The Natural Beauty Workshop

Reader Question - Packaging Essential Oil Bath Salts

I wanted to know what is the best container to keep bath salts that have essential oils added to them?  I have heard that plastic and paper are no good because the oils will wick out/ escape from the salt.  What is good to package bath salts with oils, besides glass jars?  ~Jill

Hi Jill,

Glass is definitely the best material to package products that contain Essential Oils.  Since glass is not porous, it keeps the Essential Oils from wicking out or eating away at the packaging.  Unfortunately, packaging products in glass can be expensive and sometimes dangerous.  For example, packaging a salt scrub in a glass jar can be dangerous if it is dropped in the shower or tub.

I've found the next best alternative to glass packaging is high density PET plastic.  PET Plastic Jars and bottles can effectively contain products containing Essential Oils for some time before they begin to break down. (If they ever break down) These crystal clear jars and bottles also showcase colored salts and other products quite well.  These are a great solution for bath salts, scrubs, and other products that contain Essential Oil.

PET cannot, however, serve as long term storage for pure Essential Oils.  PET can be used to temporarily store Essential Oils, but even high density plastic will eventually be corroded by Essential Oil, especially Citrus or Spice Oils.

Do you have another packaging option that Jill could use for her Bath Salts?  If so, please tell us about it in the comments below.

Burdock Extract

Burdock, a plant from the Thistle family, is native to the eastern hemisphere, but was later introduced worldwide.  This prickly plant is usually recognized by its lovely purple flowers, and its broad, round leaves.  The root of the Burdock plant has been used in traditional folk medicines, and has been found to be quite useful in natural skin and hair care.  Burdock Root has astringent and antibacterial properties, but is mostly used for its skin soothing benfits.  Burdock Root can help to alleviate skin irritation and itchiness when added to skin care formulas.  In hair care, Burdock Root can help to soothe itchy scalp, control dandruff, and regulate sebum production, resulting in a healthier looking hair and scalp.  Burdock Root can be infused into oil or water using heat, but the process can be time consuming and messy.  Many formulators prefer to work with the Powdered Extract.  Burdock Root Extract is water soluble, and is easily incorporated into formulas such as lotions, hair conditioners, toners, rinses, and soaps.  It is concentrated at a rate of 4:1, meaning it is four times stronger than pure Burdock Root Extract.  It is also shelf stable, and can be stored for long periods in its dry form, provided that it remains cool and dry.

Melon Cooler Salt Scrub

This deliciously scented Salt Scrub is made with cooling Menthol Crystals and Aloe Vera Oil, the perfect combination for taking the edge off during the dog days of Summer.  Moisturizing Watermelon Seed Oil completes this unique recipe, adding its conditioning properties as a benefit to your skin. 

Melon Cooler Salt Scrub
Makes about 4 ounces of scrub

Ingredients
1/2 cup Fine Sea Salt
1 ounce Aloe Vera Oil
1/2 ounce Watermelon Seed Oil
1 tablespoon Carrot Root Powder
1 teaspoon Menthol Crystals (crushed)
1/2 teaspoon Cantaloupe Fragrance Oil

Directions
Start by crushing 1 teaspoon of Menthol Crystals with a mortar and pestle.  Be sure to crush them into a fine powder, no smaller than the grains of the Sea Salt.  Next, combine the Menthol Crystals, Sea Salt, and Carrot Root Powder in a mixing bowl.  Add the Aloe Vera Oil, followed by the Watermelon Seed Oil and mix well.  Next, add 1/2 teaspoon of Cantaloupe Fragrance Oil.  If you prefer an all natural scrub, try adding a sweet scented Essential Oil instead.  Bergamot, Yuzu, or Orange would do nicely.

The Melon Cooler Salt 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.

Reader Question - Separating Scrubs

I have a hard time keeping my salt and sugar scrubs from separating.  Do you have any advice on this? ~Tracey

Hi Tracey,

When you say that your scrubs are separating, do you mean that the salt is separating from the oil?  If so, that is totally normal for a scrub that doesn't contain an emulsifier.  If you are looking for a scrub that will keep a uniformed texture longer, try adding a Castile Soap or a Shower Gel Base to your scrub, along with the Oil.  I have found that this creates a fluffier, more evenly textured scrub.

Do you have any tips for Tracey on how to keep her scrubs from separating?  If so, please share them with us in the comments below.

Lynne posted the following tip on our Facebook Fan Page:

I add heavier fats - like raw shea butter and coconut so that they create body in the oils. Just add a lipid that wants to be hard at room temperature and you will one that is easier to ship also.

Thanks for all of the great tips, everyone!

Rice Bran Oil

Light, non-greasy Rice Bran Oil has a gorgeous, clear appearance, and a mild, if not non-existant aroma.  It is moisturizing, emollient, and has a moderate shelf life of around one year.  Rice Bran Oil is rich in fatty acids, and is a natural antioxidant.  It makes an excellent addition to sensitive skin formulas, and may even provide a small amount of sun protection.  Rice Bran Oil is a good choice for a wide range of products, including hair care and baby care formulas.  It also makes a great base ingredient for more standard recipes such as balms, scrubs, and lotions.

Working With Powdered Extracts

Powdered Extracts provide an easy way for formulators to incorporate herbal ingredients into their water based products.  These Extracts are standardized, ensuring consistent quality and potency, batch after batch.  Our line of Powdered Herbal Extracts are almost all water soluble, meaning they will dissolve easily into warm water or water based ingredients.  Many are concentrated, some up to 10 times the potency of the original Extract.  You can determine each Powdered Extract's potency by the numbers in its title.  For example, Horsetal 4:1 is four times as strong as the original Extract, while Oat Straw 10:1 is ten times its original strength.  To incorporate an Powdered Extract into a formula, first determine what percentage of the original extract you'd like to add.  After you've determined the percentage, divide the amount based on the Extracts strength. 

For example, if you were making 480 grams (or 1 lb.) of lotion, and wanted to add 5% Rosehip Extract using Rosehip Powdered Extract 4:1, you would determine the amount to add by the following method:

• Determine 5% of your total weight. (5% of 480 grams = 24 grams)
• Divide the 5% by the strength of the Extract. This Extract is four times as strong as plain Rosehip extract, so you would divide it by 4. (24 grams / 4 = 6 grams)
• The conclusion is that you would add 6 grams of Rosehip Extract 4:1

Powdered Extracts are great for use in toners, rinses, lotions, conditioners, or any other recipes that contain water.  Because they have a shelf life of up to two years they are great for those who formulate in small batches, and unlike herbal infusions, you can be sure of the exact potency of the herbs in your formulas. If you are looking for a convenient, and efficient way to incorporate herbal properties into your recipes, try working with Powdered Herbal Extracts.

Reader Question - Greasy Lotions

I really enjoy the Natural Beauty Workshop. The information is very helpful.  My question is how can I make my lotions/creams not so greasy? I've added Natrasorb but it's still a little too greasy.  ~Charlene

Hi Charlene,

Thanks for your question.  One way to reduce the greasiness, or rather to increase the silky slip of your lotion, is to add an additive.  Two additives that work well for this purpose are Dry-Flo AF Pure and Silk Peptide Powder.  Dry Flo AF Pure is a modified corn starch that can help the lotion feel drier on the skin.  Here is an excerpt from our website that explains how to incorporate Dry-Flo AF Pure into a lotion:

To incorporate Dry-Flo AF Pure into oil and water emulsions, first pre-mix the powder into a slurry of oil. Then, combine phases under 130°F. Alternatively, you can add the powder directly to your emulsified batch slowly with continuous mixing. Aqueous products containing Dry-Flo AF Pure should not be subjected to temperatures above 130°F or the starch will swell and start to dissolve, thickening your product.

Silk Powder is available in two forms, Superfine and Peptide.  For lotions, it is best to use Silk Peptide Powder.  This fine, powdered silk is water soluble, and can be added directly to the water phase of your lotion at a rate of 2-5%.  It will add a silky slip to the skin after the lotion is applied.

Another way to reduce the greasiness of a lotion is to select ingredients that tend to be lighter and more non-greasy.  Certain Oils, such as Macadamia Nut Oil, Kukui Nut Oil, Watermelon Seed Oil, and Rice Bran Oil, have very light textures.  Their characteristics will affect the final texture of the lotion accordingly.  If you use heavy oils and butters your lotion will feel heavier, if you use lighter oils and butters it will feel lighter.  Getting the right combination of main ingredients can make a huge difference in the final product.

Your last option for reducing the greasiness of the lotion is to simply add a larger portion of water or water based ingredient.  This will make the lotion less moisturizing, and thinner, but it can help take the edge off of an intense lotion.  Keep in mind that you may have to make other adjustments to your recipe when you increase the water portion.  This will affect the preservative, and possibly the emulsifier. You'll need to experiment to get it just right.

If you have any more tips for Charlene on how to make her lotions less greasy, please let us know in the comments.

Sugar & Spice

You can find everything nice on The Natural Beauty Workshop's Flickr Photo Pool. Check out some of the sweet and spicy things I found today!

Cupcake Bath Bombs by Raw Beauty

Cotton Candy Bath Whip by Nicki Leigh

Brown Sugar Pecan Soap by Soap Rehab

Jabon de Anis y Romero by Camp di Fiore

Carrot & Honey Spice Soap by Herb Friend

Vanilla Chai Tea by Ladybug Soapworks

Yum yum yum.  To see more wonderful handmade bath and body product pictures, visit us on Flickr.  If you have anything that you'd like to share, join The Natural Beauty Workshop's Flickr Photo Pool.  We'd love to see your work!

Macadamia Nut Butter

This soft, creamy Butter makes a wonderful, moisturizing addition to balms, body butters, and lotions.  Macadamia Nut Butter has a smooth consistency that spreads easily, gliding onto the skin, where it is readily absorbed.  Macadamia Nut Butter can be used as-is on the skin or hair to add intensive moisture.  It also works very well in formulations and recipes.  Its soft texture makes it very versatile, and its light, non-greasy consistency makes it well suited to almost any application.

Castor Oil

The thick, viscous texture of Castor Oil sets it apart from nearly all other Oil used in natural skin care.  Unlike light Oils, such as Fractionated Coconut Oil, Watermelon Seed Oil, or Sunflower Oil, Castor Oil is intended to be heavy and greasy, providing intense lubrication to formulas such as lip balms, or body butters.  Castor Oil is so heavy, in fact, that it can form a protective barrier over the skin.  Like Glycerin, Castor Oil is also a humectant, meaning that under the right circumstances, it can draw in moisture, providing extra intensity for dry skin formulas.  This makes Castor Oil an ideal ingredient in diaper ointments and lip products.  Castor Oil can also be used in hair formulations as a moisturizing and conditioning agent, and in soaps to provide emolliency and lather.  When adding Castor Oil to a formulation, be sure to keep it at a low percentage.   In soaps, too much Castor Oil can cause the bars to be overly soft.  In skin and hair care recipes, too much Castor Oil can leave the skin or hair greasy and oily.  Castor Oil should be used extremely sparingly in facial formulations or on acne prone skin.  Castor Oil can actually block pores, so it should be used carefully, to avoid breakouts.