Tag: natural skincare

Easy DIY Rose Toner – Garden Therapy

Rose water toner is easy to make and absolutely essential for my skincare routine. Using a rose toner will keep your skin’s pH balance at the perfect level while also providing healing benefits to the skin.

I am often asked about my skincare routine when I talk about natural beauty. People often want to switch to plant-based beauty products but fear that as skin ages, they are not as effective. Nothing could be further from the truth!

I’m closer to 50 now than 40 and have almost no wrinkles. I realize that is more determined by a multitude of factors and to be honest, when I get my wrinkles, I’ll wear them with pride. They are badges of laughter and tears, many emotions felt.

I think the important this is to feel good in your skin, and by using the most natural products, I feel great. And if the side effect is younger-looking skin…so be it! 🙂

How to Wash Your Face

I know this may seem like an obvious topic, but washing your face is actually a bit more complicated than you have been led to believe. If all you’re doing is grabbing a bottle of face wash, scrubbing, and patting on some lotion…you’re likely doing it wrong.

The Problem With Most Facial Soap

Question: would you ever walk into your laundry room, grab your detergent, and rub it all over your face?

Probably not.

What if I told you that’s what you are essentially doing every single day if you use body wash or a beauty bar to wash your face.

Soap can only be called “soap” if it goes through the saponification process of turning fat/oil + water & sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide into…you guessed it, soap. This process (even though its got the scary word “hydroxide” in it) makes the most nourishing, gentlest, and healthiest wash for your skin.

Soap retains the natural glycerin that’s created in the soap-making process and this helps to repair and replenish skin. Beauty bars replace it with much less expensive ingredients that make the wash feel like it has glycerin in it, but don’t be fooled.

Just get some glasses out (even if you don’t normally wear them because those words are tiny!) and read the list of ingredients on the back. Do a little bit of reading on each of those. Do you really want to put that all over your face?

No thank you!

A Healthy Alternative for Your Skin

So, what’s a girl (or guy) to do? The solution is easy enough! Swap out your “detergent” for an actual plant-based soap to use on your skin.

You can buy one on Etsy, at a craft show, or at a natural grocery store and you’ll be supporting the natural skincare movement along with doing your skin a huge favor. Use it for a few weeks in place of your regular face, body, and hand wash and you’ll be amazed at the difference you feel.

If you are feeling extra adventurous, you can even make your own cold process soap.

The one issue with using natural soap on your face is that soap is not pH balanced. This means that after washing, you’ll want to balance out your face with a toner.

Why skin pH matters

In case you haven’t noticed, your skin is an incredibly delicate organ. Your skin should be on the slightly acidic 5.5 on the pH scale to help ward off harmful bacteria and assist with sealing in moisture to keep your face nice and plump (in the best way).

Unfortunately, skin can also be easily thrown off whack, and when it does—you’ll notice. Acne, eczema, and rosacea can all be clues that your skin balance is off.

When you wash your face, even with the most natural soap, you are stripping the acid layer off the top of your skin. You’ll need to add it back in to prevent drying and premature wrinkles.

That’s where toner comes in. Toner will add that acidic protective layer back and keep your skin nice and healthy! For this reason, I consider toner—this exact rose water toner, in fact—as essential to my skincare routine.

Rose for Skin Care

So why do I use rose for my skin in particular? Easy—the benefits are incredible! I’ll be sharing more below, but when it comes to gentle, healing properties, it’s hard to beat rose.

Rose Water Benefits for the Face

Rose has natural astringent qualities that can help tighten and support your skin tissue, leading to naturally firm skin. Rose can also help tone your skin by lightening age spots or blemishes.

Rose water delivers those healing benefits of rose in a gentle and effective way. Rose water has been used for centuries by numerous cultures for this very reason!

I could talk for days about the incredible benefits of rose water. In fact, I love rose so much that I wrote an entire post discussing the benefits!

How to Make Rose Water

It’s fairly simple to learn how to make rosewater. If you want to give it a try, there are full directions for how to make rose water in this post.

The one thing that is a bit challenging about DIY rose water is that it needs to be used immediately. It does not stay fresh. Because of this, I often buy my rosewater from an organic, high-quality source.

Rose Water vs Rose Hydrosol

You may have also heard of rose hydrosol before. Rose water and rose hydrosol are two different things, however. For this diy rose toner recipe, it’s important to use rose water instead of hydrosol.

What is Hydrosol?

Hydrosols are essentially “flower waters,” that are produced by distilling parts of flowers like petals and leaves. They have similar properties to essential oils but are less concentrated.

On the other hand, rose water is made only using the actual flower, without any stems or roots.

The difference is subtle, but it’s there.

Where can I Buy Hydrosol?

If you want to give hydrosol a try, you’ll need to purchase it. Just make sure you buy from a trusted brand.

Witch Hazel in Skincare

The other major component to a DIY rose toner is witch hazel. Witch hazel is an incredible tool for your skin, particularly when you pair it with rose water!

Benefits of Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel is plant-derived, coming from the leaves and bark of the Hamamelis virginiana. Similar to rose water, witch hazel has natural astringent properties that help correct your skin.

Witch hazel is also very gentle. In fact, it has been commonly used as a diaper rash treatment on young babies and was shown to work just as well as a commercial diaper cream.

It is also fantastic for skincare after sunburn, so if you get too much sun try using witch hazel to help your skin heal.

How to Make Witch Hazel

You can make your own witch hazel, but similarly to rose water it will need to be used immediately. If you want to give it a try, I have a blog post showing you exactly how to make your own witch hazel toner.

Where to Buy Witch Hazel

Because of the shelflife, I often purchase witch hazel. I use the brand Thayers, and my favorite is the pure witch hazel, particularly for this rose water toner recipe.

I sometimes also purchase the Thayers witch hazel with rosewater added, or their witch hazel with lavender too.

How to Make Rose Toner

Making a rose water toner is SO simple! Honestly, this can be put together in mere minutes and make a massive difference in your skincare!

Ingredients for Rose Toner

Make Your DIY Rose Water Toner

Mix ingredients in a small atomizer. You can store the rose face toner in the refrigerator for up to one week. It doesn’t keep for long and it’s best used fresh, so make in small batches and discard any leftovers.

How to Apply Rose Toner

Spray on clean skin after washing. Let it soak in and the follow up with a lotion like my favorite DIY rose lotion!

Remember, your skin is your body’s largest organ and takes a lot of abuse. Keep it healthy and happy with plant-based natural beauty products like this easy DIY rose toner. I promise you, your skin will thank you!

More Natural Beauty Recipes with Rose:

DIY Rose Water Toner

Rose water toner is easy to make and provides countless healing benefits to your skin. Give this simple DIY natural beauty recipe a try and keep your skin happy!

This recipe will keep fresh for about a week, so I recommend making it in small batches that last you 5-7 days.

A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.

Stephanie Rose

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February 8, 2026
Coffee Bean Massage Bars Recipe – Garden Therapy
The soothing scent combination, skin-nourishing ingredients, and relaxation of a massage all come together in these coffee bean massage bars for an at-home spa experience that will make weary muscles and minds feel renewed.

Solid massage bars are a great way to soften skin without the mess of massage oil. The beeswax, cocoa butter, and coffee beans add so much fragrance to this recipe that no additional essential oils are needed for aroma.

The coffee beans in these massage bars serve a dual purpose. First, those little round beans are the perfect shape to add texture to the massage bar that feels great on your skin.

Second, coffee antioxidants help to calm inflamed skin. This makes for a massage bar that’s both stimulating and calming at the same time. This might be the perfect gift for someone you hope will give YOU a massage!

How to Make Coffee Bean Massage Bars

With just four ingredients, this is a super simple recipe you can make at home using easy-to-find ingredients. Looking for a last-minute but thoughtful gift? These massage bars are perfect!

Ingredients

Makes four, 50-gram bars

Materials

Make It!

Weigh your ingredients and add them to the top pot of a double boiler.

Add 2 tablespoons of roasted coffee beans evenly between four of the cups in the silicone soap mould.

Stir the ingredients in the double boiler until they have all melted together.

Pour the ingredients into the silicone mould, dividing the contents equally.

Leave the massage bars undisturbed until they are set. If you are making them in a warm room, move the silicone tray into the fridge to firm up.

Remove from the mould and store them in the refrigerator when not in use.

Give It!

Package a single massage bar in a burlap drawstring bag, which looks like a miniature burlap coffee sack. Use letter stamps to create a label to identify the bar. Give the edges of the label a burnished look by brushing them across the ink pad.

A small grapevine heart attached to the tag and sack with jute twine finishes off the wrapping.

Coffee Bean Massage Bar FAQ

Is the bar a one-time use?

You can use these bars many times for multiple massages, until the product is used up.

Even More Plant-Based Skincare Recipes
Coffee Bean Massage Bars

These coffee bean massage bars moisturize and soothe the skin while the beans provide a relaxing massage experience.

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time10 minutes

Resting time1 hour

Total Time1 hour 20 minutes

Keyword: coffee bean, massage bar

Servings: 4 50g bars

Weigh ingredients on the kitchen scale. Add them to the double boiler.

Heat on low while stirring the ingredients until they’ve all melted together.

Add the roasted coffee beans evenly to four cups in the silicone mould.

Pour the melted oils into the mould, spreading evenly amongst the four cups.

Let the massage bars cool down and set before removing them and packaging them.
A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
Stephanie Rose

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November 11, 2025
32 Incredible Handmade Natural Soap Recipes – Garden Therapy

Handmade soap is not only therapeutic and fun to make, but it’s a great way to infuse the healing properties of plants into something that touches our skin daily. Take a look at these beautiful natural soap recipes, and make a batch of your own!

I have been making my own soap for quite a while now. At this point, I have enough natural soap recipes published on Garden Therapy that I thought it was time to give you a post where you can find them all listed in one handy place.

I make all of my own soap because it is fun, great for my skin, and makes beautiful gifts. I absolutely love playing with all the fun add-ins like natural colours and botanicals. In fact, I like it so much that I made an entire book all about melt and pour soap-making, called Good Clean Fun.

If you’re interested in soap making, I highly encourage you to give it a try. I had no idea back when I got started how much I’d love making natural soap.

Looking for a place to start? Here are all of the natural soap recipes that are currently published on Garden Therapy; I even divided them up based on the method I used to make them.

Most people make large bars and cut them to size when soapmaking.

What Are The Benefits of Handmade Soap?

Handmade soaps are made using a variety of natural sources, such as plant-based oils and butters that are rich in nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants. These are the types of ingredients that your skin, hair, and body will love.

You can enhance natural soaps with many other incredibly good ingredients that come straight from the earth, such as botanical extracts and essential oils. With so many different options and combinations, there is truly a perfect natural soap for everyone.

You’ve probably heard of glycerin. Ever wonder what it is? Handmade soap contains glycerin, which is a natural byproduct of the soap-making process. Glycerin is an excellent moisturizer that coats the skin and gives it a silky, soft feeling.

Add your own colours, scents, and toppers to really customize your soap.

How Do I Make Handmade Soap?

Soap can only be called soap if it goes through the saponification process of turning fats and oils, water, and sodium hydroxide into soap. This process makes the most nourishing, gentlest, and healthiest cleanser for your skin.

There are many methods of making handmade soap, including cold process, hot process, milk soap, and rebatching. You can also make melt-and-pour soap at home very easily and skip the lye, as well as the weighing and mixing of the ingredients.

The two main ways I have made soap are cold process and melt and pour. Each produces a very different type of soap, but both are equally useful.

Cold process soap

Cold Process Natural Soap Recipes

I like cold-process soap most as my everyday soap. However, there’s quite a bit of work involved in making a cold process soap—there’s quite a bit of chemistry and science involved, as well as some challenging, potentially dangerous ingredients.

If you’ve never made cold process soap, it’s doable, but it will take time and patience. It’s well worth the effort as you can completely customize your soap with natural additives and colours. See how to make cold-process soap here.

Plant-Based Natural Unscented Soap – 3 Recipes!

This unscented soap has three vegan recipe variations so you can choose which is the right one for you. It’s a return to basics and a great way to use the soothing ingredients in soap without any additives. I love how these bars come out looking like scrumptious truffles…they honestly look good enough to eat!

Gentle Rose Soap

Roses have been a staple in my skincare routine, from rose toner to face cream. They’re just fabulous for skin, while being incredibly gentle. This rose soap recipe takes the gentle nature of the flower and combines it with madder root powder and geranium essential oil for a beautiful soap.

Wildflower Soap

This wildflower soap is natural, vibrant, and gorgeous while being nourishing and good for the environment. It reminds me of walking through meadow flowers. This is a soap that you spend the time to create and enjoy, not one that you rush through.

Earl Grey Infused Bergamot Soap

I was inspired by my love of the hot drink known as a London Fog, which is essentially an Earl Grey latte with vanilla, to make this soap. The soap is infused with Earl Grey tea itself, as well as lavender and bergamot essential oils.

Lemon Balm Soap

This lemon balm soap recipe is soft and rich from the high percentage of olive oil. Its bright lemon-mint fragrance makes it a refreshing soap with a clean and energetic aroma that’s perfect for using in the kitchen to cleanse and moisturize hard-working hands.

Swirl Soap Technique

Most of my soaps feature beautiful swirls, and I’ve mastered my own technique for infusing swirls into my soap. In this swirl soap recipe, I break down my technique and provide a must-try scent combo in the process.

Sea Sponge Soap Bars

These sea sponge soap bars are topped with natural sea sponges to make a very gorgeous, organic-looking handmade soap that lathers up beautifully.

Basil and Peppermint Soap

Basil and peppermint might not be your go-to combination, but perhaps it should! This soap is really energizing, sweet and spicy, and super fresh. It reminds me of being out in the herb garden, and I like to use it in the kitchen as a deodorizing soap.

Charcoal Soap

I originally made this charcoal soap back in 2020 when I was suddenly dealing with facial acne, I called maskne. The activated charcoal and bentonite clay help to draw out toxins from the skin, making it super beneficial for oily skin that’s prone to acne.

Matcha Tea Soap

Not to brag, but I was on the matcha train long before it became one of the most popular hot drinks here in North America. I formulated this matcha tea soap in 2021 for a naturally green soap, scented with spearmint and rosemary.

Oatmeal Soap for Dry Skin

Have you ever taken an oatmeal bath to soothe an incessant it? Collodial oatmeal is great for soothing dry, itchy skin and helps to create a protective barrier. I infused some in this oatmeal soap recipe for a moisturizing and soothing soap when you have irritated skin.

Masculine Lime and Cedarwood Soap

I lean heavily toward floral scents in my soap, but sometimes I like something a little woodsy. Lime and cedarwood are a great combination to make a masculine but slightly sweet-smelling soap. Swirled spirulina powder gives it a forest-like feel.

Cheery Sunflower and Turmeric Soap

Usually a side ingredient in my soaps, I wanted to bring sunflower oil to the forefront with this recipe. To make it even more moisturizing, this sunflower soap also contains rice bran oil, cocoa butter, olive oil, and coconut oil. And turmeric brings the brightest natural pigment!

Irish Spring Soap

Irish Spring soap has always had such a strong scent that I shied away from. But when I sought to make my own version of it, I turned into such a fan! It’s a strong scent, using bergamot, lavender, lemon, and eucalyptus essential oils.

Budget-Friendly Lard Soap

While I always have a stash of oils and fancy materials as a serial soap-maker, I do know that buying all these oils can get pricey. So I did some experimenting and worked with lard to create a more budget-friendly, and traditional, soap recipe.

Loofah Soap (Made From a Real Vegetable)

Loofahs are such a fascinating vegetable. They’re a type of gourd with a fibrous inside that acts like a sponge once its dried. Many use them as natural exfoliants in the shower. To make things easy, I added loofahs to natural soap to clean and exfoliate all in one go.

Sweet Orange and Cinnamon Christmas Soap

Every fall, I make a big batch of soap to last me through the winter and to give as gifts for the holiday season. While I argue that any of the natural soap recipes on this list would make great Christmas presents, I wanted to formulate a recipe that reminds me of the holiday every time I smell it. Sweet orange and cinnamon soap is about as festive as it gets!

Lemongrass and Lavender Deodorizing Soap

Lavender is the number one scent I gravitate towards in the soap world, as it feels so clean and uplifting to me. When I sought to make a deodorizing soap, I knew a stronge scent like lemongrass would do wonders to tackle odours. Lavender became the perfect addition to help balance the soap, adding both scent and antibacterial properties.

Chamomile Soap

Yet another entry for gentle soaps, this chamomile soap is extremely calming to the skin. Chamomile herb has antibacterial antifungal, and anti-inflammatiors properties. When infused into the oil used to make the soap, you carry some of those properties to your soap.

Revamp Soap With Confetti Soap

Most soapmakers will make a batch of confetti soap every so often as a clever but beautiful way to use up soap scraps. When making soap, you’ll quickly learn that the ends of the large bars you cut don’t look good. But to keep them from going to waste, you can combine colours to create a fun confetti in a new soap batch.

Liquid Sunshine Orange Soap

While I could never pick a soap favourite, this liquid sunshine orange soap does rank in the top 5. It’s just so stunning and vibrant, and the orange scent is scientifically proved to boost your mood. As an added bonus, I show you how to dry orange slices to place on top of your soaps when gifting.

Rosemary and Peppermint Energizing Soap

Rosemary’s aromatherapy benefits include promoting focus, memory, and mental clarity. Likewise, peppermint boosts energy and enhances mental focus. And both of them smell amazing, which is why I combined them into this delicious energizing rosemary peppermint morning shower soap.

Lemongrass, Ginger, and Coffee Kitchen Soap

One of my very favourite blends in homemade soap is this fresh-smelling kitchen soap that I made using this process. The bright citrus scent is energizing and smells incredible. This bar has a great scent to wake you up and get rid of strong cooking smells from chopping onions and garlic!

Melt and Pour Homemade Soap Recipes

This is the soap-making method I would recommend to beginners or those looking for a simple project. I enjoy melt and pour for quickly making fun, decorative soaps. You can see some examples of in my melt and pour soap idea book, Good Clean Fun.

Lavender Ombre Melt-and-Pour Soap

This attractive lavender ombre soap is lightly scented with lavender and contains moisturizing rich shea butter. It may look like a high-end decorative soap from a fancy shop, but it’s easily homemade.

Rosemary Lemon Soap-On-A-Rope

Soap-on-a-rope is more than just fun to say. It’s really an artistic way to display soap that also effectively keeps it from sitting in a little puddle in your shower. This project comes straight from the garden and is a fun way to combine the stars and bars.

Exquisite Botanical Soap

These botanical soap bars use flowers, herbs, and leaves found in the garden to look almost too pretty to use. This simple project brings the delight of your backyard into your bath or shower. These soaps look much more difficult to make than they actually are.

Lavender Oatmeal Soap Cupcakes

This lavender oatmeal soap is soothing and calming for your skin. And any recipe that uses my garden-grown lavender is a favourite of mine due to the amazing scent and natural beauty that it lends to any recipe!

Homemade Honeycomb Soap

This honey soap is not only gorgeous, but it’s also fun and easy to make too! I love that this soap looks like it comes straight from the honeycomb. It’s really an aloe, cucumber, and carrot soap mixed with manuka honey and scented with citrus. Find out the trick to making the attractive honeycomb texture without buying an expensive mold.

Sakura Cherry Blossom Soap

Similar to how cherry blossoms only bloom for a short time each year, these cherry blossom soaps are not meant to last long. These small ‘blooms’, or personal-sized soaps, will only last for a few uses.

Amber Fossilized Bug Soap

These ultra-fun amber fossilized bug soaps are inspired by the fascinating look of fossilized insects in amber. What a way to make bathtime feel more like an adventure than a chore for little ones.

Winter Forest Soap

This winter forest soap recipe smells like a walk through the forest in the brisk winter air. Scented with essential oils from forest trees that make it both fresh and woodsy, this soap will perk you up and combat the dreariness that comes with the long, cold winter nights.

Embossed Calendula Soap

Embossing stamps are a fun way to personalize your melt and pour soap recipes, and make them look ultra high end for gift giving. Alongside the stamps, this calendula inspired soap uses an oatmeal base and calendula petals for a beautiful, natural colouring.

Liquid and Foaming Hand Soap

I love the silky luxury of foaming hand soap, but I don’t love using chemicals and substances I can’t even pronounce in my products. Since ingredients like that are often listed on the bottles of store-bought foaming soap, I set out to make a fantastic basic foaming hand soap recipe.

The basic version is amazing, and what’s even better is that you can easily customize it to suit your tastes.

Over the years, I’ve tweaked this original recipe for some fun variations. Here are some combinations (that can be used as liquid or foaming soap) to give a try:

Want to Learn How to Make Handmade Soap?

If you’re interested in learning how to become a soap artisan yourself, grab my ebook Good Clean Fun: THE Idea Book for Creative Melt and Pour Soap Projects.

More Tips for Soap-Making

A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.

Stephanie Rose

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October 30, 2025
DIY Dog Paw Balm to Moisturize & Soothe Paws – Garden Therapy
Your pup’s paws go through a lot of wear and tear. When out in the yard or strolling through the neighbourhood, harsh elements can cause dryness, cracking, and even serious injuries! Protect their little paws with this dog paw balm recipe.

Dog paw balm is a necessity in your pet’s routine! While it may be a lesser-known component of pet care, treating your dogs’ paws really is important. Without proper care, pet paws are prone to a lot of damage, simply from walking around.

Animals have always been a huge part of my life. Dogs, in particular, have a special place in my heart. My past dogs, Tallulah and Meatball, were so dear to me that it was hard to imagine bringing another pup into my circle.

This changed when I first saw little Ozzie and his little scruffy necktie while scrolling through Facebook. I adopted Ozzie from an organization that works to rescue Mexican street dogs and place them in loving homes.

A year later, Ozzie settled in and quickly became a beloved addition to our family, along with my cat, Magic. I’ve developed this DIY paw balm with dogs like Ozzie in mind as a natural solution for paw care.

Jump ahead to…

Ozzie, the scruffy puppy.

Is Paw Balm Good for Dogs?

Absolutely! All dogs can benefit from paw balm. It has a gel-like consistency, designed to bring back moisture to your pets’ paws. Just like we use moisturizer to heal dry hands or lip balm to avoid chapped lips, our dogs’ paws need regular moisturizing.

Benefits of paw balm include:
- Moisturizing dry paw pads
- Protecting paws from harsh conditions like ice or hot concrete
- Treating paw injuries such as cracks, cuts, and blisters
- Preventing future paw pad injuries
I make my balm big enough to fit Ozzie’s paw in it directly.

Do Vets Recommend Paw Balm?

Yes! Veterinarians recommend paw balm to both treat and prevent paw injuries. It is an important part of caring for your dog and should be part of your regular pet care routine. That being said, not all paw balms are made the same.

It is important to use a balm that is made with dogs in mind. Dogs can’t tell if a product is toxic or not, and it is likely they’ll get in at least a couple of licks. You don’t want to use balms designed for humans on your furry friends…the ingredients could cause them harm!

When in doubt, I always choose the natural route. Making my own DIY paw balm ensures that I am informed about each ingredient.

Yes, your dog will lick this paw balm. It’s natural.

DIY Dog Paw Balm Recipe

Make paw balm part of your pet care routine! You can use this balm several times a day to help heal your dogs’ paws and prevent any future discomfort.

Ingredients

Makes 138g. See the recipe card for exact measurements.

Jump to Recipe

You don’t need many ingredients for the dog paw balm.

Make It!

Before starting your recipe, make sure your olive oil is ready to go by following these infusion instructions. I infused my olive oil with calendula for its medicinal benefits such as antifungal and antimicrobial properties.

Add your infused olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax to a double boiler. Over medium heat, slowly melt the ingredients together until the beeswax is fully melted. Don’t allow the oils to cool or leave them unattended.

Don’t overheat your materials, allowing them just to melt before removing from heat.

Once melted, remove from heat and allow it to slightly cool (while still remaining in a liquid state). If it does accidentally solidify, simply reheat slowly again.

Add in your Vitamin E and lavender essential oil (the lavender is optional!). Since these oils are more volatile, they break down easier with heat. The antioxidant properties of Vitamin E will significantly reduce when heated. That’s why we want to add oils at the last possible minute.

Stir the combination well before pouring it into clean and sterile containers. Let them sit undisturbed until fully cool. Once set, wipe the rims with a clean cloth before placing the lids on.

This paw balm for dogs is good for three months. If you notice any colour change, discard it earlier.

Disinfect your tins with alcohol before pouring in the melted dog paw balm.

How to Use Dog Paw Balm

First, clean your hands. If your dog’s paws are cracked or cut, you’ll need to avoid contaminating the injury.

Then, simply wipe a bit of balm on each paw pad, making sure to cover them entirely. You don’t need to work this balm in much; the ingredients will do the work for you!

Apply a few times a day, or as needed. The best time to apply would be right before bedtime so that the balm has time to work while your dog snoozes.

If your dog is fussy about their paws, bring out the treats to distract them while you apply the balm.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Paw Balm

How do I know if my dog’s paws need moisturizing?

You’ll know your dog’s paws require a little TLC if they are dry and coarse to the touch or show any sign of cracking. Dogs’ paws will need extra moisture, particularly in the cold, winter season so it is best to use paw balm preventatively during this time!

Your dogs’ paws don’t need to be injured, however, to use a moisturizing balm! Use paw balm on healthy paws to prevent possible injury or discomfort.

Is it safe if my dog licks paw balm?

My dog paw balm contains non-toxic ingredients that won’t harm your pup! This being said, it’s best to take a few measures to encourage dogs not to lick. Excess licking can take away the balm’s moisturizing effect and actually make your dog’s paws drier!

When creating this paw balm recipe, I let my dog smell various natural butters to determine which he wasn’t interested in licking. Out of cocoa butter, mango butter, and shea butter, shea was the winner! It doesn’t have a strong scent, so dogs are less likely to lick it.

If you’re concerned with licking, try adding the optional few drops of lavender essential oil to your paw balm. It will be unappetizing for your dog, and they’ll want to keep their tongues far away!

Most folks know that chocolate is toxic to dogs, but cocoa butter isn’t as toxic. It is generally a safe ingredient to use in paw balm according to this vet.

Let me know how this paw balm for dogs works for your pup! It really has made all the difference in soothing little Ozzie’s feet.

More Dog-Friendly DIYs
DIY Dog Palm Recipe

Moisturize and soothe your dog’s cracked and dry paws with this all-natural paw balm recipe. Makes 138g.

Infuse your calendula into your olive oil before starting the recipe.

Add your olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax to a double boiler. Melt over medium heat. Don’t leave unattended or allow to cool.

Remove from heat. Allow it to slightly cool before adding Vitamin E oil and the optional lavender essential oil.

Stir well before pouring into clean and sterile containers. Let sit until fully cooled.
Stephanie Rose

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August 23, 2024
Make Floral Lotion Using Flowers From Your Garden – Garden Therapy
Taking a deep whiff of flowers from my garden gives me an instant rush of joy. So much so, that I found a way to carry it with me wherever I go. Filled with flowering quince, rose, calendula, and peony, I took the best flowers my garden had to offer and made a gentle, floral lotion. Perfect for head to toe, this lotion locks in moisture and leaves behind a divine floral scent.

When it comes to lotion, I get quite picky with consistency. I don’t want anything feeling too greasy on the skin and I also don’t want it to feel so watery that it barely moisturizes the skin. Instead, I want to feel fluffy, rich, and ultra-smooth to the touch.

This DIY flower lotion is everything I want in a cream. Not only is the texture perfect, but it has such a gentle aroma that comes from flowers directly from my garden. Unlike lotions with essential oils, the scent is not overpowering.

And don’t even get me started on synthetic fragrances! Nothing smells like a flower except for a flower. You don’t need to be a chemist to smell like your flowers.

While making floral lotion does take some practice and patience to perfect, anyone at home can make some high-quality, fluffy, garden-inspired lotion.

This post will cover…

I chose flowers solely for their scent for this recipe.

What Flowers Work the Best in Lotion?

For this recipe, I made herbal oil using flowering quince, rose, calendula, and peony. The result is a delightfully floral fragrance that doesn’t overwhelm the senses. I chose these flowers mostly for their scent, but also for some of their wonderful skincare qualities.

Both rose and calendula have long been hailed as skin care wonders and grown for their medicinal properties. Calendula acts as a wound healer, helping to reduce inflammation. Rose cleanses the skin as a natural astringent and prevents and reduces skin discolouration.

When it comes to making your own floral lotion, you can customize your herbal oil using whatever flowers you like best or what’s in season. Lavender and chamomile are other skin care-friendly, heavily scented flowers.

If the scent is the main goal, hyacinth, lily of the valley, gardenia, and lilac all come with a heavy perfume. Check out my list of fragrant flowers and skin care herbs for more ideas.

Note: please use caution when working with lily of the valley. It smells wonderful, but when ingested, it is extremely toxic to living beings, especially children and pets. Keep out of reach of little hands and paws!

Not sure what flowers to use? Opt for what’s in season!

How to Infuse Flowers in Oil

When making infusing flowers in oil, you’ll need a little bit of heat. This can be done using the stovetop, a slow cooker, or by sitting out in the sun. For all three, the premise is simple: submerge the flowers in oil and let them sit.

Depending on how much time you have, you can use one of the three methods before you make your flower cream. You can find detailed instructions for each infusion method here.

Keep in mind that only dried flowers should be used to infuse the oils. The moisture from fresh flowers won’t mix well.

Luckily, drying flowers is much easier than you may think! Here’s how to dry flowers, plus 14 other things you can do with them.

Infuse your flowers all together.

DIY Flower Lotion Recipe

Bottle up the heavenly scents of your garden with this ultra-moisturizing floral lotion. If this is your first time making lotion, check out this post first for more detailed how-to instructions. Lotion is one of the trickier recipes to make, and it may take a couple of tries before you get it perfect!

Makes 200g. For exact measurements, refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Jump to Recipe

Equipment

Oil Phase Ingredients

Infuse your floral oil ahead of time.

Aqueous Phase Ingredients

Cool Phase Ingredients

This floral lotion recipe is fluffy and lux.

Make It!

Before even getting started, sterilize all your equipment and your workspace. Then, weigh out all your ingredients separately, combining all your oil ingredients together and then your water ingredients.

With a double boiler, heat both the water and oil ingredients to 160 degrees while keeping them separate. Let them sit at this temperature for twenty minutes.

In a mixing bowl, pour in the oil ingredients followed by the water ingredients. Use an electric mixer to combine the ingredients and thicken the mixture.

When the mixture cools to 80 degrees, add in the cool phase ingredients. Continue mixing with the electric mixer until it reaches a fluffy consistency.

Wait for the mixture to cool to 80 degrees before adding in the cool phase ingredients. Temperature is key!

Then it’s ready for a container! Put into a sterilized container with a pump. You can use a piping bag to help get the lotion into a container with a small opening.

Use this flower cream within six months. Discard earlier if you notice any change in colour or odour.

Enjoy the custom scent of your new lotion!

Floral Lotion FAQ

Making lotion for the first time can be difficult. If you’re having any issues, I encourage you to check out the FAQ section of my magnesium lotion where I answer some of the most common issues in regard to making floral lotion.

If you still have a question, feel free to leave it in the comments down below, and I’ll do my best to answer you as quickly as possible! But here’s a few common questions I get.

My lotion moulds a few weeks after making it. How do I prevent this?

The issue with the mould would have happened while you were making it—likely using something that hasn’t been sterilized in the preparation area, such as the bowls, jars, spatula, etc. It’s essential to use sterile tools and spray everything down with alcohol.

I have a jar of this lotion that will last for six months and show no signs of mould. If I have extras, I put them in my fridge until they’re ready to use. But I keep the jar I’m currently using in my bathroom stored at room temperature.

How can I stop my floral lotion from separating?

Lotion is prone to separating when you make it. While there are emulsifiers to prevent this, you still need to blend it. Use an electric blender or an immersion blender until it looks like it’s holding together, and then let it cool. Repeat if necessary.

More DIY Lotion Recipes
DIY Floral Lotion

Naturally scented with flowering quince, rose, calendula, and peony, this lotion takes inspiration from the garden while leaving your skin silky smooth. Makes 200g.

Aqueous Phase Ingredients

Sterilize all your equipment. Weigh out your ingredients. Combine all your oil ingredients together and the water ingredients together.

While keeping separate, heat the water and oil ingredients to 160 degrees. Let sit at this temperature for 20 minutes.

Pour the oil ingredients followed by the water ingredients into a mixing bowl. Combine with an electric mixer until the mixture thickens.

Once cooled to 80 degrees, add in the cool phase ingredients. Mix with the electric mixer until it reaches a fluffy consistency.

Pour into a sterilized pump using a piping bag. Use within 6 months.
Stephanie Rose

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August 15, 2024
Sun Safety for Gardeners: How to Stay Safe in the Sun – Garden Therapy
From avoiding the sun to bug bites, our skincare routine requires a little more effort in the summer to keep our skin happy and healthy. Sun safety is often one of the more overlooked health aspects, but it is super important for people like gardeners who spend lots of their peak sun time outside. Here’s how to stay safe in the sun without cutting back on your gardening time.

As a fair-skinned, freckly gal, I have all the risk factors for skin cancer, including skin cancer, in my immediate family. Sun safety is no joke for me, so I have done quite a bit of research on what works best for my skin and me.

I love to be outside gardening and soaking up vitamin D, but I am always conscious about sun exposure. Yes, I can’t deny that feeling the sun’s rays directly on my skin fills me with joy and literal warmth, but these moments must be quick and measured.

If sun safety has never been much on your mind as a gardener, let this summer be the time to change that. It’s something we all should be talking about more and practicing year-round.

Here’s what I wish all gardeners would know about sun safety.

If you do get a sunburn, aloe vera is one of my favourite ways to treat it and provide relief.

Effects of UV on the Skin

Once we got past rubbing baby oil on our skin into the era of the Coppertone Girl, parents everywhere have been asking their kids, “Are you wearing sunscreen?”

We are all very familiar with the SPF labels on bottles and know that the higher the number, the more sun protection. However, most sunscreens are only protecting against UVB rays and not UVA rays. So, what exactly is the difference between the two?

UVB rays damage the outer layers of the skin, causing sunburns, while UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin, causing aging. Both are causes of skin cancer. Ideally, you want protection from both. While you may be outside and avoiding a sunburn, long sun exposure will put you at risk of UVA rays.

Some commercial sunscreens protect against both and are labelled as broad-spectrum sunscreens, but they still only provide minimal protection against UVA rays. Mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide is often broad-spectrum, sitting atop the skin rather than into the skin.

I have naturally freckly skin with just a few minutes of daily sun exposure.

How to Protect Skin From the Sun Naturally

Many moons ago, I wrote a blog about sunscreen and didn’t end up publishing it because the truth is that I don’t rely much on sunscreen. While it does protect the top layer of skin, it doesn’t do much for the skin underneath. This means there can still be underlying damage.

In fact, a sunburn is a good indicator that you’ve been in the sun for too long and need to step out.

A while back, I had low Vitamin D levels, so I ended up taking a supplement. But after a few months of it disagreeing with my stomach and not making me feel much better, I opted for safe sun exposure instead.

My doctor recommended that I head outside and expose my skin to the sun without sunscreen in the cool weather months and at the cool times of the day.

It really doesn’t get all that warm here in Vancouver so that meant that for June, July, and August, I avoided the sun between 10 am to 3 pm, but that 15-20 minutes of exposure in the morning or evening was just fine.

Before I say more, I should note that I don’t take skin safety lightly, and I don’t think you should either. It’s essential that you also consult with health care professionals about what is best for you and your family.

And just so it’s 100% clear, I do use sunscreen when I can’t avoid sun exposure. But I try to follow the following suggestions first.

Our plants sure do love the sunshine, though!

How to Stay Safe in the Sun

In addition to wearing sunscreen when I’m outside for a long time, there are many ways I keep my skin protected while in the garden.
- Check the UV index. The same way you might check the weather, look at the UV index for the day. Anything 3 or higher is when you need to be extra careful.
- Avoid the highest peaks of the day. Typically, 10-3 is when the sun is at its strongest. Avoid gardening during these times. The UV index will confirm the best times of day to go outside. The safest time to be in the sun is early morning and late afternoon.
- Wear protective clothing. Put on a wide-brimmed hat that will cover your face, ears, scalp, and neck. Wear long sleeves (in a light colour to stay cool) to cover your arms, and don’t forget to protect your eyes with UV-protected sunglasses.
- Invest in UPF clothing. If you find yourself outside for a very long time, I would recommend buying some clothing that is labelled to have a UV protection factor (UPF)
- Work in the shade. Whenever possible, find protection in shady spots. Umbrellas can help with this!
- Wear sunscreen. If exposed to a long period of time, put on some broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
- Keep hydrated. Always drink lots of water when it’s hot out to avoid dehydration and heat stroke.
You’ll always find me outside in my hat and long sleeves.

Take Inspiration From Around the World

Many of our current sun safety practices stem from different cultural practices that have long been in place.

In ancient China, silk parasols were very popular amongst the higher classes to stay protected from the sun. I still see many people practicing this today. In Southeast Asia, people wore and still wear conical leaf hats.

The indigenous people of the Arctic were the first to have “sunglasses” made of leather, bone, or wood to shelter their eyes from snow blindness. Further south, indigenous people used sunflower oil and pine needles as natural sun barriers.

The Mediterranean and most of Latin America participate in siestas, a mid-day nap or rest when the sun is at its peak. During this time, people retreat inside to shelter themselves from the sun.

In my post about SAD, I mentioned that today’s society forces us to live by a certain timeline rather than follow the sun. We’re told that midday is one of our most productive hours, so we need to be out and about getting stuff done. But what if we used this time to be in the shade and rest instead?

Get under that umbrella!

FAQs About Sun Safety

How long does SPF 50 sunscreen last?

The SPF number refers to how well a sunscreen protects against UVB rays (not UVA rays). It tells us how long the UV rays would take to redden our skin compared to if we weren’t wearing sunscreen.

With SPF 50, UV rays would take 50 times longer to burn your skin than if you weren’t wearing any sunscreen. Compared to SPF 30, SPF 50 is about 2% more effective.

How many minutes in the sun is safe?

Between 15-20 minutes of exposure in the morning or evening sun is just fine without protection.

What is the most harmful time to be in the sun?

The peak sun hours are between 10 AM to 3 PM. Check your UV index for peak times, as you would the weather. Anything 3 or higher should require all sun protection measures. The safest time to be in the sun is early morning and late afternoon through to the evening.

In the end, we want to avoid the sun at its peak time when the UV rays are the strongest, wear a hat, enjoy the shade whenever possible, and take steps to wear skin protection. Together, you’re keeping your skin happy and healthy!

More Natural Sun Care Tips
Stephanie Rose

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April 22, 2024
A Peppermint Lip Balm Recipe for Sweet Sweet Lips – Garden Therapy
This peppermint lip balm recipe is lip-smacking good, and hey, it smells amazing too! Great to use all year long, this is a super simple recipe that doesn’t take long to whip up. Here’s how to make your own minty, fresh lip balm.

This peppermint lip balm is one of my favourite items to whip up during Christmas time. I call it my candy cane lip balm, and it’s a big hit among friends. They can get tucked inside stockings, alongside gift cards, or as a small token of thanks to acquaintances in your life.

But peppermint doesn’t have to be just a holiday scent. From toothpaste to mojitos, I love enjoying the crisp and fresh taste of peppermint.

Whenever I put this lip balm on, I get a hint of the peppermint taste and enjoy the cooling sensation that comes from the peppermint essential oil.

When it comes to making your own products, lip balm is one of the easiest DIY recipes out there. It’s ideal for beginners and is a very practical item everyone enjoys.

Here’s what we’ll be covering today…

Without a label, these mint lip balms look as clean and simple as their ingredients.

Homemade Peppermint Lip Balm

Now, this would make a great stocking stuffer, wouldn’t it? The recipe below makes 12 tubes, so you’ll have plenty of mint lip balm to keep and gift to others.

Ingredients and Equipment

See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for exact measurements.

Jump to Recipe

If you can’t find lip balm tubes, you can also use small metal containers and apply the mint lip balm with your fingers.

Make It!

Melt the oil and waxes in the double boiler. Remove from heat, add essential oils, and stir well.

Line up lip balm tubes on a level surface and carefully pour the melted oil and wax into each tube, filling only halfway (if you pour it all at once, you may get a hole in the top of your lip balm once it cools).

It really helps if you have a double boiler where the top pot has a pour spout. If not, transfer the hot liquid into a measuring cup with a spout for easier pouring.

Once the half-full lip balm has been set, top up the rest of the tube.

If you still get an uneven top when the balm has cooled completely, you can use a heat gun or lighter to level it out. Just be sure not to melt the tube!

I labelled mine as candy cane lip balm since I made these during the holidays.

Custom Lip Balm Labels

To really make this peppermint lip balm fun, I added custom labels. It looks like something you might buy at the store!

You can make custom labels if you have a Cricut machine. Printing onto sticker paper is also an option for those who want to use their regular printer.

For simplicity’s sake, I like to use Evermine to make the labels for my items. I can design right on the platform and don’t have to worry about getting the dimensions right.

Once the label is on, they’re truly ready for gifting!

For a year-round look, make the peppermint lip balm labels green and give it your own unique name!

FAQ About Using Peppermint Lip Balm

Is peppermint lip balm drying?

When used incorrectly, peppermint essential oil can be irritating. It should always be diluted before being applied to the skin. In the case of this mint lip balm, it shouldn’t be drying. Instead, the wax and oils create plenty of moisture while the peppermint gives a cooling effect.

Not everyone is well-suited to peppermint oil. The cooling and tingling sensation will promote blood circulation and give a plumping effect to the lips. However, those with sensitive skin may want to avoid using peppermint oil, especially those with dermatitis and eczema. Stop using the lip balm if it causes any irritation.

Why does peppermint make your lips tingle?

One major component of peppermint essential oil is menthol, which gives peppermint its smell, flavour, and tingling sensation. The skin on your face, including your lips, will process the menthol as a tingling and slightly burning sensation thanks to the nerves in the face. The process is similar to how our taste buds process spicy food.

This sensation is completely safe and can even promote focus and attention. Peppermint oil is FDA-approved for use as both a flavour and fragrance.
Peppermint Lip Balm

This peppermint lip balm is ideal around Christmas time or for anyone who loves a minty tingle. This recipe makes 12 tubes.

In the double boiler, melt your waxes and oil together.

Once melted, remove from heat and add your essential oils. Stir well.

Line up the lip balm tubes on a level surface. Pour the melted wax into each tube, only filling halfway. This prevents a hole from forming up top.

Once the lip balm has cooled, reheat the remaining oils and top up the rest of the tube.

If the top cools unevenly, use a heat gun or lighter to level the top. Careful not to melt the tube!

A double boiler with a pour spout makes it easy to pour into the small lip balm tubes. If you don’t have one, transfer the hot liquid into a measuring cup or other container with a spout to make pouring easier.
More Skincare Recipes to Try
Stephanie Rose

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December 15, 2023
Incorporating CBD into Your Skincare Routine: Hype or Help? – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

If you’ve been keeping up with the latest trends in skincare, you’ve probably come across the buzz surrounding CBD (cannabidiol) and its potential benefits for the skin. From serums to creams, CBD-infused skincare products are flooding the market, promising everything from youthful glow to improved complexion. But is incorporating CBD into your skincare routine really worth the hype, or is it just another passing trend? Let’s dive into the science behind CBD and its potential impact on your skin.

Understanding CBD and its Benefits for Skin

What is CBD?

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a natural compound derived from the cannabis plant. Unlike its counterpart THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning it won’t get you high. It interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a complex network of receptors that helps regulate various bodily functions, including skin health.

How does CBD interact with the skin?

When CBD is applied topically, it interacts with the endocannabinoid receptors in the skin, potentially influencing factors like inflammation, oil production, and cell turnover. This interaction is believed to contribute to the various benefits CBD offers for skincare.

Potential benefits of CBD for skincare

Research suggests that CBD may have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and soothing properties. These properties make it a potential candidate for addressing various skin concerns, including acne, eczema, psoriasis, and signs of…

MMP News Author

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August 6, 2023
CBD Beauty: Understanding the Benefits of Cannabidiol in Products – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

In recent years, the beauty industry has seen a remarkable shift towards natural and holistic approaches to skincare and wellness. One such ingredient that has taken the beauty world by storm is Cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD. Derived from the cannabis plant, CBD has gained widespread popularity for its potential benefits when incorporated into beauty products. In this article, we’ll delve into the fascinating world of CBD beauty and explore the numerous advantages it offers for your skin and overall well-being.

CBD, a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant, has emerged as a promising ingredient in the beauty industry. Its potential to enhance skin health and provide a holistic beauty experience has led to a surge in CBD-infused skincare and wellness products.

The Science Behind CBD

CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a crucial role in maintaining skin balance and overall well-being. This interaction can potentially regulate various skin functions and address common skin concerns.

CBD-infused Skincare Products

CBD is now a key ingredient in a variety of skincare products, including moisturizers, serums, facial oils, and masks. These products are formulated to deliver CBD’s benefits directly to the skin, promoting a healthy and radiant complexion.

Moisturizers and Serums

CBD-infused moisturizers and serums offer deep hydration and may help soothe skin irritation. The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD can…

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August 5, 2023
New start-up, Guy Lively, brings real, natural products to men’s skincare industry

Guy Lively, a new, men’s natural skincare start-up based in Minneapolis, MN, brings real, natural products to a growing yet underserved men’s skincare industry. Guy Lively’s products include all-natural bar soap, shave cream, beard oil, an age-defying line and more.

Press Release
–

Feb 10, 2022

MINNEAPOLIS, February 10, 2022 (Newswire.com)
–
Guy Lively, a new men’s natural skincare start-up based in Minneapolis, MN, has officially launched. Guy Lively provides men with real, natural skincare, including all-natural bar soap, shaving, age-defying products and more. In an underserved yet growing men’s skincare industry, Guy Lively’s mission is to provide men with the most effective and natural skincare products available in the market.

“The idea of Guy Lively was born on a family road trip to Colorado with two teenage boys crammed in the car,” said Jay Woller, Co-founder, Guy Lively. “The need for everyone to smell fresh and stay clean was made abundantly clear. As we hiked and biked through the Rocky Mountains with the lingering effects of the car ride, the fresh mountain air and beauty of nature inspired us to bring the essence of nature to men’s skincare.”

Founded by an active family of outdoor enthusiasts, Guy Lively brings the outdoors in using real, nature-made ingredients. Guy Lively products are handcrafted, made in the USA, responsibly sourced, free of harsh chemicals, and contain natural and organic ingredients. Guy Lively products are available online. To view all products, visit guylively.com.

About Guy Lively

Guy Lively is located in the heart of Minneapolis, MN, founded by an active family of outdoor enthusiasts. Guy Lively provides men with natural and effective skincare products, including all-natural bar soap, shaving and grooming products, an age-defying line and more. From ingredients to packaging, Guy Lively holds itself to the highest standard. Guy Lively partners with like-minded, U.S.-based businesses that are focused on sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. Visit guylively.com for more information.

Media Contact

Heidi Woller, Co-founder
Guy Lively
hwoller@guylively.com
1Ph: (612) 310-0867

Source: Guy Lively

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February 10, 2022