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Tag: plant-based beauty

  • Video: Herbal Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse for Healthy Hair (with Video)

    Cue the hair flip! Add this herbal hair rinse to your hair care routine and you’ll notice an immediate difference. Made from completely natural ingredients, this apple cider vinegar hair rinse works hard to correct your scalp’s pH and in turn give you stronger, healthier, and gorgeous hair.

    Switching to an all-natural hair care routine is one of the best things I’ve ever done for my hair. Seriously! I was shocked at the results once I started to make my own dry shampoo, conditioner, hair serum, and now my very own herbal hair rinse.

    While a ton of people are switching towards a “clean” skincare routine, I have noticed that few people have yet to embrace an all-natural hair care routine.

    I could not recommend it enough. Everyone’s hair is so different and by creating your own products, you can cater to your own hair type. Curly, straight, dry, oily…there is a hair recipe for you. My ACV hair rinse is the newest step to my hair care routine and I would never do without it again!

    What is Hair Rinse?

    herbs infusing in mason jar next to apple cider vinegar hair rinse

    A herbal hair rinse is an added hair care step that you do while in the shower. It works to nourish the hair naturally with infused herbs. Most importantly though, it will restore and balance the pH of your hair! I’ll explain a little later why this is SO important.

    I learned about using a hair rinse from my friend and Herbalist Robin from Garden Mentors. She only uses the hair rinse without any other products and she has gorgeous, shiny hair. I have been playing with recipes and testing it out with my hair for over a year and I have not been able to seamlessly make the transition to not using shampoo and conditioner.

    To get there, your hair needs to get used to not having shampoo remove the natural oil. This means that your scalp will produce A LOT of excess oil for a while until it balances out again. I plan to go full “no poo” method one day, but for now, I use the rinse as part of my routine and it works wonders for me. No more itchy or dry scalp and I can go a week between washings with ease. Baby steps!

    Robin has a lovely herbal hair rinse in her Etsy Shop. be sure to check it out!

    It has quickly become an essential step in my natural hair care routine. By making my own DIY hair rinse, I know where all the ingredients are coming from and can avoid all the harsh chemicals and fragrances that are common in hair care products.

    The Best Herbs to Add to an Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

    Mason jars filled with dried herbs to make an herbal hair rinse.

    Adding herbs to your hair rinse can make all the difference. Herbs are full of beneficial properties that once infused, can add a ton of benefits for your hair. Below, I’ve outlined some of the best herbs for hair and how they can help.

    Choose which herbs will aid you best for your own customized herbal hair rinse. Ask yourself, which herb will work best for my hair type? The “best for” notes under each section will help you decide if the herb is right for you.

    Horsetail

    One of the most well-known herbs for hair, horsetail is probably found in some of your favourite hair care products. It has a ton of antioxidant properties which can add sheen and strengthen the hair.

    It contains silica, selenium, and cysteine which are all known to promote hair growth. Overall, it is a must-have for those looking to improve overall hair condition.

    Best for: all hair types and those looking to strengthen hair and promote growth.

    Rosemary

    sprig of rosemary next to a mason jar of calendula herb

    Rosemary has always been a top ingredient in my hair care recipes as it works to improve scalp circulation and nerve growth. Why is this important? Improved circulation in the scalp prevents hair follicles from not getting enough blood supply and dying off, leading to hair loss.

    It also has antiseptic and antibacterial properties which can aid in preventing dandruff and lice. I’d like to avoid the two as much as possible!

    Best for: increasing scalp circulation and promoting hair growth.

    Lavender

    Aromatherapy’s most popular scent, lavender is known to have a calming effect on the body. This extends to hair as well, where its antimicrobial properties helps to calm issues like itchiness and dandruff by preventing bacteria and fungi from growing. It also works to soothe scalp inflammation and dryness.

    A few studies have backed up lavender’s hair claims, where it has been known to be useful in preventing head lice and help with pattern baldness and alopecia in mice.

    Best for: soothing skin irritations and irregularities due to its antimicrobial properties.

    Nettles

    Rich in minerals like iron, magnesium, and zinc, your hair follicles will love nettles. It’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties also work to protect the scalp from damage and promote new hair growth. This also makes it an aid in treating dandruff.

    Like horsetail, it also has high levels of silica. Combined with high levels of natural sulphur, it makes the hair shinier and healthier.

    Best for: dry and damaged hair as it helps to strengthen and promote growth.

    Calendula

    Jar of dried calendula next to rosemary sprig

    Beautiful on the outside and the inside, calendula is packed full of helpful hair properties. It is anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral, making it useful in improving scalp conditions. Calendula fights dandruff, rashes, and other dry skin issues, as well as helping to speed up recovery time for wounds or damaged hair follicles.

    It also contains flavonoids and carotenoids, two antioxidants that protect from sun and environmental damage to hair.

    Best for: hair that needs extra protection and improving overall scalp condition.

    The Benefits of an Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

    Apple cider vinegar has long been a household remedy favourite. Want to preserve food? Apple cider vinegar. Want to lose weight? Apple cider vinegar. Want shiny, glorious hair? Apple cider vinegar.

    apple cider vinegar next to a bottle of water

    Maintaining a Good pH

    Apple cider vinegar is made from fermenting apples with live cultures, minerals, and acids. Like most vinegar, it is an acidic substance and contains high levels of acetic acid. While applying something acidic to your hair may seem scary, it is actually super beneficial. Here’s why!

    Our hair and scalp have an acid mantle (like the rest of our skin) that requires a healthy pH balance in order to have happy hair. The normal pH of your hair should range between 4.5-5.5 when it is healthy.

    However, most hair products don’t keep pH in mind; colouring, bleaching, and even something as simple as shampoo can throw the pH of your hair off balance. When hair is brittle, dull, or fizzy, it is likely more alkaline and ranges higher on the pH scale than normal.

    That’s where the apple cider vinegar hair rinse comes in!

    Using an acidic substance on the hair can help to balance out the hair and lower the pH. By maintaining a good pH, you are preventing unwanted hair breakage all while maintaining a healthy amount of natural oils. Sebum, our skin’s natural oil, is essential in keeping our hair glossy and strong.

    Other Wonderful Hair Benefits

    Beyond maintaining the pH of our hair, the apple cider vinegar hair rinse has some other benefits as well. Since apple cider vinegar is a popular disinfectant due to its antimicrobial properties, it can aid in treating itchiness and dandruff.

    It is also rich in minerals, especially ones that are good for the hair such as Vitamin C and B.

    Lastly, it gets out that stubborn product that won’t go away even after you give it a good scrub with your best shampoo. If you used a ton of hairspray to achieve that perfect 80’s look for Halloween or layered up on the dry shampoo for longer than you would like to admit, apple cider vinegar has your back. Since it is more acidic than regular shampoo, it can help to gently remove the product, dead skin cell build up, and grime.

    Video: Watch How to Make Herbal Hair Rinse!

    In this video, I’ll walk you through what a herbal hair rinse is, my favorite herbs to use, and how to make this hair rinse step by step.

    Be sure to subscribe to the Garden Therapy YouTube page to get more awesome video content!

    YouTube video

    How to Infuse Your Apple Cider Vinegar

    apple cider vinegar infused with dried herbs for hair

    Before you can use your apple cider vinegar hair rinse, you will need to infuse the vinegar first. To do so, you will want to measure out your herbs. Choose from the herb list above and find which ones best match your hair type. By customizing your herbal hair rinse with the right herbs, you will get the most benefits.

    Place your herbs in a quart mason jar or any other container that will seal tightly. Add at least 3 tbsp each of your desired herbs. Fill the jar with your apple cider vinegar and give it a good shake.

    Jar of herbs infusing in apple cider vinegar to make a ACV hair rinse

    Your mixture will need to sit for 2-4 weeks. This allows the vinegar to be fully infused with the herbal properties and scents. Waiting is tough, but necessary!

    After your vinegar is infused, you can strain the herbs and store the rinse in a glass bottle.

    straining out herbs from an herbal hair rinse

    How to Use This Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

    Now that you’ve been patient and your vinegar is ready to go, it’s time to use your herbal hair rinse!

    1. Dilute Your Mixture

    ACV next to a jar of water

    The first thing you will want to do is dilute your vinegar. While apple cider vinegar helps to balance hair, you don’t want to overdo it and make your hair more acidic or risk harming your skin.

    To dilute your vinegar, add approximately ¼ cup of infused vinegar with 1 pint of water into a squeeze bottle. If after using you find that your hair is still too oily, reduce the amount of vinegar to 1/8 cup. If it feels too dry, try increasing the amount of vinegar to ½ cup.

    All hair will react differently, so use your best judgment.

    2. Apply to Hair

    The herbal hair rinse is best applied after you have shampooed your hair. Use the squeeze bottle to apply to your roots and massage it into the scalp. Next, use a wide-tooth comb to go through the hair and get rid of all the tangles. Squish and scrunch your hair to ensure it really soaks in throughout your hair.

    plastic squeeze bottle filled with a homemade apple cider vinegar hair rinse made with infused herbs

    3. Rinse Well

    Rinse out your hair well and then apply conditioner to help mask the smell. Though, after diluting the vinegar and infusing it with herbs, the smell isn’t as strong as you may think. I like to use my homemade conditioner as it has a ton of yummy essential oils to leave my hair smelling fantastic.

    I use my herbal hair rinse once a week, but you can use it as often as you prefer. And voila! You should notice a huge difference in your hair pretty fast. Shiny and healthy hair is always in!

    More Hair Care Posts to Read:

    DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

    Keep your hair shiny and healthy with this simple herbal hair rinse! Apple cider vinegar promotes healthy pH while herbs are tailored to help your specific type of hair shine.

    • quart mason jar 

    • strainer

    • plastic squeeze bottle

    Herbs that Help Your Hair Goals (use at least 3 tbsp of one or several of the herbs below)

    • horsetail works for all hair types including those looking to strengthen hair and promote growth
    • lavender use to soothe skin irritations and irregularities
    • nettles best for dry and damaged hair
    • rosemary  use to increase circulation and promote hair growth
    • calendula  use for hair that needs extra protection and to improve scalp condition
    • apple cider vinegar 

    Infuse the Apple Cider Vinegar with Herbs

    • Choose herbs that best meet your hair goals from the above list. Measure out at least 3 tbsp of dried herbs to use.

    • Place the herbs in a quart-sized mason jar, then pour in enough apple cider vinegar to fill the jar.

    • Let the herbs steep for 2-4 weeks to get the most benefits possible.

    Dilute the ACV Hair Rinse

    • Strain out the herbs from the ACV mixture. Discard the herbs.

    • In a shower-safe plastic squeeze bottle, add 1/4 cup of infused ACV with 1 pint of water and apply to hair after shampooing. Rinse well and apply conditioner.

    YouTube video

    If your hair feels too oily, reduce the amount of herbal apple cider vinegar to 1/4 cup. If your hair feels overly dry, increase the amount to 1/2 cup.

    Stephanie Rose

    Source link

  • Pampering Peppermint Coconut Foot Scrub – Garden Therapy

    If your feet are dry and rough, or just in need of a little pick-me-up, this peppermint foot scrub is just what you need. This simple DIY scrub takes just minutes to put together, but will provide you with hours of relief.

    What do achy, dry, rough feet need? A little pampering straight from the garden! That’s right, even your feet benefit from a little garden therapy.

    This peppermint foot scrub is made specifically for feet. Exfoliating sugar and dried herbs will scrub away rough skin, the coconut oil will soften cracks, and soothing peppermint essential oil has a cooling effect.

    Update: follow this foot scrub with an all-natural healing foot balm recipe

    Pampering Peppermint Coconut Foot ScrubPampering Peppermint Coconut Foot Scrub
    When packaged nicely, this mint scrub makes for the perfect gift.

    Sugar scrubs are all the rage. You will find endless recipes for them just by scrolling pages of social media. What’s the appeal, you ask? Let me tell you!

    Simple to Make

    First, diy foot scrubs are simple to make. Not only does it typically take just minutes to put together, but you can usually find all of the ingredients around the house. This makes sugar scrubs a fabulous way to get started if you want to learn how to make your own all-natural skincare products.

    Customized Skin-Healing Ingredients

    Second, you can be very creative with ingredients. Generally, you start with sugar and oil as the base. Then, the fun really begins. Sure, you can leave the sugar and oil as is and have a nice scrub, but why not dress it up a bit?

    Here are just a few things that this particular sugar scrub has in it:

    • Scent – in this particular recipe, I use peppermint essential oil and a peppermint tea bag.
    • Medicinal properties – peppermint does more than just add a nice scent, however. It also provides a tingling, cooling relief that feet absolutely love.
    • Skin healing – one of the major benefits of using coconut oil is that it naturally contains anti-fungal properties. This makes it especially excellent for use on hardworking feet.
    homemade sugar scrub in a jarhomemade sugar scrub in a jar
    Peppermint provides a cooling effect to the skin.

    Makes Your Skin Feel Great

    Third, they make your skin feel fantastic! I won’t go too far into the adjectives here because I can’t do justice to the smooth, soft, baby skin that you have hidden just beneath that outer layer. Just try it and you will see.

    Great Gift Idea

    With all those benefits wrapped into one package, why not double or even triple the recipe below and share it with a few friends? This is a DIY gift that absolutely everyone will love.

    I like to package this in wide-mouth mason jars, and for a little extra touch, I will add a chalkboard label and even a cute wooden scoop sometimes.

    If you are looking for other gift wrapping ideas, take a look at this post about natural and eco-friendly ways to wrap presents.

    Alright, let’s talk about how you actually make this peppermint foot scrub.

    Remember, this recipe is perfect for feet. You can certainly use it all over your body, and I have, but I love this for cooling and soothing feet.

    The secret is in the peppermint essential oil. It has a stimulating and cooling effect on the skin that can really perk up tired feet. If you are prone to foot or leg cramps, a massage with this oil will feel terrific, particularly when followed by this magnesium lotion.

    Ingredients Needed:

    The following recipe makes 400g  of sugar scrub.

    Make it!

    Layout your ingredients. Note: Set the coconut oil out in a warm place so that it softens but does not completely melt. Look for the consistency of softened butter for baking. It is very difficult to work with coconut oil straight out of the jar, as it does not mix well.

    ingredients for peppermint coconut sugar scrubingredients for peppermint coconut sugar scrub
    Let the coconut oil soften by placing it in a warm area.

    In a bowl, mix together the sugar and the coconut oil.

    mixing the ingredients of a peppermint sugar scrubmixing the ingredients of a peppermint sugar scrub

    Empty the contents of the teabag into a small bowl. Sprinkle the herbs into the sugar scrub. You can choose as much or as little as you would like to add, keeping in mind that adding more herbs can make the scrub more abrasive.

    adding dried herbs to scrub recipeadding dried herbs to scrub recipe
    Grind the herbs smaller if necessary.

    To give a minty green colour to the scrub, add some spirulina powder as a natural colourant. You can play with how much you’d like to add. I kept mine on the lighter side because I prefer a softer green.

    spirulina powder being added to peppermint sugar scrub to give it a green colorspirulina powder being added to peppermint sugar scrub to give it a green color
    Spirulina powder is made from dried algae.

    Add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil. That may not seem like very much, but I promise you, a little goes a long way. This is particularly true of peppermint oil!

    Adding mint essential oil to sugar scrub mixAdding mint essential oil to sugar scrub mix
    Peppermint oil is strong, so 10 drops is all you need.

    Stir the ingredients together and scoop into a lidded jar.

    stirring mint coconut sugar scrubstirring mint coconut sugar scrub
    Use a spoon to grab some scrub rather than your fingers to help it stay clean and last longer.

    Give it!

    To give this as a present, simply package the scrub in a jar with a chalkboard label, then use a liquid chalk pen to write the label. Wrap jute twine around the top of the jar, just under the lid and tie in a bow.

    How to Store Peppermint Sugar Scrub

    This scrub will need to be used within 3 months. It will be okay on a bathroom counter for a few days, but anything you keep longer will need to be stored in a refrigerator to extend shelf life.

    mint scrub label on a jar - a gift of peppermint sugar scrubmint scrub label on a jar - a gift of peppermint sugar scrub
    Store in a fridge to preserve the shelf life.

    DIY Peppermint Sugar Scrub

    Give sore, tired feed the ultimate pampering with this DIY peppermint foot scrub. Coconut oil will soothe and heal skin while sugar gently exfoliates and peppermint provides cooling relief.

    • In a bowl, mix together the sugar and the softened coconut oil.

    • Add the contents of the peppermint tea bag.

    • Sprinkle in some spirulina powder as a natural colorant.

    • Add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil.

    • Stir together and add to a lidded jar.

    Stephanie Rose

    Source link

  • 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!

    coffee bean massage bars with burlap gift bagcoffee bean massage bars with burlap gift bag

    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

    coffee massage bar ingredientscoffee massage bar ingredients

    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.

    adding coffee beans to soap molds for massage barsadding coffee beans to soap molds for massage bars

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

    double boiler for making coffee bean massage barsdouble boiler for making coffee bean massage bars

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

    coffee bean massage bar ingredients left to set in moldscoffee bean massage bar ingredients left to set in molds

    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.

    finished coffee bean massage bars still in their moldfinished coffee bean massage bars still in their mold

    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 massage bar with a gift tag and burlap bagcoffee massage bar with a gift tag and burlap bag

    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.

    Stephanie Rose

    Source link

  • How to Make Magnesium Lotion + the Benefits and Uses

    Today, I’m happy to share a recipe that I have been perfecting for a few years. I love this recipe and am thrilled to share how you can make a topical magnesium lotion to help with pain management and improve sleep. 

    I’ve long been a proponent of Epsom salt baths. Over the years, I’ve shared many recipes for botanical bath salts and tub teas in which the main ingredient is Epsom salts.

    I started taking Epsom salt baths when it was recommended to me by a physiotherapist to help treat pain from fibromyalgia and restless leg syndrome.

    Over the years, I found that an Epsom salt bath was absolutely essential after a day of hard work in the garden. I would be so sore the next day if I didn’t have a soak the night before. By simply filling up a warm bath and adding Epsom salts and herbs, I would sleep well and wake up the next morning in great shape.

    Epsom salt is the common name for magnesium sulphate adopted in Epsom in Surrey, England, where it was first discovered. Epsom is home to lush mineral waters that attracted folks to come and bathe in the healing salts.

    Magnesium sulphate has since been packaged andis available in every grocery and drugstore to turn the home bath into a soothing mineral bath.

    This post covers…

    What Is Magnesium and How Much do I Need?

    Let’s start at the beginning. What is magnesium anyways? This mineral is the 7th most abundant mineral on the planet. You can naturally find it in many foods, but our daily intake is much less than what it once was thanks to changing diets, industrialized agriculture, and the advent of processed food.

    Foods with Magnesium

    Here are a few of the foods to consume regularly, along with their magnesium content:

    • Pumpkin seeds – 1 oz has 168 mg
    • Dry-roasted almonds – 1 oz offers 80 mg
    • Dry-roasted cashews – 1 oz has 74 mg
    • Cooked and shelled edamame – 50 mg per half cup
    • Cubed avocado – 1 cup has 44 mg
    • Baked potatoes with skin – 3.5 oz has 43 mg

    To avoid the risk of developing chronic disease, the recommended daily intake for adults is between 300 mg/day and 450 mg/day. Some experts say this is a basic amount but the body may need more to operate optimally.

    Paleolithic nutrition from the former hunter-gatherer cultures shows that a normal diet included about 600mg of magnesium every day, which is higher than today. Our basic mechanisms to regulate magnesium in the body were developed millions of years ago. Those mechanisms are still the same, and researchers say this means our bodies are best suited to higher levels.

    Magnesium Lotion Benefits

    Magnesium is responsible for helping many functions of the body.

    Some benefits include maintaining:

    • proper nerve and muscle function
    • proper immune function
    • strong bones
    • regular heartbeat
    • blood glucose levels

    When magnesium is deficient in the body, it can cause heart disease, osteoporosis, and has been associated with type 2 diabetes.

    Magnesium also influences bone cells, active vitamin D levels, and the function of other glands that regulate the natural homeostasis and balance of bones. Getting more of this mineral may improve bone density.

    Additionally, magnesium deficiency can correlate to increased neurotransmitter release and vasoconstriction. This is associated with migraines.

    Magnesium lotion next to chamomile flowersMagnesium lotion next to chamomile flowers
    Magnesium lotion is a topical solution designed to help with aches and pains.

    Applying Magnesium to Skin

    There’s limited evidence that soaking in an Epsom salt bath helps to raise your body’s magnesium levels. Magnesium flakes, or magnesium chloride, show a stronger ability to be absorbed through the skin. However, there is still a question as to how much is absorbed.

    If you are deficient in magnesium, then your best to eat magnesium-rich foods and/or take a magnesium supplement. BUT, if you have aches and pains or fidgety limbs, the topical application of magnesium can be quite helpful.

    My Experience

    Since finding that magnesium oil has helped me, I have been working on a lotion recipe that feels good on my skin. The final result is this chamomile-infused magnesium cream. I use it to help ease aches and pains and counteract restless leg syndrome.

    For anyone who has fibromyalgia, soft tissue pain, or restless muscles, it can be hard to settle those parts of the body down at night in order to get a good sleep. This is what I have found works for me when I use it nightly.

    And it’s not just me! A study on fibromyalgia patients found that when they used magnesium spray for 4 weeks, their pain levels improved. The highest improvement was recorded at 2 weeks and again at 4 weeks.

    My lotion made with chamomile and magnesium oil helps to calm down the soft tissue and nerves, allowing for a more peaceful sleep. I hope that by sharing this recipe, it helps you as well!

    magnesium flakes jar to make a magnesium lotionmagnesium flakes jar to make a magnesium lotion
    Magnesium flakes are used to make the magnesium oil.

    Magnesium Lotion Ingredients

    Magnesium Flakes.

    Now Foods, Solutions, Magnesium Flakes are what are typically used to make magnesium oil. These highly concentrated flakes contain approximately 19 grams of elemental magnesium per cup.

    Chamomile Flowers

    While I typically grow chamomile in my garden to harvest for tea and infused oils, I bought a large bag of Frontier Natural Products, Organic Whole German Chamomile Flowers to make this recipe. Chamomile is soothing and calming to the skin, making it a good addition to magnesium lotion.

    Grapeseed Oil

    Now Foods, Solutions, Grapeseed Oil is a fast-absorbing, dry oil. Magnesium oil is quite greasy feeling, so the oils that I pair with it in this lotion help to combat that, making the overall feel of the lotion very balanced.

    Suplies for DIY magnesium lotion including shea butter, grapeseed oil, macadamia oil, and essential oilsSuplies for DIY magnesium lotion including shea butter, grapeseed oil, macadamia oil, and essential oils
    Ingredients for my magnesium lotion recipe.

    Macadamia Nut Oil

    Cococare, Macadamia Oil is another dry oil that doesn’t have a greasy feeling and absorbs quickly.

    Shea Butter

    Sky Organics, Shea Butter protects and deeply moisturizes the skin. Magnesium oil can burn and be drying, so the shea butter helps to counter this.

    Lavender Essential Oil

    Now Foods, Organic Essential Oils, Lavender is my favourite essential oil for skin care products because it is subtle and pleasant. The aroma of lavender also helps with sleep.

    Chamomile Essential Oil

    To add a little extra chamomile to the mix, you can add in some Aura Cacia, 100% Pure Essential Oil, Roman Chamomile. This oil is very expensive per ounce, so it’s optional to add to this recipe. You should get plenty of chamomile benefits from the infused oil.

    Magnesium oil as part of a magnesium lotion baseMagnesium oil as part of a magnesium lotion base
    Magnesium oil is made by mixing distilled water with the magnesium flakes.

    How to Make Magnesium Oil

    The first step in making the solution is to make magnesium oil. Magnesium oil is made by mixing distilled water and magnesium flakes or magnesium chloride. It produces an oily-feeling, clear liquid.

    The general recipe is to dissolve one part magnesium flakes in one part distilled water.

    You can then add the magnesium oil to the spray bottle and apply it directly to the skin.

    This seems easy enough; however, it can give a prickly, itching, or burning feeling on the skin. If I’m having restless leg syndrome, this is not necessarily a bad thing. The feeling is not damaging the skin; it’s simply a reaction to the magnesium.

    Sometimes, the prickly, burning, itching feeling is enough to stop my legs from being so restless. But I much prefer magnesium in a lotion with other ingredients that help to buffer the burn and soothe skin.

    I like to make my magnesium oil double-concentrated so I can use less magnesium oil in the recipe. I have made many versions of this recipe and find that with too much of the magnesium oil, it’s prone to separating. I’ve now got a recipe that stays emulsified and feels great on my skin while allowing the magnesium to help calm and soothe my aches.

    Homemade magnesium lotion with dried chamomileHomemade magnesium lotion with dried chamomile
    Magnesium lotion helps to prevent a burning, itchy feeling that magnesium oil by itself can cause.

    How to Make Magnesium Lotion

    Thankfully, you can make your own magnesium cream at home and reap all the benefits for yourself. This recipe is one I have spent years perfecting, and I can attest to its effectiveness.

    Equipment

    • Beakers or other heatproof containers
    • Kitchen scale
    • Double boiler
    • Spatula
    • Electric mixer
    • Mixing bowl
    • Alcohol (to sterilize equipment and tools)

    Ingredients

    Makes 400 g

    Aqueous Phase Ingredients

    • 242 g distilled water
    • 52 g double-strength magnesium oil

    Oil Phase Ingredients

    • 40 g grapeseed oil (infused with chamomile)
    • 20 g macadamia nut oil
    • 8 g shea butter
    • 15 g ewax (emulsifying wax)
    • 12 g cetyl alcohol (thickener)

    Cool Phase Ingredients

    • 8 g leucidal (preservative)
    • 3 g essential oil (optional)

    Before you start, there are two ingredients that need to be prepared in advance:

    Double-Strength Magnesium Oil Recipe

    • 1 cup magnesium flakes
    • 1/2 cup distilled water

    Stir in a glass measuring cup to dissolve completely.

    Chamomile-Infused Grapeseed Oil

    To infuse the grapeseed oil with chamomile, fill a Mason jar 3/4 of the way full with dried chamomile flowers and pour oil over the top.

    chamomile infusing in grapeseed oilchamomile infusing in grapeseed oil
    Chamomile is infused in grapeseed oil.

    For this recipe, you only need 40 g of the oil. However, I usually make a large 500 ml to 1L jar of the oil and then have plenty to use in soaps, salves, and lotion bars as well.

    Making lotion with magnesium and grapeseed oilMaking lotion with magnesium and grapeseed oil
    It’s easier to infuse a bunch now and store the leftover oil for later use and future batches.

    Infuse the oil using one of these three methods, and then strain out the herbs using a nut milk bag or fine cheesecloth.

    Store the leftover oil in a sealed jar in a cool, dark location for as long as the expiry date was on the oil packaging.

    Chamomile oil stored in a jarChamomile oil stored in a jar
    Store the oil in an airtight jar.

    Now, it’s time to make the lotion!

    Please make sure that all of your equipment and workspace are sterilized using alcohol. It may be tempting to skip this step, but I strongly encourage you to do this and do it well.

    Use a kitchen scale to measure the oil ingredients in a heatproof container like a beaker.

    weighing ingredients in a beakerweighing ingredients in a beaker
    Weight provides the most accurate measurements for this recipe.

    Next, measure all of the water ingredients in another heatproof container. In this case, I used a Turkish coffee pot.

    weighing ingredients in a Turkish coffee potweighing ingredients in a Turkish coffee pot
    Having pour spouts on your container is helpful in preventing spills and losing ingredients.

    Create a double boiler and heat both the oil ingredients and the water ingredients to 160°F.

    Keep both the water ingredients and oil ingredients at 160°F for 20 minutes. Similar to canning, this helps to kill off any bacteria.

    keeping the water ingredients and oil ingredients hotkeeping the water ingredients and oil ingredients hot
    Heat to 160°F, keeping them separate.

    In a mixing bowl, add the oil ingredients first and then pour in the water ingredients.

    Use an electric mixer to combine the ingredients. In a large bowl, they should thicken up quickly and cool down.

    Combining ingredients with an electric mixerCombining ingredients with an electric mixer
    Combine the ingredients once they reach 160°F.

    Once the ingredients have reached 80 degrees, you can add the cool phase ingredients. Remember, these ingredients are heat-sensitive and will break down at higher temperatures, which is why they’re added at this time.

    Continue mixing your lotion until it’s thick and fluffy.

    adding ingredients to a larger container for mixingadding ingredients to a larger container for mixing
    Add cool phase ingredients only once the recipe has fully cooled down to 80°F.

    Separation Tip

    I get a lot of questions about this lotion separating, so I’d really like to highlight that making this magnesium lotion is tricky, as it’s prone to separating. This recipe has enough emulsifier added to it, but it can take patience to blend it.

    The trick is often to use an electric blender (beaters or an immersion blender) until it’s visibly holding together, and then let it cool. You can speed this up by blending over a bowl of ice or by putting it in the fridge and then blending again. If it holds together when cooled, it’s ready!

    I also got this tip from a reader who has made the recipe multiple times:

    “I followed your recipe completely until mixing it all. Instead, I mixed it with a stick blender for a few minutes. Left it for 10 minutes. Mixed it and left it for 10 minutes. And continued doing this until it just went very thick and set. My husband uses it every night and says it definitely works.”

    How to Store Magnesium Lotion

    Now you can add it to a sterilized container like a Mason jar with a pump lid attachment.

    Mason jar filled with diy magnesium lotionMason jar filled with diy magnesium lotion
    Make sure your container is sterilized before adding the lotion.

    I like using a Mason jar because the opening is large enough to easily fill, but if the opening to your container is quite small, then you can put the ingredients into a piping bag for frosting or a plastic zip-topped bag.

    Cut off one of the corners of the zip-top bag, and it should be easy to get all of the lotion into a pump bottle with a small opening.

    I like using a pump because it releases lotion without any risk of contaminating the lotion by touching it with your hands.

    Use this lotion within six months.

    DIY magnesium lotion next to infused chamomile oilDIY magnesium lotion next to infused chamomile oil
    This lotion lasts for six months.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Magnesium Lotion

    What do I do if my lotion begins to separate?

    This likely means that your lotion wasn’t blended enough in order to emulsify. You can shake it well and put it in the fridge to chill. Next, take it out and shake again if separated to use.

    You can also try using your immersion blender and blending it some more.

    What if my lotion is too thick?

    If your lotion is too thick and won’t pump through the dispenser, you can try adding some distilled water and blending it again to thin it out. It’s a fine line to walk on!

    I have a nut sensitivity. Are there any substitute oils I can use?

    Yes! You can replace the macadamia oil with more grapeseed oil in this recipe.

    What is magnesium lotion used for?

    Magnesium helps to promote proper muscle and nerve function in addition to a host of other benefits. I designed this magnesium cream to help with my aches, pain, and to ease restless leg syndrome. Applied topically, it works well for those with fibromyalgia, restless muscles, and soft tissue pain to help settle down the body.

    Where can I use magnesium lotion?

    You can use magnesium lotion anywhere on the body where you have aches and pains. It works the same way as an Epson salt bath, but can be absorbed easier and you can apply it to specific areas of the body.

    Does magnesium lotion help you sleep

    Yes! The primary reason I used magnesium lotion is to help reduce pain so I can sleep at night. I apply my magnesium cream at night and it calms down my nerves and soft tissues to help me have a more restful sleep.

    More DIYs to Try

    DIY Magnesium Lotion

    Magnesium lotion can be used topically to help relieve restless leg syndrome and pain from Fibromyalgia. I’ve spent a year testing and developing this recipe, and can personally attest to its effectiveness!

    Double-Strength Magnesium Oil

    Chamomile-Infused Grapeseed Oil

    Aqueous Phase Supplies

    • 242 grams distilled water
    • 52 grams double-strength magnesium oil see recipe below

    Oil Phase Supplies

    • 40 grams chamomile-infused grapeseed oil see recipe below
    • 20 grams macadamia nut oil
    • 8 grams shea butter
    • 15 grams ewax emulsifying wax
    • 12 grams cetyl alcohol thickener

    Cool Phase Ingredients

    • 8 grams leucidal
    • 3 grams essential oil optional

    Supplies to Prepare in Advance

    • Magnesium Oil: combine 1 cup of magnesium flakes with 1/2 cup of distilled water. Stir in a glass measuring cup until dissolved completely. Then set aside.

    • Chamomile-Infused Grapeseed Oil: Fill a Mason jar 3/4 of the way full with dried chamomile flowers and pour oil over top. You will need 40 grams of this oil for the recipe.

    DIY Magnesium Lotion

    • Sterilize all equipment and workspace area with alcohol to prevent bacteria growth.

    • Use a kitchen scale to measure all ingredients for the oil phase. Set aside.

    • Measure all the aqueous ingredients in a heatproof container, such as a Turkish coffee pot.

    • Using a double boiler, heat both the oil and water ingredients to 160 degrees. Keep them at this temperature for 20 minutes to kill off any bacteria.

    • Add the oil ingredients into a mixing bowl. Then add the water ingredients. Combine them with an electric mixer until they thicken and cool.

    • Once the lotion base reaches 80 degrees, add the cool phase ingredients. Continue mixing until the mixture is thick and fluffy. Then add the lotion into a sterilized glass container such as a mason jar.

    Stephanie Rose

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  • How to Make Lotion: Ultra Moisturizing DIY Lotion Recipe

    This homemade DIY lotion is ultra-moisturizing and full of natural ingredients that you can feel good about. If you have been wondering how to make lotion, this helpful post will walk you through the process step by step. 

    I like my lotions to be rich, moisturizing, and, above all else, natural. A good lotion can make your skin feel wonderful. As part of my switch to plant-based beauty products, I replaced all of my soaps, scrubs, and balms with organic and natural recipes that are skin-healing rather than just problem-masking.

    This meant I needed to develop my own DIY lotion that could keep my skin healthy and moisturized while also being plant-based and economical!

    This post will cover…

    DIY Lotion with Natural Ingredients

    In general, DIY beauty recipes are relatively easy to make. Typically you just follow the simple steps of measuring the ingredients, melting them together, and pouring them into molds or containers.

    Lotions, however, are a bit more complicated to make. There are some specific steps that need to be taken in a DIY lotion recipe to ensure that you are making a good quality, safe product to use on your skin.

    I often use lotion bars for moisturizing my skin, which make wonderful gifts as well since they are so pretty. To learn more about those, see my recipes for Vanilla Bean Winter Lotion Bars and Calendula Summer Lotion Bars. While these are lovely to apply all over my skin after the bath or shower, I also make a liquid lotion for use on my face and hands.

    Components that Make Up a Lotion

    “Lotion,” “moisturizer,” and “cream” are all names for the same product, an emulsion. Bringing together oil and water means that there are a few more elements needed than just melting together all of the ingredients like in a lotion bar. You will need an emulsifier to hold the oil and water together, a thickener to give the lotion some body, and a preservative to keep the nasty stuff out.

    Don’t let that scare you though–the ingredients may be a bit more complicated, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be natural. There are plenty of eco-certified ingredients that are from all-natural sources which can be used in lotion making, even if they are not names you have heard of before!

    Emulsifiers

    Because oil and water are known to be unable to mix together on their own, an emulsifier is needed to help the ingredients combine and stay mixed. In natural skincare products, many people use eWax (emulsifying wax), which is sourced from naturally occurring fats and esters.

    Another option, and my preferred emulsifier, is Behentrimonium Methosulfate or BTMS, a vegetable-based conditioning emulsifier. It absorbs quickly and is good for face cream. eWax, on the other hand, is thicker and heavier feeling than BTMS 25 which may be preferred for body lotion or foot cream.

    Home apothecary shelf stocked with dried botanicalsHome apothecary shelf stocked with dried botanicals

    Thickeners

    Cetyl alcohol and stearic acid are also added to skincare products as a way to help the oil and water bind and keep it from separating, but they also give a thickness to the lotion.

    There are many sources of both ingredients, so look for the ones that are eco-certified. Cetyl alcohol  is a fatty alcohol that adds a lighter feeling than stearic acid. Stearic acid  is a fatty acid that adds fluffiness and it has a heavier feeling than cetyl alcohol.

    Preservatives

    Any time you are using water in a natural beauty recipe, a preservative is essential to keep mold, yeast, and bacteria from growing. Without preservatives, a lotion’s shelf life is very short (around a week) and it needs to be kept refrigerated at all times.

    There is a common misconception that grapefruit seed extract, rosemary seed extract, and Vitamin E oil are preservatives and help to prevent mold and bacterial growth. While those ingredients are wonderful at extending the shelf life of the ingredients, they are not effective at preventing microbial or bacterial growth.

    There are many preservatives available on the market like potasium sorbate, sodium anisate and sodium levulinate combined, radish root ferment (Leucidal® Liquid), and Geogard ECT.

    I have only tried Leucidal in my lotion recipes and it works well for me. It contains a peptide from fermenting radish root in kimchi that has antimicrobial properties. It’s eco-certified and easy to find.

    supplies for making lotionsupplies for making lotion

    Hydrosols and Essential Oils

    I like to gently scent this lotion by replacing some of the distilled water with a floral hydrosol like chamomile, calendula, rose, or lavender. Hydrosols are produced by distilling fresh plant material and have similar properties to essential oils, but less concentrated. Hydrosols are a great way to get the benefits of plants that are either too expensive or not available as essential oils like chamomile, rose, and calendula.

    You can also opt to add essential oils to this lotion for more fragrance. The measurement is listed in the cool-down phase for this recipe. I often make my lotion unscented or very lightly scented with a hydrosol, but you can choose to add the benefits of essential oils for your own personal skincare needs and preferences.

    dried herbs and flowers for tea in glass jarsdried herbs and flowers for tea in glass jars

    Avoid Contamination

    Even if all of your ingredients are organic and fresh, you can easily contaminate your lotion from the workspace, your hands, the equipment, and even the water.

    Be sure to clean your workspace thoroughly with alcohol, wear gloves and keep hands clean, sterilize your bowls, utensils, and equipment, and use distilled water, not tap water. Tap water can contain microorganisms that could contaminate your lotion.

    Basic DIY Lotion Recipe

    I’m not prone to acne but I have very dry and sensitive skin. I formulated this recipe to absorb quickly, not clog pores, and feel moisturizing without being too heavy. Personally, I often use it on my face in the morning when skin is less absorbent and use this rose lotion at night to help settle redness and inflammation from the day.

    I love this DIY lotion so much that I have a bottle at my desk, on my bedside, and in my studio so I can apply lotion to my hands throughout the day. It’s very effective and I can make a large batch of excellent quality lotion without breaking the bank.

    Everyone has different skin types, so this lotion may not work for you at all. Or it may be the best lotion you have ever tried. The only way you will know for sure is to give it a try.

    I’ll share more recipes in the future that make some changes to this recipe for different purposes. But for now, this is my go-to basic moisturizing lotion recipe and I hope you enjoy it!

    homemade lotion in a pump bottlehomemade lotion in a pump bottle

    The 3 Phases of Lotion Making

    Lotions are made in three phases: the aqueous (water) phase, the oil phase, and the cool phase. While these are called “phases,” they can be measured all at once.

    They are separated into different phases so they can be combined at the right time. You will measure all of the aqueous ingredients like water, hydrosols, and aloe vera into one heatproof container. Then measure your oils, butters, emulsifiers, and thickeners into a separate heatproof container.

    Finally, measure ingredients that can be damaged by heat like essential oils, honey, and preservatives in a third container (this one doesn’t need to be heatproof) for the cool phase.

    Got it? Okay, let’s make lotion!

    Equipment

    Ingredients

    Makes 200g

    Aqueous Phase Ingredients

    Oil Phase Ingredients

    Cool Phase Ingredients

    • 6 g leucidal
    • 4 g panthenol (Vitamin B5)
    • 8-12 drops essential oil of choice (optional)

    Make It!

    Before you start, please make sure that all of your equipment and workspace are sterilized using alcohol. It may be tempting to skip this step, but I strongly encourage you to do this and do it well.

    Use a kitchen scale to measure the oil ingredients in a heatproof container like a beaker.

    weighing ingredients in a beakerweighing ingredients in a beaker

    Next, measure all of the water ingredients in another heatproof container. In this case, I used a Turkish coffee pot.

    weighing ingredients in a Turkish coffee potweighing ingredients in a Turkish coffee pot

    Create a double boiler and heat both the oil ingredients and the water ingredients to 160 degrees.

    Keep both the water ingredients and oil ingredients at 160 degrees for 20 minutes. Similar to canning, this helps to kill off any bacteria.

    keeping the water ingredients and oil ingredients hotkeeping the water ingredients and oil ingredients hot

    In a mixing bowl, add the oil ingredients first and then pour in the water ingredients.

    Use an electric mixer to combine the ingredients. In a large bowl, they should thicken up quickly and cool down.

    Combining ingredients with an electric mixerCombining ingredients with an electric mixer

    Once the ingredients have reached 80 degrees, you can add the cool phase ingredients. Remember, these ingredients are heat-sensitive and will break down at higher temperatures, which is why they’re added at this time.

    adding ingredients to a larger container for mixingadding ingredients to a larger container for mixing

    Continue mixing your lotion until it’s thick and fluffy.

    Now you can add it into a sterilized container.

    empty bottle ready to have lotion addedempty bottle ready to have lotion added

    If the opening to your container is quite small, then you can put the ingredients into a piping bag for frosting or a plastic zipper bag. Cut off one of the corners of the zipper bag, and it should be easy to get all of the lotion into a pump bottle with a small opening.

    basic lotion in a pump bottlebasic lotion in a pump bottle

    I like using a pump because it releases lotion without any risk of contaminating the lotion by touching it with your hands.

    Use this DIY lotion within six months.

    More Plant-Based Beauty Recipes to Try

    DIY Lotion with Natural Ingredients

    Learn how to make a DIY lotion completely from plant-based ingredients. This lotion is ultra moisturizing and soothing – make a few bottles and keep them all over your home!

    Aqueous Phase Ingredients

    Cool Phase Ingredients

    • 6 grams leucidal
    • 4 grams panthenol (Vitamin B5)
    • 8-12 drops essential oil of choice optional, but recommended!
    • Sterilize all equipment, including your work surface prior to beginning.

    • Measure the oil ingredients in a heatproof container on a kitchen scale.

    • Next, measure all the water ingredients in a separate heatproof container.

    • Create a double boiler, and heat both the water and oil ingredients to 160 degrees. It will need to remain at this temperature for 20 minutes to kill off any bacteria.

    • Add the oil ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Then, add the water ingredients.

    • Thicken the mixture by using an electric mixer. This will also help them quickly cool down.

    • Once the mixture has cooled to 80 degrees, add the cool ingredients. Don’t add them before, as heat will break them down.

    • Mix until the DIY lotion is thick and fluffy, then scoop into a sterilized container. I recommend using a pump to eliminate bacteria from your hands entering the lotion.

    • Use and enjoy!

    Stephanie Rose

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  • Why Make Lotion Bars? An Easy Lotion Bar Recipe – Garden Therapy

    Why Make Lotion Bars? An Easy Lotion Bar Recipe – Garden Therapy

    Lotion bars are becoming more popular due to the elimination of packaging, common ingredients, and how they soften skin so deliciously. Even better? They couldn’t be simpler to make, and they look gorgeous too. Make your own with this customizable lotion bar recipe. 

    This post will cover…

    How Do Lotion Bars Work?

    Lotion bars are all the rage for so many reasons! They contain all the concentrated goodness in lotion without any added water to dilute the oils and kinds of butter.

    Lotion made without water also means that lotion bars can be mixed together without any preservatives. A standard liquid lotion is much more complicated to make, as you need to make it in three phases (the aqueous phase, the oil phase, and the cool-down phase). This time commitment can easily become a barrier to some folks who want to make it at home.

    In standard lotion, some of the ingredients are a little bit more complicated to find like an emulsifier, a thickener, and a preservative. There are options for these that are considered natural and ethical, but they do need to be sourced and the supply chain investigated to ensure that you’re finding ingredients that you feel good about.

    That being said, there are certainly ways to do it! If you want to read more about what goes into making lotion, encourage you to visit my ultra- moisturizing lotion recipe.

    2 rose shaped lotion bars2 rose shaped lotion bars
    Lotion bars melt against the heat of your skin.

    The Benefits of Lotion Bars

    In contrast to the many steps it takes to make lotion and all the different ingredients, homemade lotion bars are very easy to make and require few ingredients.

    They are also more concentrated so you’ll use less AND they also require less packaging. While I do use reusable glass bottles to dispense lotion, lotion bars don’t need any packaging at all if you’re using them at home.

    I keep mine in a soap dish or a metal tin in my bathroom, similar to how you would store a bar of soap.

    Calendula lotion bars next to dried calendula petalsCalendula lotion bars next to dried calendula petals
    Lotion bars have a simple ingredient list.

    Lotion Bars as Gifts

    This lotion bar recipe also makes a great gift. You can make up a bunch of these beauties in a flower silicone soap mould give them away as thoughtful homemade gifts throughout the year.

    For ideas on how to package up and gift wrap homemade lotion bars and other botanical beauty creations, check out my Make & Give book, Home Apothecary. Want more? I have taken it one step further and brought that book to life in the Botanical Beauty Holiday Gifts Workshop.

    Both are filled with a variety of recipes for making natural skin care products from gorgeous botanicals, natural colours, and essential oils. Plus each project comes with unique and creative ways to wrap them as gifts.

    What Ingredients Go into a Lotion Bar?

    DIY lotion bars are made of oils and butter that moisturize and repair skin. The oils and butter can be infused with herbs to gain additional properties to benefit the skin.

    A harder substance like beeswax or soy wax is then added to firm up the oils into a solid bar. I personally love beeswax because it’s so good for the skin. It creates a protective layer on the skin and helps to attract water. In a lotion bar, it will also work as a natural exfoliant and get rid of any dead skin cells, all while hydrating.

    The bars can be scented with essential oils, coloured with natural plant-based colourants, and decorated with botanicals like flower petals or coffee beans.

    The ingredients are melted together in a double boiler to combine and then poured into a mould like a silicone cupcake or soap mould. When you apply the lotion bar to your skin you’re applying the pure ingredients and therefore you’ll need less.

    How to Make Lotion BarsHow to Make Lotion Bars
    Pour your lotion bars into a silicone mould for beautiful, easy-to-make designs.

    How Long Does a Lotion Bar Last?

    A homemade lotion bar can last for many months. As there’s no water in the formulation it means that it is not a hospitable place for bacteria and fungus to grow.

    Of course, how you use your lotion bar could allow for these elements to colonize. For example, if you’re often using it on wet skin or with wet hands, keeping it in a steamy bathroom, or storing it (eek) beside the toilet…it may not last as long as you’d like. Using common sense to keep your lotion bar clean, means it will continue to be safe to use for many months.

    This makes lotion bars extremely sanitary for use. For those concerned about the sanitary risks of making your own lotion, lotion bars offer a good alternative. They’re made completely out of oils and waxes, with no water or preservatives required. They will last longer and stay nice and clean.

    In terms of spoilage, the oils, while long-lasting, do have expiry dates. When making your lotion bar be sure to note the expiry dates on the ingredients. The expiry date for your lotion bar will be the soonest expiry date of all the ingredients. The lotion bar won’t last for many years, but it could certainly last well for quite a while.

    If the lotion bar changes consistency, colour, or scent, discontinue use immediately and discard the lotion bar. Any change can be an indication that the lotion bar how spoiled. Again, common sense will guide you here.

    How to Make Lotion Bars with beeswaxHow to Make Lotion Bars with beeswax
    Lotion bars last a long time and are very sanitary to use.

    How to Apply a Lotion Bar

    To apply a lotion bar simply rub it on dry skin. You can rub the lotion bar between your hands to melt some of the oils and then apply them to your skin. Or you can rub this lotion bar directly on your skin.

    A bar like this one with the coffee beans from my Home Apothecary book, the lotion bar is a bit firmer, and the coffee beans act as a massage to the skin.

    The best oils and butters to use for a lotion bar recipe are ones that melt at body temperature. This will keep the bars firm in a normally climate-controlled space, and melt the oils and butters rapidly when rubbed in your hands.

    Seasonal and indoor temperature also comes into play when using homemade lotion bars. I make a winter lotion bar that doesn’t have any beeswax in it that I keep in my cool bathroom in the winter months.

    It stays firm in the winter and it melts rapidly in my hands so that I can apply it all over quickly after my showers. In the summer, that lotion bar is not solid enough to hold up to the warmer months, so I use a calendula summer lotion bar with beeswax added.

    What Oils, Butters, and Waxes to Use in Lotion Bars

    There are so many oils, butters, and waxes that can be used in lotion bars. But, I tend to stick with the most commonly available options.

    There are certainly some exotic oils that can be added to skincare if needed, but often times, the simplest recipe is the most accessible and affordable, which fits into my life best.

    Oils and Butters

    Waxes

    Face Lotion Bar Recipe Variation

    I know how careful people are when it comes to putting certain oils on their faces. While all these oils are completely safe to use on your entire body, a few stand out as beneficial to the face. Try one of these oils for a face lotion bar recipe.

    We all know coconut oil as an all-around skin superhero. It has plenty of vitamin E and fatty acids, which help to create a protective barrier on the skin. It’s also incredibly moisturizing and has antibacterial and antifungal properties that make it good for acne and other skin issues.

    Jojoba soil is another common carrier oil used for the face because of its resemblance to sebum. Sebum is the natural oil our skin produces, and jojoba oil is chemically and structurally the closest to it.

    It can replicate or dissolve oil when we overproduce or underproduce oil, helping to balance out sebum production. This also makes it a must-have for oily and acne-prone skin!

    My other final fave is rosehip seed oil. It’s no secret here on Garden Therapy that I love incorporating rose into my skincare routine. It’s a powerful tool for anti-again, being packed full of vitamins and antioxidants. You can learn more about the power of roses and skincare here!

    Rose Lotion BarsRose Lotion Bars
    For most lotion bar recipes, you can adjust the butters, oils, and waxes used.

    How to Make Lotion Bars

    The key to making this lotion bar recipe is to heat the oils so that they are melted gently and not cooked. Overheating oil can burn the oil or change its properties.

    As oils, butters, and waxes melt at different temperatures, here are a few tips on how to make lotion bars without modifying the properties of the ingredients.

    Different kinds of liquid oils can be combined together in the melting pot. However, butters and waxes should be broken up into smaller pieces, grated, or purchased in pastilles or pellets to ensure that they melt more quickly.

    Melting wax chips for homemade lotion barsMelting wax chips for homemade lotion bars
    Use smaller-sized waxes or cut-up butter to make melting easier.

    If you are using a solid wax, melt the wax first in the double boiler, without any of the other ingredients. As it will melt at a higher temperature and take longer, which could affect the integrity of the oils.

    Below I’ll outline the basic steps for making lotion bars. If you want a specific recipe, try my winter lotion bars or my calendula summer lotion bars.

    how to make lotion bars in silicone moldshow to make lotion bars in silicone molds

    Make it!

    1. Melt the wax over medium-low heat in a Turkish coffee pot, double boiler, or a small pot with a pour spout. Add the oils and butter when the wax is liquefied and melt all of the ingredients together.
    2. Stir constantly and keep a watchful eye on the oils. You want them to just reach the melting point and not overheat.
    3. When the oils have melted and combined, add the essential oil and flower petals, if using and stir well.
    4. Pour the ingredients into a silicone mould usually used for baking or soap-making, dividing the contents equally. Leave the lotion bars undisturbed until they are set.
    5. If you are making them in a warm room, move the silicone tray into the fridge to firm up.
    6. Remove from the mould and store them in the refrigerator when not in use.
    How to Make Lotion Bars with herbal oilsHow to Make Lotion Bars with herbal oils
    Let fully firm up before removing from the silicone mould.

    FAQ About Lotion Bars

    How do I make my lotion bars non-greasy?

    In order to make your DIY lotion bars less greasy, carefully choose which ingredients you want to use as your base.

    Instead of shea butter or cocoa butter, try mango butter. Quick absorbing oils also work well, such as safflower, grapeseed, or fractionated coconut oil.

    How long do lotion bars need to cure?

    Lotion bars only need a couple of hours until they’re fully firm and ready to use. I recommend storing them in the fridge just to make sure they don’t melt when not in use.

    Can I remelt my lotion bars?

    Absolutely! This is great if they accidentally melt and lose their shape. Just keep in mind that the bar is still considered used and should not be re-gifted.

    I hope you enjoy using these lotion bars. They are one of my favorite skincare DIYs and hopefully will become one of yours too.

    More Moisturizing Recipes for Skin

    Stephanie Rose

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  • 11 of the Best Salve and Balm Recipes for Your Skin – Garden Therapy

    11 of the Best Salve and Balm Recipes for Your Skin – Garden Therapy

    Is there a better way to keep our skin moisturized than using all-natural ingredients? Herbal ingredients can soothe and heal our skin, and you might not even be aware of them! Switching from your regular drugstore moisturizers to these DIY salve and balm recipes might be the solution you have been looking for.

    Plenty of these salve and balm recipes have become staples in my life. If the product is not all natural, I’m not interested! That’s why I created these salve and balm recipes to help tackle some of my everyday needs. 

    If you’re looking for a DIY salve recipe to help heal and nourish your skin or a balm to add to your self-care routine, you have come to the right place!  

    I’m always looking for ways to use plants from my garden in my daily products, which is why I have compiled a list of salve and balm recipes that do just that.

    Jump ahead to…

    Table filled with homemade salves and balmsTable filled with homemade salves and balms
    I use mostly glass jars and metal tins to hold my salves and balms.

    What’s the Difference Between a Salve and Balm?

    Salves can soothe really intense dry skin. More often than not, they’re made using herbal-infused oils, so they hold the powerful healing properties of plants. For the most part, a balm has the same ingredients as a salve.

    The main difference between the two is that balms have a higher beeswax content giving them a harder, thicker consistency. This gives balm the ability to hold its firmer shape. Some also include body butters as a type of balm, making them smoother than a salve.

    How Do You Use Salves and Balms?

    Salves and balms work best when applied to clean, dry skin. Make sure to wash the area you’re applying your salve or balm to, especially if it is to help heal a specific injury. Dry skin is the best for application because it will allow it to absorb into the skin better.

    If applying to a wound, be sure to wash your skin beforehand.

    12 Salve and Balm Recipes to Try

    If you’re seeking a new, natural way to moisturize and heal your skin, here are some amazing recipes for almost any situation! 

    1. Homemade Hand Salve

    Help fight dry cracked hands with this homemade hand salve recipe. This salve is made of all-natural ingredients, including olive oil infused with calendula and grapeseed oil infused with lavender. 

    Perfect for someone who struggles with dry, callused hands, this recipe can help not only moisturize but help heal your hands. Apply this salve daily on clean dry skin and feel it absorb and nourish your skin! 

    DIY hand salveDIY hand salve
    Taking a minute to use this hand salve daily will make a world of a difference to your skin’s appearance and health.

    2. Beeswax Massage Balm

    Looking for a little self-care? Try adding this beeswax massage balm infused with rose to your massage for a relaxing floral experience. This massage balm absorbs into your skin and continues to nourish the skin long after the massage. 

    Not only is this a great addition to your own relaxation, but this is also a perfect personal gift for someone close to you! The herbal properties of the plants also make the balm good for the topical relief of pains and aches, making it ideal for massages. 

    massage balmmassage balm
    Roses not only smell lovely but are actually a well-known skincare herb.

    3. Dandelion Salve

    You read that right! The main focus in this salve is dandelion. Most people have a common misconception about dandelions, viewing them as pesky weeds. But, the dandelion actually has many health benefits!

    This dandelion salve is an all-natural recipe with anti-inflammatory and anti-itching properties to help soothe your skin.  A great alternative for those with sensitive skin, this salve moisturizes and prevents irritation by-products with unknown chemicals.

    dandelion salve usesdandelion salve uses
    Make sure to use dandelions free of any chemicals for this recipe.

    4. Healing Cuticle Balm

    Have you ever realized the skin around your nails splitting because they’re so dry from constantly washing your hands? This cuticle balm does wonders for cuticle care and works great if you’re looking for a solution for dry skin becoming sore and tender.

    Not only will it feel way better to have moisturized cuticles, but having healthy cuticles prevents a possible infection from bacteria getting into torn skin. This balm softens your skin and speeds up the healing process, as well as helps regenerate new healthy skin that will be less susceptible to splitting in the future! 

    Healing Cuticle Balm RecipeHealing Cuticle Balm Recipe
    The balm will soften the cuticles, preventing you from picking at them,

    5. Calendula Salve

    No plant is better suited for the skin than calendula. My go-to skincare herb, I grow plenty of it in my garden to use in recipes like this calendula salve.

    Calendula is known for healing wounds, used to heal cuts, abrasions, burns, rashes, bruises, sprains, and sunburns. Once you apply the salve to your skin, it will work to heal tissue and speed up the overall healing process.

    homemade calendula salvehomemade calendula salve
    This salve is something I always have on hand and use it to treat most wounds and injuries.

    Your feet go through so much in the day. Why not treat them with a warm bath and a soothing peppermint foot balm! Not only does this balm help moisturize, but it also repairs the skin. In addition, the peppermint in the balm acts as a natural pain relief which I know I need after a long day! 

    Try preparing your feet for this balm with a foot scrub first, it will help get rid of all the dead skin cells on your feet, leaving them soft and smooth and allowing the oils to soak into your skin. 

    7. Turmeric and Cayenne Pain Relief Balm

    A mix of cayenne and turmeric powder works together in this balm to create an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effect that also moisturizes the skin.

    I know what you’re thinking…is the turmeric going to stain my skin? Since turmeric can stain, I recommend wearing similar colours when using this pain relief balm to be safe. As for your skin, if you rub it in well enough, it will simply create a nice natural glow! 

    I recommend applying this balm on any sore body parts up to 4 times daily for some gentle relief! 

    Warming Pain Relief Turmeric and Cayenne SalveWarming Pain Relief Turmeric and Cayenne Salve
    I use this pain relief balm mid-day when I’m still working away and before I can relax in the bath,

    8. After Sun Salve

    We all love spending a day in the sun, but sometimes you get a little too much and end up with an uncomfortable burn. Don’t you worry! Use this after-sun salve on your skin to soothe, moisturize and heal your skin after a day in the sun.

    The aloe gel, coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter work together to soothe your burn. Not only does it feel great and give you relief, but it also smells amazing!

    This salve uses aloe vera gel, a well-known ingredient in fighting sunburns.

    9. Herbal Healing Salve

    This all-purpose healing salve has so many healing properties it makes a great staple in your medicine cabinet. It contains calendula, which can help with healing wounds, and acne, and even has SPF properties.

    Also included in the balm, lavender adds antifungal and cleansing properties. Not only will the calendula help heal your wounds, but the lavender will help prevent further risk of infection!

    10. Activated Charcoal Drawing Salve

    Here to salve the day! This activated charcoal drawing salve will draw out toxins from your skin. I use it to soothe insect bites, blisters, and minor infections. Along with the activated charcoal, this salve has plenty of ingredients with healing and moisturizing properties, like jojoba oil and rosehip seed oil. 

    Try this salve recipe out the next time you get some really bad bug bites, and see the healing work overnight! 

    activated charcoal drawing salve to heal bug bitesactivated charcoal drawing salve to heal bug bites
    The activated charcoal and bentonite clay are very good at sucking up toxins from the body.

    11. Dog Paw Balm

    We have so many balms and moisturizers for ourselves. Why not get some for our furry friends? This dog paw balm is a great all-natural moisturizer that you can feel confident and safe using on your dog.

    Dogs’ paws go through a lot in the day, becoming dry, cracked, and more prone to infection. This balm will help reduce that risk! It will also soften the pads of their paws and make them feel just as good as you do when you apply any balm to your dry skin. 

    Ozzie with dog paw balmOzzie with dog paw balm
    Yes, your dog will lick it. But you know it’s safe for them if they do.

    12. Tattoo Balm

    Looking for a good moisturizer to put on your freshly inked skin? This herbal tattoo balm not only helps keep your tattoo moisturized during the healing process but also makes it heal faster! 

    What makes this balm different from your ordinary lotion is the herbal properties of medicinal plants working to heal the skin. In addition, balms are thicker than lotions; they will stay on the skin longer and really soak in, which is essential for healing a tattoo. Balms away! 

    herbal tattoo balm recipeherbal tattoo balm recipe
    I used this balm on my shoulder tattoo, and it made a huge difference.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Salves and Balms

    Is salve a moisturizer?

    Salve works as a moisturizer. However, unlike liquid moisturizers, salves are oil-based, thicker,  and penetrate more deeply into the skin.

    Is salve good for acne?

    Not all salves are good for acne. However, if you find a salve with the right ingredient, it can help with acne. For example, my favourite herbal healing salve listed above can be a great option! Just make sure to spot test the area first to avoid unwanted irritation.

    Let me know which of these recipes you try below! They’re all healing staples in my life, and I can’t wait to share them with you.

    More Herbal Recipes to Try

    Stephanie Rose

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  • Make Floral Lotion Using Flowers From Your Garden – Garden Therapy

    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…

    floral lotion and flowering quincefloral lotion and flowering quince
    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!

    DIY flower cream and flower infused herbal oilDIY flower cream and flower infused herbal oil
    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.

    flower infused olive oilflower infused olive oil
    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

    peony, calendula, and rose oilpeony, calendula, and rose oil
    Infuse your floral oil ahead of time.

    Aqueous Phase Ingredients

    Cool Phase Ingredients

    floral cream and flowering quincefloral cream and flowering quince
    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.

    adding ingredients to a larger container for mixingadding ingredients to a larger container for mixing
    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.

    DIY floral lotion with flowering quinceDIY floral lotion with flowering quince
    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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  • All-Natural Rose and Lavender DIY Deodorant Spray – Garden Therapy

    All-Natural Rose and Lavender DIY Deodorant Spray – Garden Therapy

    This DIY deodorant spray with rose and lavender will make you smell like a flower, even when you are sweating it out in the garden! Made with gentle, all-natural ingredients that work hard and protect your health.

    I could tell you all about this natural deodorant spray made with plant-based ingredients and how good it is for your skin.

    I could go on and on about how it is packed with the skin-soothing benefits of aloe, witch hazel, lavender, and rose.

    I could rave about it containing no harmful chemicals that can cause disease and impair your body’s natural functions. Or I could tell you that that it smells just like a floral garden in the summer.

    But you don’t care about that, right?!

    You just want to know if this DIY deodorant actually works! Well, let’s get into it.

    Dried Rose and LavenderDried Rose and Lavender
    Rose and lavender are my scents of choice, but you could easily adjust them for other strong, pleasant scents.

    The Not-So-Pleasant Truth Behind Commercial Deodorant

    The odour from your underarms is actually due to a collection of bacteria. As we sweat, we create a perfect little hangout spot for bacteria, and as they feast on the moisture, the waste creates a smell.

    Yuck!

    But when we use commercial deodorants and antiperspirants, they actually stop both the bad AND the good bacteria. When we kill the good bacteria that protect us from the growth of other bad bacteria, we can actually make the odour problem worse.

    Deodorant can also mess with our skin’s pH, causing dryness and itchiness as the skin barrier gets messed with.

    A natural deodorant won’t plug sweat glans. Remember, this is a deodorant and not an antiperspirant. If you’re making the switch to natural deodorant for the first time, you may notice that you will sweat more. This is because most commercial deodorants are also antiperspirants.

    It may take a few weeks for your body to adjust to the new product as the good bacteria settle in once again.

    This natural deodorant is made entirely of ingredients you can pronounce, and perhaps most importantly, it doesn’t contain any aluminum. It’s meant to work alongside your body’s natural functions, not against it.

    natural deodorant spray with lavender and rose petalsnatural deodorant spray with lavender and rose petals
    Spray deodorants are easier to make than DIY deodorant sticks.

    Formulating Natural Deodorant Spray Recipes

    I started formulating homemade deodorant after sharing a room with my friend Crystal (the creative genius and my mom-spiration from Hello Creative Family), who used a DIY deodorant spray she had customized at an essential oils workshop.

    The combination of fragrances she used smelled like a bakery: clove, cinnamon, and vanilla. YUM. I tried it out, and boy-oh-boy, did it ever work! But, using hot oils like clove and cinnamon caused my sensitive skin to have a reaction. It was nothing terrible, but I wondered if I could make a homemade deodorant that worked just as well and was calming for the skin at the same time.

    I made a few different variations of simple spray bases and tested some combinations of essential oils until I found one that was soothing, nice-smelling, and did the job. Rose and lavender for the win! It’s pretty and floral, and more than anything else, it works.

    Ingredients for DIY deodorant sprayIngredients for DIY deodorant spray
    Witch hazel and aloe vera are the base of this recipe, which are both AMAZING for your skin.

    Testing My DIY Deodorant

    I’ve tested it for years on myself, my family, and anyone else who will agree to it. After testing it in all four seasons in Vancouver, it went well. When I needed to turn up the volume a bit, I took it to southern Mexico and had some surprising results.

    It worked just as well as it had at home, but I also ended up using it on my face and skin to soothe and cool down my freckly, over-sunned skin. And I learned that it works great on clothes, too. It not only prevents any odor from my underarms, but I was also able to use it on my clothes when they needed a bit of freshening up.

    Natural deodorant spray with rose and lavender petalsNatural deodorant spray with rose and lavender petals
    This spray is safe to use on clothes and all over your body.

    Rose and Lavender DIY Deodorant Spray Deodorant Recipe

    This recipe is not only good for your skin but also for the planet. I’m big on reducing the amount of packaging I use, and I love glass or stainless steel bottles that can be reused. Here are some pretty blue glass ones that I use.

    Ingredients

    Make It!

    Measure all of the ingredients and add them to a fine mist spray bottle. Shake well to combine and spray on underarm area after showering or when your underarms need freshening up. Shake well before each use.

    Rose and Lavender DIY deodorant sprayRose and Lavender DIY deodorant spray
    Store your deodorant away from sunlight and heat to prolong the shelf life.

    FAQ About DIY Deodorants

    What is the shelf life of homemade deodorant?

    The shelf life of any DIY product will be the earliest expiry date on the ingredients you used to make the spray. For instance, if the aloe vera gel for this recipe expired in 12 months, but the witch hazel expired in 24 months, the overall expiry date for this deodorant would be 12 months.
    For more on beauty shelf life, check out this post.

    Can I use fresh aloe vera for this recipe?

    To increase the shelf-life of my homemade deodorant, I use a pre-packaged aloe vera gel. Make sure it’s pure aloe vera gel (not the fake green stuff!). You can use fresh aloe, but it will only last for about a week and you will need to store it in the fridge.  

    Aloe Vera gel and Rose Witch HazelAloe Vera gel and Rose Witch Hazel

    More Natural Skin Care Recipes to Try

    Stephanie Rose

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  • How to Make Aloe Vera Soap (Skin-Soothing Recipe)

    How to Make Aloe Vera Soap (Skin-Soothing Recipe)

    This aloe vera soap recipe contains plant-based, skin-soothing herbs that help to repair and protect skin when hand washing. It is simple to make at home and can be customized to any scent that you like to use. As an added bonus, aloe is great for both the hardworking skin on your hands and the delicate skin on your face.

    I have seen so many bars of aloe vera soap around. I’ve always wondered how beneficial they are to your skin.

    After digging in and doing a bit of research, I’m happy to say that I was rather impressed by the benefits. So much so that I decided to make a batch of my own.

    But for my version, I wanted to make a liquid soap! This soap is super easy to make up and is amazing for your hands.

    So don’t be shy, and let’s lather up with this aloe vera soap recipe!

    Aloe Vera Gel in BottlesAloe Vera Gel in Bottles
    Put your soap in smaller containers to make them easily portable for trips.

    Benefits of Aloe Vera

    Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) is one of the oldest plants on record to be noted for healing properties. It has been cultivated around the world due to its highly adaptable nature and usefulness as a skin-healing herb.

    Aloe is naturally anti-bacterial and contains antiseptics that help clean cuts and wounds by killing bacteria and fungi. Aloe’s pH level closely matches our skin, enabling it to gently (but thoroughly) cleanse our skin while also closing pores. Its anti-inflammatory qualities can calm inflamed skin.

    I wanted to take this wonderful skin-healing herb and add it to soap. Just adding this one extra element can really help the drying and cracking that happens from washing hands so regularly.

    Aloe vera soap in a pump bottle next to lavender and limeAloe vera soap in a pump bottle next to lavender and lime
    This aloe vera soap only requires 5 ingredients!

    We know that aloe vera is amazing for skin. It has been used throughout history to treat burns, rashes, wounds, and other forms of skin problems. It can also be taken internally as a laxative to aid in digestion and to help with inflammation.

    But it’s usually prepared as a juice or gel for both internal consumption and external application. So when it’s added to a soap recipe, I wondered if the beneficial properties of the aloe gel added are minimized by the hot temperatures that this aloe vera soap recipe requires.

    Thankfully, the answer is yes—the benefits of aloe vera seemed to be mostly intact.

    I always recommend having an aloe plant in your home or garden as part of your herbal first aid kit. I have a lot of great info in my herbal guide to aloe vera about how to harvest the gel. Plus it shows you how to use it to calm down sunburns and other skin irritation.

    Glass bottle of aloe vera soap with a container of lavender and limeGlass bottle of aloe vera soap with a container of lavender and lime
    Aloe vera is a powerful anti-inflammatory and is great for healing skin.

    Fresh Aloe Vera vs Aloe Vera Gel

    In this recipe, I’m using a pre-packaged gel because of the shelf life. However, as with many herbal products, there is a lot of confusion as to what is actually inside the bottle of aloe gel that you’re purchasing. If the fresh gel only lasts for a week or so in the fridge, then can the store-bought gel have the same properties and last for a year to two years?

    The answer is certainly not, but it doesn’t mean that the gel that you buy from the store doesn’t have any beneficial properties. It just means that there’s a trade-off between the benefits and the shelf life. Any amount of processing of aloe reduces its effectiveness.

    The best way to get the most potent aloe vera is to grow a plant in your home or garden. But a suitable alternative is to find a high-quality aloe vera gel that can be used in recipes like this liquid hand soap.

    How to Make Soap with Fresh Aloe

    You can certainly make this recipe with fresh aloe gel. However, you will need to keep the liquid soap in the fridge and discard it after one week. It is certainly possible to make a weekly batch as it’s quite easy to make.

    But, if you want one that lasts for a bit longer then I suggest doing some research to find the best aloe vera gel with the least amount of processing.

    I like using Lily of the Desert aloe gel as it claims to be harvested from the inner filet of aloe, processed minimally in their own facilities, and certified USDA organic.

    Lily of the Desert aloe gel is food grade and contains over 99% organic aloe vera juice with a few other ingredients such as carrageenan (thickening agent), citric acid (pH stabilizer), and potassium sorbate (mold inhibitor).

    By the way, they have not sponsored this post. I just have used the brand for years and haven’t had any problems with it.

    Ingredients for aloe vera soap including lily of the valley aloe vera gelIngredients for aloe vera soap including lily of the valley aloe vera gel
    For ease of use, I recommend making this with aloe vera gel.

    How to Make Aloe Vera Soap

    The base of this recipe is Castile soap, which is the name for the olive oil soap formulation that comes from Castile, Spain. I purchase liquid Castile soap from a local soap dispensary or Dr. Bronner’s brand online, and with these “Castile” refers to a plant-based liquid soap. It can be made from olive, coconut, avocado, or other plant oils.

    This biodegradable, non-toxic soap comes concentrated so it should be diluted at different concentrations for various purposes. I always choose an unscented soap as my base, and add my own essential oils to the final recipe.

    Ingredients

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

    Jump to Recipe

    Lime and lavender essential oil bottlesLime and lavender essential oil bottles
    I scented my soap with lavender and lime, but you can substitute it with any essential oil scents you prefer.

    Make It!

    Once you have your ingredients, making the aloe vera soap is quite simple.

    First, whisk together water and aloe vera gel until it’s homogenous. Then, add in your castile soap and stir again to combine well. Add the essential oils of your choice—I used lavender and lime which is a lovely combination.

    Mixing together aloe vera and water in a glass beakerMixing together aloe vera and water in a glass beaker
    Thoroughly mix your soap in a container before putting it in the soap pump.

    Then, pour it into a glass soap bottle and shake it well. I find it easiest to do this with a funnel.

    Pouring aloe vera soap into a glass soap bottle with a funnel. Pouring aloe vera soap into a glass soap bottle with a funnel.
    A funnel will make it much easier to get into the soap pump!

    Before using the soap, shake the bottle. A batch will last you for up to three months, but if you notice any discoloration or strange scent, discard it.

    Bottle of DIY aloe vera soap with lime and lavender essential oilsBottle of DIY aloe vera soap with lime and lavender essential oils
    Replace any unused soap after three months.

    FAQ About Aloe Vera Soap

    Can I make this into foaming soap?

    As this aloe vera soap recipe stands, it is too thick to work in a foaming dispenser. By adding more water, you can make it less thick. I go through how you can make your own foaming soap in this post, so feel free to adapt this recipe according to the instructions to make your own foaming aloe vera soap.

    Can I use this recipe as a body wash?

    You sure can! I personally like making my own bar soap for the shower as it’s even more moisturizing, but I recommend giving both a try and seeing which you prefer.

    Is it safe to use aloe vera gel daily?

    Yes, unless you’re allergic to it. Aloe is very good for sensitive skin, and has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, that make it very helpful for healing and soothing skin.

    More Projects with Aloe Vera Gel

    If you are looking for more ways to use aloe vera gel, give one (or more) of these projects a try.

    DIY Aloe Vera Soap

    If your hands are rough and raw thanks to an increase in washing and sanitizing, give them soothing relief with this DIY aloe vera soap.

    • Whisk together one cup of the water with the aloe gel until mixed.

    • Then add in the rest of the water and which well.

    • Add the Castile soap and stir to combine.

    • Add in essential oils and stir to combine.

    • Pour in a glass bottle using a funnel.

    • Cap the bottle and shake well to combine.

    • Shake well before each use for the first few days. Over time, the ingredients will combine permanently and shaking will not be necessary.

    How to Use:
    Apply one or two pumps of soap to wet hands and lather for 20 seconds. Use a nail brush to get the dirt that hides under your nails as well. Rinse well and dry with a clean towel.
    Shelf Life:
    This soap will last for up to three months. Discard if it becomes discolored or smells unpleasant.

    Stephanie Rose

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