The Natural Beauty Workshop

Fourth of July Photos

In celebration of Independence Day, I've highlighted some of my favorite Red, White, and Blue photos from The Natural Beauty Workshop's Flickr Photo Pool. 


The Bath Project shared this amazing 4th of July Soap Cake. How patriotic!


Give me a red! (Aphrodite by Jovia Handmade)


Give me a white! (Lemon Blossom Body Yogurt by Mea Culpa Body and Bath)


Give me a blue! (Victorian Soap by Soapy Chica)


And stars, of course! (Guirnalda de Jabón Natural by Camp di Fiore)



Where there are stars, there should be stripes. (Jimmy & A White Crow by A*Kang)


After you enjoy the fireworks, enjoy a slice of Apple Pie, or at least a whiff of this candle. (Red Apple Candle by Breath of French Air)

Thanks to all of this months wonderful contributors!  To check out more awesome handmade skin care creations, check out The Natural Beauty Workshop's Flickr Photo Pool.  If you have something you'd like to share, please join in the fun by submitting your photos!

Garden Spa: Using Fresh Herbs for Beauty

A kitchen herb garden provides avid cooks with a resource for fresh aromas, flavors, and colors to incorporate in their dishes.  This same garden can also be used to incorporate beneficial actives into home spa creations.  Fresh facials, hair teas, and tonics can benefit greatly from the addition of fresh herbs.  Here are some uses for both common, and exotic garden herbs.

Basil
Basil makes an effective cleanser, and can help to tone and rejuvenate the skin.  In hair care, Basil can help eliminate scalp irritation, dandruff, and excess oil.  Try making a water based infusion with fresh basil to take advantage of its properties.  This tonic can be used as a wetting agent in facials, a fresh toner, or a hair rinse.  Fresh Basil can also be mashed and used as a cleanser.

Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm has natural astringent properties which can be helpful in the treatment of oily akin and hair.  Try steeping Lemon Balm leaves in hot water to create an herbal hair rinse, or a fresh facial toner.  This Lemon Balm infusion may also be helpful in the treatment of cold sores.

Mint
Fresh Mint leaves can be used to add a cooling, refreshing sensation to many types of home spa recipes.  The leaves can be infused into oil or water, or can be minced, mashed, or used whole.  Water that has been infused with Mint leaves can be added to hair rinses, used as a wetting agent in masks, or as a rinse for summer pedicures.  Try adding the infused oil to scrubs, cleansers, and hair conditioning treatments.  Fresh leaves can be incorporated into fresh scrubs, ubtans, and masks.

Lavender
A classic skin care ingredient, Lavender can be used a number of ways to take advantage of its antiseptic, balancing, and soothing properties.  Like Mint, Lavender is versatile, and can be infused into oil or water, can be minced, mashed, or used whole, and can also be dried for use in herbal sachets and potpourris. Try using fresh Lavender to create toners, skin tonics, hair rinses, or fresh body scrubs.

Sage
Sage is a potent cleanser with strong astringent properties.  It can be used in facial toners and hair rinses to help balance oily skin or scalps.  In hair care, Sage can also help to darken hair, making it a great choice for those with black or brunette hair who are hoping to intensify their look.

Ladies Mantle
This lesser known herb has been used historically to enhance the appearance of the bust and decolletage.  Traditionally, a tea is made from fresh or dried Ladies Mantle and applied like a toner to the neck, decolletage, and bust on a daily basis.  It is believed that the regular use of a Ladies Mantle tonic could help to increase the appearance of the skin in this area by toning and tightening the area.

Eyebright
Another uncommon herb, Eyebright contains a rich amount of Zinc, which can be helpful in repairing skin's tissue.  Eyebright is often used to create herbal facials and eye packs and is believed to help reduce puffiness, and dark circles around the eyes.  Try combining Eyebright or Eyebright tea with fresh cucumber and potato for quick under-eye treatment.

Yarrow
Easily found at most nurseries and garden shops, this lovely, flowering herb has a reputation for its soothing, comforting abilities.  Infused in oil or water, Yarrow makes a wonderful addition to sensitive skin treatments.  Try using Yarrow tea as a wetting agent in simple masks, and as a moisturizing toner.  Yarrow can also help to soothe sensitive scalps, or itchy, irritated skin.  Yarrow can sometimes cause photo-sensitivity, so take care when using Yarrow treatments during the day. 

Thyme
Thyme can be very handy when used in hair rinses and tonics due to its ability to help relieve oily scalp and dandruff.  It strong cleansing abilities also make it a good choice for oily and acne prone skin care.  Try adding Thyme to hair rinses and tonics by infusing the herb in water.

Mochachinno Massage Melts

Rich, creamy Mochacchino Butter is a unique blend of Coffee Bean and Cocoa Butter.  It's all natural aroma is absolutely delicious, and it's texture is smooth and moisturizing.  These Massage Melts are the perfect size for single massages.

Mochacchino Massage Melts
Makes 8 - 10 Bath Melts

Ingredients
2 ounces Mochacchino Butter
1 tablespoon Jojoba Esters MP70
2 ounces Babassu Oil
8-10 Coffee Beans

Directions
Place 10 foil cups on a jelly roll pan, or other flat surface and set aside.  In a double boiler, gently melt the Jojoba Esters completely, followed by the Mochacchino Butter and Babassu Oil.  After all of the ingredients have fully melted, stir the mixture well.  Carefully pour the hot mixture into the foil cups.  Allow the Melts to cool for 5 - 10 minutes, or until a firm layer forms on the top.  When the Melts reach this stage, gently press an individual coffee bean into each melt. 

Note: This recipe can easily be converted to make Bath Melts instead of Massage Melts. To make Bath Melts, use 2 teaspoons of Jojoba Esters instead of the tablespoon called for in the original recipe.  Also, it would make a nice addition to sift 1-2 tablespoons of Fine Oat Flour into the mixture.

To Use: Simply unwrap a single Mochacchino Massage Melt, and warm it between your hands.  The gentle body heat will soften the Melt, turning it into a slick, massage oil.  The Melt can also be warmed directly on the skin of the person being massaged.

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Scrub

Another variation of the Ice Cream Scrub that I shared with you on Thursday is the Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Scrub.  Super fine Vanilla Bean Specks add a touch of detail to this deliciously scented salt scrub.  In this batch I used Sea Salt, which has a slightly larger grain size than Dendritic, giving this scrub a little bit more scrubby power. Enjoy!

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Scrub

Ingredients
1/4 cup Shealoe Butter
1/2 cup Sea Salt, Fine
1/8 teaspoon Vanilla Bean Specks
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Bean Fragrance Oil or 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Absolute*

Directions
In a large mixing bowl combine the Shealoe Butter and Dendritic Salt.  Shealoe is naturally soft, so you should be able to mix this without heating the Butter.  However, if it is necessary, you can heat the Butter gently by warming the container in hot water.  (Be careful not to let the water get inside the container though.)  Next, add the Vanilla Bean Specks, followed by the Fragrance Oil or Absolute.  Mix well to make sure the scrub is fully combined before spooning into jars.

Usage and Packaging
The Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Scrub is great for all over body scrubbing, but should not be used on the face or other very delicate areas.  Like most handmade skin care products, this Scrub should be used up quickly, as it has not been formulated for long term storage.  This scrub looks great in 2 oz. Flat PET Jars.

*Tip:  Most Vanilla Fragrance Oils, Vanilla Absolutes, or Vanilla Oleoresins will cause this scrub to turn brown over time.  To keep your scrub as light as possible, use Vanilla Non-Browning Fragrance Oil.

Neopolatin Ice Cream Scrub

Summer is here! I am so excited about Summer's arrival that I decided to celebrate with some ice cream.  Well, it's not really ice cream, but it sure looks and smells delicious.  This exfoliating salt scrub is made with creamy Shealoe Butter, yummy scented Fragrance Oils, and super fine Dendritic Salt.  You can make this scrub in one solid color, or layer multiple colors for super cuteness!  This recipe could be varied easily to create all kinds of delicious ice cream parlor inspired creations, like Orange Cream, Banana Split, or Mint Chocolate!  Just switch out the Fragrance and the Color Additive to create your own unique Ice Cream Scrub.

Neopolatin Ice Cream Scrub

Ingredients
6 ounces Shealoe Butter
1 1/2 cups Dendritic Salt
1/2 teaspoon Milk Chocolate Fragrance Oil
1/2 teaspoon Strawberry Fragrance Oil
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Non-Browning Fragrance Oil
1 .15 cc scoop of FDA Red Mica
2 .15 cc scoops of Umber Oxide

Directions
In a large mixing bowl combine the Shealoe Butter and Dendritic Salt.  Shealoe is naturally soft, so you should be able to mix this without heating the Butter.  However, if it is necessary, you can heat the Butter gently by warming the container in hot water.  (Be careful not to let the water get inside the container though.) After the Butter and Salt are fully mixed, split the mixture into three parts in three seperate mixing bowls.  Add one Fragrance Oil to each bowl, thouroughly mixing each into the mixture.  Next, add two .15 cc scoops of Umber Oxide to the Milk Chocolate scented batch of salt, and mix well to combine.  Add 1 .15 cc scoop of FDA Red Mica to the Strawberry scented batch of salt next.  Leave the Vanilla scented batch uncolored.  Once the batches are fully mixed they can be spooned into jars.

Usage and Packaging
This fine grained salt scrub makes a great body polish, but should not be used on the face or other very delicate areas.  The Neoploatin Ice Cream Scrub looks adorable packaged in 2 oz. or 4 oz. PET Jars.  Like most handmade skin care products, this Scrub should be used up quickly, as it has not been formulated for long term storage.

Simple Steps for Stress Relief

The everyday stresses of home, work, children, and life in general can catch up with you, causing stress and anxiety to build up, leading to stiff muscles, headaches, insomnia, or even illness.  Luckily, relieving stress can be simple, quick, and affordable.  Take care of yourself by taking simple steps to relax on a regular basis.

Baths
Bathing is an incredibly simple way to promote relaxation.  A warm bath, with or without the addition of luxurious ingredients like Milk, Honey, or therapeutic Essential Oils, can soothe stiff muscles, and provide you with peace and quiet, even if for only a short time.  Even a short, 15 minute bath can go a long way when it comes to relieving stress and anxiety.  Enveloping the body in warm water, and enjoying peace and silence for even a short time provides comfort to both the body and mind.  Bath time is also a great time to meditate, clear your mind, and become grounded.  To help make sure that you make it to your mini retreat regularly, try to schedule a time of night, or a day of the week exclusively for bath time. 

Meditation
There are many simple techniques available for meditation.  The first step, and sometimes to most challenging, is to find a silent, solitary place for meditation.  This can be especially difficult if you have children or a busy schedule.  Scheduling a daily or weekly time to meditate can be helpful, not only in making sure that you follow through with your plans, but also to help others get used to having you unavailable during your period of meditation.  Though there are many different techniques and purposes for meditation, one of the most common, and conducive to relaxation is the practice of clearing one's mind from all chatter, noise, and thought.  Simply sit down, breathe, and exist, clearing your mind of your thoughts, worries, and questions.  To learn more about meditation techniques, check out this guide from WikiHow.

Massage
A simple massage from your partner can help to relieve plenty of anxiety and stress.  Try using a simple Carrier Oil, such as Sweet Almond Oil or Fractionated Coconut Oil, and a simple technique, such as Swedish Massage, before bed time.  Massage your partner for at least ten minutes, and then ask them to return the favor.  This quick, simple ritual can help to relax both of you, while making you feel closer and more connected. 

Napping
A short nap during the middle of the day can do wonders for your energy and stress levels.  While reports vary, some say that even a short, 20 minute power nap can help to recharge the body and mind.  Set aside some time for your nap, then lay down in a dark room with a comfortable temperature.  Close your eyes, relax, and drift into sleep.  Even if you are not a "good napper" and don't fully fall asleep during these sessions, taking the time to lay down and relax can still help to reduce your stress level significantly.  It is a good idea to allow yourself at least 40 minutes to dedicate to your nap.  You'll need around 10 minutes to relax and fall asleep, and about 10 minutes to fully wake up again.  Keep this in mind when setting your nap time alarm.

Aromatherapy
Many Essential Oils contain actives that can help to reduce stress or encourage relaxation.  Some of the most commonly used for relaxation are Roman Chamomile, Lavender, Rose, and Mandarin.  You can easily incorporate Essential Oils into each of the previous relaxation techniques.  Add Essential Oils to Bath Salts, or Bath Oils to incorporate their aromatic benefits.  Using aromatherapy candles, or diffusers can help aid relaxation during meditation.  Herbal Sachets or Dream Pillows can help to induce sleep, essential for many nappers.  As always, Essential Oils must be used with extreme care due to their potency.  Make sure to check the warnings, proper dosage, and delivery method of any Essential Oil before using it.

Himalayan Pink Salt

Another in our line of specialty Salts & Sugars, Himalayan Pink Salt brings a bevvy of impressive properties to the table.  Not only is it stunning, with its speckles of red, pink, orange, and white, it is loaded with minerals that can help to cleanse, and rejuvenate the skin.  Himalayan Pink Salt makes an excellent bath salt.  Its natural colors make it attractive even in its simplest form.  Display it in a clear glass or plastic jar to show off its natural beauty.  Essential Oils or Fragrance Oils can be used to enhance the salts.  My first choice would be a blend of Ginger and Mandarin Essential Oils, or a personal favorite, Persimmon Fragrance Oil!  Himalayan Pink Salt would also make a gorgeous exfoliant in a body scrub.  Scented with juicy citrus scents, or soft florals, these speckled salts are sure to impress.

Himalayan Pink Salt's value does not lie only in its loveliness.  On the contrary, its rich mineral content makes it a very beneficial ingredient.  The variety of minerals and trace elements contained in Himalayan Pink Salt numbers over eighty, some of the most notable being: calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper and iron.  Like Dead Sea Salt, this wealth of minerals can help to tone, cleanse, and balance the skin and body, making Himalayan Pink Salt a boon to the spa and cosmetics industries.

Our Himilayan Pink Salt is harvested from ancient salt beds, deep under the Himalayan Mountains.  It is available in both a medium and fine grain variety.  The Medium Salt is well suited to bath salt and soak formulations while the Fine Salt has a texture more suited to use in scrubs, soaps, and bath powders.

Stack Attack!

Photos of stacked soap bars always spurs my creativity.  The variety of colors and textures can be so exciting.  These picks from The Natural Beauty Workshop's Flickr Photo Pool are some of my favorite soap stacks. Enjoy!

This sideways stack by Pink Bricks is so pretty!

This gorgeous stack by Body Language Soaps is totally magical.

These lovely soaps by Santo Sabao look great in a pile.

This stack by Campo di Fiore has a beautiful selection of earth toned soaps.

Soapier shared this stack of adorable mini tart soaps. How cute!

A very colorful stack by Morgan Street.

Have you got a stack that you'd like to share?  Join in the fun at The Natural Beauty Workshop's Flickr Photo Pool.  Every month we feature a selection of great photos that fit within the month's theme.  Yours could be next!

Marula Fruit

Originally uploaded by Astrid.

A lovely photo of Marula Fruit, found on Flickr!

Marula Oil

The Marula Tree grows widely across southern Africa, and its fruit, rich in Vitamin C, nourishes people as well as animals large and small.  Marula Oil, pressed from the kernels of Marula fruit, is highly moisturizing and nutritious.  It contains a hefty portion of antioxidants and oleic fatty acid, making it a superb skin care ingredient.  Marula Oil can help to soothe and soften the skin, as well as reduce redness.  Though it has a fairly thick texture, and can even become semi solid in very cool temperatures, Marula absorbs into the skin easily, and can help the skin to retain it's natural moisture.

Marula Oil is available in both Conventional and Organic varieties.  It can be used directly on the skin or hair, or it can be added to a number of formulations.  Marula Oil makes a wondeful addition to lotions, creams, or body butters.  It is also an excellent hair conditioner, making it a helpful additive in shampoos, conditioners, and other hair products.  Because Marula is quite stable, with an estimated shelf life of 2 years or more, it makes a great superfatting agent in soaps and shampoo bars.

Queen Bee Facial Mask

Royal Jelly plays a leading role in this rejuvenating facial mask.  Packed with beneficial components such as collagen, lecithin, hydroxy fatty acids, and vitamins A, C, D, and E, it makes an excellent anti-aging ingredient.  Royal Jelly can help to soothe, moisturize, and nourish the skin, even when used at a very small percentage.  The typical usage rate of Royal Jelly Powder is between 1 - 3%.  The Queen Bee Facial Mask also contains Honey Powder, which helps to cleanse and soften the skin.  Yellow Illite Clay adds extra drawing power to this mask, making it both cleansing and nourishing.  Soothing Chamomile Flower Powder adds some extra absorbency to the facial's texture, while Blackberry Seed Oil and Carrot Seed Oil provide extra nutrients and anti-aghing benefits.  The mask is wetted with Cistus Hydrosol, which can help to plump the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

The Queen Bee Facial Mask

Ingredients
1 tablespoon Honey Powder
1/2 teaspoon Royal Jelly Powder
1 tablespoon Yellow Illite Clay
2 teaspoons Chamomile Flower Powder
5 drops Carrot Seed Select CO2 Extract
1/2 teaspoon Blackberry Seed Oil
1 - 2 teaspoons Cistus (Labdanum) Hydrosol

Directions
In a small mixing bowl, combine the Honey Powder, Royal Jelly Powder, Yellow Illite Clay, and Chamomile Flower Powder.  Mix well, then add the Carrot Seed Select CO2 Extract, followed by the Blackberry Seed Oil.  Mix again, than slowly add the Cistus Hydrosol.  Add just enough Hydrosol to form a smooth, spreadable paste.  You may need to add a little more or less than indicated here, depending on your own preference.

To Use
Begin the facial by applying a warm, moist towel to your face, or by performing a facial steam.  Apply directly to the face, avoiding the mouth, eyes, and nostrils.  This mask can also be applied to the neck and decollatage.  Allow the mask to dry for approxamitely 10 minutes before rinsing with room temperature water.  Follow with a toner and moisturizer for best results.

Storage
The Queen Bee Facial should be used immediately as it is not suitable for long term storage.

Using Additives in Melt & Pour Soap

Melt & Pour Soaps are fun and easy to make, especially when you stick to the basic elements, such as Scents, Colors, and Soap Base.  In our Holiday Projects Series we covered how to create basic Melt & Pour Soaps using those three main elements.  We often get questions regarding how to use Additives, such as Milk Powders, Herbs, or Exfoliants in Melt & Pour Soap.  Here is a little insight into including these specialty ingredients in your Melt & Pour creations.

Herbs
Many Herbs have the potential to change dramatically when added to Melt & Pour Soap.  Often, these changes are not apparent immediately, but appear within days or weeks after pouring the soap.  The most infamous for this behavior is Lavender Buds.  Lavender Buds look and smell great fresh out of the package, and can even be pretty when you first add them to your soap.  However, after a week or so they take on a brownish yellow tinge, and can bleed that color into the entire bar of soap.   Rose Buds and Petals also have a hard time retaining their beauty when fully immersed into Melt & Pour Soap.  When you are dealing with these tricky Herbs, try using them as toppings instead of embedding them completely inside your soap bars.  For example, Rose Buds look very cute peeking out of the top of soap.

Other Herbs, such as Parsley Powder, or Calendula Petals retain their color beautifully when added to Melt & Pour Soap.  These Herbs can be added at a rate of 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons per pound of soap, depending on the appearance desired.  Experiment with small batches to get comfortable with how individual Herbs behave.  Natural ingredients, such as Herbs, often have unique quirks.

Some Herbs that work well in Melt & Pour Soap are: Alkanet Root Powder, Anatto Seeds, Beet Root Powder, Calendula Petals, Carrot Root Powder, Oat Straw Powder, Sandalwood Powder, Sea Vegetables.

Clays
Clay can lend extra cleansing ability, exfoliation, and color to your Melt & Pour Soaps.  Make sure to choose your Clay carefully, taking into consideration each Clay's strength.  Kaolin and Rose Clay are the gentlest Clays, while Illite Clay or Bentonite can be too harsh for sensitive skin.  Clay can be added to Melt & Pour Soap at a rate of 1 - 2 tablespoons per pound.  The easiest way to add Clay to your Soap is to wet it with a small amount of Distilled Water prior to adding it to your Soap Base.  Creating a smooth paste with the Clay and Water will help keep the Clay from clumping when you add it to the Soap.  While Clays can help lend color to Soap, keep in mind that the resulting colors will be slighlty different than they dry Clay.  Expect earthy, dusky tones from added Clay.

Milk Powders
Milk and Honey Powders can be added to Melt & Pour Soaps for their skin conditioning properties.  Keep in mind that the addition of these ingredients may shorten the shelf life of your Soaps.  Like most Additives, Milk Powders can be added to Melt & Pour Soap Base at a rate of 1 - 2 tablespoons per pound of soap.  To add the Milk Powder, mix it with a small amount of warm water to form a slurry or paste.  Add the paste to your Melt & Pour Base and stir well to make sure it is fully dispersed.

Exfoliants
There are many different types of Exfoliants that can be added to Melt & Pour Soap.  To choose the right one, consider the texture and behavior of each Exfoliant.  The biggest challenge you are likely to encounter when working with these Exfoliants is their habit of either floating or sinking in soaps.  Using Suspension Melt & Pour Soap Base can sometimes help alleviate this issue.  Exfoliants are generally added at around 1 - 2 tablespoons per pound of soap, but you may want to add more or less to achieve the texture you are looking for.

Fruit Seeds and Fibers provide gentle exfoliation, but can alter the appearance of your soap.  Fruit Fibers will lend subtle color to Melt & Pour Soaps, but not always the color that you expect.  For example, Blueberry Fruit Fiber tends to make Opaque Soap Base slighlty gray, while Cranberry Fruit Fiber adds a gentle, pink tinge.  Fruit Seeds can look adroable in Melt & Pour Soaps, but they are particularly prone to floating or sinking when added to Melt & Pour Soap Base.

Jojoba Wax Beads come in a wide range of bright, beautiful colors, and provide gentle exfoliation.  They are very tempting to use in Melt & Pour Soap, but they can also be very tricky to work with.  If Jojoba Wax Beads are added directly to hot Soap Base they are likely to melt, changing the color of the soap, as well as making it much harder, with less lather.  In order to add Jojoba Wax Beads to Melt & Pour Soap they must either be added at a very low temperature, which can be quite challenging, or they must be used as a topping on soap bars and logs.

Grain Powders, such as Oat Flour, Oatmeal, Rice Bran Powder, or Adzuki Bean Powder provide a range of gentle exfoliation.  It may be helpful to mix the very fine powders, such as Oat Flour or Adzuki Bean Powder with a small amount of water before adding them to the Base, as they can have a hard time dispersing when added directly.

 Seed Powders and Nut Meals are generally the harshest Exfoliants.  These more instense Exfoliants are great for Gardener's Soaps, Mechanic's Soaps, and Pedicure Soaps. Use these Exfoliants with care.  Too much Exfoliant can cause the soap to be hard to use, while too little Exfoliant can cause them to feel harsh and scratchy.

Crafting Bath & Body Products With Children

Anyone who lives with kids knows how much they love to be involved when something is being created.  Whether you are cooking, crafting, or even writing a grocery list, children's natural curiosity inspires them to ask questions, make suggestions, and even "help".  While some more advanced projects, such as Cold Process Soap Making, can be impossible to work on with little ones around, there are plenty of simple Skin Care formulas that kids can have fun creating with you.

There are some special things to consider when working on projects with children.  First of all, ingredients must be chosen with care.  Certain Essential Oils or Herbs can be hazardous to kids, depending on their age, allergies, or specific medical conditions.  Make sure to research any Essential Oils before use, and always handle the Essential Oils yourself, even when working with older kids.  When working with hot liquids, be sure to help your kids by doing all of the direct pouring and handling.  With any project, supervision is key.

Bath Salts
Bath Salts are very simple to make, and make an ideal afternoon project, or even a short term diversion for kids. Let your child pick the color and scent of their Salts.  Depending on the child's age, you can allow them to add these ingredients, or you can measure them yourself.  Even little kids will love simply stirring the salts together.  Picking out fun containers makes this project even more enjoyable.

Melt & Pour Soap
Creating soap together requires the full attention and assistance of an adult.  Even older kids will need an adult to handle the hot liquids involved in a Melt & Pour Soap Project. To make this easy for kids, try pouring a small amount of melted Soap Base into a heat proof cup.  Kids can stir in Colorants, Fragrances, and Additives for one soap at a time, limiting how much hot liquid they need to handle at a time.  This project, and other projects involving hot liquids are best reserved for older kids.

Clay Masks
Gentle facials and masks are a treat for kids to make and use.  Make sure to pick very gentle ingredients, such as White Kaolin Clay, Oat Flour, Fruit Fibers, or Honey Powder.  These simple facials can be wetted with water, fresh milk or yogurt, or even fresh pureed fruit.  You and your kids will have a blast mixing up the facials and painting eachother's faces.

Loofah

Loofah is often assumed to have an oceanic origin, but in truth, this popular bath & body tool is made from a plant very similar to a zucchini.  Loofahs are members of the gourd family.  They are grown in gardens and farms and are skinned and dried after reaching maturity, transforming them into the familiar, scrubby item we know and love.  Loofah can be used in its plain form, as a handy exfoliation tool, but it is often incorporated into more complex designs.  Loofah can be embedded in soaps whole or chopped, it can be flattened and sewn into a variety of fun shapes, cut into small discs, or even dyed colors!  Whatever form Loofah takes on, it makes a great, all natural bath accessory.

When Choosing Organic Matters the Most

With the growing availability of organic ingredients and ready-made products, it can be difficult to determine when to select organic and when to choose conventional (non-organic) items.  While many of us would love to purchase entirely organic foods, personal care products and handmade skin care ingredients, it can quickly become cost prohibitive.  For those of us on a budget, we have to learn to select our organics carefully, basing our decisions on cost and necessity. 

From an environmental standpoint, buying organic whenever possible helps to contribute to farming practices that benefit us all now and into the future.  At the grocery store, compare prices between conventional and organics, and always select organic ingredients and products when they are priced similarly to their conventional counterparts.  You may be surprised to find that many organic ingredients are surprisingly affordable.  This same shopping method can be used when creating skin care products for yourself and your family.  If you are creating handmade skin care products for a business, however, it is usually necessary to keep your ingredients as consistent as possible. Switching between conventional and organic ingredients isn't always possible for product formulation consistency.

If you are incorporating organic products into your diet, personal care, or handmade products for their nutritive and health benefits, there is another approach that can help you best determine when to select organics over conventional items. Because conventional ingredients can contain pesticides, begin by considering which ingredients are likely to carry the heaviest load of pesticides.  The Environmental Working Group has published a handy list of produce items that generally carry the highest percentages of pesticides, as well as a list of items that generally carry the least amount of pesticide residue.  This guide is referred to as The Dirty Dozen and The Clean Fifteen.  Click here to visit the EWG website and download a PDF or iPhone application of the guide.  Not only can it be used to aid in your grocery choices, it can be kept in mind when selecting between organic and conventional skin care ingredients. 

When choosing organic ingredients for use in skin care products, keep this additional important tip in mind:

 While most botanicals are harvested from the seeds, nuts, roots, or leaves of a plant, certain ingredients are apressed from the botanical's skin or peel.  In these situations, the conventional version of the rind may have been exposed to a significantly higher quantity of pesticide than the fruit or generally edible part of the same botanical. This is a common occurance for citrus essential oils like orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit.  Nearly all citrus essential oils are pressed from the peels of the fruits.  While oranges didn't make the EWG's Dirty Dozen List, conventional Orange Essential Oil is likely to contain a high quantity of pesticides because citrus peels are often sprayed with pesticides during farming.  Despite the higher cost, it can be important to choose organic citrus essential oils for use in products and formulations that will be applied directly to the skin or for room fragrancing/personal fragrancing applications in which a noteworthy content of the oil may be inhaled. 

I hope this information will make shopping for organic products much easier.  From Nature With Love is pleased to provide crafters and formulators with as many organic options as possible by carrying an ever-growing line of USDA Certified Organic Ingredients. 

Share your ideas, knowledge and experiences! How do you decide when to purchase organic versus conventional ingredients and products?  Please post your comments below: