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

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March 24, 2020 By Rebecca D. Dillon 5 Comments

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

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

What Can I Make for a Spa Day At Home?

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

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

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

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

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

How to Make an Essential Oil Salve for Natural Skin Care

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

Benefits of Manuka Essential Oil

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

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

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

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

Benefits of Bergamot Essential Oil

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

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

Benefits of Lavender Essential Oil

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

Manuka Essential Oil for Stress and Relaxation

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

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

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

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

Manuka Essential Oil Salve Recipe

Ingredients:

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

Directions:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Natural Cold Sore Relief

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

Dry or Cracked Skin Relief

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

Facial Moisturizer or Highlighting Makeup Primer

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

Yield: Approximately 2.25 oz.

Essential Oil Salve Recipe

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

Prep Time 10 minutes

Active Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 15 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

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

Tools

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

Instructions

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

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

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

More Beauty Recipe Ideas for a Spa Day at Home

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

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

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

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

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

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

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