winter skin care Archives - Soap Deli News

Creative Ways to Package Soap for Sale (Or Handmade Holiday Gifts)

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November 20, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon 3 Comments

If you’re looking for creative ways to package soap for sale to set your product apart at craft fairs and events, then you’ll love these easy soap packaging and labeling ideas! Keep reading to learn the best ways to package homemade soap for sale and put your soaps a head above the competition. Plus learn how to make some of my favorite homemade soap recipes for winter skin care.

Creative Ways to Package Soap

Just because the homemade soaps you sell need to include the weight and ingredient list doesn’t mean you’re stuck using a traditional soap label. If you’re looking for creative ways to package your cold process soap bars, then try thinking outside the box. (Learn how to legally label your soaps for sale.)

Easy Ways to Package Soap Using Scrapbook Supplies

I used scrapbook supplies and bakers twine to decorate these homemade soap bars. Simply print out your ingredient list and other information onto squares of cardstock. Then use bakers twine or a decorative ribbon to attach the ingredient list to the bottom or back of your soap bars. Simply slip the ingredient list under the bakers twine to safely secure it to your soap.

This is also a great way to package soap for seasonal handmade holiday gifts. It’s really as simple as wrapping chipboard elements, cardstock cutouts and felt shapes onto your soaps using ribbon, string or twine.

You can also use patterned scrapbook papers to wrap your soaps like little presents. A custom cigar band then displays your information or message. I love this custom cigar band and patterned poppy paper combo from The Creative Artisan Co. You can order these personalized soap labels as a set or separately with your own custom business logo or message for handmade soap wedding favors.

Or consider all-in-one custom soap packaging like this custom soap packaging design from Andrea Tips that wraps and labels your soap all at one with just one product.

There’s even a soap wrapping tool that allows you to hand wrap your homemade soaps perfectly every single time!

I also love this simple idea for tying leather cording around shaped soaps and accenting with herbs like rosemary. It’s a really easy way to add that extra touch to your handmade holiday gifts.

How to Package Round Soap

One of my favorite ways to package round soap is by using washi tape. You can do this one of two ways. You can either tightly wrap your soap in foodservice film, then wrap a piece of washi tape around the diameter of the bar. Or, you can cut brown paper to fit the diameter of your soap. Then wrap the paper around the diameter. Tape the paper closed. Then add decorative washi tape over the brown paper (as pictured above.)

If you’re looking for ways to package your soaps to sell you can also put your label around the diameter of your soap in lieu of the washi tape. Or try one of the following ways to package round soap. I love how attractive the soap label is on these ways to package soap from Etsy sellers.

This sweet fig goat milk soap from Fish Princess Farm illustrates one of the more common ways to package soap using patterned paper or fabric and a round sticker label.

You can also use plain colored tissue paper similar to this soap example of a bar of homemade shaving soap from Crow Sparrow Wares. To give your homemade soaps as handmade holiday gifts, you may want to use a simple, round handmade with love sticker for your round soap bars.

I also love this twist on using paper as one of the ways to package soap. Instead, The Humble Soaper uses breathable, gauze-like fabric as a unique way to wrap her homemade soaps. Rather than folding the fabric into the center of the soap bar, she instead ties the fabric on top as illustrated by this example of her natural round soap bars.

Ways to Package Soap in Boxes

Soaps boxes are one of the easiest ways to package soap. Just because you use a box to package your soap, however, doesn’t mean it has to be “square.” This holiday inspired unicorn bath bomb box from Tyars Essentials would also work beautifully for unicorn or horn shaped soaps. (This is a downloadable file so you will need a Cricut machine for this project.)

Eco-friendly carton soap boxes will make your green friendly soapmaking business shine. The carton soap boxes from GREENKraft come in three sizes, are made with recyclable cardboard and are 100% recyclable. They also feature a nifty little window so you can show off your homemade soaps inside. I think they look especially nice with these custom apothecary labels from Substation Paperie.

Gable boxes and pillow boxes, like these from Cookiebox Store, are another wonderful way to package your homemade soaps for handmade holiday gifts.

Or give these clear boxes a try. These clear soap boxes make stylish packaging for melt and pour macaron shaped soaps and are perfect for homemade soap wedding favors.

How to Package Homemade Soap Bars in Bags

Bags are also one of the easiest ways to wrap soap for sale or to give as handmade holiday gifts. Monita Natural Care sells decorative burlap bags for her homemade soaps that you can for gift giving. However, it’s also great inspiration for designing your own burlap bags for handmade holiday soap gifts.

These cotton muslin printed bags from USCreativeshop are available in bulk for employee gifts, wedding favors or soaps for sale. They come in a variety of size options to best fit your needs. I also love that these bags can be reused time and again.

For more ways to package soap for sale or to give as handmade holiday gifts, be sure to check out more soap packaging and labeling ideas on Etsy here. You can also shop for homemade soaps from my curated collection. Alternately, keep reading for some of my all time favorite homemade soap recipes for winter skin care.

Best Homemade Soap Recipes for Winter Skin Care

If you suffer from dry skin or eczema in the winter, or other times of the year, it may be time to switch up your natural skin care routine. These homemade soap recipes are perfect for winter skin care. Made with natural skin conditioning ingredients, all of these winter homemade soap recipes nourish skin without stripping it. You’ll love the difference a moisturizing, low cleansing soap can make for your skin!

Have photos of your homemade soaps or great soap packaging ideas? Then be sure to tag your pictures with #soapdelishowoff when you share ways to package soap on instagram.

For homemade soap recipes, you can follow me on your favorite social media platforms. You can follow me on G+, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’ and Instagram. Alternately, you can also subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Filed Under: Homemade Gift Ideas, Small Business Marketing & Tips, Soapmaking Tagged With: cold process soap recipe, cold process soapmaking, gift idea, holiday gift, holiday gift giving, holidays, packaging, selling soap, small business, soap labels, soap packaging, soap recipes, soap tutorial, soapmaking, winter, winter skin care

Natural Beauty Tips for Women You’ve Probably Never Tried (But Should!)

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November 8, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon Leave a Comment

Beauty is more than just the way we look. It’s also about who we are. Keep reading to discover my collection of natural beauty tips that cover not only the physical aspects of ourselves, but also delve into how to be beautiful as we interact with others.

How To Be Beautiful Inside & Out

Tips to Make Inner Beauty Shine

Beauty isn’t just skin deep. Beauty also comes from the inside. It’s your heart, your compassion, the help you offer your community. It’s lifting one another up or offering a simple kindness. With all the hate and violence currently taking place in the United States, I think it’s more important than ever to let your inner beauty shine through. That’s why, my first beauty tip for women is to lift other women up.

Recently I attended a local event in which some of the women attending did just that. I was in the women’s restroom (where it’s impossible not to end up when wine is involved) surrounded by a group of women somewhat older than myself. So, I asked, “How do you handle aging? Your body is changing constantly. Your hormones are out of control. And exactly why does no one prepare your for perimenopause like they do for puberty during adolescence?” They laughed. They also acknowledged that I was right. And they not only gave me the best advice, they made me feel included in my discovery of the ever so mysterious circumstances of aging.

This brings me to my second (of many) natural beauty tips. Because those women’s advice was to, no matter what, be confident. Because confidence is beautiful. Own your life, your body and everything about yourself. Take all the wonderful things about you and let them shine. Then use your confidence to speak up others, stand up for the underdog and to be kind to others.

Natural Beauty Tips for Skin, Hair & Health

Taking time out to care for your skin, hair and health not only helps you look better, it’s also a wonderful way to practice self care. Following of some of my own favorite natural beauty tips as well a few tips from several of my favorite fellow bloggers.

Tackle your adult acne with these natural beauty tips.

Adult acne can be a beast. And it’s not always easy to control. With hormones that are constantly changing throughout our lifetime, preventing acne can be a struggle. Before you see a dermatologist however – or decide to throw in the towel – I recommend trying probiotics. I know I’ve mentioned probiotics a lot lately, but it’s because they really do work! I take Lovebug’s Here’s the Skinny Daily Probiotic. It’s not only cleared up my skin, it also has significantly diminished hormone breakouts from perimenopause. This is the only brand of probiotics I take now.

Unfortunately, even if you do everything right, you can still end up with an acne break out. Stress, hormones – even sneaking in that junk food! – can lead to those occasional volcanic facial eruptions. I’ve found that organic neem oil works wonders at pulling whiteheads to the surface of those painful red bumps literally overnight. In addition, retinol is also another great acne treatment to help keep your skin clear. This retinol serum from Kate Blanc Cosmetics is specially formulated with hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil to fight both aging and acne. Bacuri butter works great too! Or give one of these natural acne remedies a try.

Of course, getting rid of acne isn’t the only blemish you have to contend with. When I get desperate to clear up that horrid giant pimple that won’t pop, sometimes I over treat it. Then I have a blob of dry skin or a scab left in its place which looks as bad as, if not worse than, the pimple did. Luckily my Allure beauty box arrived in the knick of time with a free sample of Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment. It quickly gets rid of the dry skin around those zits that didn’t want to heal. So you can spend less time picking your face and more time amazed by how great your skin looks.

Oral care natural beauty tips.

While not all of us have dental insurance, or can afford regular cleanings, there steps that you can take to help keep both your teeth and gums healthy. After all, who doesn’t want a beautiful smile? One of the easiest things you can do to promote oral health is to floss. Flossing your teeth everyday helps to prevent your gum line from receding. Something that is a concern for all of us as we age.

Brushing your teeth too hard can also lead to a receding gum line. However, something as simple as switching to an electric toothbrush can help if you’re guilty of being a bit overzealous when your brush. My boyfriend’s dentist recently advised that he he was brushing too hard which was causing his gum line to recede. So Greg bought us both Oral B electric toothbrushes like this one, which his dentist indicated could help remedy the problem.

In addition to daily flossing and brushing, I also switched to a fluoride free toothpaste. Studies have shown that excess consumption of fluoride can lead to brittle bone disease. As my local water is fluoridated, reducing my fluoride intake is even more important to me as I age. Women especially are at risk of losing bone density and strength after menopause. Therefore, in addition to taking supplements of vitamin D3 daily, I also filter my drinking water through my Brita pitcher. I’ve also switched to a fluoride free toothpaste.

I’ve used every kind of name brand toothpaste at some point. None of the big toothpaste brands, however, have worked as well as Jason Powersmile Whitening Paste. This natural toothpaste is fluoride free, SLS free and gluten free. I have sensitive teeth. However, I’ve had zero problems with sensitivity after switching to this toothpaste. Additionally, the plaque that likes to collect on my bottom teeth (both between teeth and along the gum line) has completely disappeared since using this toothpaste. My teeth literally look “dentist clean.” (And this was before the electric toothbrushes made their way into our bathroom.)

Natural beauty tips for hair care.

There’s nothing like a bad hair day to make a bad day even more stressful. Fighting with your hair can be the worst. But no one wants to get stuck putting one’s hair in a ponytail just to be done with it.

The texture and condition of my hair has changed a LOT since turning forty. Not only do I have stray gray hairs popping up here and there, my hair is also drier and more coarse than it was earlier in my life. Having grown up in the 80s, I did a lot of damage to my hair. From Sun In products, to straight up bleaching and crazy curly perms, I put my hair through some chaos. My hair’s been every color from a horrible brassy blonde to blue, black and pink. Once I finally grew my hair out in my late twenties, I vowed to never put it through that kind of abuse again.

Instead, I’ve started applying henna every few months. Made from completely natural plant botanicals, henna doesn’t JUST color hair. It also conditions your hair, adds shine and gives hair extra volume. Henna lasts about three months. And it naturally fades out of your hair. So unlike chemical hair color, it doesn’t leave obvious roots. It’s also a much healthier hair color alternative. I always know when it’s time to apply more henna because my hair becomes difficult to manage at that point.

Not only does henna do a great job at conditioning my hair, I also love that it hides the few grays I have sneaking in. It works great for hair that’s less than 10% gray. However, if you have more than 10% gray you have to use a 2-step process for the color to hold. Light Mountain Natural Hair Color and Conditioner, which is the brand available at my local co-op, also offers henna hair color products that work for gray hair in addition to their regular henna hair color. And it’s not just available in red. You can also purchase various shades of brown, auburn and black.

If henna sounds amazing, but you don’t want to add color, you can also purchase neutral henna hair coloring. This product offers all the benefits of henna without a noticeable color deposit. However, it’s not recommended for light hair. Alternately, you can also purchase Organic Zizyphus Spina Christi. This botanical hair care product conditions hair in a way similar to henna but without depositing ANY color, even on white hair. Like henna, you’ll find that this herbal conditioner provides body, aids with detangling and also conditions your scalp. For hair that needs extra conditioning, I highly recommend HennaSooq’s Henna Gloss Bar, which I’ve used in the past with wonderful results.

Before you try henna, you’ll need to be sure you haven’t processed your hair with chemical hair coloring or a perm in the past three months. Also be aware, that the processing time is somewhat consuming. While I’ve found I can easily use henna hair coloring at home without extra hands, processing time ranges from two to four hours depending on the depth of color you are looking for. Additionally, it will give your hair an herbal smell similar to spinach for several days afterward.

My favorite place to purchase henna is from Night Blooming on Etsy. She sells not only henna coloring and conditioner, but also essential oil blends, hair oils and rinses and other related natural hair care products. Or try moringa oil for a fabulous one-ingredient hot oil hair treatment.

Natural beauty tips to promote skin health and combat dry skin.

If you suffer from dry skin or eczema, then these natural beauty tips (and recipes!) will be perfect for you.

A few years back I struggled with several bouts of extremely dry skin and patches of eczema. Lotion and body butters helped initially, but then they would make my skin extra itchy. They also never really solved my dilemma. No matter how much lotion I used, at the end of the day, my skin was still dry and its condition never actually improved. Rather, the products I was using to treat my dry skin were only temporarily masking the issue.

I finally stumbled onto the perfect, natural dry skin remedy – hemp seed oil. Hemp seed oil is an exceptionally rich oil high in essential omega fatty acids and proteins. Produced from the oil of cold pressed seeds of the hemp plant, hemp seed oil provides the four essential fatty acids beneficial to the skin. (Linoleic acid, alpha-linoleic acid, gamma linolenic acid and stearidonic acid.) In fact, hemp seed oil has one of the highest contents of essential fatty acid contents topping out at 76%!

This non-greasy carrier oil absorbs quickly and easily when applied to skin without clogging pores. Its natural anti-inflammatory properties make it especially beneficial for irritated or eczema prone skin. My DIY dry skin body oil recipe with hemp seed oil, that I created a few years back, ended up being one of the best natural remedies I’ve tried to date.

Refrigeration, however, is recommended for hemp seed oil as it has a short shelf life. Therefore, when using this oil to make your own natural dry skin care products, you may want to consider adding an antioxidant to extend the shelf life.

Alternately, you can also try using hemp seed butter in its stead. Unlike hemp seed oil, hemp seed butter is shelf stable and has an extended shelf life of two years. It’s wonderfully moisturizing and is particularly beneficial for dry or damaged skin, eczema, psoriasis and mastalgia. Hemp seed butter is produced using the fatty fractions and unsaponifiables which are collected during the refining process and are then blended with hydrogenated vegetable oil to produce a butter-like material suitable for use on skin and hair.

Discover a collection of natural moisturizer recipes for your dry skin at Soap Deli News here.

If making your own natural skin care products isn’t for you, then I highly recommend the natural skin care and beauty products from Diamond Hemp. All of the products available from Diamond Hemp are made in the USA using natural cold pressed hemp seed oil. They carry a full line of hemp care bath and body products that includes body butters, body scrubs, facial masks, facial serums and anti-aging creams.

Their Diamond Aloha antioxidant cream is made with organic antioxidants and pure hemp oil to help maintain a healthy youthful glow while fighting the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also contains neem oil, which I previously mentioned to help fight acne, as well as willow bark extract which contains anti-inflammatory salicin which is similar to acne fighting salicylic acid.

In addition to natural skin care products, you can also promote skin health with beauty tools. My friend and fellow blogger, Cari of Everything Pretty, recommends dry brushing as one of her top natural beauty tips to promote healthy skin. Not only does dry brushing exfoliate skin and help to increase circulation, it also may help reduce acne breakouts. Cari also likes dry brushing because it just feels good. The massaging motion is a simple and easy way to sneak extra self care into her busy schedule and it gives her a boost of energy. You can check out all of Cari’s tips and benefits of dry brushing on her blog.

Natural beauty tips for face mask lovers.

If you love face masks then you’ve got to try these natural beauty tips from A Life Adjacent and Country Hill Cottage!

Kim and Kyla of A Life Adjacent use caffeine as part of their morning skin care routine. By adding instant coffee and matcha powder to their face masks, they’ve found it works wonders at combating puffiness and bloating. This can sometimes happen when they overindulge on carbs. However, you may experience this if you had a bit too much to drink the night before. You can find the caffeine face mask recipe that Kim and Kyla use here. Not only does if fight that stubborn water retention, it’s made with natural ingredients you can find in your kitchen. (Or try this Awake Facial Mask from Wicked Soaps on Etsy!)

They also suggest using raw honey as a morning facial wash when your skin doesn’t feel dirty enough to use a real cleanser. Not only does it gently cleanse facial skin, it won’t dry it out like soap and other cleansers can. This is especially helpful when the air is cold and dry during the winter months.

Sisters Irena and Cyna of Country Hill Cottage, on the other hand, turn to papaya to revitalize dull and dry skin. Papayas are, of course, wonderful for your health both inside and out! These fruits are rich in vitamins A and C, a powerful antioxidant, and many minerals, such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, copper and potassium. They also contain the enzyme papain, which is fabulous for skin. This gentle exfoliant helps unclog pores and restore skin’s elasticity.

To get glowing skin for your face, you can prepare their quick and easy papaya face mask! Simply mash 1/2 fresh papaya (without seeds) and combine with 1 tsp honey and 1 tsp olive oil. Apply the mask to your face, then leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Then remove and rinse your face. Pat dry for brighter, glowing skin.

Natural beauty tips for health and wellness.

You can also promote beautiful, healthy looking skin from the inside out. Kim and Kyla both add collagen powder to their morning coffee for better skin and hair. They love that it makes their coffee extra creamy. Not being able to taste it in the coffee is another big plus. (Especially for those of us who are picky about things like butter coffee and avocado toast.) Or you can also try collagen in this healthy Collagen Hot Cocoa Mix from Ginger Berry Organics.

What are some of your favorite natural beauty tips? I’d love to hear how you take care of your skin! So please feel free to share your ideas and beauty tips in the comments.

For more natural beauty tips as well as homemade skin care recipes, you can follow me on your favorite social media platforms. You can currently find me on G+, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’ and Instagram. Alternately, you can also subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: bath and beauty, beauty, beauty diy, beauty products, beauty recipes, beauty tips, diy spa, face care, face mask, facial cleanser, facial mask, facial mask recipe, natural beauty, natural skin care, skin care, winter skin care

Glitter Snowflake Soap Recipe with Peppermint Essential Oil

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

October 24, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon Leave a Comment

I had planned this sparkly, glitter snowflake soap recipe to share with you all a bit closer to winter. However, with the realization that many of the Northern states are already enjoying that cloud of white falling from the sky, I decided not to wait. (Nor’easter anyone?)

I know that many of my readers on Facebook have requested more melt and pour soap recipes. So I hope this instructional melt and pour soap tutorial helps to deliver just that. Not only is my glitter snowflake soap recipe easy to make, it’s also a joy to use. I mean, there’s GLITTER!

My homemade glitter snowflake soaps make great seasonal gifts throughout the winter holiday season. However, don’t you dare let anyone tell you that the homemade soaps you create are too pretty to use! My BFF gave me that line and I (not) yelled at her to use it anyway. After all, I can always make more.

Which of course brings me around to a rather unsettling discovery a few years back. When I was shocked to find my “pretty” homemade soaps from ten plus years ago still stored in my parents’ bathroom closet… I know. Don’t get me started. (They don’t do it anymore though thankfully. Not after they tried switching back to commercial bar soap.)

Anyhow, if you’re a fan of glitter, then you’re really going to love my glitter snowflake soap recipe. Scented with peppermint essential oil and filled with shimmering biodegradable glitter, this glitter snowflake soap recipe is a must for your next weekend DIY project!

Ready to get your sparkle on? Then let’s do this!

Glitter Snowflake Soap Recipe

Ingredients:

7.25 oz. clear natural melt and pour soap base
15.75 oz. white natural melt and pour soap base
.25 oz. peppermint essential oil
fine electric blue bio glitter, to suit
fine white bio glitter, to suit
fine silver bio glitter, to suit (optional)

Materials & Supplies:

6-cavity silicone snowflake mold
4-cup heat safe glass measuring cup like Pyrex
utensils for stirring
digital scale
spray bottle with rubbing alcohol
cutting board, optional

Instructions:

You’ll begin by making the glitter layer of your glitter snowflake soaps first. To do this, start by weighing out 7.25 oz. of the clear melt and pour soap base. Cut the soap base into chunks and place into a heat safe, glass measuring cup. Heat in the microwave in 30 second increments until melted.

Remove the melted soap from the microwave using a folded tea towel as the glass may be hot. Now weigh out .1 oz. of the peppermint essential oil and stir into the melted soap base. Next, add your choice of biodegradable glitters in your colors of choice. Have fun with it, but be careful not to go overboard. Too much glitter can make your snowflake soaps feel scratchy!

Now stir well to combine so both the glitter and the peppermint essential oil are evenly distributed throughout the soap base. Allow the melted soap base to cool slightly.

Place your silicone snowflake mold on a cutting board. Then stir the melted soap again.

Pour the glittery soap base evenly into each of the mold’s six cavities. Then spritz the tops of your soap with rubbing alcohol to remove any air bubbles. If desired, use the cutting board to carefully transport the mold to the refrigerator to hasten cooling times.

While the first layer of your glitter snowflake soap cools, you can get started on the next step.

Wash and dry the measuring cup you used to melt the clear soap base.

Next, weigh out 15.75 oz. of the white melt and pour soap base. Cut it into chunks. Then place the soap inside the measuring cup and heat until melted, in 30 second increments, stirring occasionally.

Once melted, weigh out and stir in .15 oz. of the peppermint essential oil.

Once the first layer of soap has fully hardened, spritz it with rubbing alcohol. Then pour the white peppermint scented soap based into the cavities of your mold on top of the first layer.

Spritz the tops of the soap with rubbing alcohol to remove any air bubbles. Then allow the soap to cool and harden. (Again, you can transfer your soap to the refrigerator to speed up the process.)

Once your glitter snowflake soaps have hardened, carefully remove them from the mold.

Then wrap your glitter snowflake soaps tightly in foodservice film for storage or gift giving.

More DIY Winter Holiday Gift Ideas

If you like my glitter snowflake soap recipe, then you’ll love these other winter DIY holiday gift ideas!

For more great gift worthy project ideas, check out my DIY Christmas Gift Ideas board on Pinterest.

Also make sure to follow Soap Deli News across all of your favorite social media platforms. You can find me on G+, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’ and Instagram. Alternately, you can also subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Filed Under: Holiday DIY, Homemade Gift Ideas, Soapmaking Tagged With: Christmas gift, crafts, diy, easy, eco-friendly, essential oils, gift idea, glitter, holiday gift, melt and pour soap recipe, melt and pour soapmaking, peppermint, soap tutorial, soapmaking, stocking stuffers, winter, winter skin care

Easy Halloween Solid Lotion Bar Recipe for BFF & Coworker Gifts

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

September 27, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon Leave a Comment

As the weather cools off and spirits skirt through the city, it’s time to reevaluate our skin care needs for the new season. This easy Halloween solid lotion bar recipe offers the perfect spook-tacular mix of fun and function for fall. You can even make your DIY lotion bars glitter-tastic for a fabulous handmade gift idea everyone will love!

Halloween Isn’t Just for Kids!

Adulting sucks. At the same time, it’s can also be pretty amazing. As adults, we can steal our kid’s stash of Halloween candy and it’s somehow justified. Bully for us. And when else, other than Halloween, is it socially acceptable to wear the equivalent of a swimsuit for a night out on the town? (Which actually happened once. Some dude froze his butt off as Michael Phelps in nothing but speedos and goggles one year.)

Point being, just because we’re all grown up doesn’t mean we can’t still have fun. Halloween is kind of the perfect time of year for that. I can’t think of a better way to spend a holiday filled with mystery than visiting my favorite haunts with my friends.

My friends are some of the best people out there. Not only do they help me through the struggles and chaos life seems intent on throwing our way, we also share some amazing moments together. So what better way to remind your friends (and co-workers) that, they too, are an important piece of your life than with a simple handmade Halloween gift.

Inside My Halloween Solid Lotion Bar Recipe

These easy Halloween solid lotion bars are not only cute, they’re also super practical. If you have dry hands in the winter, then you know how important it is to have a quality hand cream on hand 24/7. (Especially if you’re washing your hands 20x a day to fend off those monstrous cold & flu germs.) These lotion bars are perfect for moisturizing and protecting your dry skin.

They don’t stop there, however. I also scented my Halloween solid lotion bars with a calming blend of cedarwood and lavender essential oils. So you can keep calm and carry on no what your work day throws at you.

As with some of my more recent skin care recipes, my Halloween solid lotion bar recipe utilizes bacuri butter as one of three primary ingredients. This is what will give your Halloween shaped lotion bars their dark color. Additionally, it also ensures a fast absorption rate. After all, no one wants greasy fingerprints on their keyboard.

I’ve also included beeswax to solidify the bar and to protect skin. While buriti oil – a carrier oil rich in fatty acids as well as vitamins C, E and pro-vitamin A – helps to rebuild, moisturize and hydrate skin cells. Additionally, buriti oil also helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, promotes healing (bye-bye cracked knuckles!) and protects skin from free radicals while also increasing skin’s elasticity.

The glitter? Well, that’s just the icing on the cake. I used eco-friendly, biodegradable cosmetic glitter so it’s safe for the environment. You can choose to add just a dash of glitter to the tops of your lotion bars. Or, include glitter in the melted ingredients when you make my Halloween solid bar lotion recipe for an easy way to add some sparkle to your skin. (Don’t worry! While the color of this lotion bar is brown, it goes on clear!)

Halloween Solid Lotion Bar Recipe

Ingredients:

2 oz. bacuri butter
2 oz. beeswax pastilles
2.25 oz. buriti oil
.15 oz. cedarwood essential oil
.1 oz. lavender essential oil
biodegradable glitter, to suit

Instructions:

As with the majority of my skin care recipes, you will need a digital scale to weigh out the ingredients. In addition, you will also need a Halloween silicone mold of your choice. (I used this one.) My Halloween solid lotion bar recipe made four lotion bars – one each of a pumpkin, a bat, a skull and a ghost.

Begin by weighing out the bacuri butter, beeswax and buriti oil. Combine in a heat proof Pyrex measuring cup or similar. Gently heat until the beeswax and bacuri butter have melted using either the double boiler method or in your microwave at 30% power.

Once melted, remove from heat. Then weigh out the essential oils and stir into the lotion bar ingredients you just melted.

Next, lightly dust the inside of your mold with bio-glitter. (I used this purple fuschia glitter.) If desired, you can also stir some glitter into your melted ingredients. (You’ll just need to wait a little longer before pouring to allow the lotion to hit that point just before it starts to solidify, then stir again prior to pouring into your mold. Otherwise all of the glitter just sinks the bottom.)

Now pour your ingredients into your mold. (I recommend placing your mold on a cutting board prior to pouring. This way, you can easily transfer your mold to the refrigerator for faster cooling times.)

Once your Halloween solid lotion bars have fully solidified, pop them out of the mold then package as desired. These look great in glassine bags or in PET plastic amber jars. I used a 4 oz. amber jar from SKS Bottle & Packaging for the small pumpkin and sugar skull solid bars. The bat, however, needed the 8 oz. sized jar

I then added Halloween stickers to the lids of my containers to decorate them. Although, washi tape would be super cute too! You could use it either on the lid or around the diameter of the jar. I also thought about making an emulsified sugar scrub or foaming bath butter, filling the jar with it, then nestling a solid lotion bar on top. Tell me what you think!

More Halloween Inspired Skin Care Recipes

If you enjoyed my easy Halloween solid lotion bar recipe, then may also like some of my other Halloween inspired recipes.

DIY Halloween Grease Paint Makeup (Guest Post on The Nourished Life)
Beautiful Bold DIY Cream Eyeshadows to Rock This Halloween
Halloween Pumpkin Bath Bomb Recipe
Homemade Halloween Zombie Makeup
Natural Pumpkin Spice Perfume Recipe (Guest Post on The Nourished Life)

Alternately, you may also be interested in my other bacuri butter skin care recipes which you can find here. Also be sure to check out some of my favorite handmade Halloween bath & body products on Etsy.

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Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Holiday DIY Tagged With: autumn, bacuri butter, buriti oil, fall, gift idea, gift ideas for teens, Halloween, holiday gift, holidays, lotion bar, lotion bar recipe, moisturizer, skin care, solid lotion bar, solid lotion recipe, winter skin care

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

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September 6, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon Leave a Comment

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