The Natural Beauty Workshop

Shealoe Butter

One of my all time favorite natural skincare ingredients is Shealoe Butter, a combination of Shea Butter and Aloe Vera.  The cooling feeling of Aloe and the creamy texture of Shea come together to form a very unique product.  With a consistency similar to a thick frosting or a cold cream, Shealoe Butter is simply dreamy to work with.  I actually keep a small jar in my bathroom to use  "as is".  It adds gloss, shine and a non-greasy slip to balms, lotions and other skincare products. 

Because Shealoe Butter is such a unique ingredient, it can be used to create very unique products!  I often use Shealoe Butter to add a creamy texture to formulas where a water based cream would be less than ideal.  Shealoe Butter can be mixed with other butters, wax, and oil to create extra creamy body butters and lips balms.  In the Candy Cane Sugar Scrub I used Shealoe Butter to create a creamy, suspension base for the product.  Shealoe Butter can also be added to Shower Gel, Shampoo, or Bubble Bath Bases to add thickness and creaminess.

When working with Shealoe Butter please keep in mind that since it is somewhat fragile and you must not overheat it.  To incorporate it into your formulations, heat Shealoe Butter gently to about 50 degrees C but not above 55 C as it will start to de-emulsify.

Blossom Body Cream

Blossom Body Cream

This recipe is an aromatic delight! You can almost always find a batch made up in my refrigerator.  It makes about 4 ounces by weight and a little more by volume (since it is whipped).  The naturally aromatic hydrosols and essential oils in this recipe give the cream an intense floral aroma.

Ingredients

Oil Phase
12 grams Mango Butter
12 grams Ultra Refined Cocoa Butter
12 grams Babassu Butter
10 grams Emulsifying Wax
2 grams Stearic Acid

Water Phase
35 grams Organic Lavandula Augistofolia Hydrsosol
35 grams Distilled Water
2 grams Glycerin                                       
3 grams Grapefruit Seed Extract

Essential Oil Blend
15 drops of Bergamot Essential Oil
20 Drops of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Directions
In a double boiler, heat all in the ingredients in the Oil Phase until they are thoroughly melted.  In a separate container, gently warm the Water Phase ingredients.  Do not use a microwave as it can damage the ingredients.  Use a second double boiler or try putting a heat-proof glass or beaker inside a pot of hot water.  Heat the Water Phase until it is warm, but do not boil it.  When both phases are ready, transfer your Oil Phase into a sturdy mixing bowl.  Use a hand blender or electric mixer and begin whipping the Oil Phase.  Slowly, add the Water Phase to the bowl (while you are mixing).  The mixture should become white or creamy looking and will foam up when you add the Water Phase.

Continue to beat the mixture until it transforms into a cream (about the consistency of a thin pudding). This could take between 10 and 15 minutes of constant whipping.* When the cream has cooled to this point you can add in your essential oil blend. Be sure to thoroughly mix the essential oils into your cream. Dispense your cream into sterilized containers and you are finished!

*Tip: If your cream does not thicken up after 15 minutes of mixing, you may want to try cooling the mixture.  Set your mixing bowl inside a bath of ice water while you continue to whip the emulsion.  This should cool the mixture completely, allowing the cream to harden up.

Storage
Unless you add an additional preservative to this cream I would recommend keeping it in the refrigerator where it should keep for at least 2 weeks.  Products with water based ingredients are especially vulnerable to bacteria and rancidity.  Take extra care to keep your cream from becoming contaminated.  I suggest storing the cream in a closed capped bottle or if you are using a cream jar, to use a clean popsicle stick or other utensil to dispense the lotion (as opposed to your fingers).  This can help to extend the life of your cream.  If your cream changes in color, scent, or appearance, it may have expired or it may have become contaminated.  Discontinue using any cream or lotion that you suspect has gone bad.

White Willow Bark Extract

White Willow Bark is most commonly known for its use in herbal medicine.  A natural pain reliever, and anti-inflammatory, White Willow Bark owes its infamous properties to a component named Salicin.  The use of White Willow Bark for medicinal purposes dates back to the time of Hippocrates, when he is noted to advise the chewing of White Willow Bark to reduce pain, inflammation, and fever.  The herb gained popularity again during the early 1800's.  At that time, the active ingredient, Salicin, was discovered, and later synthetically reproduced, creating salicylic acid.

Today, aspirin is usually made from acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), another synthetic variation based on Salicin.  Aspirin masks are commonly used to reduce redness, inflammation, and soothe acne.  Natural masks can be created with the same goals in mind by using White Willow Bark extract.  This extract is a water soluble powder, and can be used to create creams, lotions, soaps, tinctures, and body wraps as well. 

White Willow Bark Extract can also be used to soothe sore muscles, aches and pains when used topically.  Try creating an herbal pack for stiff muscles using White Willow Bark Extract, Dead Sea Mud, Argan Oil, Shavegrass, and Alfalfa Leaf Powder.  Body lotions made with White Willow Bark Extract can also be used in a soothing massage. 

Those with sensitivities to aspirin, salicin, salicylic acid, or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) should not use White Willow Bark Extract or products containing White Willow Bark Extract.  Be sure to label any products containing this product accordingly.

Camellia Oil

Camellia Seed Oil is pressed from the seeds of Camellia Sinensis, a plant that is best known for its use in the production of tea.  The leaves of this plant are used to produce Green Tea, Black Tea, White Tea, and one of my personal favorite, Oolong Tea.  While the leaves produce the healthful beverages many of us know and love, the seeds produce a unique and beneficial oil that is a little less commonly enjoyed.

Camellia Seed Oil is also known as "Tea Seed Oil", and is a popular cooking ingredient in some areas of China and Asia.  This name is not often used in the cosmetic industry, to avoid confusion with Tea Tree Essential Oil, a very different product.  While the cooking oil can vary in appearance, our cold pressed Camellia Seed Oil is pale yellow in color and has little to no aroma.  It has a medium thickness, similar to Jojoba.

Camellia Seed Oil makes an excellent skincare ingredient due to its high content of antioxidants and vitamins A, B and E.  It absorbs into the skin readily, so it may be used alone, or in any number of formulations.  Hair treatments, creams, serums, and massage oils are all wonderful places to incorporate Camellia Oil.  This nourishing oil may be especially beneficial to dry and damaged skin and hair. 

Random Facts and Places

I was recently tagged by Michelle from Oats and Honey with the classic internet meme, Random Facts.  I pondered what five facts would be most interesting.  I noodled away at what places I most wanted to visit.  But then I decided that instead of being a total egomaniac, I would share some facts from other FromNatureWithLove.com employees.  After all, you hear from me all the time.  So for a change, here are some juicy tidbits from some of the other members of our team.

Five Random Facts

1. Nina, from customer care, confessed that she has a very odd phobia.  She is freaked out by ears!
2. Mary, also from customer care, told me that no matter how tired she is, or even if she is in pain, when the right kind of music plays she can't help but move to it.
3. Wendy in marketing can recite the alphabet backwards.
4. Victoria, our bulk sales coordinator, loves to write poetry.  She has even had work published in four different books!
5. As for my random fact, every time I drive through a yellow light I kiss my pointer finger and touch the roof of the car.  I do this so often that I often catch myself at it even when someone else is driving.

Five Places We Would Like to Visit or Revisit, and Why

1. Nina would like to explore Bath and Lake Country in England in order to see the places that inspired her favorite author, Jane Austen.
2. Mary would love to visit the Golden Gate Bridge.  She says it makes her feel like she's in a time warp.  Plus, it's beautiful!
3. Wendy has several "dream destinations", but Austria is near the top of her list.  She spent two remarkable summers there as a child and would love to revisit the small village that she stayed in.  Wendy explained that she missed Austria's breathtaking beauty and the fascinating and loving people she came to know there.
4. Victoria would love to be on her way to Italy.  Not only would she delight in seeing the beautiful architecture, and exploring the monuments and sights, it would give her a chance to visit with her extended family that lives there.
5. I often dream of visiting Dominica.  This Caribbean island is a hiker's dream.  Mountains, waterfalls, jungle, and coral reefs are available for exploration by foot, bicycle, or flipper.  That is my kind of tropical paradise!

If you have a blog, and would like to share some random facts about yourself, consider yourself tagged!