The Natural Beauty Workshop

Making Handmade Lip Balms

Lip balms are one of the first handmade cosmetics that most people create.  They are easy to customize and a cinch to make.  They also make great gifts, party favors, and are perfect for group projects.  Even the simplest natural balm will usually receive rave reviews from those who are used to commercial petroleum based lip balms.  Unlike many commercial lip balms, a natural formula can help to soothe, heal, and protect your lips, not just seal them beneath a layer of sludge.

Base
A lip balm base can be created using this simple formula:

• 1 part Wax
• 1 part Solid Oil or Vegetable Butter
• 1 part Liquid Oil

The ratios will change slightly depending on the Butter, Wax, and Oil you choose.  For example, Beeswax is much softer than Carnauba Wax.  If you use a vegan wax such as Carnauba Wax or Candelilla Wax you will probably need to add a little more Oil and Butter to compensate.  Some Butters are softer than others as well.  For example, Kokum, Cocoa, and Illipe Butters are very hard at room temperature, while Shealoe, Aloe, and Macadamia Nut Butters are soft and creamy.  The best way to create a lip balm base that you'll love is to experiment!  Try starting at the ratio above using your favorite ingredients.  Let your mixture cool, than readjust as needed.  If your balm is too soft, add more wax.  If it is too hard, add more Oil or Butter.  Once you achieve the perfect base you can choose some additives to further enhance your lip balm.

Additives
There are many ingredients you can add to color, scent, or enhance your lip balm.  Lecithin and Lanolin Oil are two additives that can give your lip balm and extra creamy texture that most people love.  You only need to add a tiny percentage of either of these additives to enhance the lip balms texture.  Try adding soy based Lecithin at or animal derived Lanolin Oil at 1-4%.  Vitamin E Oil (400IU/g) can also be a useful addition to your lip balm.  This potent antioxidant is very beneficial to the skin, making it a helpful addition to any lip balm.  Vitamin E Oil (400IU/g) should also be added at a very small percentage  to your formula.  *About 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon of Vitamin E Oil (400IU/g) per ounce is enough to add the products properties to your formula.

Scent & Flavor
Lip Balms can also be scented in many ways.  Certain Essential Oils can be used in lip balm formulations but they must be chosen with care.  Many Essential Oils can be damaging to the sensitive skin of the lips or toxic if ingested.  Be sure to research any Essential Oil thoroughly before adding it any product, especially a lip balm!  Some Essential Oils that work well in lip balms are:

• Peppermint Essential Oil
• Peppermint, Chocolate Essential Oil
• Lavender
• Spearmint Essential Oil
• Cornmint Essential Oil
• Tea Tree Essential Oil

Mint Oils will add a refreshing, tingling sensation to your lip balm.  This is a very popular, natural way of scenting lip products.  Synthetic Flavor Oils are an un-natural, but lip safe alternative to these natural Essential Oils.  Flavor Oils come in a wide variety of scents.  Unlike their name suggests they do not actually add a taste to lip products.  Instead they enhance the scent.  If you want your lip balm to have a flavor, you can add a sweetener such as Stevia Powder in conjunction with a Flavor Oil.  When a lip balm is sweetened it tricks the mind into thinking it is tasting the scent.  For example, a lip balm that is scented with Raspberry Flavor Oil, and sweetened with a product like Stevia Powder will create the illusion of a raspberry flavor.  While there are other sweeteners available, be sure to only scent or sweeten your lip balms with oil based, lip safe products.  Ingredients such as honey or baking flavors are not compatible with lip balms.

Color
Adding color to your lip balms can be a fun way to enhance your product.  Lip balms can be colored naturally by infusing one of our Natural Tinting Herbs into the oil you are using.  While these natural herbs will add a color to the balm, it will not leave a color on your lips.  Pearlescent Micas can be used to incorporate sheer color into your lip balm. Be sure to choose only Micas that are marked as "lip safe".  Please view our Mica Safety Chart to help you select an appropriate mica for lip products.  You can add a very small amount of Mica to add a touch of color to your lip balm or you can add a heavier amount to create a balm that will leave a sheer color on your lips.  Begin experimenting with a very small amount of Mica to achieve your desired color and shade.

Packaging
The type of packaging that will be ideal for your lip balm will depend on the texture that you have created.  If you've created a soft lip balm you can package it in one of the following small jars or tins:

• 1/4 oz. Clear Dome Jar
• 1/8 oz. or 1/4 oz. Dome Cream Jar
• 1/8 oz. or 1/4 oz. Flat Cream Jar
• 4 ml Crystal Jar
• 1/2 oz. Silver Tin

If you've created a very firm lip balm you may prefer to package it in one of our Lip Balm Tubes.

Instructions
To create your lip balm, simply heat the Oils, Wax, and Butter in a double boiler over medium heat.  Once the mixture is fully melted remove the mixture from the heat.  Give the mixture a few moments to cool before adding any additives, colorants, Essential Oils or Flavor Oils.  Once the mixture has cooled slightly add any additional ingredients and quickly transfer the hot mixture into Lip Balm Tubes or Jars.  While the balms cool they will develop sink holes.  You may want to reserve a small amount of lip balm mixture to remelt later on and top off your jars or tubes.

*Please note that if you are using a different strength of Vitamin E Oil you will need to adjust the usage rate. Vitamin E Oil comes in many strengths and can be harmful if it is over dosed.

Almond Flour

Almond Flour can make a lovely addition to your next home spa treatment.  Almond Flour has been an integral part of Indian, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern food, folk medicine and skin care.  The creation of the natural ubtan, a special kind of body mask and scrub, is an especially intriguing example of Almond Flour being used in a traditional manner.  Ubtans combine Almond Flour and other grains with Milk, Honey, and Ayurvedic Herbs and Spices such as Sandalwood Powder and Rose Petal Powder.  The skin is massaged with this mixture until it dries and crumbles away, leaving the skin soft and nourished.

Almonds are one of the most nutritional nuts, containing a high amount of Vitamin E as well as several nutritious minerals.  Almonds are high in Magnesium, Phosphorous, Calcium and Potassium.  Almond Flour is made from carefully blanched almonds which are later ground into a fine, cream colored powder.  This powder retains a high yield of the nutrients found in raw almonds.  Almond Flour is a wonderful way to nourish the skin while providing gentle exfoliation.  While Almond Flour is an excellent choice for your next body scrub, it can also be useful in many other recipes!  Try adding Almond Flour to bath melts, bath bombs, or exfoliating soaps.

Making Mineral Cosmetics

FromNatureWithLove.com is proud to announce the newest addition to our Online Library, The Guide to Creating Your Own Mineral Cosmetics.  Mineral cosmetics have become incredibly popular over the past few years.  Though large cosmetic companies have joined this makeup revolution, they are not alone.  Countless small businesses, boutiques, and spas offer their own lines of Mineral Cosmetics, many of which have become very successful as a result! 

Making your own Mineral Cosmetics can be a fun, rewarding experience.  Our new Guide to Creating Your Own Mineral Cosmetics can help you get started by teaching you the following basic information:

• Common Ingredients
• Necessary Equipment
• Packaging and Application
• Shelf Life

Our Guide to Creating Your Own Mineral Cosmetics will also show you the necessary steps to creating the following Mineral Cosmetic Recipes:

• Powdered Foundation
• Sheer Lip Color
• Powdered Blush or Bronzer
• Eye Liner

We hope that you'll enjoy experimenting with Mineral Cosmetics.  We encourage you to show us your creations and experiments while you are learning this exciting new craft.  Let us know about your challenges and discoveries along the way.  Most importantly, have fun, and practice, practice, practice! 

Super Suds

There is no special interest story so special as one that involves your very own nephew.  R.J. is in fourth grade and had his first science fair this year.  We were honored when R.J. asked his Uncle Scott and I to help him with his project.  We spent quite a while noodling over what subject to report on.  Eventually it hit me.  Soap!  It's always smart to play to your strengths.  I was pretty sure this was one of the few aspects of chemistry I would be able to effectively explain to a fourth grader.  After just a few discussions, a series of hand drawn diagrams, my own version of molecule charades, and some home reading, R.J. got it!  By the time he wrote his report and built the display he really grasped the concepts of saponification and the inner workings of a soap molecule.  I was pretty impressed.

To demonstrate saponification, R.J. and I made a batch of Hot Process Soap.  Since lye is a pretty dangerous substance, R.J.'s actual "help" during this process was limited to observation through several parts of the process.  First, R.J. helped me calculate the recipe, gather our equipment and ingredients, weigh the oils, and line the mold.  Next, after donning our goggles and gloves (which looked especially cute on R.J.) I mixed the lye and water solution while R.J. observed from the other side of the room.  I mixed the oil and the lye solution next.  After getting rid of the lye solution's container I invited R.J. back to my side of the room and we began the long process of stirring the hot process soap over the stove top.  R.J., Scott, and I all took turns stirring while it went through its phases.  We cheered when it entered what we called "applesauce stage", and we nearly went wild when it reached "mashed potatoes".   We colored the soap, added fragrance, poured it into a mold, and later cut the soap into bars.  Success!

R.J.'s final project was simply awesome.  He drew up diagrams based on our earlier discussions, made a time line of soap's history, displayed pictures of our soap making adventure, and displayed three different kinds of soap for people to see in person.  He displayed one bar of melt and pour soap that he had made with me a week earlier, a bar of the hot process soap that we had made together, and a bar of cold process soap that I had given him for the display.  Everyone at the fair stopped by to sniff all three bars!  To top it all off, R.J. wrote an incredible report for his project, explaining how soap works, where it came from, how it is made, and why it is so important to us.  I am thrilled to report that after all his hard work R.J. took home a first place ribbon, medal, and a trophy for his soap project.  The entire family, aunts, uncles, grandparents, all called to congratulate R.J. on his huge success.  We are all incredibly proud of him and his super suds!

Here is a closer look at R.J.'s diagrams.  I think they were my favorite part!

What soap is made from:

Saponification / How soap is made:

A soap molecule:

How soap works:

This is my favorite one.  You can't see his caption in the picture but it read, "Soap molecules grab dirt and germs, than hitch a ride with water on its way down the drain." An ingeniously simple explanation of how soap molecules do their job!

Earth Day 2008

Nearly forty years ago, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson announced a nationwide grassroots demonstration that would later be known as Earth Day.  This demonstration was held on April 22, 1970, and is regarded as the birthday of the modern environmental movement.  We've come a long way since the first Earth Day.  Through education, activism, and hope, the environmental movement has brought change and most importantly, nationwide awareness to the issues that threaten our world.  But despite all our efforts through the past forty years, we still have a long road ahead of us. 

Climate change, environmental sustainability, and the depletion of wildlife habitats are just a few of the major issues facing our planet right now.  While we each do our part by making responsible choices in our daily lives, you may be surprised to find out that you can make an even bigger difference without ever leaving your chair.  Through communication and activism you can help to initiate legislative changes that can have a huge impact on the environment.  A simple phone call, email, or letter can make a huge impact when it is combined with thousands of other voices.  To find out more about how you can speak out for the changes you care about please visit one or more of the following websites:

Earth Day Network's Call for Climate
Today, The Earth Day Network is organizing a massive worldwide phone campaign.  People from all around the world will be calling their local governments asking them to enact tough and fair climate legislation. If climate change is something you care about, visit The Earth Day Network to find out how you can call in for the climate.

Organic Consumer's Association Action Center
The Organic Consumer Association is an online, grassroots, non-profit organization dedicated to sustainability, food safety, and environmental awareness.  If you are passionate about organics, fair trade, and environmental sustainability than you will find their action center to be a very valuable resource.  There are many different causes to take part in on this page.

Take Action With the World Wildlife Fund
The World Wildlife Fund has a long history of campaigning for the protection of the world's creatures and their habitats.  Help them speak out on behalf of the world's animals.

Thanks to the internet, activism is easier than ever.  Remember, every voice counts, but yours can only be heard if you are brave enough to speak up!  Happy Earth Day Planet Earth!

Patchouli

Recently, we were lucky enough to procure a very special batch of Organic Patchouli Essential Oil at FromNatureWithLove.com.  I am a long time lover of Patchouli so I tend to enjoy most Patchouli Essential Oils, but this latest batch is something special.  I plan on adding two bottles of this oil to my personal stash.  I'll use one bottle for special blends and recipes right away.  The other bottle will be left to age and ripen over the next year.  Patchouli Essential Oil is one of the few unique Essential Oils that actually gets better with age.  Like a fine wine, the complex notes and components in Patchouli Essential Oil will change over time, yielding a deeper, more aromatic oil with each passing  day.  Though this batch is still a little green, it has a delicate complexity that will later showcase Patchouli's many layers of woodiness, spiciness, and warmth.

Patchouli Essential Oil comes from a leafy green herb in the mint family.  The plant produces tiny white flowers and blossoms throughout Asia, India, Indonesia, and even in parts of Africa and the Caribbean.  It has been used for ages in the preparation of perfume and incense, but has become exceedingly popular in the United States over the past fifty years. 

Patchouli Essential Oil can be a bit heavy if used alone.  Only true Patchouli enthusiasts tend to enjoy using this oil at full strength, but it can appeal to a much larger audience if it is used in a blend.  Patchouli Essential Oil is usually considered a Base Note and an Oriental.  It blends quite well with Citrus, Woods, Spice Oils, and certain Florals like Geranium, Ylang Ylang, and Rose.  A little Patchouli goes a long way when it is used in a blend.  This tenacious aroma has a way of overpowering its companions, so blend with care, allowing your mixture time to fully bond between stages.

Besides possessing an exceptional aroma, Patchouli Essential Oil boasts a variety of beneficial attributes.  It can be used in skin care to tighten pores, regulate oiliness, and may even help combat wrinkles, eczema, acne, and psoriasis.  Patchouli Essential Oil is also known to have anti-inflammatory abilities, making it an ideal ingredient for those with combination skin types.  Adding a drop or two of Patchouli Essential Oil to a Mud or Clay Mask is a great way to make use of its wonderful properties.  Patchouli Essential Oil is frequently used in aromatherapy to help combat depression, stress, and anxiety. 

Kiwi Salt Scrub

Clear blue skies have been making more regular appearances lately in my small corner of the world.  Since this has started I've often found myself day dreaming of the sunnier days to come and all the sweetness that will come with them.  While I was working on this month's scrub, I found that I was not the only one at FromNatureWithLove.com with summer sweetness on my mind.  Sue from our order fulfillment department has been craving ripe summer fruit lately.  In particular, Kiwis have been on her mind.  While I was carousing the warehouse for inspiration, Sue suggested a Kiwi theme.  Brilliant!  The Kiwi Salt Scrub is made with aromatic Organic Virgin Coconut Cream Oil, skin loving Kiwi Seed Oil, Sunflower Oil, Dead Sea Salt, naturally green Parsley Powder, and a sprinkle of real Dried Kiwi Fruit Seeds. 

Organic Virgin Coconut Cream Oil is one of those ingredients that is universally enjoyed.  It's delicicious aroma tends to induce love at first sniff.  What keeps us coming back for more is its amazing ability to moisturize the skin without causing greasiness.  Organic Virgin Coconut Cream Oil can even act as an astringent, making it an ideal choice for oily and combination skin types.  Kiwi Seed Oil may be less well known, but its properties speak for themselves.  Like most Fruit Seed Oils, Kiwi Seed Oil is loaded with antioxidants and essential fatty acids.  In fact, Kiwi Seed Oil contains over 60% alpha linolenic acid, a component that helps skin and hair retain essential moisture, even in drying conditions.  These two powerhouse oils have been blended with High Oleic Sunflower Oil for its light, penetrating texture.  Together, these three oils create a moisturizing, nourishing, and non-greasy base for the Kiwi Salt Scrub.

Kiwi Salt Scrub
Makes about 4 ounces

Ingredients
1/2 cup Dead Sea Salt, Fine
1 Teaspoon Parsley Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Dried Kiwi Fruit Seeds
1 Tablespoon Organic Virgin Coconut Cream Oil
1 Tablespoon Kiwi Seed Oil
2 Tablespoons High Oleic Sunflower Oil
1/8 Teaspoon Grapefruit Seed Extract
1/8 Teaspoon Kiwi Fragrance Oil (optional)

Instructions
Gently warm the Organic Virgin Coconut Cream Oil until fully melted.  Add 1 tablespoon of the melted oil to a small mixing bowl followed by the High Oleic Sunflower and Kiwi Seed Oils.  Next, mix in 1/8 teaspoon of Grapefruit Seed Extract.  Mix the oils together than add 1/2 cup of Fine Dead Sea Salt, 1/2 teaspoon of Kiwi Fruit Seeds, and 1 teaspoon of Parsley Powder.  Stir the mixture well, making sure to disperse the Parlsey Powder completely.  The scrub will have a nice subtle coconut aroma thanks to the Organic Virgin Coconut Oil.  If you prefer a more potent aroma, add 1/8 teaspoon of Kiwi Fragrance Oil.

Usage and Packaging
I prefer to package this scrub in PET Plastic Jars.  These crystal clear jars show off the product well and are very durable.  In a sealed container, this scrub should last several months, but after it is opened it can easily become contaminated during use.  Keeping the jar away from water, and using clean utensils to scoop out the scrub will help to keep it from becoming contaminated.  You can also package the scrub in single serving containers so that they will be used up completely after they opened.

Sweet Dream Bed Time Sachets

We all have trouble falling asleep now and again.  Every so often I spend a night tossing and turning instead of drifting happily to sleep.  Even a single night of poor sleep can lead to grogginess, irritability, and a poor attention span.  Those who suffer from frequent insomnia may fall victim to far worse maladies.  Without proper sleep, systems all over your body can go out of whack, resulting in migraines, stomach aches, body aches, or even a weakened immune system. 

Did you know that the aroma of certain herbs and Essential Oils can help induce sleepiness, and alleviate mild insomnia?  Aroma therapists are often called upon for the treatment of troubled sleepers.  Chamomile, Mandarin, Dill, and  Lavender are just a few of the many Essential Oils often used by aroma therapists for this purpose.  This simple sewing project teaches you how to create a small, herbal sachet that may promote relaxation, restfulness, and sleepiness.  Sweet Dream Bed Time Sachets are wonderful for personal use, but they also make lovely gifts.  Your friends and family are sure to appreciate the thoughtfulness and care that has been put into this handmade item.

Download sweet_dream_bed_time_sachets_pattern_and_instructions.pdf

Please note that due to the use of Essential Oils in this project, the herbal mixture recipe for The Sweet Dream Bed Time Sachets is not intended for children.  While Essential Oils are natural, and helpful in many applications, some of them can actually be hazardous to children and babies.  To create a sachet that can be given to children over 5 years old leave out the Essential Oil Blend and the Spearmint Leaves from the recipe.  Even with this modified recipe it is important to monitor your child for ANY allergic reaction.  Children can be very sensitive to herbs.  No variation of this recipe is recommended for kids under 5.  For information on safe, natural, child and baby care please take a look at this article on the subject from our FromNatureWithLove.com Library.

While Sweet Dreams Bed Time Sachets may help to induce sleepiness in some people, the best thing to do if you are suffering from severe insomnia is to consult a health care provider.  There are many avenues of treatment available for those who suffer from sleeplessness.  Besides medication, many people find massage, acupuncture, exercise, or a change in diet to be very helpful.  If you are not getting enough quality sleep speak to your physician right away

Avocado

The rich, nourishing components in Avocado make this warm weather fruit a favorite in the skin care industry.  Avocado's contain a wealth of monounsaturared fat, Vitamins B, E, and K, and 60% more potassium than bananas.  Avocados are often used in vegetarian cuisine due to their high fat and fiber content, creamy texture, and rich flavor.  The healthful benefits of Avocado are also found in Avocado Oil and Avocado Butter.

This popular Carrier Oil is often cold pressed to preserve its wide range of beneficial components.  Conventional Avocado Oils often yield a clear, golden oil with little to no aroma.  Organic Avocado Oil, on the other hand can range from golden to dark green in color.  The oil can even have a slight, fatty/nutty aroma.  Either variety of Avocado Oil will provide intensive moisturizing properties to skin and hair care formulas.  These oils can be slightly heavy and viscous.  In most formulations Avocado Oil is added at relatively small percentages.  In massage oils it is especially important to dilute Avocado Oil with a thinner, less greasy Carrier Oil.  Avocado Oil pairs quite well with Sweet Almond Oil, Hazelnut Oil, or Peach Kernel Oil.

Another great way to incorporate the benefits of Avocados into skin care formulations is to include Avocado Butter.  This soft, creamy butter is similar in texture to Sweet Almond Butter or Macadamia Nut Butter.  Like many other exotic Vegetable Butters, Avocado Butter is actually a hydrogenated Avocado Oil.  This process yields a smooth, spreadable Avocado Oil that can be used as is or incorporated into countless skin care formulations.  Avocado Butter is especially beneficial in the creation of intensive balms, and healing salves.  It can also be blended with other oils and butters to create moisturizing body butters, or added to emulsions to create cream, and lotions.  Since Avocado Butter tends to be rather heavy and greasy, it is usually added to formulation at 5 - 20%.

Sweet Almond Butter

Sweet Almond Oil is probably one of the most popular ingredients in natural skin care.  Its simple composition, light texture, and emollient properties make it an easy go-to ingredient for almost any formulation.  Those same reliable qualities are present in Sweet Almond Butter. 

Sweet Almond Butter is actually a Sweet Almond Oil that has been hydrogenated to give it a smooth, buttery texture.  Since this butter retains all the natural benefits of Sweet Almond Oil; high levels of essential fatty acids and antioxidants, vitamins A, B, and E, it is perfect for use in dry skin formulations such as lotions, creams, and body butters. Due to the creamy texture of Sweet Almond Butter it can also be used as is.   

Sweet Almond Butter is especially useful in formulas that are intended to stay firm, but not harden completely.  Like Aloe or Avocado Butter, Sweet Almond Butter is soft enough to be scooped by hand, while being totally solid at room temperature.  Butters like these can be wonderful for use in bath melts and intensive balms.