Hydrating Bastille Soap Recipe Plus Practical Tips on Flu Prevention

Follow me: Pinterest / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / Email
I may receive compensation from links on this site. As an Amazon Associate I also earn from qualifying purchases. See my disclosure policy.

March 12, 2020 By Rebecca D. Dillon 7 Comments

What’s the story with the coronavirus? Is it really worth a full on toilet paper war? And more importantly, how can I protect myself from the coronavirus and diminish my chances of getting sick? Learn why the coronavirus shouldn’t be dismissed as your average flu. Plus easy, everyday tips on reducing your chances of becoming infected with COVID-19. I’m also sharing my favorite, hydrating Bastille soap recipe. It’s perfect for dry hand relief from overuse of cheap liquid hand soap and alcohol based hand sanitizers. Plus it’s the perfect project (new hobby?) to make while practicing social distancing to avoid the spread of coronavirus in your community.

Why Do We Need to Be Concerned About the Coronavirus?

The coronavirus has everyone up in arms. Whether you’re taking a no nonsense approach to the whole situation, are totally freaked out, or you simply think everyone is overreacting, it’s THE news right now. What I find the most troubling about COVID-19 is what we don’t know. As of yet, we have no clue if the virus will disappear once we have regular warm weather. It doesn’t act like a typical flu virus. It’s also highly contagious.

The current statistics put 3.65% people dying from the coronavirus worldwide. (In Wuhan, that number was 4.9% of the infected population. Source. With the death rate in Italy as of 3/13/20 at 6.7%.) Which, during a bad flu season, isn’t unheard of. However, approximately one in five people who develop this illness have to be hospitalized. 10% of which will require ICU treatment, per the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine.

To make matters worse, whereas the typical flu infects only 2 to 11% of the population each year, The Atlantic states that COVID-19 has the potential to infect 40-70% of people around the world. (This is now the generally accepted position among epidemiologists as well.) And that’s where it really starts to put this virus into a very sobering perspective. At that rate, it would have the ability to kills millions in the US alone.

So if this thing spreads like wildfire, like it has in China and Italy, it can seriously hamper, and even overwhelm, our health infrastructure. (Canada is already reporting that their hospitals would be unable to cope with a coronavirus outbreak.)

And it’s not just a concern for those with weakened immune systems, cancer or anyone over the age of 60. This virus is especially dangerous to anyone with diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, anyone who smokes or vapes and those with heart, lung or kidney disease. Many of my friends and family fall into one of these categories. And while I’d like to believe I’m invincible to anything life throws my way, I know that I’m not. I’m especially concerned for friends who recently had cancer (and have weakened immune systems,) my brother who has lupus and my dad who has both high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. But beyond that, I care about the rest of the people in the world as well. Which is why I felt it was so important to address this topic on my blog.

I know I’ve made jokes, both publicly and personally, in regards to this being the beginning of the apocalypse and the start of the toilet paper wars. But what remains is that we all need to be diligent and treat this as a real and possible threat. Maybe not to the point we’re rioting outside of Walmart in Cleveland because baby formula is sold out and there’s nothing to cut crack with. But with reasonable measures in which we take not only our safety into account, but also the consideration and safety of others — most especially those at risk.

So if you’re over there hoarding toilet paper, ibuprofen, face masks and hand sanitizer, maybe check in with neighbors and donate some to those in need. I promise you don’t need a year’s supply of provisions to survive this thing. And we need the rest of the population to be able to protect themselves from the coronavirus as well. (If you have doubts, here’s a first hand account of someone who has actually had COVID-19.)

Common Sense Ways to Protect Yourself from the Coronavirus

Taking all this into account, here are some common sense ways to protect yourself from the coronavirus, or COVID-19.

Practice social distancing. That means avoiding close contact with anyone who is sick, as well as distancing yourself from people if the coronavirus is spreading in your community.
Avoid crowds or crowded areas and events.
Wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds, using soap and water. This is especially important if you have been in a public space.
If soap and water are unavailable, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. (You may want to carry some with you at all times.) To use, rub hands together until they feel dry. (If hand sanitizer is sold out, here’s how to make DIY hand sanitizer that meets CDC minimum guidelines.)
Avoid touching your face (eyes, nose, mouth) with unwashed hands.
In public, stay 6 feet (or a coughing distance) from others.
Avoid shaking hands.
Disinfect your travel mug after every outing.
Keep disinfectant by every entrance to your home.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces every day. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks. Household disinfectants should be at least 70% alcohol or an EPA-registered household disinfectant. Alternately, you can also use a bleach solution comprised of 4 teaspoons of bleach combined with 1 quart of water. (Or 1/3rd cup bleach per gallon of water.)
Avoid anyone with a cough and stay away from poorly ventilated areas.
If you need to cough, do so into your elbow or into a tissue, which is preferable, as it can be disposed of afterwards.
If possible, work remotely from home rather than going into the office. Most people get sick at work.
As there is a global shortage in face masks, donate yours to communities in need such as senior care facilities and caregivers to help slow the spread of transmission. You only need to wear a face mask if you’re sick, or caring for someone who is sick.
Donate excess supplies of hand sanitizer to those in your community who have none.
Make preparations in the chance that you do get sick and are quarantined. You will need two weeks worth of provisions, including food. (Not ten years of toilet paper.)
Don’t share anything with other people that comes in contact with your mouth or nose.
Ensure proper ventilation by keeping air circulation either by opening a window or using a fan.
Use a humidifier. Higher humidity will keep the protective membranes in your nose from drying out, which makes them less effective as they try to keep pathogens out. Mid-range humidity also appears to cause some viruses to decay faster.

Hand Washing with Soap and Water

Washing your hands is still the best way to protect yourself from the coronavirus. (I mean, we can’t all hide under a rock forever.) Unfortunately, most cheap, liquid hand soaps aren’t real soap. Much like alcohol based hand sanitizers, they can also dry out your hands when used frequently. This leaves hands feeling tight, dry and itchy. Sometimes they even crack. In turn, this leads to an endless cycle of hand washing followed with moisturizers.

But what if there was a soap that didn’t dry your hands out? An alternative that left your hands clean and also offered some level of dry skin relief?

There are actually a number of these alternatives. Many handmade, cold process soaps meet this criteria. And believe it or not, bar soap is no less sanitary than using liquid hand soap. It does the same job, without the drying side effects, provided the formula isn’t overly cleansing.

Soap can’t moisturize skin. It is, after all, a wash off product. However, it can hydrate skin. And by choosing a soap with a high level of conditioning and a lower cleansing level, you can actually avoid dry skin all together. Don’t let the lower cleansing level scare you, however. All that means is that it strips fewer oils from your skin. Soap, the combination of a fat and an alkali, is still soap. What hand washing with soap does is mechanically remove germs and pulls unwanted material off skin. Bar soaps does that.

In fact, good old soap and water is more effective than alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially if hands are visibly dirty. This is because the proteins and fats found in things, such as food tend, to reduce alcohol’s germ-killing power. It’s also favorable over antibacterial liquid hand soap containing triclosan, which contributes to antibiotic resistance. Studies have shown that both antibacterial soap versus good, old fashioned soap and water perform the same against bacteria. However, when tackling cold and flu viruses, antibacterial soap has no benefits over soap and water. This is because viruses aren’t affect by triclosan.

Tips for Washing Hands

When washing hands, there is a right way and a wrong way. Here are some tips to get the most out of washing your hands with soap and water.

Avoid scrubbing your skin when washing hands. This can easily damage skin and cause cracks and small cuts that give pathogens a place to grow.
As bacteria likes to live under fingernails, it’s wise to keep your nails short so the area underneath is easier to clean.
Use a hand lotion or other moisturizer after washing your hands. This helps to keep your skin barrier intact.
Take your time when washing your hands. It takes about a minute to properly wash your hands. (Most of us take about 5 seconds.) However, washing your hands for a full 30 seconds can drop the bacteria count by 99.9%.

How to Make Bastille Soap

If you’re in the midst of social distancing, now is a great time to learn how to make soap! And with a number of wonderful soap making suppliers online, you don’t even need to leave your home for supplies. A basic Bastille soap recipe is an easy way to get started. Not only is this hydrating Bastille soap recipe great for repetitive hand washing throughout the day, if you or your family have sensitive skin, it can also help to alleviate some of your other skin care issues.

(This portion of this post originally appeared as a guest post, written by myself, on Everything Pretty.)

What is Bastille Soap?

Formulated with a high percentage olive oil in combination with additional soapmaking oils, Bastille soap is a modern twist on traditional Castile soap which is made using only olive oil. While a traditional Castile soap recipe contains 100% olive oil, modern Castile soap has a looser definition in which Castile soap is defined as any hard soap made from olive oil in addition to other fats and oils. However, purists reject any soap not made with 100% olive oil as Castile soap and instead term soaps made primarily, but not wholly, with olive oil as Bastille soap.

Like Castile soap, Bastille soap still entertains a high percentage of olive oil. Any cold process soap made with at least 70% olive oil is considered a Bastille soap. However, because Castile soap has low lather and requires an extended cure time, Bastille soap makes a wonderful substitute that results both in a better lather as well as a harder bar.

Additionally, as olive oil historically creates a gentle soap that is well suited for sensitive or delicate skin, Bastille soap tends to be gentler on skin than other types of soap. This includes many commercial soaps and beauty bars made with detergent foaming agents and poor quality ingredients. With bastille soap there is also less of a chance that you might develop an allergic reaction to the ingredients used as typically the ingredients for homemade soaps are chosen for their purity and benefits in skin care.

My hydrating Bastille soap recipe that I’m sharing with you today is comprised of 80% olive oil. I also have included coconut and castor oil for better lather and cocoa butter to make a harder soap bar, thus shortening the cure time considerably over Castile soap.

Tips for Making a Bastille Soap Recipe

While making homemade soap from scratch using fats (soapmaking oils and butters) and an alkali (lye or sodium hydroxide) involves a bit more know how than crafting your own melt and pour soaps, getting started with a basic recipe isn’t as difficult as one might presume. In fact, this basic bastille soap recipe can made in about hour and is a lot like baking a cake in many ways, though with weights rather than liquid measurements.

There are however, certain safety precautions you should take to avoid harm when working with a caustic material such as lye. These include wearing gloves, safety glasses and a safety mask that covers your mouth and nose. Nature’s Garden actually has a wonderful article on soap making safety where you can learn more about how to best protect yourself when working with lye.

If you’ve never made cold process soap before, I have an in-depth, cold process soapmaking tutorial here that instructs you on how to get started making homemade soaps from scratch. In addition, you can also find a plethora of soap making videos on YouTube, something that wasn’t available when I first started making soap many many years ago. So hopefully you’ll feel comfortable diving right in once you have a grasp of how it all works.

I know this information can seem like a lot at first for someone new to soapmaking, however, I promise you that once you start you won’t want to stop. Not only are cold process soaps a blessing for troubled skin, but they also make beautiful and functional homemade gift ideas for friends and family.

My hydrating Bastille soap recipe yields approximately six 3.5 oz. soap bars.

Hydrating Bastille Soap Recipe

Ingredients:

1.6 oz. refined coconut oil (10%)
.8 oz. castor oil (5%)
12.8 oz. pomace olive oil (80%)
.8 oz. cocoa butter (5%)

4.85 fluid oz. distilled water (30.5% of oil weight)
2.05 oz. sodium hydroxide (8 % super fat)

1 Tablespoon sodium lactate (60% solution), optional
.5 oz. essential oil (or essential oil blend) of choice

Instructions:

To make this hydrating Bastille soap recipe, you’ll begin by measuring out the water into a non-aluminum, heat safe container. Next, using a digital scale, weigh out the lye.

In a well ventilated area, slowly pour the lye into the distilled water, then stir until all of the lye has dissolved. Now set the lye-water aside to cool.

Meanwhile, while the lye-water cools, weigh out and combine the soap making oils (coconut oil, castor oil, olive oil and cocoa butter) in a non-aluminum pot. Then heat on the stove over medium-low heat until all the oils have melted.

Remove the soap making oils from heat once the oils have melted and allow to cool.

Once both your soap making oils and lye-water have reached about 90° – 95°F you’re ready to make your hydrating Bastille soap recipe!

If desired you can add one Tablespoon of sodium lactate (60% solution) to your lye-water prior to making soap for a harder bar and to give your soap an additional boost in lather.

Now slowly pour the lye-water into the liquified soap making oils then blend with a stick or immersion blender until you reach a light trace.

Weigh out the essential oil you’ve chosen to use, if a fragrance is desired, then add to the soap batter.

Continue mixing with a stick blender until you reach a medium trace, then pour the Bastille soap batter into a six-cavity rectangle silicone soap mold.

If desired, you can add flowers or decorative, cosmetic salt to the tops of your freshly poured soap. I added blue cornflowers to the tops of my hydrating Bastille soap bars.

Cover the soap lightly with plastic wrap then set aside in a safe location for 24-48 hours.

Once your Bastille soap bars are no longer soft, remove them from the mold and allow the bars to cure in a cool, dry location for four to six weeks.

If you need to resize my hydrating Bastille soap recipe to fit another soap mold, or to make a larger batch, you will need to run the recipe back through a lye calculator prior to doing so. You can find more information on how to use a lye calculator as well as additional information on how to create custom soap recipes here.

Not ready to make my hydrating Bastille soap recipe? You can purchase a number of lovely, handcrafted Bastille soap bars from artisans on Etsy here.

Love my hydrating Bastille soap recipe? Then be sure to pin this recipe to Pinterest for later. Or explore more of my cold process soap recipes here. You can also find and follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram and Blog Lovin‘. Or sign up to receive an email whenever I share a new post!

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, Lifestyle, Soapmaking Tagged With: bastille soap, bath and body, cold process soap, cold process soap recipe, cold process soapmaking, flu, flu prevention, health and wellness, healthy living, holistic, natural alternative, natural living, natural skin care, skin care, skin care products, soap tutorial, soapmaking, wellness, winter wellness

Sleep Rollerball Recipe: A Simple Essential Oil Blend To Promote Restful Sleep

February 6, 2020 By Rebecca D. Dillon 5 Comments

Learn how to make an easy, 2-ingredient sleep rollerball recipe with a simple essential oil blend for sleep. A natural way to promote restful sleep, this essential oil blend is kid-safe and can be used even if you are pregnant or nursing. Plus discover tips on how to get a good night’s sleep by simply changing a few of your daily habits.

Using Essential Oils for Sleep

There are a lot of factors that affect one getting a good night’s sleep. For me, living with fibromyalgia has a huge impact. While I’ve worked hard to find successful ways to manage fibromyalgia symptoms, I still have bad days. Between the barometric change in pressure (rain, rain, go away) and Aunt Flo making a visit that coincides with that, I’ve been struggling hard the past few days. Not only does this mean having to step back a bit from the blog and exercise a bit of self care, it also means that I have to find ways to ensure I’m getting the best sleep I possibly can.

Previously I made an aromatherapeutic insomnia sleep spray to help promote sleep. Made with a simple essential oil blend of vetiver, lavender and ylang ylang, this sleep pillow spray works wonders. However, I know not everyone loves the ways these essential oils smell. Some people hate the scent of lavender essential oil, while others find vetiver too earthy and overpowering. That, and vetiver can give you some pretty wacky dreams. (Kind of like melatonin has a tendency to do.) Therefore, I thought I’d also share an easy sleep rollerball recipe as another natural alternative to help with sleep.

My sleep rollerball recipe requires only the purchase of a single, sleep essential oil blend. This makes this project cheaper than buying multiple essential oils up front. Rather than a blend of lavender, vetiver and ylang ylang essential oils that I used previously, this sleep essential oil blend contains lavender, grapefruit, ho wood and bergamot essential oils. It smells heavenly and it’s also child safe for kids ages 2 and up, when properly diluted. Additionally, it’s also safe if you are pregnant or breastfeeding — and a lot of us know how exhausting both of those prospects can be. Plus, by utilizing the aromatherapeutic of essential oils, there are no pills to swallow or drug interactions to worry about.

This super simple, sleep rollerball recipe is one of the recipes from a past Simply Earth essential oil recipe box. I love how easy Simply Earth makes it to get started using essential oils by including six recipes in each of their monthly boxes, in addition to the essential oils and other materials you need to create them. If you think you might be interested in giving their recipe boxes a go, then be sure to use coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE when you sign up here. You’ll score a free bonus box (with rollerball bottles, coconut oil and more) valued at $40, along with a coupon for $40 off your next order. (I used mine to score this awesome essential oil diffuser.)

Otherwise, you can simply purchase Simply Earth’s sleep essential oil blend here without having to sign up for anything at all. Or straight up purchase their pre-made Sleepy Rollerball and you’re good to go with no extra work necessary.

Here’s how to make Simply Earth’s easy, sleep rollerball recipe. (And don’t forget to check out my tips for getting a good night’s sleep after the recipe for more ideas on how to get a restful night’s sleep!)

Sleep Rollerball Recipe

Ingredients:

9 drops Sleepy essential oil blend
10 mL sweet almond oil

Instructions for making this sleep rollerball recipe:

Add nine drops of the sleep essential oil blend to a 10 mL rollerball bottle.

Then fill the remainder of the bottle with sweet almond oil. Then swirl to mix.

Cap the rollerball bottle before screwing on the lid.

How to Use Your Sleep Essential Oil Blend:

To use your aromatherapeutic sleep essential oil blend you made from this sleep rollerball recipe, simply apply to pulse points as needed to promote a restful sleep.

Don’t want to use this sleep essential oil blend in a rollerball bottle? Learn how to use this sleep essential oil blend to create an aromatherapeutic sleep pillow spray here. Or simply add a few drops of the sleep essential oil blend to your diffuser to promote a restful night’s sleep.

Alternately, you can also try this aromatherapy roll on recipe for rest and relaxation. It’s made with an essential oil blend for sleep that includes lavender, mandarin, bergamot and ylang ylang essential oils.

Looking to learn even more about essential oils and their aromatherapeutic benefits? Be sure to check out Simply Earth’s new Essential Oil Hero Course. This extensive course on essential oils not only provides you with recipes and the knowledge you need to use essential oils safely, it also comes with a fabulous essential oil starter kit. And, there’s even the option to pay for the course over time. Learn more here.

But, before you leave, check out my tips on getting a good night’s sleep below!

Tips for Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

While products such as melatonin, herbal supplements and even aromatherapy — like my sleep rollerball recipe — can help promote a restful night’s sleep, there are also simple activities and changes you can make in your day to day lifestyle to help you get a good night’s sleep. Following are a few simple tips to help you sleep better naturally.

Stay active and exercise daily, even if you’re just taking a walk around the block.
Ditch electronic devices two hours before bedtime. That means no tv, video games, computers or cell phones.
Increase your time outdoors. Two hours of sunshine a day can improve your quality and duration of sleep by up to 80%.
Skip caffeinated beverages all together. If this isn’t doable, then avoid drinking any beverages with caffeine after 2pm or at least seven hours prior to your normal bedtime.
Don’t drink alcohol. The consumption of alcohol can seriously disrupt your sleep patterns as well as reduce your body’s natural melatonin production.
Avoid eating meals before going to bed. Your last meal of the day should be at least three hours before hitting the hay. Otherwise, it can disrupt hormones and affect sleep quality.
Stick to a consistent schedule. Keeping a regular schedule by getting up and going to bed at the same time everyday can help you get consistent, better quality sleep.
Need a nap? If you must take a nap during the day, limit that nap to no more than a half hour.
Make sure you’re getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs by taking a daily multivitamin or supplements. Low levels of things like B6 and magnesium can definitely affect sleep quality as well as your ability to fall asleep.

Do you have tips for getting a good night’s sleep? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

And don’t forget to pin this easy sleep rollerball recipe to Pinterest for later. (You can also find and follow on me on Pinterest here.)

For more ways to use essential oils for home, healthy and beauty, be sure to follow my Essential Oils Pinterest board. Or for more great recipes and projects from Soap Deli News, be sure to follow me on Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up for my newsletter.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: aromatherapy, essential oil blend, essential oil recipes, essential oils, health and wellness, healthy living, herbal remedies, home remedies, home remedy, natural alternative, natural remedy, self care, simply earth, sleep, wellbeing, wellness

Whipped Sugar Scrub Recipe To Naturally Exfoliate & Hydrate Skin

January 18, 2020 By Rebecca D. Dillon 8 Comments

If you have dull or dry skin, give it a boost with this homemade whipped sugar scrub recipe. Made with natural skin care ingredients, this DIY whipped sugar scrub naturally exfoliates and hydrates skin. So you get soft, beautiful glowing skin with a more youthful appearance. Say goodbye to tight, dry, itchy or even flaky skin today by adding this easy, homemade beauty recipe to your natural skin care routine!

I was recently discussing skin care with a fellow friend in Ohio. Her skin barrier really struggles through the winter months despite taking measures to hydrate dry skin, such as using gentle soap formulated for dry skin and running a humidifier. As a result, her eczema recently flared back up.

She’s tried SOOOO many over the counter skin care products without much luck. So I suggested she give this recipe for an emulsified whipped sugar scrub a try. As a fellow maker, not only did she love this winter skin care recipe, it actually helped her skin look and feel healthier! My eczema relief balm then assisted further by locking in moisture and soothing her itchy, eczema prone skin.

Formulating a Hydrating Whipped Sugar Scrub for Natural Winter Skin Care

Whether you’re looking for a homemade gifts for her or simply a nourishing way to care for your own skin, this whipped sugar scrub recipe is a treat! While I developed this recipe for my own winter skin care routine, it’s a delight year round for anyone looking for smoother, hydrated skin! The third in my series of self care recipes — the previous two being my skin conditioning whipped body butter recipe and my chocolate mint lip scrub recipe — this whipped sugar scrub recipe offers exceptional dry skin relief. You’re simply going to love its ability to soothe your tight, dry or itchy skin!

My whipped sugar scrub recipe is emulsified so it doesn’t feel oily like straight carrier oil and sugar type body scrubs. Formulated with ingredients that won’t clog pores or cause acne, this whipped sugar scrub recipe is made with skin conditioning shea and cocoa butters, along with jojoba and hemp seed oil.

Hemp seed oil, which is naturally rich in fatty acids, is considered to be one of the most nutritional oils available. It has a number of both nutritional and cosmetic uses, and contains all the essential amino acids necessary for health and wellness. As such, hemp seed oil is one of my favorite carrier oils for dry skin care. It works wonders at soothing the symptoms of dry skin and offering eczema relief. Therefore, it is also a key ingredient in many of my other dry skin care recipes such as my dry skin body oil recipe.

Ready to add a lush whipped sugar scrub to your natural skin care routine? You can learn how to make my emulsified whipped sugar scrub recipe below.

Emulsified Whipped Sugar Scrub Recipe

Ingredients:

3 oz. refined shea butter
3 oz. raw cocoa butter
1 oz. hemp seed oil
.5 oz. jojoba oil
.5 oz. vegetable based emulsifying wax
.25 oz. all natural fragrance oil or .15 oz. essential oil, of choice
13.5 oz. granulated white sugar

Whipped Sugar Scrub Recipe Notes:

As the contents product may come in contact with water during use, a broad spectrum preservative is highly recommended. If you choose not to use a preservative, you should remove the desired amount from the container for use, prior to entering the shower or bath.

Instructions:

You will need a digital scale to weigh all of the ingredients for my whipped sugar scrub recipe. If you make, or plan to make, a lot of natural skin care products, I recommend this baker’s math scale for durability.

Using a digital scale, weigh out the shea butter, cocoa butter and emulsifying wax. Combine the ingredients in a double boiler, then gently heat until melted.

Once the butters and wax have melted, remove from heat.

Then weigh out the jojoba and hemp seed oils. Stir the oils into the melted butter and wax mixture.

If using a preservative, weigh out the amount indicated by the manufacturer. Stir into the ingredients once the whipped sugar scrub base is at or below the recommended temperature.

Then follow with the fragrance oil or essential oil of your choice.

Next, weigh out the sugar and combine in a large glass bowl with the liquid ingredients. Mix well to combine.

Allow to cool slightly before whipping with a hand blender, stand mixer or whisk.

Now pour or spoon the whipped sugar scrub into a 20 oz. jar. I used a 20 oz. square glass jar with a clasp lid that I purchased from the Dollar Tree. (These are such a great price! I mean, it’s hard to beat a dollar, right?)

If desired, you can tie a ribbon around your container into a bow for homemade gifts. I used floral garden ombre sheer ribbon from the Dollar Tree for this step.

Yield: 1 - 20oz. jar

Natural Whipped Sugar Scrub Recipe

Make this natural whipped sugar scrub recipe for dry skin relief. This homemade sugar scrub recipe is emulsified so it's not greasy like traditional scrubs. Formulated with naturally exfoliating sugar and hydrating skin care ingredients, this DIY whipped body butter is the perfect bath time treat to hydrate and exfoliate skin as part of your daily natural skin care routine for soft, beautiful skin.

Active Time 25 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

3 oz. refined shea butter
3 oz. raw cocoa butter
1 oz. hemp seed oil
.5 oz. jojoba oil
.5 oz. vegetable based emulsifying wax
.25 oz. all natural fragrance oil or .15 oz. essential oil, of choice
13.5 oz. granulated white sugar

Tools

digital scale
large glass bowl
hand mixer
spatula
20 oz. glass jar
ribbon

Instructions

Weigh out the shea butter, cocoa butter and emulsifying wax. Combine the ingredients in a double boiler. Heat until melted.
Once melted, remove from heat.
Weigh out the jojoba and hemp seed oils. Stir the oils into the melted butter and wax mixture.
Follow with the fragrance oil or essential oil of your choice.
Weigh out the sugar and combine in a large glass bowl with the liquid ingredients. Mix well to combine.
Allow to cool slightly. Then whip with a hand blender, stand mixer or whisk.
Pour or spoon the whipped sugar scrub into a 20 oz. glass jar. Then decorate with ribbon, if desired.

Notes

More Whipped Sugar Scrub Recipes

If you love my emulsified whipped sugar scrub recipe as much as I do, then you’ll also love some of these other whipped sugar scrub recipes:

Also be sure to try my skin softening, emulsified sugar scrub recipe for dry hands.

Don’t have time to make my emulsified whipped sugar scrub right now? Then be sure to pin this winter skin care recipe to Pinterest for later.

Also make sure you download my free printable self care journal. It’s perfectly sized for your Happy Planner and it even comes with printable skin care recipe cards so you can keep track of your own natural skin care recipes for healthy looking, glowing skin!

For more great winter skin care recipes, be sure to check out my Pinterest board, Winter Skin Care Recipes for Natural Beauty. You can also find Soap Deli News on social media for more great DIY ideas. Follow me now via facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive an email whenever I share a new post!

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: anti-aging, bath and beauty, bath and body, dollar tree, dry skin, dry skin recipe, exfoliate, exfoliating, gift idea, gift ideas for women, gifts for women, Mother's Day gifts, natural alternative, natural skin care, self care, Valentine's Day gifts, vegan, whipped sugar scrub, winter, winter skin care

Best Natural Deodorant for Women with Sensitive Skin (Without Baking Soda!)

January 8, 2020 By Rebecca D. Dillon 8 Comments

On the hunt for the best natural deodorant for your sensitive skin? It can be super frustrating finding that perfect natural deodorant without baking soda that actually works. I know. I’ve literally tried a TON of them! Luckily, there’s a new brand in town that blows the competition out of the water. Not only, that, but my quest for the best natural deodorant is FINALLY (omg FINALLY!) over!

My quest for the best natural deodorant started just over 2 1/12 years ago. I have fibromyalgia. And if you have chronic pain, or know someone who does, you know that we prioritize our health like a rhino charging through the bush. We also don’t give up. Not ever.

Ditching aluminum based antiperspirants was part of this charge. Unfortunately, while there are a ridiculous amount of options for natural deodorants at this point in the game, they aren’t all what they’re cracked up to be. And, because I can’t use a natural deodorant with baking soda, my hunt to unravel the mystery as to the best natural deodorant without baking soda (that actually works) has been a years long guessing game of trying new products. I’ve even made many of my own natural deodorant recipes. (Which sadly, isn’t always possible when you have a busy lifestyle.) And I’ve even gone so far as to combine products. (Like when I found one deodorant that worked but caused irritation without a buffer layered under it.) Unfortunately, I never found the best of the best. That is, until now.

You’re probably thinking what I was thinking, no way. But here’s the thing. Natural deodorants are trending. And for so many great reasons! That means new companies are popping up all the time with new formulas. It’s also why you’ve likely never heard of this company. It’s brand new, but nevertheless amazing.

Why Should I Use A Natural Deodorant?

First, however, I really want to share with you the benefits of swapping out your antiperspirant for a natural deodorant. Along with the reasons you shouldn’t be using an aluminum laden antiperspirant in the first place!

To put it simply, our bodies are designed by nature to sweat. This includes our armpits. Using antiperspirants with aluminum clogs the pores located in our armpits. This in turn causes bacteria (ick!) and toxins (ew.) to get trapped in said pores. So while not sweating may seem like a good idea, over time it can lead to a whole host of other problems. The major differences I found when making the switch to a natural deodorant were that A.) I started to sweat less over time. And B.) My sweat didn’t smell like I’d been rotting all over the four corners of hell.

Natural deodorants don’t clog pores — a MAJOR benefit. Instead, they contain ingredients that naturally fight odor causing bacteria rather than just masking your otherworldly stench. These ingredients often include bacteria resistant carrier oils and/or essential oils. Sometimes these ingredients also include probiotics, prebiotics or minerals like zinc or magnesium.

$The best natural deodorant without baking soda for sensitive skin for women. On the hunt for the best natural deodorant for your sensitive skin? It can be super frustrating finding that perfect natural deodorant without baking soda that actually works. In addition to natural essential oils, these natural deodorants for sensitive skin contain fractionated coconut oil, arrowroot powder, beeswax, tapioca starch, mango butter and zinc, and are paraben free and aluminum free.$

What’s the Best Natural Deodorant for Sensitive Skin?

Like I said before, I’ve tried a ton of natural deodorants in search of the perfect one. I’ve written numerous blog posts that chronicle that journey, and I’ve even made my own. Because natural deodorant with baking soda gives me an itchy, angry, painful rash (regardless of the formulation) I’ve also had the bonus challenge of trying to find a natural deodorant without baking soda that actual works for more than two hours at a time. It really has been incredibly frustrating. And this journey definitely hasn’t been easy. There were a few times I almost considered switching back to an antiperspirant. But I’ve stuck it out, and more than two years later, I actually found the best natural deodorant for sensitive skin without baking soda. (Hooray!)

WildRoot Aluminum and Paraben Free Deodorant

My saving grace is — wait for it — WildRoot Natural Deodorant. Owned by the same company that launched the Simply Earth Monthly Essential Oil Recipe Box some time back (Score $40 off your 2nd order of ANYTHING btw with coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE when you sign up!) WildRoot deodorant is both alumunium free and paraben free. So it’s the perfect switch if you’re trying to live a healthier lifestyle. They offer two formulas — the regular version of their natural deodorant with baking soda and a sensitive formula without baking soda — both in a variety of natural fragrances scented with Simply Earth brand essential oils.

WildRoot Natural Deodorant Sensitive Skin Formula

I tried the WildRoot sensitive formula in two scents: Wildflower and Meadow. I love them both! The Wildflower natural deodorant is naturally scented with lavender and ylang ylang essentials oils. While the Meadow natural deodorant from WildRoot contains mandarin and lemongrass essential oils (and is technically unisex if there’s a special guy in your life.) In addition to essential oils, these deodorants also contain fractionated coconut oil (which is basically the same thing as MCT oil), arrowroot powder, beeswax, tapioca starch, mango butter and an easily absorbed form of zinc.

I absolutely LOVE this deodorant. And without a doubt I can say it is the BEST natural deodorant without baking soda that I’ve ever tried. It’s just as effective at controlling odor as my antiperspirant was, but without the negative harmful side effects.

Ready to make a difference in your daily skin care routine? Check out WildRoot natural deodorant today! (Use coupon code: YOUROCK20 for 20% off your first order.)

For more great natural product, recipes and ideas from Soap Deli News, make sure to follow me on facebook, twitter, pinterest and instagram as well as on Blog Lovin’. You can also sign up to receive an email whenever I share a new post!

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, Lifestyle, Shopping Tagged With: deodorant, deodorant stick, essential oils, health and wellness, healthy living, lifestyle, natural, natural alternative, natural beauty, natural skin care, sensitive skin, shopping

Whipped Body Butter Recipe: Natural Winter Skin Care for Dry Skin Relief

January 6, 2020 By Rebecca D. Dillon 4 Comments

Don’t let dry skin leave your skin a raw, itchy mess this winter. Nourish it naturally instead with this hydrating whipped body butter recipe! This recipe for whipped body butter is the perfect addition to your winter skin care routine for natural, dry skin relief. It’s also the perfect skin care recipe for your self care routine, and the second in a my series of self care recipes. Keep reading to learn how to make this rich, skin conditioning whipped body butter recipe scented with an all-natural lemon creme fragrance oil.

Tips for Hydrating Dry Skin this Winter

I’ve always had sensitive, and often eczema prone skin — ever since I was a child. Now that my skin is also in that delightful “maturing” stage, I have to use a moisturizer throughout the winter months. Otherwise I’m likely to scratch my skin raw. Of course, there are other steps I take as well, help my skin stay hydrated throughout the colder months.

Choose a rich body butter with natural ingredients, over lotions comprised primarily of water, to hydrate skin and help lock in moisture. (My whipped body butter recipe is an excellent choice!)
Avoid products with ingredients that can dry skin out further. These include perfumes, clays, charcoal, salicylic acid and certain essential oils, such as tea tree oil.
Drink more water to hydrate skin from the inside out. While it’s common advice to drink the equivalent of a half gallon of water a day, this isn’t necessarily true for everyone. The new rule of thumb is drink when you feel thirsty. So if winter leaves you feeling parched, reach for an extra bottle of water. Urine should be light yellow or clear if you’re staying properly hydrated.
Some websites recommend using petroleum jelly, or mineral oil, to lock in moisture. The problem with this is that it’s usually created from a petroleum by product. (Ew.) Plus, it doesn’t allow skin to breathe. If you really need a solid skin protectant, try natural skin care products with beeswax or lanolin instead. (My winter hand salve recipe is an easy recipe for winter skin care that uses one or both of these natural ingredients.)
Skip the hot showers and try warm baths instead. Not only is the cooler water is more gentle and skin, but you can add any number of skin soothing or moisturizing skin care products to your bath water. A long soak in an oatmeal or homemade milk bath is great at soothing dry, itchy skin. While bath melts naturally condition and help hydrate dry skin so if feels soft and nourished. (Be sure to try my natural aloe vera bath melts recipe for dry skin relief!)
Opt for a natural handcrafted soap formulated specifically for winter skin care. This Brazilian triple butter soap recipe for dry skin and eczema is my favorite for natural, winter skin care. It won’t strip skin of beneficial oils, and it’s unscented so it’s perfect for even the most sensitive skin.
Both gas and electric heat can strip moisture from the air. Using a humidifier in your home can reintroduce the moisture lost from these utilities when set at 60%.

Formulating The Best DIY Whipped Body Butter for Dry Skin Relief

Unlike other recipes for whipped body butter, my homemade whipped body butter recipe omits coconut oil, which can cause breakouts, and opts for a carrier oil more favorable to dry skin if you have issues with acne. Sweet almond oil is not only excellent for dry skin relief, it is also suitable for all skin types including maturing skin, sensitive skin, normal skin and even oily skin.

However, if you have a nut allergy, avocado oil or olive oil are both deeply nourishing oils for dry skin. Alternately, if you prefer a less greasy whipped body butter that absorbs more quickly, try a “dry” carrier oil, which has quicker absorption rates, such as rosehip seed oil — my favorite for mature skin! — avocado oil, camelina oil, grapeseed, safflower and sunflower oil.

(To learn more about carrier oils and their benefits in skin care, check out the book, Carrier Oils: A beginner’s guide to using over 40 carrier oils in bath and beauty recipes. You can read it for free with kindle unlimited.)

Additionally, unlike those simple 3-ingredient whipped body butter recipes, my whipped body recipe is emulsified. Formulated with the addition of a vegetable based emulsifying wax, my recipe for whipped body butter absorbs more quickly than traditional recipes. It also has a higher melting point. Not only is this helpful if need a rich moisturizer during warmer months, it also means your whipped butters hold their shape better than their predecessors. A plus if you’re making natural skin care recipes to sell online or at craft fairs.

Like an emulsified sugar scrub recipe, this does not mean my recipe for homemade whipped body butters contains water. It does not. Therefore, you skip the preservative for a winter skin care recipe that’s easy to execute.

Finally, while synthetic fragrances can irritate sensitive skin, there are natural fragrances you can try if fragrance is your thing. In keeping with the natural skin care theme for my whipped body butter recipe, I chose an all natural Lemon Creme fragrance oil from Nature’s Oil. Made using only natural ingredients, this fragrance is sweet, creamy! Think warm caramelized sugar and rich vanilla custard combined with fresh lemon zest.

Alternately you can also use your favorite essential oil blend for your skin type at .5% of the recipe weight. You can find an anti-aging essential oil blend, that’s also great for dry skin, via my natural exfoliating body polish recipe. (Psst. This is another fab recipes for both self care and winter skin care.)

Lemon Creme Whipped Body Butter Recipe

Ingredients:

6 oz. roasted cocoa butter wafers
6 oz. refined shea butter
1 oz. sweet almond oil, or other carrier oil of choice
1 oz. vegetable-based emulsifying wax
.15 oz. natural Lemon Creme fragrance oil, or .05 oz. essential oil(s)
3-5 drops non-GMO vitamin E oil

Tools for making homemade whipped body butter:

It’s pretty easy to make my whipped body butter recipe. However you will need a few tools to get the job done. These include the following:

digital kitchen scale
immersion blender with whisk attachment, or mixer of choice
large glass bowl
utensil for mixing
double boiler or microwave

Instructions:

To make this natural whipped body butter recipe, begin by using a digital to scale to weigh out the vegetable-based emulsifying wax, cocoa butter wafers and shea butter. Heat either in a double boiler, or at 30% powder in the microwave, until completely melted.

Once these ingredients for your whipped body butter recipe have melted, remove from heat. Combine in a large glass bowl. Then weigh out the sweet almond oil and fragrance oil, and stir into the melted butters and wax.

Follow with several drops of vitamin E oil and stir well, ensuring all the ingredients are evenly incorporated throughout the body butter mixture. (You may use either an immersion blender or a utensil of your choice for this step.)

Now place the body butter in your refrigerator to cool. You’ll remove the body butter from the refrigerator once it starts to look opaque.

After you’ve taken the body butter out of the refrigerator, you can now whip some air into it! Use the whisk attachment on an immersion blender for a more dense whipped body butter. For an extra fluffy, whipped body butter, try using either a hand blender or a KitchenAid stand mixer.

Whip the body butter to your desired fluffiness. However, be sure not to over whip your whipped body butter as the heat from mixing can cause it to deflate.

If your body butter doesn’t seem to be doing much, it could be it’s still a bit too warm. In this care, simply allow the body butter to cool for a little while longer, then try again. For faster cooling times, you can also place the body butter into the freezer for 5-10 minutes, as needed.

Finally, spoon your whipped body butter into containers of your choice. The number of containers you’ll need depends largely on how much air you whipped into your body butters. I used the whisk attachment on a my immersion blender for whipping and was able to fill 3-4 low profile 4 oz. jars. (I got my containers from SKS Bottle & Packaging.)

If desired, you can label your containers of whipped body butter to keep track of the contents, or to give them as homemade gifts.

Yield: 3-4 4 oz. jars

Whipped Body Butter Recipe with Essential Oils

Hydrate your dry skin with this natural whipped body butter recipe with essential oils for the perfect addition to your winter skin care routine for dry skin relief.

Active Time 15 minutes

Additional Time 30 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

6 oz. roasted cocoa butter wafers
6 oz. refined shea butter
1 oz. sweet almond oil
1 oz. emulsifying wax
05 oz. essential oil(s) of choice
3-5 drops non-GMO vitamin E oil

Tools

digital kitchen scale
stand mixer
large glass bowl
utensil for mixing
double boiler

Instructions

Weigh out the emulsifying wax, cocoa butter wafers and shea butter using a digital scale. Heat in a double boiler until melted.
Remove from heat and combine in a large glass bowl.
Weigh out the sweet almond oil and essential oils. Stir into the melted butters and wax.
Add the vitamin E oil and mix well using a utensil.
Place the body butter in the refrigerator to cool. Remove once it starts to look opaque.
Use a stand mixer to whip the body butter until fluffy. Then spoon into containers of choice.

Natural whipped body butter recipe with an all-natural lemon creme scented fragrance oil. Add this delightfully scented DIY whipped body butter with roasted cocoa butter, shea butter & a lemon fresh bakery scent to your natural skin care routine. The perfect natural DIY moisturizer for any natural beauty regimen, this non greasy body butter recipe is a must for dry skin relief. Plus tips on how to hydrate dry skin for soft, healthy looking skin. Get beautiful skin with these best beauty tips.

More Whipped Body Butter Recipes

Now that you’ve tried my lemon creme whipped body butter recipe, also be sure to check out my chocolate mint lip scrub recipe for relief of dry or chapped lips. It’s the first in this year’s series of self care posts. And be sure to download my free printable self care journal. It’s perfectly sized for your Happy Planner and it even comes with printable skin care recipe cards!

Or try one of these other, amazing homemade whipped body butter recipes for dry skin care this winter.

If you like my lemon creme whipped body butter recipe, then be sure to pin it for later! Then, for more winter skin care recipes for dry skin relief, be sure to follow Soap Deli News. You can follow me now on facebook, twitter, pinterest and instagram. Or find me on Blog Lovin’. Or sign up to receive an email whenever I share a new post!

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: bath and beauty, beauty diy, beauty hacks, beauty tips, body butter, body butter recipe, natural alternative, natural beauty, natural skin care, self care, vegan, whipped body butter, winter, winter skin care