The Natural Beauty Workshop

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Natural Pedicure Treatments

With Spring coming into bloom, it's a great time to pay some extra attention to your feet.  Dry winter air, and cold weather can take a toll on your feet.  They've spent several months locked tightly in socks, boots, and slippers, and are probably looking forward to breathing the fresh spring air as much as you are.  A simple home pedicure is a great way to get them ready for their Spring or Summer debut.  Follow these three simple steps to give your little piggies the royal treatment.

Soak
Begin by soaking the feet in a warm bath of water.  This step can be enhanced by using the following Foot Soak Recipe:

Peppermint Tea Tree Foot Soak

Ingredients
1/2 gallon Warm Water
1/2 cup Epsom Salt
1 tablespoon Borax
1 tablespoon Baking Soda
The juice of 1/2 fresh lemon, or about 1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/4 oz Turkey Red Oil
10 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

Directions
In a small cup, mix the Turkey Red Oil and Essential Oils together.  Warm 1/2 gallon of water to a comfortable temperature (about the same as bath water) and pour it into a foot bath tub.  Add the lemon juice, Epsom Salt, and powders to the warm water, and stir to dissolve.  Next, add the Turkey Red Oil and Essential Oil Blend, and stir to disperse. 

Usage
This recipe should be used immediately, as it would not be suitable for storage or packaging.  Soak the feet for 10 - 20 minutes, or until the water cools.

Exfoliate
After priming the feet with a relaxing soak, they should be exfoliated.  You can use an exfoliating tool, such as a Pumice Stone or a Pedi Groomer, or you can use a Scrub.  Another option, is to use a combination of both.  For the feet, it is a good idea to use a Scrub with a little extra power.  Try adding some intensive exfoliating ingredients, such as Pumice Powder, Walnut Shell Powder, or Dead Sea Grains.  The following recipe is great for pedicures.

Lemon Walnut Foot Scrub
Makes about 4 ounces

Ingredients
1/4 cup Sea Salt, Fine
2 tablespoons Pumice Powder
1 tablepsoon Lemon Peel Powder
1 tablespoon Walnut Shell Powder, Medium
1 ounce Perilla Seed Oil
1 ounce Walnut Oil
10 drops Saro Essential Oil
5 drops Lemongrass Essential Oil
5 drops Corn Mint Essential Oil

Directions
In a small bowl, mix the Sea Salt, Pumice Powder, Lemon Peel Powder, and Walnut Shell Powder.  Pour the Walnut Oil and Perilla Seed Oil over the mixture, and stir to combine.  Follow with Essential Oils, stir well, and spoon into jars.

Usage
This intensive scrub should only be used on tough skin, such as the bottom of your feet.  It is far too instense for more sensitive or delicate areas of the body.  Use this scrub with care, and discontinue use if it causes any discomfort.

Moisturize
After the exfoliation is done, treat your feet to some much needed moisture.  Any intensive balm, or body butter will work well, but using a recipe designed especially for the feet is the best.  The following recipe contains ingredients that can help to keep the feet healthy, happy, and moisturized.

Whipped Pedi-Butter
Makes about 2-3 ounces (by volume)

Ingredients
 1 oz. Illipe Butter
1/2 oz. Perilla Seed Oil
1/2 oz. Avocado Oil
1/8 oz. Jojoba Esters MP70
1 tsp. Dry-Flo
10 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
10 drops Geranium Essential Oil
5 drops Neem Oil CO2 Extract

Directions
In a double boiler, melt the Jojoba Esters completely.  Add the Illipe Butter and allow that to melt completely.  After both solid ingredients are melted, remove the mixture from the heat.  In a small bowl, combine the Dry Flo with a few teaspoons of Avocado Oil to form a slurry.  Add the Dry Flo and oil slurry to the hot oils, followed by the remaining Avocado Oil, Perilla Seed Oil, and Neem CO2.  Next, add the Essential Oils.  Using a hand or stand mixer, beat the mixture until it cools and thickens. This may take 10 - 20 minutes. To hasten the cooling time, you can try cooling the outside of the mixing bowl with an ice bath.  When the mixture has cooled to room temperature it should be thick and leave a trail when drizzled over the surface.  Pour the mixture carefully into a plastic bag and tie the end shut. Cut a small hole in the corner of the bag, and use it to pipe the mixture into a jar.  Allow the mixture to cool and set for several hours before use.

Usage & Packaging
This whipped butter will be thick, and oily, but will provide the intense moisture that your feet need.  Apply a small amount directly to your feet, and massage it into the skin.  You may want to put on a pair of clean cotton socks while the oils sink in.  This recipe will make about three ounces by volume, and will fit nicely in a 4 ounce PET Jar or Cream Jar.

Beet Root Powder

Beet Root Powder can be used to contribute natural color to a wide range of recipes and formulas.  In powdered formulations, Beet Root Powder will add a lovely tint of red-violet.  When added directly to oil based formulas, such as scrubs, Beet Root Powder will yield a deeper tint of violet-red.  Beet Root Powder can also be infused in water or Oil, yielding a wide range of tints from red to violet.  The strength and tone of the color will vary depending on the infusion base, the strength of the infusion, and the type of formula the infusion is used in.  It is best to experiment in small batches when using Beet Root Powder as a natural colorant, as its results can sometimes be surprising.  Its behavior is especially shocking when used in Cold Process Soap.  The bright red-violet powder is likely to morph to gray or yellow during the soap making process, making it, unfortunately, a poor choice for coloring Cold Process Soaps red or purple.

Employee Favorites: Fragrance Oils

With over 300 Fragrance Oils to choose from on FromNatureWithLove.com, we thought it would be nice to give our readers the inside scoop on our very favorite picks. 

Kibby
CEO, Natural Sourcing, LLC (FromNatureWithLove.com is a trademark of Natural Sourcing)

• Arabian Musk reminds me of my flirtatious days - very dark, very mysterious, and definitely alluring.
• Thai Coconut is my very favorite coconut scent!
• Spanish Moss has a wonderfully green, earthy scent that I find really intriguing.
• I can use Cloudberry & Willow in just about anything.  It's one of the Fragrances I grab without thinking when making something for someone in a hurry.
• Chamomile & Rose Petals is a perfect rose scent to me, even though I don't typically enjoy Rose Fragrances.

Mary
Customer Care

• Fig is warm and delicious - great for giving substance and warmth to a blend.
• White Peach is so fresh and sophisticated. It is crisp and fruity, yet not too sweet.
• I love the smooth and sultry scent of Sands of Morocco.
• Black Cherry & Dark Chocolate Supreme are two other favorites of mine. I love to blend them together.

Wendy
Marketing

"I go in phases. In preparation for spring, I presently am finding myself leaning towards fresh, sweeter fragrances with either a fruity and/or floral notes." - Wendy

• Brazilian Water Lotus is one of my favorites amongst our newest fragrance oils. Its aroma is fresh, sweet, tropical yet slightly floral.
• Midnight Lotus is another that is amongst my newest favorites. I find it crisp, light, sweet and exotic. Beautiful for personal care and home fragrancing.
• I love the juicy, sweet aroma of Peach Orchard during the warmer months. It is especially sweet and reminds me of the succulent flavor of peach nectar.
• Sweet, gentle, slightly earthy and captivating are the words that first come to mind when I smell our Ocean Rain Fragrance Oil.
• Papaya Milk is another fresh, sweet and fruity favorite. It integrates the rich notes of vanilla, coconut and cream. It is the perfect sunny day aroma that is reminiscent to the luscious fragrance of specialty sun care products (we also offer a Suntan Lotion Fragrance Oil that is quite nice).
• Our Green Grass Fragrance Oil closely resembles the aroma of fresh cut acres of sweet, green grass.

Emmy
Online Media

• It's not secret that I am a certifiable "Cookie Monster". That is probably the reason I love our Easter Cookie Fragrance Oil so much.  It smells like a delicious sugar cookie!
• I am also fond of our Birthday Cake Fragrance Oil.  When I smelled it for the first time, I could not get over how realistic it seemed to me.
• Dandelion is one of my all time favorite Fragrance Oils.  The fresh, green aroma of Dandelion is unmistakable, and takes me back to childhood memories every time I smell it.
• Apple Blossoms is one of my go-to Fragrance Oils.  The light fruity scent of Apple, and the delicate, feminine floral create the perfect balance of sweetness.
• Persimmon Archipelago Type will blow your mind!  The cheerful, sunny aroma is totally irresistible.  Every time I use something scented with this Fragrance I can't help but go back for a second sniff, or a third...
• Last, but certainly not least, I'd like to highlight Sesame Fragrance Oil.  This super sweet version of Sesame is mouthwatering alone, but also blends beautifully with many fruity Fragrances.  Try combining White Peach and Sesame for a special treat!

I hope you've enjoyed learning about our favorite Fragrance Oils.  Please leave a note in the comments if you'd like to share your favorites too!

Sunrise Salt Scrub

This gorgeous, two layered scrub is colored with all natural Turmeric Powder and Cranberry Fruit Fibers.  Many natural herbs and botanicals can be used to create bold colors in handmade skin care products.  The variety of colors that can be achieved this way is surprising.  To learn more about natural colorants, check out our past article, entitled Using Natural Herbs to Color Products.

Sunrise Salt Scrub
Makes about 8 ounces

Ingredients
1 cup Sea Salt, Fine
1/8 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
1/2 teaspoon Cranberry Fruit Fiber
2 ounces High Oleic Sunflower Oil
1 ounce Aloe Vera Oil
EO Blend:

• 10 drops Organic Orange Essential Oil
• 10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
• 5 drops Basil Essential Oil

Directions
In a small mixing bowl, combine Sea Salt, Sunflower Oil, Aloe Vera Oil, and the Essential Oil Blend.  Mix thoroughly, then split the batch into two bowls.  In the first bowl, mix in the Cranberry Fruit Fiber.  In the second bowl, mix in the Turmeric Powder.  Carefully spoon the mixture into your jars, layering the colors to create a sunrise effect.

Packaging & Usage
I prefer packaging my handmade scrubs in small containers, but this particular scrub would look great in a larger, 4 or 8 oz. PET Jars.  You may want to add a preservative to this recipe, especially if you plan on packaging it in large containers.

Organic Spray Dried Aloe Vera Powder

We are pleased to introduce a whole new way to incorporate the benefits of Aloe into your skin and hair care formulations.  Organic Spray Dried Aloe Vera Powder is an exciting new ingredient that offers the many benefits of Aloe in a dry, stable form.  To make this ingredient even more irresistible, it is Certified Organic!

Unlike Aloe Vera Leaf Powder, which is composed of dried Aloe Leaves that have been dried and ground into a fine powder, our Organic Spray Dried Aloe Vera Powder is actually pure, concentrated Aloe Vera Juice.  This dried Aloe Vera Juice is water soluble, making it an excellent for use in lotions, creams, toners, or other water based formulas.  As with other aloe ingredients, Organic Spray Dried Aloe Vera Powder has a soothing effect on the skin, helping to cool, and calm sensitive or irritated skin conditions.  Because Organic Spray Dried Aloe Vera Powder is dry it is quite stable, allowing formulators to store Organic Aloe Vera for longer periods.  The ingredient's dry state also allows formulators to include Aloe Vera properties into dry formulas such as bath powders, dry cleansers, and dry facials.

Our Organic Spray Dried Aloe Vera Powder is available in two varieties, 100X and 200X, allowing you to incorporate just the right amount of aloe into your formula.

Emerald Picks From the Flickr Photo Pool

With Saint Patrick's Day quickly approaching I decided to showcase some of my favorite green photos from The Natural Beauty Workshop's Flickr Photo Pool.  Enjoy!

Twin Birch shared a lovely photo named "Hey Sweet Pea".


These "Sales de Bano Menta" by Camp di Fiore have an almost ethereal glow.

These Love Spring Handmade Soaps by NK9708 are gorgeous!


Flying Zoo shared a photo of these lovely handmade bath accessories.

I'd bet that these Lavender Lime Soap Bars by A Breath of French Air smell as great as they look!

These Castille Soaps from Between the Sea and the Stars are a lovely shade of green.

These fresh looking soaps by Adoration Soap are scented with a very unique blend of Cantaloupe, Lime and Wasabi!

If you have photos that you'd like to share, join our Flickr Photo Pool. Photos shared in the Pool may be featured on The Natural Beauty Workshop!

Rose Body Milk

This moisturizing Body Spray is made with Bee's Milk, a unique ingredient made from emulsified Beeswax, Sesame Oil, and water.  Rose Damnascena Hydrosol and delicate Rose Attar give this simple recipe a luxurious twist.  Rose Body Milk gives the skin a touch of moisture and delicate Rose aroma, one spritz at a time.

Rose Body Milk
Makes about 2 ounces

Ingredients
1/4 ounce Bee's Milk
1 ounce Rose Damnascena Hydrosol
1/8 ounce Polysorbate 20
1/8 ounce Rose Damnascena Attar*
1/2 ounce Distilled Water
7 drops Grapefruit Seed Extract

Directions
In a small measuring cup combine 1/8 Polysorbate 20 and 1/8 ounce Rose Attar.  Stir well to make sure they are fully combined.  In a larger measuring cup, combine 1/4 ounce Bee's Milk, 1 ounce Rose Damnascena Hydrosol, and 1/2 ounce Distilled Water.  Mix well, then transfer the mixture to a 2 oz. Aluminum Bottle.  Next, add the Polysorbate and Attar mixture to the bottle, followed by the Grapefruit Seed Extract.  Top the Bottle with a Sprayer Cap, screwing it on tightly to secure the contents of the bottle.  Shake the bottle well to mix the ingredients.

Usage & Packaging
We suggest using a 2 oz. Aluminium Bottle with a Sprayer to package this recipe.  When you order the Bottle, please note that the Sprayer Tube may be too long for the Bottle.  Use a pair of scissors to carefully trim the tube to the appropriate size.  Rose Body Milk should be sprayed directly on the skin, carefully avoiding contact with clothes or other fabrics, as it could stain them. Try using Rose Body Milk after a shower or bath to quickly moisturize your skin. 

*For a more econmonic version of this recipe, try substituing Rose Geranium Essential Oil or Red Rose Fragrance Oil for the Attar.

Dead Sea Mud Grains

This unique Dead Sea Ingredient makes an excellent ingredient for intensive exfoliating treatments for the body.  Unlike Dead Sea Clay, Dead Sea Mud Grains do not dissolve completely in water, making them great for scrubs and exfoliating soaps.  This intense exfoliant is too harsh for facial formulations or sensitive skin.  Dead Sea Mud Grains are most suitable for areas of the body that require a little extra scrubbing power, like the feet!

Like other Dead Sea Ingredients, Dead Sea Mud Grains are packed with beneficial minerals, including Magnesium, Potassium, and Bromide.  These natural minerals can help to smooth and revitalize the skin, while helping to regulate its moisture.  Try adding Dead Sea Mud Grains to pedicure treatments, intense body scrubs, and exfoliating soaps.

Coconut Macaroon Scrubbie Soaps

Kibby, our CEO, and I dreamed up these funny little soaps while brain storming for another project.  Ever since our conversation that day I have wanted to experiment with this idea.  I had envisioned this recipe being one of those ideas that sound great in conversation, but prove to be nothing but trouble in practice.  However, I was pleasantly surprised when they worked out on the very first try!  In this unique recipe, we've used shredded Coconut and Opaque Melt & Pour Soap to make Coconut Macaroon Soaps.  To give the soaps a little extra stability, I dipped them in Soap that was colored with Cocoa Powder.  I was impressed when the test batch took on a recognizable shape, and was pleased as pop to find that this soap is also really pleasant to use.  The scrubbie Coconut Flakes make this a great hand soap for the kitchen, or for the bath.  I can't wait to make up a big batch of these little cookie soaps to give away as gifts.  I think my friends and family would find them to be simply delightful.

I had had my doubts about this experiment while it was still just a theory, but am totally hooked on them now that I've made a batch.  While they aren't totally natural, they are tons of fun, handmade, and are certainly unique!  Did I mention that they also smell incredible?  I would love to see some photos if anyone else takes a crack at making these soaps.  Please feel free to email me or leave a comment with any questions that you may have.

Coconut Macaroon Scrubbie Soaps
Makes about 8 - 10 small soaps or 4 - 6 large soaps

Ingrdients
10 ounces Coconut Opaque Melt & Pour Soap Base
1 cup Shredded Coconut
2 teaspoons Cocoa Powder
2 teaspoons Dark Chocolate Supreme Fragance Oil
1/4 ounce - 1/2 ounce Coconut Cream Fragrance Oil

Directions
Cover a baking seet with waxed paper and set it aside.  Chop and melt 8 ounces of Melt & Pour Soap in a double boiler. If you are using Melt & Pour Base from FromNatureWithLove.com, this will work out to about 10 cubes.  As soon as the Base has melted, stir in 1 cup of Shredded Coconut and remove the base from the heat.  Quickly add the Coconut Cream Fragrance Oil and begin to stir.  Stir the mixture constantly until it begins to cool and congeal.  This is the tricky part.  You'll need to scoop out about 1 tablespoon of the mixture as soon as it is cool enough to handle.  Mold the soap into a ball using the palms of your hands, and then press it gently onto the wax paper covered baking sheet.  You want to soap to remain round on top, but to be flat on the bottom.  Repeat this step with the remaining soap.  To keep the soap at the ideal temperature you may want to transfer the double boiler back onto the heat periodically, or simply keep the double boiler in the pot of warm water, leaving the stove burner off.  Once you are finished shaping the balls of soap, wash and dry your double boiler in preperation for the next phase.  Cut and melt 2 more ounces of Melt & Pour Soap Base.  If you are using Melt & Pour Base from FromNatureWithLove.com, this will work out to about 2.5 cubes.  As soon as the Base has melted, add 2 teaspoons of Cocoa Powder and stir well.  (Tip: To help break up tiny clumps in the Cocoa Powder you can pre-mix it with a small amount of vegetable oil prior to adding it to the Soap Base.)  Take the melted Base off of the heat source, and add 2 teaspoons of Dark Chocolate Supreme Fragrance Oil.  Mix well.  Using a pair of tongs, carefully lower the bottom of each Soap Ball into the melted Soap Base.  After the bottom half is coated, transfer it back to the baking sheet, then grab the next soap ball.  Continue this process until each soap ball has been coated 2-3 times.  Allow the Coconut Macaroon Scrubbie Soaps about 30 minutes to fully cool and set before packaging.  These look adorable in Cello Bags, or presented in bakery containers.  Since Glycerin Soaps can have a tendancy to sweat, I recommend packaging these soaps individually in plastic wrap before placing them in another container such as a cello bag or bakery box.

On a more personal note, I thought some of my fellow crafters and soapers would get a kick out of the little notes that I leave for my hubby when I create especially delicious looking soaps or bath treats.  Unfortunately for my dear Mr. S., he has a bad habit of biting into things before he asks what they are.  Has anyone else had this problem with hungry members of the household?