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Exfoliating Body Polish Recipe with Anti-Aging Essential Oils for Natural Skin Care

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November 25, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 4 Comments

Skip the synthetic foaming agents, fragrances and other artificial ingredients in Dove exfoliating body polish and make your own! My natural exfoliating body polish with anti-aging essential oils is a natural alternative that you’ll absolutely fall in love with. Plus discover more natural ways to care for your skin through whole body care using natural plant-based ingredients, botanicals and essential oils.

If your skin is like mine, you probably grew up with itchy bumps from dry skin. Or maybe dairy triggered excruciating eczema. My mom used to rinse our clothes twice because the synthetic fragrances in everything (EVERYTHING!) back then would break both my brother and I out in hives. Luckily, we know more about the ingredients in the everyday products we use. And there are a lot more options.

Unfortunately, factors outside of our control such as seasonal changes and age, can still make skin care a challenge. As we age it becomes more important than ever to care for your skin both from the inside and on the outside. There are a number of herbal remedies and foods we can ingest to care for our skin in addition to staying hydrated by drinking more water. But sometimes that’s not always enough. That’s where external skin care comes in. Together, both nutrition and external skin care are able to work in tandem for skin that looks and feels healthy.

Using An Exfoliating Body Polish for Natural Anti-Aging Skin Care

As winter weather starts sneaking in, I always always have to increase my water intake. Unfortunately, dry skin still likes to sneak in – even if I keep my gut health in check. And, as I’ve ventured into my forties, it’s actually gotten worse. My biggest skin care pet peeve has to be unsightly skin tags though. I mean, what are those? Due to the cold weather coupled with aging (OMG my hands betray my age every single time if not properly moisturized) I really have to amp up my natural skin care care routine in the winter.

My favorite way to fight both the visible effects of aging as well as dry skin is by using an exfoliating body polish. It’s really an incredibly simple and easy way to exfoliate and hydrate skin. Plus, by simply adding a few essential oils, I can give my exfoliating body polish an extra anti-aging boost to help fight the visible signs of aging and encourage cellular turnover. Used regularly, my natural exfoliating body polish not only gives me beautiful soft skin, it also helps to diminish the visible signs of aging. So (fingers crossed) I can on looking a decade younger than my real age.

Why Use a Natural Exfoliating Body Polish?

If you have sensitive skin or even chronic health issues, then you probably already avoid artificial fragrances and other synthetic ingredients. It’s through personal experience, and that unpleasant reaction, that you understand the impact certain ingredients can have. For me, I know artificial fragrances not only irritate my skin but often they trigger an allergic reaction in other ways, whether it’s a pounding headache or sneezing. Likewise, the aluminum in many commercial deodorants also throws my body out wack. (Since switching to natural deodorant, I have fewer problems. I also sweat less AND my sweat doesn’t stink like it did.)

As my exfoliating body polish recipe is all natural, I don’t have to worry about allergies or sensitivities to synthetic ingredients. I’m able to source my ingredients for my skin care recipes from businesses I trust. Therefore I always know what’s going onto (and possibly into) my skin. Because skin care is so important to me, I love to use fair trade and organic ingredients from Mountain Rose Herbs whenever possible. I’ve been shopping with them since 1995 and I’ve found that their ingredients make a huge difference in my natural skin care recipes. I also know I can always trust them to provide pure essential oils at a reasonable price for maximum quality.

By choosing quality skin care ingredients and combining them in recipes designed for anti-aging skin care, I’m able to naturally care for my maturing skin without the fear of accelerating aging or causing additional skin damage.

Formulating Your Own Custom Skin Care Products

While making your own natural skin care products is fine and dandy, it’s important to know if the recipes you’re using are safe. It’s also important to have a solid understanding of the ingredients that are beneficial to your skin in addition to why and how they are useful. This lays the foundation for you to begin formulating your own customer skin care recipes. Therefore, before I share my natural exfoliating body polish recipe with you, I first want to tell you how to get started creating your own custom body formulations.

Getting Started Making Natural Skin Care Recipes

Twenty short years ago, I started making my own soap. The Internet was in its infancy, so there weren’t a lot of resources available online. I had to go to the actual library and order real books online to get more information. When I made the natural transition to DIY natural beauty and skin care seven years ago, there still wasn’t a lot of information online. What was available was hard to find and not always reliable or even safe. (The very first olive oil Castile soap recipe I tried didn’t even mention WEIGHING the ingredients!)

Even though I consider myself somewhat advanced when it comes to making natural skin care products, I still have a lot to learn. And I’m amazed by just how much there is to learn. There are so many different ingredients I don’t know enough about. Not to mention safe usage for herbs and essential oils. These vary not just based on the ingredient but a person’s age as well as health can play a huge factor as well.

Of course, going back to school is not an option for me. Tuition, as you know, is completely out of control. (My son’s college was $43k a year to live off campus! Thank goodness scholarships covered the bulk of it.) So instead, I take the courses offered by The Herbal Academy. I recently took their Botanical Skin Care course and learned so much about herbs and their role in natural beauty. Not only is this course full of skin care recipes for the face and body, but it also has advice for using herbal supplements for better skin health. And that additional insight was invaluable! I love how everything I need to know is one place so I don’t have to hunt down information. And, if I want to learn more, additional resources are provided so I can access more research if needed.

What’s In The Botanical Skin Care Course?

If you’re new to The Herbal Academy, they offer full courses on how to use herbs in your daily life. The courses are all online, and you can complete them at your own pace. Once you buy access to a course, you’ll have online access to the course for one year. Once completed, you’ll earn your certificate. (Don’t worry about losing access to the course after a year, however. The entire course can be downloaded via PDF format so you can refer back to it for as long as you need. Just like old school paper books.)

They have classes for general herbalism learning from beginner to advanced, so you can take classes no matter your current skill level. They also offer specialized courses a few times a year. (Alternately, if you can’t take on a huge course at this time – because life – then consider a membership to The Herbarium.)

In the Botanical Skin Care Course, you’ll learn:

The Foundations of Supporting the Skin
Skin and Sun
Choosing Herbs for Your Skin Type
Support for Chronic Skin Conditions (including topical and how to care for your skin from the inside out)
Support for Acute Skin Conditions

This course is full of natural skin care recipes that you can make at home. The best part is that the recipes are formulated for every skin type. They give several recipes for cleansing, masks, scrubs, toners, serums and moisturizers for your daily skin care routine. Each recipe has information about the type of skin it’s best for, so you can create a custom skin care routine for your skin’s needs.

It also has a module on protecting your skin from the sun, which can help reduce the signs of aging from sun damage. There are several natural skin care recipes to use on your skin after spending time in the sun to keep your skin looking amazing after sun exposure.

One module is devoted to choosing the best herbs for your skin type beyond the typical dry or oily skin. It takes into consideration both your natural skin type and the climate in which you live. There’s a printable worksheet so you can determine your skin’s needs and choose the best herbs for your skin type.

Learn more about both chronic and acute skin conditions in the next two modules. Internal factors can cause some chronic skin conditions like eczema, acne, psoriasis and rosacea. It not only teaches you about the best herbs for these conditions both topically and to use as a supplement, but it also has several recipes to make at home.

The Herbal Academy recommends using Mountain Rose Herbs. As previously mentioned, I’ve been using Mountain Rose Herbs for many many years. They offer high quality herbs at affordable prices. Pus, when you sign up for the Botanical Skin Care Course, you’ll get a discount on herbs through Mountain Rose Herbs as an extra perk.

Why I Love the Botanical Skin Care Course

Like I said, when I started making DIY bath and body products, there wasn’t a lot of information available. Now there is, but I want to make sure that I’m using being responsible with herbs, essential oils and other natural ingredients. I also want to make sure that you, my readers, are getting the most accurate information.

The Herbal Academy is a trusted source for using herbs at home. Their team of herbalists have studied herbs and how to use them safely for years. I feel confident using their courses because they have done the research and know how to use herbs for natural beauty.

I love the fact that I can learn at my own pace. Some weeks I have several hours to devote to working on the course, but other weeks I only have an hour or two to learn. Since the courses are self guided and available for download, you have plenty of time to read through the course and learn.

The online format is very convenient for me. It’s perfect for most people because you can learn at any time, day or night. For those who have full time jobs or families, this is an easier way to learn than taking a class. You can also learn on your couch in your pajamas if you want to. It’s also a great option for those who don’t live close to an herbal class because you don’t need to worry about getting there for each class.

Not only is The Herbal Academy convenient, but it’s also affordable. If you attended these classes in person, expect to pay a lot more per class. Taking an online course is a great way to learn about herbs without investing a lot of money.

As you read through the course, you may have some questions. The Herbal Academy offers support with printed materials and live forums. They are also active on social media. They answer phone calls and emails to help you understand the course and answer questions that you may have.

I’ve taken several courses at The Herbal Academy, but the Botanical Skin Care course is probably my favorite so far. It has a lot of information in it, but it’s broken down into manageable modules for easier learning.

I use herbs both as natural supplements and topically for skin care. This course taught me more about using them as a supplement to help my skin from the inside out. There are recipes for herbal teas that you can make to support your skin’s health.

The course is also available as a PDF, so you can print it and read it on paper if you want. I like that option so I can highlight and make notes. After spending most of my day on the computer editing photos and writing, my eyes need a break from the screen. This is a great option for those who want to reduce screen time or eye strain from blue light.

In fact, it was the Herbal Academy Botanical Skin Care course that inspired my anti-aging, exfoliating body polish recipe! (Which you can learn to make – and customize -below!)

About My Natural Exfoliating Body Polish

Helping your skin from the inside out with herbs takes a while. You won’t see the effects for weeks or even months, so don’t get discouraged. If you want to see a more immediate result, try my natural exfoliating body polish recipe.

My exfoliating body polish is similar a body scrub. It helps slough off dead skin cells for brighter and fresher looking skin. If you have dry skin, this can help reduce itching and flaking by removing the top layer of dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. The sweet almond oil and mango butter also help to hydrate skin with fatty acids and nourish the skin with vitamins and minerals.

Using salt in an exfoliating body polish can help slough off more dead skin cells than sugar can because of the texture of the salt. For my exfoliating body polish recipe I chose to use fine grain Himalayan pink salt as it’s rich in trace minerals. The salt is then balanced with pink kaolin clay, which is a milder exfoliant. Since it is more abrasive than sugar, use this no more than once a week. Alternately, you can easily substitute the exfoliants to make my exfoliating body polish suitable for everyday use, as well as a scrub for facial care. (I’ll explain more after the recipe.)

Anti-Aging Essential Oil Blend

Of course, because I am in my mid-forties (shhhhhh.) I used an anti-aging essential oil blend for this exfoliating body polish recipe. It kept the essential oil usage low. However, you can increase the them if desired. Typically you can use essential oils up to 2% of your natural skin care recipes for a wash off product. However, it is important to note that some essential oils, such as cinnamon or clove, should be used at a lesser percentage to avoid skin irritation.

I used the following essential oils for my exfoliating body polish recipe:

Frankincense essential oil
Rose essential oil
Helichrysum essential oil
Myrrh essential oil
Lavender essential oil

Frankincense is probably the most common anti-aging essential oil. It can help even the skin tone by reducing dark spots. It also helps tone and tighten the skin. (There are four varieties of frankincense essential oil available. You can learn about the different types and their properties here as well as discover my natural rose body butter recipe.)

Rose essential oil is excellent for dry skin. It has vitamin C to promote collagen production to decrease the signs of aging. (You can try either geranium essential oil or palmarosa essential oil in lieu of the rose if it is cost prohibitive.)

Helichrysum is excellent for the skin. It can help rejuvenate and restore the skin and help make your skin glow.

Myrrh essential oil is often used for its anti-aging properties. It also helps fade age spots and can reduce the appearance of fine lines.

Lavender has some anti-aging properties and can help reduce the appearance of lines. It’s a gentle oil and can help soothe the skin.

My anti-aging essential oil blend, while effective, doesn’t smell like roses. (Despite the inclusion of rose essential oil.) So feel free to swap out the essential oil blend with one of your choosing if scents are important to you. One of my favorite multi-purpose essential oil blends for natural skin care is my eucalyptus and orange essential oil blend. (You can find that essential oil blend recipe here.)

Natural Exfoliating Body Polish Recipe

Ingredients:

.25 ounces emulsifying wax
.4 ounces stearic acid
1.5 ounces sweet almond oil
1.25 ounces mango butter
.15 ounces pink kaolin clay
10 ounces Himalayan pink salt, finely ground
5 drops rose essential oil
5 drops frankincense essential oil
3 drops helichrysum essential oil
2 drops myrrh essential oil
2 drops lavender essential oil

Instructions:

A natural preservative is recommended for this product as it may come in contact with water doing use. Should you choose to omit a preservative, I would remove desired amount from the container before showering or bathing to retain the integrity of this exfoliating body polish.

You will need to digital scale to weigh all the ingredients for my exfoliating body polish recipe. If you are using a natural preservative (covered in the Botanical Skin Care course) then use the percentage called for by the manufacturer. Also be sure to the add the preservative at or below the temperature called for by the manufacturer based on the preservative you’ve chosen.

To begin, use a double boiler to melt the emulsifying wax, stearic acid and mango butter. When these ingredients are fully melted, remove from heat.

Stir in the sweet almond oil. Then, using a glass dropper, add each of the essential oils called for in my exfoliating body polish recipe. Stir well.

In a separate container, combine the pink kaolin clay and the pink Himalayan salt, Mix well to ensure all ingredients are thoroughly combined.

Then add the dry ingredients to the melted wax, oils and butter. Stir well. Allow the mixture to thicken, then restir before packaging.

Spoon evenly into three 4 oz. low profile jars. You can also use a 6 oz. mason jar. Screw on the lid then label as desired for personal use or homemade gifts.

How to Use Your Exfoliating Body Polish

To use your exfoliating body polish, scoop about ¼ of a cup of the body polish out of the jar and massage onto wet skin in a circular motion. Rinse well, then pat dry.

I recommend using this natural, exfoliating body polish once a week for soft, beautiful skin.

Customizing Your Exfoliating Body Wash

Exfoliant Alternatives for Your Exfoliating Body Polish

To use this exfoliating body polish recipe for sensitive skin or for facial care, try using an extra fine Himalayan pink salt. Alternately, you can also use superfine caster sugar or a combination of both depending on your skin’s sensitivity. You can also mix the two together at a 50/50 ratio or a 25/75 salt to sugar ratio. Using a milder exfoliant makes this exfoliating body polish suitable for daily use.

How to Make a Skin Cleansing Version of This Body Polish

Making a natural skin cleansing version of my exfoliating body polish recipe is easy. And you won’t need to add any synthetic cleansers or foaming agents, such as Sodium Laureth Sulfate, that the Dove exfoliating body polish has. Simply substitute part of the carrier oil with a natural, unscented liquid Castile soap. I recommend subbing between .25 oz. and .5 oz.

Swap Out Your Carrier Oil for More Custom Skin Care

You don’t have to use sweet almond oil for my exfoliating body polish recipe. My favorite anti-aging carrier oils include rosehip seed oil, pomegranate seed oil, camellia (tea) seed oil and argan oil. Hemp seed oil is also a great option. To learn more about the benefits and properties of carrier oils, check out the book, Carrier Oils, by Cari Dunn. This book is a beginner’s guide to using over 40 carrier oils in bath and beauty recipes.

If you love my natural exfoliating body polish recipe with anti-aging essential oils, then don’t forget to pin this natural skin care recipe for later. Or, if you’re ready to learn more about the Botanical Skin Care course, click here to sign up. (You can also check out my detailed review of the Botanical Skin Care course here.)

More Exfoliating Body Polish Recipes

If you like my natural exfoliating body polish recipe with anti-aging essential oils, then you’ll also want to try these other homemade body scrub recipes.

To discover more great, natural skin care recipes from Soap Deli News blog, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up for my newsletter. Alternately, you can explore my own easy melt and pour soap recipes for beginners here.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: anti-aging, bath and beauty, beauty recipes, beauty tips, body polish, body scrub recipe, exfoliating, moisturizing, natural skin care, plant based, salt scrub recipe, skin care recipes, vegan

Coffee Scrub Recipe for Natural Summer Skin Care & Homemade Gifts

June 6, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 6 Comments

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

Getting Around to Summer Skin Care

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

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

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

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

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

Skin Care Benefits of Coffee Scrubs

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

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

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

Does a coffee scrub really help cellulite?

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

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

Additional ingredients in my coffee scrub recipe.

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

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

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

How to Make a Coffee Scrub Recipe

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

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

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

Coffee Scrub Recipe with Coconut Oil

Ingredients:

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

Essential Oil Blend:

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

Instructions:

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

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

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

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

Succulent Soap Recipe

Ingredients:

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

Instructions:

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

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

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

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

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

Next, place your succulent mold onto a cutting board.

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

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

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

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

Then remove the succulent soaps from the mold.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More Summer Skin Care Recipes

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

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

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

Exfoliating Scalp Scrub Recipe with Bentonite Clay

April 2, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon

Build up giving you the hair care blues? Itchy scalp? Drab hair? Give this natural exfoliating scalp scrub recipe with bentonite clay a try! Not only does it remove product buildup on your scalp, it also promotes scalp health and can ease itching and hair fall out.

Formulating a scalp scrub recipe.

I recently mentioned on instagram last week that I was working on a scalp scrub recipe. Having heard others rave, I ventured into developing my own recipe. After first trying a commercial scalp scrub, I came away with doubts. I kept finding grit from the exfoliants in my hair afterwards throughout the course of the day. It wasn’t fun. And I really did (cross my heart) shampoo my hair after using the scrub. Twice in fact.

For my next attempt I tried a homemade scalp scrub recipe from the internet. It consisted primarily of oil and salt. That scalp scrub recipe was a bigger fail than the first. As my hair is normal to oily, I ended up with greasy hair that just looked dirty. Not even dry shampoo could resurrect that disaster. I literally washed my hair three times and still couldn’t get all the oil out. So I worked on creating my own version of a deep cleansing scalp scrub recipe.

My first attempt left my hair greasy feeling. Much like the simple scalp scrub recipe I’d previously tried. The second version was better. It worked fine on Greg’s dry hair without any issue. However, it was still a bit much for my hair type. It did make a really sweet body scrub though. The kind that feels like you just put on lotion.

My initial thought was to use cera bellina wax for sort of a suspension base. As cera bellina forms a gel when combined with carrier oils, my thinking was it would support the addition and equal distribution of both the salt and bentonite clay in my recipe. I was also hoping it would give my scalp scrub recipe more slip. Unfortunately, the wax made the end product feel heavy. It also made it harder to rinse out. Which in end defeated the purpose of removing product build up.

Therefore, on my second attempt, I added witch hazel and an emulsifying wax to try to counteract this. I kept the cera bellina wax. I also used a bit of foaming bath butter to give it a bit of cleansing power. Unfortunately, it still did not favor normal to oily hair. So I scrapped the cera bellina wax completely on my third attempt as it really was too heavy for healthy hair.

My final scalp scrub recipe consisted of more witch hazel as well as foaming bath butter. My thought being that these ingredients would work together to remove build up while also clarifying the scalp. And while the third time’s a charm, that was not so in this case. My emulsion failed (which is 90% of why I don’t make homemade lotion.) I considered a fourth attempt, but to be honest, I was feeling completely burnt out. (I’m sure many of my fellow formulators have felt the same way.)

They say when you get knocked down to get back up and do it again. At some point however, you’re kind of just like F this and stop torturing yourself. I may come back around to an emulsified scalp scrub recipe later down the road. Just not anytime soon. (This is also why you’ll find most bath and beauty artisans aren’t willing to share their recipe formulations. It’s time consuming and can get expensive fast.)

Regardless of my lack of success, I will leave you with more than simply my admission of failure.

Instead I’m sharing two recipes with you. The first is my second attempt at an exfoliating scalp scrub recipe. It’s a great starting point for a salt scrub. And who knows? If you have dry hair you may just dig it for its original intended purpose. I’m also sharing a simple, single use (wax free) scalp scrub recipe. It does basically the same thing I was trying to achieve, but without complicated ingredients or emulsions to contend with.

Keep in mind that as these recipes call for bentonite clay. Therefore you should refrain from using metal utensils and equipment as these deactivate the wonderful detox properties of the clay.

Skin Soothing Salt Scrub/Scalp Scrub Recipe

Ingredients:

.2 oz. castor oil
.25 oz. cera bellina wax
.25 oz. jojoba oil
.5 oz. emulsifying wax
1.5 oz. fractionated coconut oil
1 oz. Stephenson’s foaming bath butter
1.5 oz. witch hazel
1 oz. bentonite clay
1.5 oz. fine sea salt
12 drops lemon essential oil
6 drops tea tree essential oil
3 drops peppermint essential oil
3 drops rosemary essential oil
preservative, of choice

Instructions:

I have a full on grocery list of ingredients for this recipe. So I won’t feel bad if you don’t try it. However some of the habitual makers out there probably have everything on hand. In which case you may find you enjoy the thrill of the experiment.

You will need to weigh out all the ingredients for this salt body/scalp scrub recipe.

Weigh out the sea salt and bentonite clay first. Combine in a medium to large glass bowl. Mix to combine then set aside.

Next, weigh out the carrier oils. Then combine the carrier oils with both the cera bellina wax and emulsifying wax in double boiler. Heat until all the ingredients have melted. Then stir in the foaming bath butter until melted.

. . . . .

Tip: Choose carrier oils based on your hair type! Learn more about the unique properties of over 40 different carrier oils in Cari Dunn’s book, Carrier Oils: A beginner’s guide to using over 40 carrier oils in bath and beauty recipes. Buy it here. Or read it free with your kindle unlimited subscription. (If you don’t have a kindle unlimited subscription, you can sign up for a free trial here.)

. . . . .

In the meantime, slowly heat the witch hazel to bring it to the same temperature as the carrier oil and wax mixture. (You will need a digital thermometer for this. This laser thermometer is the absolute bomb for soapmaking and skin care recipes.)

Remove both from heat then pour the witch hazel into the carrier oil and wax mixture. Add the essential oils then mix with an immersion blender or hand mixture for two minutes.

Allow the salt scrub to cool then add your preservative of choice per manufacturer’s recommendations at or below the recommended temperature. (Keep in mind that most preservatives are heat sensitive.) Mix again.

Once the salt scrub starts to thicken, mix in the sea salt and clay mixture. Mix well to ensure all the ingredients are thorough incorporated, then pour into a 4 oz. jar.

To use as a scalp scrub for dry hair, massage onto wet scalp and massage in with your fingertips. Follow with a clarifying shampoo and conditioner.

Alternately, you can use this formulation as a body scrub. Simply massage onto wet skin in the shower in a circular motion. Then rinse off. Your skin will feel like you’ve just put on lotion!

Exfoliating Scalp Scrub Recipe

Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons fine sea salt
1 Tablespoon bentonite clay
1/4 teaspoon citric acid
1 drop each lavender, tea tree & rosemary essential oils
aloe vera gel or witch hazel

Instructions:

Measure out the sea salt, clay and citric acid. Then combine in a small glass bowl.

Add the essential oils, then enough aloe vera gel or witch hazel to form a thin paste.

Massage onto your wet scalp using your fingertips for 1 to 2 minutes. Then wash and condition your hair with a clarifying shampoo.

Explore more hair care recipes.

Not quite sure about the whole scalp scrub thing? You can also make an apple cider vinegar rinse to remove build up on your hair and scalp. My yerba mate hair rinse recipe with apple cider vinegar not only removes product build up, it also helps to strengthen hair and improve luster. You can learn how to make it here.

Alternately, if you have coarse, curly or dry hair, then you’ll love my coffee shine spray recipe. You can find two versions of this recipe – one with and one without silicone – here. Or try my favorite essential oil hair mask recipe with aloe here.

For a healthy alternative to sulfate based shampoos try my sea salt shampoo bar recipe with milk and egg. I also recommend the book, Homemade Natural Hair Care with Essential Oils, for beginner hair care gurus. (It’s also a free read with a kindle unlimited subscription.)

To discover more homemade hair care recipes, be sure to follow my DIY Bath & Body board on Pinterest here.

You can also find and follow me across your favorite social media platforms including Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram so you never miss a post. Or simply sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: bath and beauty, bath and body, beauty hacks, beauty tips, body scrub, body scrub recipe, essential oils, hair care, health and wellness, natural alternative, salt scrub, salt scrub recipe, scalp scrub

Kick Your Severely Dry Skin (And Eczema!) to the Curb with Ucuuba Butter!

September 6, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

This post is sponsored by Paris Fragrances. All opinions are my own.

This homemade ucuuba butter salt scrub recipe is a natural holistic solution to dry, itchy skin and eczema. Learn what makes this winter skin care recipe so special and how to craft your own.

Cold weather is on the way. And typically, that means you can expect dry skin in your near future. However, if you already suffer from dry skin, or if you have eczema, winter can seem a little unbearable. There’s nothing worse than fighting with your skin and not being to find a product that brings relief. If this scenario seems familiar to you, don’t worry. There is a way to save your skin this winter. All you need are a few simple ingredients from Paris Fragrances.

Ever Feel Like Your Moisturizer Is Irritating Your Dry, Itchy Skin Even More?

I’m one of those people that loathes putting on lotion. Often times, when my skin is especially dry, it feels like I’m applying lotion every hour. While it’s amazing when first applied, a short time later I’m wondering if it’s actually making my skin’s condition worse. So I’m always particular about knowing exactly what I’m putting on my skin – and especially what the ingredients are.

Ingredients matter. And it’s not just the ingredients that you find in a product. It’s also about the ingredients NOT in a product. That’s part of the reason I prefer making my own natural skin care products. Not only is it easy to keep my own products simple, I often find that they are also more effective than store bought brands. Plus, because I know exactly what’s going into my skin care recipes, I don’t have to worry about being surprised by an allergy to a product.

My homemade ucuuba butter salt scrub recipe is the perfect skin care solution for winter. This multi-use product works like an in-shower moisturizer as well as a gentle body scrub. However, it can also be used as a conditioning salt bath in warm bath water. Using this ucuuba butter salt scrub in your shower locks in the moisture from the water while your pores are open. So skin feels moisturized longer. And it also feels protected against the elements.

What Is Ucuuba Butter?

Ucuuba butter is an exotic butter native to Central and South America. Like other exotic body butters, ucuuba butter is cold pressed from the seeds of the tree its sourced from. In this case, that would be the Ucuuba tree. As the seeds of the ucuuba tree are rich in fats, extracts of the oil is often as high as 50% of the weight of the dry seeds.

The ucuuba tree is a fast growing tree found in the Brazilian Amazon Forest. As these trees can grow as much as ten feet over the course of just two years, it makes ucuuba butter a highly sustainable product.

The natural unrefined butter from this tree’s seeds is typically yellow to brown in color and has a natural odor reminiscent of nutmeg. Like cocoa butter, ucuuba butter is solid at room temperature. However it has a somewhat higher melting point of 127°F, whereas cocoa butter melts between 93°-100°F. Similarly to cocoa butter, ucuuba makes a wonderful addition to homemade soaps, hair care products and skin care recipes.

Skin Care Benefits of Ucuuba Butter.

Ucuuba butter has natural anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. This makes it an ideal addition to skin care recipes formulated for dry skin, acne and eczema. Additionally, this natural butter is also rich in essential fatty acids that can help to replenish and moisturize dry or maturing skin. It also contains both vitamin C and vitamin A (retinol) commonly found in natural anti-aging products. These proponents can help to reduce the visible signs of aging as well as replenish and reverse skin damage.

Where to Purchase Ingredients.

I used ingredients from Paris Fragrances to craft my homemade ucuuba butter salt scrub recipe. Paris Fragrances offers quality products with great prices. As a partner with HSCG, Paris Fragrances works with ethical suppliers to help create a sustainable and environmentally friendly economy with the communities living in the Amazon Forest. Additionally, Paris Fragrances is also a member of The Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetics Guild.

All of the products from Paris Fragrances are imported from Europe and South America, with emphasis on exotic Brazilian fragrances. The oils and butters, which are sustainably sourced from the Brazilian Amazon Forest, are cold pressed and left unrefined so they retain their natural benefits when use in skin care formulations.

About My Ucuuba Butter Salt Scrub Recipe.

I’ll be honest. If you are one of those people that likes exiting your shower squeaky clean, my homemade ucuuba butter salt scrub recipe is probably not going to be your cup of tea. While this homemade scrub is similar in ways to most salt scrubs, it’s also very different.

Rather than using sea salt for my homemade ucubba butter salt scrub recipe, I use Dead Sea salt instead. A luxury cosmetic salt, Dead Sea salt is extracted from the marshes of the Dead Sea then solar dried. Its fine grain and moisture content make it especially suited for bath salt and body scrub recipes.

Considered to be the best therapeutic salts available, Dead Sea salt is rich in natural minerals that include magnesium, potassium, sulfur and calcium. These minerals work to help improve blood circulation as well as cleanse, disinfect and exfoliate skin. As a home remedy, Dead Sea salt has shown to benefit those who suffer from a variety of skin ailments including acne, eczema and psoriasis as well as dry, itchy skin and atopic dermatitis.

Unlike traditional sea salt, such as the type of salt you may use for cooking, Dead Sea salt is incredibly hydrating. And, similar to Epsom salt, it is able to soothe sore muscles and calm inflammation that is often associated with both rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia.

Another key difference in my ucuuba butter salt scrub recipe lies with ucuuba butter’s hydrating properties. As ucuuba butter, along with the combination of the other natural ingredients included in this recipe, are such rich moisturizers, the oils and butters don’t fully rinse off in the shower. So, once you step out of the shower and towel off, remnants of these ingredients are left on your skin reducing, or eliminating, the need to apply an after shower moisturizer. Your skin will not only feel soft and smooth, it will also look healthier with each use.

In addition to ucuuba butter, this recipe is also crafted using andiroba oil. Renowned by native Indians for its healing properties, andriroba oil has natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help to soothe skin inflammation, itching and rashes. (Learn more about andriroba oil here.)

This homemade ucuuba butter salt scrub recipe has a rich natural fragrance that is lovely solo. However, if a fragrance oil is desired, this scrub pairs well with both Paris Fragrances sandalwood fragrance oil and their seasonal Halloween pumpkin fragrance oil.

Ucuuba Butter Salt Scrub Recipe

Ingredients:

1 oz. ucuuba butter
2 oz. andiroba oil
.5 oz. vegetable based emulsifying wax
.25 oz. unscented liquid Castile soap
.25 oz. cupuacu butter
12 oz. Dead Sea salt
.1 oz. fragrance oil, optional

Instructions:

Begin by using a digital scale to weigh out the ucuuba butter, capuaca butter, andiroba oil and emulsifying wax. Gently heat in a double boiler until melted.

While the butters, oil and wax are melting, weigh out the Dead Sea salt into a medium glass bowl.

Then weigh out the fragrance oil, if desired. Mix the fragrance oil into the salt until the fragrance is evenly distributed throughout the salt.

Once the butters, oil and wax have melted, remove from heat. Now weigh out and add the liquid Castile soap.

Then add the salt mixture to the melted ingredients, mixing well to combine.

Once the ucuuba butter salt scrub has cooled, mix the scrub again to break up the salt grains. Then spoon the scrub into your desired container(s.)

You can use your homemade ucuuba butter salt scrub recipe in two ways. You can either massage the salt scrub onto damp skin in a warm shower. Or, you can add the desired amount of the scrub to warm, running bath water. Once you finish bathing, simply pat dry.

For extremely dry skin, I recommend applying my bacuri butter body balm or my simple 3-ingredient bacuri body butter prior to getting dressed for an extra layer of skin protection and nourishment. Also be sure to try my natural bacuri butter & murumuru soap recipe!

You can also make a travel worthy solid lotion bar to take with you on the go. Simply melt, combine and mold 2 oz. beeswax, 1.75 oz. ucuuba butter, 2 oz. capuaca butter and 3 oz. andiroba oil using ingredients from Paris Fragrances.

If you’d like to receive notification of new articles from Soap Deli News blog, be sure to follow me across all of your favorite social media platforms. You can find me on G+, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram. Or, alternately, you can also subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: body scrub recipe, dead sea salt, moisturizer, natural skin care, salt scrub, salt scrub recipe, vegan, winter, winter skin care

Mason Jar Crafts for Bath & Beauty Lovers (The Perfect DIY Treat for Skin)

January 28, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

Try one of these 40+ beautiful mason jar crafts for bath & beauty lovers for a fun weekend project the entire family can enjoy! Or make them for last minute DIY gift ideas for friends and family!

The great thing about mason jars is that they are so eco-friendly. No matter how many times you use them, they can continue to be reused again and again. Even better, they don’t have to be used for food alone.

Shop this huge collection of mason jars and related materials for your mason jar crafts at Consumer Crafts and save both time & money!

Start using your mason jars now for creative projects other than food. This amazing collection of mason jar crafts for bath & beauty lovers are a perfect choice! Not only can you make these skin worthy mason jar crafts for and your family, they’re also great for gifting!

Mason Jar Crafts for Bath & Beauty Lovers

I hope you enjoy my collection of mason jar crafts for bath & beauty lovers. Be sure to share your favorite of these mason jar crafts in the comments below. Or share your own ideas for DIY mason jar crafts.

Lemon Rosemary Scrub Recipe via Yesterday on Tuesday

This Lemon Rosemary Scrub Recipe is made with naturally detoxifying and magnesium rich Epsom salt and boasts a fresh lemon scent. Plus there are free printable gift tags for the perfect homemade hostess gift! Get the recipe here.

Homemade Gardener’s Scrub via The Cottage Market

This Homemade Gardener’s Scrub Recipe is the perfect treat for dirty hands! Hand crafted using natural, fresh ingredients like lemon, coconut oil and thyme, this soothing scrub cleanses skin while also exfoliating rough calluses and moisturizing skin. Learn to make it now.

Aloe Vera Bath Melts Recipe via Soap Deli News

If you suffer from dry or problem skin that’s easily irritated by commercial solutions, this Aloe Vera Bath Melts Recipe is a great natural alternative! Not only are these DIY bath melts quick and easy to make, but they’re also a great mason jar crafts gift idea for friends and family! Make them now.

Rosemary Sugar Scrub Recipe via On Sutton Place

These DIY Rosemary Sugar Scrubs are made with a simple skin care recipe that consists of coconut oil, sugar and rosemary essential oil. They make delightful party, hostess or wedding favors. Get the recipe and free printable mason jar labels here.

Orange Cream Milk Bath Recipe via Personally Andrea

This Homemade Orange Cream Milk Bath Recipe is handmade using with sweet smelling orange essential oil, skin-soothing milk, cornstarch and baking soda. Hand stamp blank round sticker labels with alphabet stamps and you have the perfect homemade gift! Learn how to make it now!

$This sea salt face and body scrub recipe is loosely inspired by Lush's Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub. Made using fine dead sea salt, this emulsified sea salt face and body scrub recipe has a creamy texture and is gentle enough for even sensitive skin. Ingredients like mango butter, fractionated coconut oil and lanolin help to condition and protect skin while dead sea salt lends its natural healing properties.$

Sea Salt Face & Body Scrub via Soap Deli News

Loosely inspired by Lush’s Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub, this emulsified sea salt face & body scrub has a creamy texture and is gentle enough for even sensitive skin. Ingredients like mango butter, fractionated coconut oil and lanolin help to condition and protect skin while dead sea salt lends its natural healing properties. Get the recipe here.

Strawberry Smoothie Salt Scrub Recipe via Soap Deli News

Learn how to make this easy Homemade Strawberry Smoothie Foaming Whipped Salt Scrub Recipe! It’s handmade with real strawberry powder which is rich in polyphenols and Vitamin C and has natural skin soothing properties. Grab this mason jar crafts salt scrub recipe here.

Orange Mint Sugar Scrub Recipe via A Blissful Nest

This easy, all natural Orange Mint Sugar Scrub Recipe not only exfoliates skin, it also leaves your skin feeling so soft and clean. Plus you’ll love the uplifting fragrance made from a simple blend of orange and peppermint essential oils. Discover the recipe here.

Chamomile Lavender Milk Bath Recipe via Shaken Together

This Chamomile Lavender Oatmeal Milk Bath Recipe is also perfect for packaging inside a mason jar. Made with skin soothing powdered milk and finely ground oatmeal, this natural skin care recipe also contains chamomile flowers and lavender essential oil. Get the recipe here.

DIY Unicorn Spa Jar via The Gunny Sack

This DIY Unicorn Spa Jar makes a delightful gift for unicorn lovers! Using a combination of purchased and handmade components, this mason jar DIY includes recipes for unicorn bath bombs, a unicorn foot soak and unicorn soap and sugar scrubs! Get the skinny on this DIY now.

Also be sure to check out my own DIY unicorn glitter body butter, tri-color unicorn eyeshadow and tri-color unicorn body balm for alternate mason jar additions!

Unicorn Rainbow Moldable Sugar Scrub Recipe via Soap Deli News

Learn how to make this fun sparkly unicorn inspired, rainbow moldable sugar scrub with this original, unique semi-solid rainbow moldable sugar scrub recipe that you can mold and shape! Discover the DIY here.

Cucumber Mint Sugar Scrub Recipe via Soap Deli News

This cucumber mint sugar scrub recipe is made with ingredients skin love like cucumber seed oil and aloe and has a refreshing cucumber mint fragrance. Because it’s emulsified it doesn’t feel oily on skin – making it the perfect option for exfoliating skin this summer! It’s so easy to create and makes a great homemade gift too! Learn to make it now!

More Great Mason Jar Crafts to DIY

Be sure to check out my post on the best whipped sugar scrubs to buy or DIY for more great gift worthy DIY’s. Or discover more great bath & beauty mason jar crafts on my DIY Bath and Body Pinterest board.

You can also find and follow me on G+, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram. Or subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, DIY Craft Project, Homemade Gift Ideas, Lifestyle, Printables Tagged With: bath melt recipe, bath salt recipe, body scrub recipe, crafts, diy, gift idea, gifts for women, milk bath recipe, printable labels, salt scrub recipe, sugar scrub recipe