, you can purchase broad-leaf plantain at Mountain Rose Herbs for your infusions. Alternately, Mountain Rose Herbs also sells pre-made Plantain Herbal Oil. This small-batch Plantain Oil is solar infused in a window on site using certified organic Plantago major leaves, organic olive oil, and a touch of vitamin E oil.

Once your plantain infused oil is made, you are ready to create my soothing lavender & oat vegan solid lotion bar recipe.

Lavender & Oat Vegan Solid Lotion Bar Recipe

Ingredients:

1 oz. candelilla wax
2 oz. oat butter
2 oz. plantain infused olive oil
.05 oz. lavender essential oil

Instructions:

Using a digital scale weigh out the candelilla wax and oat butter and combine in a double boiler. Heat until melted then remove from heat.

Next, weigh out the plantain infused olive oil and stir into the melted wax and butter. Follow with the lavender essential oil, weighing it first for the correct amount needed. Mix well.

Evenly pour the melted lotion mixture into the mold of your choice. As I am not vegan, I used single serve ice cream containers for molds. However, this basic guest round silicone mold also works for similarly sized solid lotion bars.

Allow the lotion bars to fully harden, then gently remove from the molds.

My vegan solid lotion bar recipe yields 3-4 small lotion bars depending on the size of the mold you choose to use.

Notes on Substitutions:

If you do not wish to use oat butter, you can easily substitute another hydrogenated butter for the oat butter. (Learn about oat butter here.) Alternately, you can also substitute the oat butter with refined shea butter which will make a slightly harder lotion bar.

If you prefer to use a fragrance oil for your solid lotion bar, you can substitute the lavender essential oil with .1 oz. fragrance oil of your choice.

For colder climates or for use during winter, you can increase the plantain infused olive oil to 2.25 oz. to make your vegan solid lotion bars slightly softer. This will allow them to melt faster when applied to skin.

Once you’ve made your vegan solid lotion bars, you will need to package them to protect them from dirt, dust and other elements. I wrapped mine tightly in foodservice film then decorated them with washi tape and stickers I purchased at Target. You can then place them into 2 oz. metal tins to store them in after they’ve been opened for use.

To use, simply massage the lotion bar onto dry skin and massage in. Alternately, you can also use this lotion bar in the shower after bathing to help lock in extra moisture. Then rinse and pat dry.

Want to sell this product?

If you want to create products from my vegan solid lotion bar recipe to sell, you’ll need to follow FDA guidelines for labeling your product. If you’re unsure about the rules and regulations regarding labeling cosmetics, 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 like my lavender & oat vegan solid lotion bar recipe then you may also like some of my other vegan friendly moisturizer DIY’s including my Jackfruit & Kiwi moisturizing sugar scrub recipe, my summer blueberry sugar scrub recipe, my natural rose body balm recipe with tea seed oil, and my rose body butter recipe.

To discover more natural skin care recipes like this one, be sure to follow my DIY Bath and Body board on Pinterest. You can also find and follow me on G+, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram. Or sign up to receive new posts from Soap Deli News blog to your email via FeedBurner so you never miss a post.

Also, don’t forget. If you make homemade soaps or bath & body products I will be featuring your creations on Soap Deli News blog on my weekend wrap up posts! Simply add the hashtag #soapdelishowoff to your instagram posts for a chance to have your handmade products featured!

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: after sun, body lotion, crafts, diy, easy, herbal oil infusion, lavender, moisturizer, moisturizing, natural, oat butter, skin care, solid lotion bar, solid lotion recipe, sunburn, vegan

Homemade Magnesium and Arnica Body Butter Recipe

December 6, 2016 By Rebecca D. Dillon

This homemade magnesium and arnica body butter recipe is scented with a delightful lavender and orange fragrance and is great for everyday aches, pains and bruises.

I created this body butter recipe with my grandmother in mind. My grandmother is now in her mid-80’s and her health has gotten worse recently. This of course means a lot of doctor visitors, getting blood drawn or being hooked up to IV’s and some hospital stays. Inevitably this has caused some pretty nasty bruising. In addition to the bruising, aches and pains are also more common. So for this recipe I combined magnesium hydroxide and arnica infused sweet almond oil into a wonderfully soothing and beautifully scented body butter.

Keep reading to learn more about why I chose these two key ingredients.

Did you know?

It’s common to have low levels of magnesium in your body. Unfortunately magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in your body and is necessary for over 300 reactions within your body. So low levels of magnesium can cause some health issues to arise. Fortunately, it’s easier to increase your magnesium levels than you might think. As magnesium has the ability to be absorbed through skin, a topical body butter is the perfect way to increase your magnesium intake.

So why is magnesium so important?

Magnesium is important for many reasons. It helps to increase rigidity and flexibility in your bones – which is especially important as you age – regulate and normalize blood pressure, increase bioavailability of calcium, prevent congestive heart failure, promote restful sleep, ease muscle cramps and spasms, decrease insulin resistance, end cluster and migraine headaches, enhance circulation, aid in weight loss and so many other common health ailments. More importantly it also helps to ease fibromyalgia and chronic pain. Which is something I can fully attest to. (Discover more benefits of magnesium here.)

With these things in mind and the more frequent medical care my grandmother needs, I thought that magnesium and arnica would make an incredibly suited body butter for my grandmother.

In addition, I also included neem oil in my homemade magnesium and arnica body butter recipe. Neem oil has analgesic properties and is also a strong anti-viral. I had used neem oil previously in a lavender body butter I’d made for my grandmother a few Christmases back for her shingles flare up. She indicated that the body butter I made her had helped her immensely, therefore I really wanted to include neem oil in this recipe as well. (And yes, neem oil smells pretty rank. But I pinky swear that the lavender and blood orange essential oils I use in my recipe to scent the body butter completely mask the smell. Plus they smell AMAZING together!)

Why arnica?

Arnica is traditionally used as an external herbal medicine for bruises. It is approved by the German Commission E for topical use when applied for inflammation, bruises and joint pain.

In anticipation of creating my homemade magnesium and arnica body butter recipe I infused arnica flowers in sweet almond oil for just over two months using the solar infusion method. (Herbs, oil and a sunny window.) If you don’t want to wait on a solar herbal oil infusion, you can speed up the process using heat. One way to do this is to make your herbal oil infusion using the crock pot oil infusion method.

To do this simply fill a mason jar with dried arnica flowers and cover with sweet almond oil. Next, place the mason jar in the crock pot half filled with water so that the jar is 3/4th of the way covered. (You can place a tea towel on the bottom of the crockpot with the mason jar on top if needed to keep the jar from moving around.) Turn the crock pot onto low heat and allow the arnica and oil filled mason jar to infuse for 10-12 hours. Remove the mason jar from the crockpot and strain the oil from the arnica flowers. Then transfer the oil into a glass amber bottle for storage.

Alternately, if you are pressed for time, you can also purchase solar infused arnica herbal oil from Mountain Rose Herbs here. While the arnica in this product is infused in olive oil, it is still a suitable substitution for sweet almond oil.

Magnesium and Arnica Body Butter Recipe

Ingredients:

3 oz. refined shea butter
.25 oz. natural cocoa butter
.5 oz. arnica infused sweet almond oil
.2 oz. magnesium hydroxide powder
.1 oz. 100% natural neem oil
.1 oz. emulsifying wax
.1 oz. arrowroot powder
2 mL lavender essential oil
1.5 mL blood orange essential oil

Instructions:

My homemade magnesium and arnica body butter recipe yields one 4 oz. jar of product.

Using a digital scale, weigh out the shea butter, cocoa butter and emulsifying wax into a medium sized Pyrex glass measuring cup. Heat at 40% power in the microwave until melted. (Alternately, you can use a double boiler.)

Now weigh out the neem oil and arnica infused sweet almond oil and stir into the melted butters and wax.

Next, using a graduated transfer pipette, measure out the lavender essential oil and stir into your body butter ingredients. Do the same with the blood orange essential oil, using a fresh pipette to avoid cross contamination.

Now weigh out the arrowroot powder and magnesium hydroxide powder and whisk into the body butter until it is thoroughly combined.

Pour your magnesium and arnica body butter into a clean, sterilized 4 oz. glass salve jar. Allow to cool completely.

Once your body butter has cooled and completely solidified, screw on the cap and label as desired.

If you are making my magnesium and arnica body butter recipe to sell, you’ll need to label your jars appropriately to meet state and federal laws. If you’re unsure about the rules and regulations regarding labeling cosmetics, I highly recommend the book, Soap and Cosmetic Labeling: How to Follow the Rules and Regs Explained in Plain English, by Marie Gale.

For more ways to increase your magnesium intake, also be sure to check out my Natural Lavender Cream Deodorant Recipe with Bentonite Clay.

In addition, you may also like my Natural Home Remedies and Herbal Health Care board on Pinterest as well as my DIY Bath and Body Pinterest board.

For more from Soap Deli News blog, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, G+, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram for more gift ideas and DIY projects. Or sign up to receive new posts to your email via FeedBurner so you never miss a post.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: arnica, bath and body, body butter recipe, crafts, diy, home remedies, home remedy, lavender, magnesium, natural, skin care