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

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May 23, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 9 Comments

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

Summer Beauty Recipes

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

Summer Beauty Recipe Inspiration

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

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

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

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

Making Beach Themed Seashell Soaps

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

What makes this summer beauty soap project so easy?

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

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

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

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

Summer Beauty Seashell Soap Recipe

Soap Ingredients:

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

Soap Exfoliate Ingredients:

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

Additional Materials & Supplies:

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

Instructions:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alternative Ways to Make Seashell Soaps

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

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

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

More Summer Beauty Recipes to Try

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

After Sun Aloe Face Mask Recipe

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

Beach Body Coffee Scrub Recipe

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

DIY Mermaid Fizzing Bath Salts

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

Mermaid Whipped Soap Summer Beauty Recipe

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

All-Natural Sunscreen Lip Balm Recipe

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

Natural Solid Perfume Recipe

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

DIY Melt & Pour Cactus Soap

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

DIY Strawberry Lip Scrub

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

Summer Beauty Recipes & Inspiration on Pinterest

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

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

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Homemade Gift Ideas, Soapmaking Tagged With: after sun, bath and beauty, bath salt recipe, beauty recipes, body scrub recipe, face mask, lip balm recipe, lip scrub, melt and pour soap recipe, melt and pour soapmaking, natural beauty, perfume recipe, soap tutorial, solid perfume, summer, summer skin care, sunscreen, whipped sugar scrub

Lip Gloss Recipe with a Pop of Color for Fresh Summer Looks

April 18, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon Leave a Comment

Learn how to make this natural lip gloss recipe for a fresh fun way to add a pop of color to your summer look. Tinted with shimmering mica pigment powder, this homemade lip gloss recipe looks stunning solo or over your favorite lipstick. Scent yours with natural essential oils or add some fun with a jelly donut or watermelon flavor oil.

A few months back I fell in love with some scrapbooking embellishment stickers. They were shaped like donuts and covered with glitter. I bought them at the time thinking they’d be super cute for handmade soap gifts. I was planning to wrap ribbon around the soap and then accent the ribbons with donuts. While I still think that’s a great idea, I love the way the stickers looked on little lip balm jars and tins. So I decided to make a donut inspired lip gloss recipe to add to my list of donut skin care recipes.

Ingredients Used In Natural Lip Gloss

Unlike my homemade lip balm recipes, my natural lip gloss recipe combines two waxes to give lips shine. While castor oil is commonly used for this purpose, I found that the combination of candelilla wax and cera bellina wax worked even better. I love that this lip gloss isn’t sticky like some store brand lip glosses. And the punch of color makes this tinted lip gloss look great whether it’s layered over lipstick or worn solo.

Properties of Candelilla Wax

Candelilla wax is a unique odorless plant wax with a high melt point. It’s harvested from the leaves of candelilla shrubs that are native to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. As this wax is extremely hard and brittle, it’s commonly sold as flakes or micro-beads. When mixed with other waxes, it hardens the formulation it’s incorporated into without raising the melting point. Often used in the cosmetics industry for skin care products and lip balms, candelilla wax is also used as a binder in chewing gum. When refined, candelilla wax can reach high levels of brilliance which add to shine when used in lip gloss formulations.

Properties of Cera Bellina Wax

Cera Bellina wax is a hydrophilic derivative of beeswax. It differs from regular beeswax in that it has excellent oil gelling properties. Adding cera bellina wax to lip balms, lotion bars or and emulsion will give the product a smooth, luxurious texture. It’s also a great wax to gel oils or butters with a low wax concentration as a small percentage of the recipe. Because cera bellina’s ability to prevent the crystallization of oils, it also works great as a second emulsifier or thickener in lotion formulations as well as natural beauty serums.

Benefits of Cupuacu Butter

Cupuacu butter is wonderful at hydrating skin and hair, making it a wonderful choice for a moisturizing lip gloss recipe. This natural Brazilian butter can be used solo, or incorporated with other ingredients, for a richly moisturizing lip balm. But don’t stop there. Because cupuacu butter is a humectant, similarly to honey, it is able to attract up to 240% more water. This makes this natural beauty butter especially beneficial to dry skin or chapped lips.

Benefits of Acai Berry Oil

Another natural skin care product from the Brazilian Amazon forest, acai berry oil is a luxe carrier oil that is rich in essential fatty acids. A powerful antioxidant with natural emollient properties, acai berry oil offers a number of benefits when used in skin care formulations. Not only is this carrier oil highly moisturizing, it can also help restore skin elasticity and promote healing of dry, chapped and cracked skin. It’s suitable for all skin types and has been found to help alleviate symptoms of skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. In addition, this oil possesses anti-aging skin care properties. Plus it won’t clog pores!

Ready to get started on my tinted lip gloss recipe? You’ll find the recipe and directions to make it below.

Natural Lip Gloss Recipe

Ingredients:

.5 oz. roasted cocoa butter (Learn more.)
.5 oz. cupuacu butter
.3 oz. candelilla wax
.3 oz. acai berry oil
1.2 oz. sweet almond oil, or other carrier oil of choice
.5 oz. lip safe coral mica powder
.1 oz. cera bellina wax
flavor oil or essential oil blend, of choice

Essential oil blend:

20 drops blood orange essential oil
12 drops amyris essential oil (Learn more.)
8 drops tea tree oil

Lip gloss flavor oil:

.03 – .1 oz. jelly donut flavor oil

Lip Gloss Recipe Instructions:

I recommend using the double boiler method when making my tinted lip gloss recipe. However, you can also use a microwave if desired at 20%-30% power.

Start by weighing out the roasted cocoa butter, cupuacu butter, cera bellina wax and candelilla wax. Combine in a heat safe container and gently heat until all the ingredients have melted.

Once the butters and waxes have melted, remove from heat. Then weigh out the the acai berry oil and stir into the lip gloss mixture.

Now add the essential oils or your choice of flavor oil to suit. Mix well to combine. (It’s important to note that some flavor oils recommend different usage rates so be sure to check with the manufacturer. They can tell you the recommended percentage of flavor oil to use. I’ve provided a range of 1-3% in the above lip gloss recipe.)

Next, weigh out the lip safe mica pigment powder. Stir the mica into the mixture until it is evenly distributed throughout the lip gloss. It should be uniform in color and completely smooth with no clumps.

Now pour your tinted lip gloss into containers of your choice. I used a combination of 1/2 oz. white polypropylene double wall radius jars and 1 oz. metal tins with rolled edge covers. (My natural lip gloss recipe makes approximately five 1 oz. lip glosses.)

If desired, you can then decorate your homemade lip gloss containers for personal use or to give as handmade gifts.

Prefer to use tube lip gloss containers? You can use squeeze tube lip gloss containers as well as clear lip gloss tubes with applicators. Simply use half the amount of candelilla wax called for in my homemade lip gloss recipe.

Experiment with lip gloss recipe flavors & colors.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with my tinted lip gloss recipe! Not only can you mix up the flavor or scent by changing out flavor or essential oils, you can also adjust the shade of your lip gloss as well as the color. For a sheer tint try cutting the amount of mica powder in half. For a richer, more intense lip color, double the amount of mica. And, of course, don’t be afraid to try other lip safe mica powders with this lip gloss recipe.

Learn more about essential oils.

Want to explore essential oils in correlation with beauty and skin care recipes in an easy all-in-kit? Check out the essential oil recipe box from Simply Earth. Each box makes it easy to get started with essential oils and includes simple essential oil recipes and ingredients for home, health and beauty. Order your first essential oil recipe box and get a free bonus supply box with code: SOAPDELIFREE You’ll also receive a $40 discount on your second box.

More Donut Skin Care Recipes

If you like my tinted lip gloss recipe, then be sure to try these other fun donut beauty and skin care recipes. Learn how to make homemade donut soap for DIY gifts as well as exfoliating solid salt scrub bars.

Natural Lip Gloss Recipe with a Pop of Color for Fresh Summer Looks. Learn how to make this natural lip gloss recipe for a fresh fun way to add a pop of color to your summer look. Tinted with shimmering mica pigment powder, this homemade lip gloss recipe looks stunning solo or over your favorite lipstick. Scent yours with natural essential oils or add some fun with a jelly donut or watermelon flavor oil.

Repin it here.

If you like my tinted lip gloss recipe, be sure to save it to your Pinterest boards. In the meantime, you can also keep up with all my newest bath and beauty recipes by following me on Pinterest, Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter to stay updated on new recipes.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: bath and beauty, beauty diy, beauty recipe, cosmetics, gift idea, green beauty, lip balm recipe, lip gloss, lip gloss recipe, lipstick, lipstick recipe, makeup, mineral makeup, natural beauty, stocking stuffers, summer, summer skin care, tinted lip balm

Natural Skin Care Recipes for Bath & Beauty

March 21, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 28 Comments

Learn how to make your own non-toxic natural skin care recipes for everyday beauty! Three simple recipes for crafting a homemade coffee scrub, lip balm and foot soak. All with natural ingredients that you can find in your kitchen. Plus discover more homemade beauty recipes in the book, Spa Apothecary: Natural Bath & Beauty Recipes, by Stasie McArthur.

Making Natural Skin Care Recipes

I started making my own bath and body products not long after graduating from college. It started with a simple brown sugar scrub, much like the original they sold at Bath & Body Works at the mall. Melt and pour soaps soon followed. I made a lot of mistakes when starting out. Even on simple projects like melt and pour soap.

I once added too much cocoa butter to a soap base resulting in zero lather. I added dried lavender buds to another. They quickly turned brown and looked a lot like mouse poop. And while the internet is filled with a plethora of natural skin care recipes, access to reliable recipes and projects wasn’t quite the same as it is today.

I’ve found that doing your research for skin care or soap making projects beforehand can really make a difference. It saves you not just time, but money as well. After all, no one wants to make something just to have to chuck it in the waste bin.

Spa Apothecary: Natural Bath & Beauty Recipes

I’ve never really been one of those people that can afford a regular trip to the spa. So making my own spa worthy skin care products is the perfect substitute. Not only do I enjoy a quality spa experience at home, but I’m always learning something new.

If you’re ready to start your own beauty adventure, then be sure to check out Spa Apothecary: Natural Bath & Beauty Recipes. A natural skin care recipes book by Stasie McArthur, this book is the perfect introduction to making natural skin care products at home.

You can find most, if not all, of the ingredients you need for Stasie’s natural skin care recipes at your local grocery store or co-op. So you don’t have to fool with investing a lot of money in specialty ingredients you can only find online. Her recipes also make it easy to avoid costly beginner mistakes. You’ll discover not only how simple and affordable it is to unwind at home, but you’ll also learn a new craft. All without an expensive trip to the spa.

Ready to make your own natural skin care products but aren’t sure where to start? Then this book is perfect for you! Inside you’ll find a variety of natural skin care recipes to make at home in addition to helpful tips and information about the ingredients used. Plus, you’ll also discover little quips about the author’s life and friends along the way.

Natural Skin Care Recipes for Bath & Beauty

Keep reading to discover three natural skin care recipes from the book, Spa Apothecary. Then be sure to purchase a copy of Spa Apothecary to learn how you can make the switch to a healthy natural skin care routine!

Energizing Coffee Body Scrub Recipe

Yields 4 to 6 uses.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup fresh ground coffee
1/2 cup sugar (raw, brown or white)
3/4 cup carrier oil (almond, coconut, jojoba or olive oil)
3 to 4 vitamin E softgels

Directions:

Combine the coffee, sugar and carrier oil in a large glass mixing bowl. Mix until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.

Next, puncture the vitamin E softgels (just like the supplements you take to support healthy hair and skin!) and mix into the coffee scrub.

Spoon the coffee scrub into a mason jar or similar container for storage.

To use simply massage onto damp skin, then rinse off.

Natural Lip Balm Recipe

Yields approximately 30 uses.

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. organic shea butter
1 Tbsp. sweet almond oil
1/2 Tbsp. natural beeswax pellets
1/2 tsp. raw or manuka honey
1 tsp. organic pineapple extract for flavoring (optional)

Directions:

You’ll use the double boiler method to make this natural lip balm recipe. To do this, fill a pan with about two inches of water. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium.

Now mix together the shea butter, sweet almond oil, beeswax pellets and honey in a small glass jar. Gently place the jar into the pan of water, gently stirring the ingredients as they melt.

Once melted, mix again to ensure all ingredients are evenly combined. Then remove from heat and stir in the flavoring.

Finally, pour the lip balm into large lip balm pots such as metal tins or low profile jars. Once your lip balm has cooled and is fully solidify, it’s ready to be used.

Homemade Foot Soak Recipe

Yields a single use.

Ingredients:

1 cup Epsom salt
1/4 cup baking soda
3 cups warm water
1/4 cup raw honey
Juice from 1 lime
Lime pieces

Directions:

Add the Epsom salt, baking soda and water to a foot basin.

Then stir in the honey, lime juice and lime pieces.

Soak your feet in the bath soak for 20-30 minutes, then remove and pat dry.

Discover More Natural Skin Care Recipes

Ready to get your feet wet and start making your own natural skin care recipes? Then check out Stasie McArthur’s book, Spa Apothecary: Natural Bath & Beauty Recipes, to get started today!

For more natural skin care recipes and project ideas, you can follow Soap Deli News on Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: bath and beauty, bath and body, bath tutorial, beauty book, body scrub recipe, book review, coffee body scrub, diy, easy, foot soak, health and wellness, how to make lip balm, lip balm recipe, natural beauty, natural skin care

Homemade Beauty Recipes: The Most Loved Recipes from the Past Year

December 31, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon Leave a Comment

My favorite part of blogging is being able to share my homemade beauty recipes with all of you, my readers. My hope is that we can explore new ways to create beauty and skin care products together – both for fun and as a more natural alternative to commercial products. Knowing that my readers enjoy and share my homemade beauty recipes helps to keep me inspired to create more homemade beauty recipes. And hopefully my recipes in turn inspire you to make some of your own natural skin care products.

I shared quite a few new natural skin care and homemade beauty recipes in 2018. And while I previously recapped my most pinned posts for 2018, they included crafts and homemaking projects in addition to my skin care, soap and beauty recipes. Surprisingly, none of those posts were actually written in 2018. Therefore, I wanted to create a second post with your most loved homemade beauty recipes from 2018.

It brings me so much joy to be able to share these beauty favorites with you once again. Every single one of these homemade beauty recipes had at least 1000 shares over the course of the year – all because of you! My number one post however, had over 12K shares this year alone. Crazy, right?! That article was for my natural shaving soap recipe. Some of the other recipes were guests posts from other beauty bloggers. These blogs included Everything Pretty and Country Hill Cottage. I’m so happy that all of you have been part of this journey that brought me to this point. Enjoy!

Most Loved Homemade Beauty Recipes

In no particular order, here are 20 of your favorite homemade beauty recipes and Pinterest favorites written over the past year.

#1 Soothing Moisture Whip Recipe

Formulated specifically to tackle my dry hands, this soothing moisture whip recipe is a dream for dry hands and skin. This homemade beauty recipe is made using all natural ingredients and melts instantly into skin when applied. Skin soothing butters, aloe vera and witch hazel extract work to both moisturize skin and promote skin health. While a blend of lavender and vanilla essential oils lend their calming aromatherapeutic properties. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#2 Tinted Moisture Lip Whip Recipe

When I put on lipstick, I want it stay put! Unfortunately, most lipsticks with any kind of staying power tend to leave my lips feeling dry afterwards. So I created a tinted lip whip recipe for days I don’t need long lasting wear. It helps to moisturize lips while still giving them that fresh pop of color. So they not only look healthy, but they also feel amazing! One of my all time favorite homemade beauty recipes, this tinted moisture lip whip recipe is formulated to smooth, protect and condition lips to help reduce your chance of chapped lips from regular use of long wear lipsticks. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#3 Aloe Vera Soap Recipe

Dry skin, maturing skin and especially eczema prone skin all need some extra love to keep it from becoming itchy and irritated. This includes what you use to wash your skin when you take a shower. Therefore, I created a natural skin soothing aloe vera soap recipe to gently cleanse skin without stripping it of natural beneficial oils. Therefore my cold process aloe vera soap uses aloe vera gel in place of water in the recipe for its natural skin care benefits. I also included neem oil for its ability to promote skin health. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#4 Raspberry Lemonade Melt & Pour Soap Recipe

With over 6k shares in under a year, it’s easy to see why this simple melt and pour soap is one of your favorite homemade beauty recipes. It’s incredibly easy to make and is perfect for last minute gifts. Crafted from start to finish in just 10 minutes. A guest post written by Cari Dunn of Everything Pretty, this articles delves into not just how to make this recipe, but also how to customize melt and pour soaps. Plus Cari also shares the ins and outs of additives you can use for your own homemade melt and pour soap recipes. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#5 Skin Softening Hand Scrub Recipe

With winter here, it’s more important than ever to wash your hands regularly to avoid getting sick. Unfortunately, that also means you are more likely to develop dry hands. And during winter, dry skin can quickly become cracked and painful. To help solve this common dilemma, I created this easy skin softening hand scrub recipe. To make this recipe super easy to make, I started with a basic liquid Castile soap then added a variety of natural ingredients proven to hydrate skin and promote skin health. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#6 Natural Shaving Soap Recipe

If you’ve been wanting to reduce household waste, then a shaving soap is a great place to start! Shaving soaps eliminate the need for packaging and aerosol cans. They also deliver a closer shave than most traditional shaving creams. I created my natural shaving soap recipe using lanolin and neem oil to help protect skin and promote skin health. So you can get a great shave while also taking care of your skin free of toxins and preservatives! Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#7 Whipped Cucumber Hand Cream Recipe

If you had to pick just one of my handmade beauty recipes to make this weekend, I think this one would be it. Not only does this whipped hand cream recipe smell amazing, it’s an absolute delight for dry skin and hands. Made using cucumber hydrosol, this natural skin care recipe also contains bergamot essential oil, skin protecting lanolin and soothing aloe vera. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#8 Sea Salt Shampoo Bar Recipe

Finding the right no poo shampoo option can be a challenge. While shampoos free of both sulfates and surfactants are becoming more common, they can be expensive to buy on a regular basis. So why not make your own natural hair care recipes? This sea salt shampoo bar recipe is made with coconut oil, sea salt and real milk & egg as ingredients for a healthy, natural hair care alternative to commercial products. Another one of my waste free homemade beauty recipes, this shampoo bar is formulated to not only moisturize and condition hair, but also to strengthen hair and promote shine. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#9 Best Scar and Stretch Mark Treatment

Another guest post from Cari of Everything Pretty, this natural scar and stretch mark salve recipe is formulated using carrier and essential oils prized for their natural skin care benefits to promote healing and collagen production as well as reduce dark spots and boost cellular turnover. Plus its anti-aging properties also make it great for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles! Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#10 Arnica & Ginger Pain Relief Salve Recipe

One of my personal favorites from among my herbal homemade beauty recipes, this arnica & ginger salve recipe! Made with just four simple ingredients, this herbal pain relief salve not only relieves pain from bumps and bruises, it also helps with muscle pain, arthritis, sprains and carpal tunnel. The moisturizing formula also makes it a lovely herbal salve or balm for dry hands, feet and elbows. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#11 Homemade Callus Balm Recipe

If you’ve ever used a foot peeling mask, then you’ll appreciate this homemade beauty recipe. Avoid the trauma of peeling feet and whip up this natural homemade callus treatment balm instead! It’s naturally formulated with herbs and essential oils to promote skin health and soften tough calluses for healthy looking feet. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#12 Wildflower Bath Tea Recipe

This natural herbal skin care recipe is perfect for self care any time of the year. A guest post from Irena of Country Hill Cottage, this indulgent herbal bath tea is made using a combination of herbs & botanicals, natural essential oils and skin soothing oatmeal & Dead Sea salt. This fragrant wildflower bath tea is a great way to relax and care for your skin. Plus it’s perfect for homemade gifts with Valentine’s Day right around the corner! Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#13 Natural Gardeners Soap Recipe

Winter is the perfect time to make a homemade gardeners soap for spring! By making your soaps early, they have plenty of time to cure. An extended cure time not only makes your soap bars harder, but it also increases the lather and results in a gentler soap bar. This natural gardeners soap recipe is made using the cold process soapmaking method and is filled with scrubby bits of seeds and herbs to help scrub away dirt and grime. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#14 Snowflake Glitter Soap Recipe

Snow is one of my favorite things about the winter season. Unfortunately, living in Virginia we don’t see as much snow as the Northern states. However, that simply makes snow days even more enjoyable. These glitter snowflake soaps are a homage to winter and its natural glittering beauty. And these homemade melt and pour snowflake soaps are the perfect winter craft project when you find yourself in the midst of a snow day of your own! Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#15 DIY Sensitive Skin Sheet Masks

If you’re ready to dive right into more homemade beauty recipes then make sure this DIY makes your to do list! Sheet masks are all the rage but they don’t have to expensive. This guest post from Cari of Everything Pretty illustrates how to make your own DIY sheet masks for sensitive skin for less than 10¢ each! Plus learn about the natural ingredients that go into caring for your sensitive skin. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#16 Natural Antifungal Foot Salve Recipe

Don’t let your feet keep you from wearing your favorite shoes! Help treat and prevent foot and toenail fungus with this antifungal foot salve recipe instead! Crafted using coconut oil, neem oil and a blend of organic essential oils that naturally fight fungus, this can help to treat fungal foot infections as well as prevent their recurrence when used daily. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#17 Essential Oil Lip Balm Recipe

No list of homemade beauty recipes would be complete without the ever popular lip balm. Learn how to make this ginger cardamom lip balm recipe using organic essential oils for less than 50¢ each! Plus explore 30 more homemade lip balm recipes to nourish and protect lips from chapping this winter. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#17 Bacuri Butter Body Balm Recipe

When I first started using bacuri butter as a natural ingredient in my homemade beauty recipes, I had no idea they would be so popular. Once you try bacuri butter for the first time, however, you’ll understand why. This natural bacuri butter body balm recipe not moisturizes dry skin and promotes healthy looking skin, it also reduces the appearance of aging! It truly is a magical beauty product. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#18 Bacuri Butter Body Butter Recipe

Like my bacuri butter body balm recipe, this 3-ingredient bacuri body butter recipes is also a natural beauty gem. In fact, it’s possible it will be the last only body butter your skin will ever need! Formulated to moisturize and nourish dry and maturing skin, this natural bacuri body butter recipe made with three simple ingredients from the Brazilian Amazon forest that possess unique anti-aging skin care properties. So skin looks and feels younger with every use. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#18 Natural Homemade Beauty Recipes

Rather than being a single recipe, this post highlights five natural homemade beauty recipes that you can make with ingredients from your kitchen. Using ingredients like turmeric, beet root powder, coconut oil, aloe vera leaf juice and activated charcoal you can make a variety of homemade beauty recipes to fit into your natural self care beauty regimen. Create your own charcoal face mask, natural blush powder, acne treatment stick, hydrating facial mist and a 2-in-1 lip & blush beauty stick. Learn to make them here. (Shop for similar products.)

#19 CBD Natural Pain Relief Salve Recipe

You don’t need to take CBD oil internally to enjoy its natural pain relieving properties. You can also use it make a natural pain relieving salve. Learn how CBD oil can help with fibromyalgia and other types of chronic pain, including arthritis. Plus how to make your own pain relief CBD oil salve. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#20 Triple Brazilian Butter Soap Recipe

Made with a fabulous combination of three Brazilian butters – cupuacu butter, tucuma seed butter & ucuuba butter – this natural soap recipe is a dream for dry winter skin. One of the very BEST homemade soaps for winter this natural beauty bar is made with skin conditioning ingredients that nourish dry skin without stripping it. Making it the perfect soap recipe for dry skin and eczema hands down! Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

Curious about other favorite homemade beauty recipes from years past? Check out these top bath and body recipes from 2015!

For more homemade beauty recipes, sign up my semi-weekly newsletter to discover more of my original beauty and skin care recipes and projects to try throughout the new year!

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: bath and beauty, bath tutorial, beauty diy, beauty recipes, body butter recipe, essential oils, hand cream, herbal salve recipe, lip balm recipe, moisturizer, natural remedy, natural skin care, pain relief salve, salve recipe, soap recipe

Simple Plantain Salve Recipe in Natural Cocoa Mint

October 16, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

This simple plantain salve recipe is naturally scented with a lovely cocoa mint fragrance. Lovingly crafted with ingredients like roasted cocoa butter and plantain herbal oil, this natural herbal salve is a must for your herbal apothecary. Use this multi-functional, natural skin care product on eczema prone or dry skin, minor cuts and scratches or as a natural lip balm for seasonal winter skin care.

When I was a little girl I used to pick the leaves from weeds to make play salads for my parents. What I didn’t realize then was that those leaves I picked were actually edible! It wasn’t until many years later, long after I stopped making dirt pots and grass dolls, that I discovered that the weed I was so fond of, was actually an herb. That herb was plantain.

What is Plantain?

Plantain is a common broad-leaf herb commonly mistaken for a weed. This healthy, hardy plant can be found in backyards across North America and is nutritionally similar to dandelion leaves. Used medicinally by cultures around the world, plantain is a common herbal home remedy for both nutritional and topical skin care applications.

Nutritional Benefits of Plantain

Plantain leaves are best consumed while still young and tender. They have a nutty asparagus like taste that is delicious when pan fried or when added to salads. A naturally healthy herb, plantain leaves offer the following nutritional support (source):

Maintains healthy cholesterol levels
Can offer relief from irritable bowel syndrome
Calms irritation from constipation or diarrhea
Offers relief from hemorrhoids
Helps with indigestion and ulcers
Supports healthy kidneys and bladder function

You don’t have to eat plantain leaves to enjoy their nutritional benefits, however. You can also get herbal support through tinctures for cleansing & detox. Or enjoy a natural herbal tea made using organic dried plantain leaves.

Skin Care Benefits of Plantain

In addition to nutritional support, plantain leaves are also lovely when infused in a carrier oil for topical skin care applications. There are a number of natural skin care products that would benefit from the inclusion of plantain herbal oil. These products include after sun moisturizers, burn relief balms, creams or lotions for eczema or dry skin, and anti-itch salves for insect and spider bites.

Dr. Christopher’s Stings and Bites, for example, is a top selling plantain ointment. It’s crafted with natural herb constituents like plantain leaf, extra virgin olive oil and beeswax to reduce and relieve the pain, swelling and itching caused by insect stings and bites.

Due to plantain’s herbal skin care properties, it’s often used as a key ingredient for the following topical skin care applications to promote skin health:

Minor burns and sunburns
Minor cuts, scratches and lesions
Rashes and skin inflammation
Psoriasis and eczema
Dry or chapped skin or lips

To learn more about medicinal plants and herbs, be sure to check out the book, Making Plant Medicine, by Richo Chec.

Formulating An Herbal Plantain Salve Recipe

Mountain Rose Herbs has a new roasted cocoa butter available that I really wanted to try. So I was really pleased when it arrived at my doorstep last week. This stuff smells amazing. I love that it’s suited for both food and cosmetic use.

As it smells so wonderful, however, I really wanted to create a product that would highlight the natural scent of the roasted cocoa butter. I also knew I wanted something to create a natural skin care product that would be suitable for seasonal skin care and gift giving. Therefore, in the end, I opted for crafting a simple plantain salve recipe with a cocoa mint scent.

I love the simplicity of my natural plantain salve recipe. It’s formulated using just five simple ingredients – roasted cocoa butter, plantain herbal oil, beeswax, rosehip seed oil and peppermint essential oil. The cocoa mint scent, of course, is naturally derived from the inclusion of the organic peppermint essential oil and roasted cocoa butter.

Roasted Cocoa Butter

The roasted cocoa butter wafers from Mountain Rose Herbs aren’t deodorized. Therefore they retain their natural cocoa scent. Expeller pressed from the roasted seeds of the cocoa tree, these cocoa butter wafers are naturally rich in vitamin E. They can be combined with cocoa powder to make chocolate, but also make a nice addition to recipes for lip balms, body butters, homemade soaps and salves.

Plantain Herbal Oil

While plantain herbal oil is easy to make, you can also enjoy the convenience of buying pre-made plantain herbal oil. This is especially helpful if you’re wanting to make natural skin care products using plantain herbal oil right away. Or if plantain is out of season throughout the cold winter months.

I used plantain herbal oil from Mountain Rose Herbs for my simple plantain salve recipe. An emollient oil formulated using solar infused plantain olive oil and vitamin E, this herbal plantain oil is especially nourishing for dry hands and skin. Crafted with certified organic Plantago major leaves, this natural herbal oil is perfect for gardeners, wild harvesters, climbers – or anyone else who works with their hands frequently. I also like to use this herbal oil, as is, on my dog’s minor cuts and irritation for a simple and safe natural remedy for his skin.

Rosehip Seed Oil

As I have both maturing skin, as well as skin that tends to dry out more in the winter, I also used rosehip seed oil for my plantain salve recipe. While this may shorten the shelf life of your salve somewhat, I highly recommend this unique carrier oil for its essential fatty acids. Popular in natural anti-aging skin care recipes, rosehip seed oil offers marvelous hydration for dry skin and a quick absorption rate. It can also be used solo as a natural daily facial cleanser or hydrating oil.

Beeswax

A key ingredient in homemade salve recipes, beeswax gives this plantain salve recipe its thick, rich texture. It also acts as a natural skin protectant while still allowing skin to breathe. In addition to its skin protectant properties, beeswax is also a humectant (meaning it attracts water to hydrate skin) and helps to temporarily reduce and soothe itching.

The beeswax pastilles from Mountain Rose Herbs have a deep, golden color and aroma. Globally sourced from less-developed countries like South America and Africa, their beeswax helps sustain the local economy of these areas while using traditional (less-modern) processing techniques.

Peppermint Essential Oil

A sweet, candy-like scented peppermint, the organic peppermint oil from Mountain Rose Herbs helps bump my simple plantain salve recipe into peppermint patty like status. This naturally steam distilled, certified organic essential oil has a fresh, very minty, hot, herbaceous fragrance with a vegetative back note. Perfect for all types of recipes including cleaning sprays, perfumes, aroma mists and natural skin care, this is a truly aromatic essential oil.

Peppermint essential oils is commonly included in natural skincare recipes and homemade salves and balms for topical pain relief, its anti-itch properties and the cooling sensation. It also supports circulation and can calm acne inflammation.

Ready to learn how to make a plantain salve? You’ll find my simple and easy plantain salve recipe below.

Simple Plantain Salve Recipe

Ingredients:

1 oz. roasted cocoa butter
1 oz. plantain herbal oil
1 oz. beeswax
.5 oz. rosehip seed oil
20 drops peppermint essential oil

Instructions:

You will need a digital scale to weigh out the ingredients for my plantain salve recipe. In addition you’ll also need a one or two cup heat safe glass measuring cup (such as Pyrex) and a utensil to stir your salve. I typically use a fork. You’ll also need containers for your plantain herbal salve. I used 1 oz. metal tins with rolled edge covers.

Once you’ve gathered the ingredients and supplies you’ll need, you’re ready to begin.

Start by weighing out the roasted cocoa butter wafers and beeswax. Combine in a heat safe glass container. Then heat either on the stove top using the double boiler method or in your microwave at 30% power until halfway melted.

Next, weigh out the rosehip seed oil and the plantain herbal oil. Add these ingredients to the same container as the cocoa butter and beeswax. Continue gently heating the ingredients until all of the ingredients for the plantain salve recipe have completely melted.

Once melted, remove the plantain salve mixture from heat and stir to combine. Then stir in 20 drops of organic peppermint essential oils.

Now pour your plantain herbal salve evenly into five 1 oz. tins. Allow the salve to cool completely then pop on the lids and it’s ready to go.

To use, simply apply to affected area as desired and massage in. You can also keep my plantain salve tucked inside your purse to use a natural cocoa mint lip balm throughout the year.

If desired, you can decorate the lids of your tins. I used nature stickers from Art By Sharell to decorate the lids of my plantain salve containers. However, washi tape also makes a fun addition and makes a simple, yet pretty package decorating idea.

Should you wish to sell the products you make from my plantain salve recipe, there is important information that you need to know if you live in the United States. Not only do you need to follow all FDA guidelines for labeling your products, you’ll also need to refrain from making any medical claims in regards to said product. It can all be very confusing. However, Marie Gale has a great book, titled Soap and Cosmetic Labeling, that can help steer you in the right direction.

More Ways to Use Plantain Herbal Oil

If you love my simple plantain salve recipe as much as I do, then I encourage you to give these other natural skin care recipes a try. Each one is made using plantain herbal oil for nourishing natural skin care that you can make and gift.

For more great natural skin care and herbal salve recipes, as well as updates from Soap Deli News blog, be sure to follow me across all of your favorite social media platforms. You can find me on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’ and Instagram. Alternately, you can also subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

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

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Holiday DIY, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: balm, beauty balm, body balm recipe, clean, cocoa butter, dry skin balm, dry skin recipe, eczema, essential oils, gift idea, healing balm recipe, healing salve, herbal oil infusion, herbal salve recipe, holiday gift, lip balm recipe, natural alternative, natural remedy, natural skin care, plantain, rosehip seed oil, salve recipe, stocking stuffers