The Natural Beauty Workshop

Crafting With Kids: Fun & Fruity Facial Masks

This recipe is lots of fun to make and use with children. They will love mixing and smashing the soft fruit into a pulp, not to mention smearing the messy concoction across their little faces.  Make sure to keep childhood allergies in mind when picking the ingredients for this recipe, as some kids are allergic to certain fruits and berries.  

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon White Kaolin Clay
• 1 tablespoon Oat Flour, Fine
• 1 tablespoon Whole Milk Powder or Coconut Milk Powder
• Soft Fruit or Berries: Kiwis, Bananas, Raspberries, Blackberries, Strawberries, Grapes

Directions
In a small mixing bowl, combine 1 teaspoon each of White Kaolin Clay, Oat Flour, and Powdered Milk.  Add 3 - 4 tablespoons of fruit (choppped so that it will mash easily), and a few drops of water.  Give your child a large spoon or spatula to mash with and let them go to town, squishing the fruit and powders together into a beautiful mess.  Carefully apply the mixture to your faces, avoiding the eyes, mouth, and nostrils.  Allow the mask to dry for 5 - 10 minutes, then gently wipe off the mixture with a moist washcloth.  Rinse your faces well, than apply any toner or moisturizer you like. Be sure to take some pictures of your mini spa day.  You'll look adorable with matching fruity faces. 

Do you have a favorite skin care recipe that you enjoy making with your kids? 

Crafting for Kids

Tired of filling kids stockings and gift bundles with candy and predictable, store bought toys?  Why not create some fun soaps and bath tub goodies made just for kids?  Simple formulas such as Bath Salts, Melt & Pour Soaps, and Bath Bombs, can easily be tailored to entice kids of all ages.  Bright colors and unexpected scents are the key to tickling a kid's funny bone.  Try some of the following Fragrance Oils to get your little one's attention:

• Apple Candy
• Birthday Cake
• Cantaloupe
• Dandelion
• Dirt
• Dragon's Breath
• Fresh Baked Bread
• Green Grass
• Orange Sherbet
• Pumpkin Pie
• Red Licorice
• Suntan Lotion
• Timber
• Vanilla Frappuccino
• Watermelon Candy

One clever way to utilize a child's sense of smell is to create a "Scrub n' Sniff" set of Mini Soaps, Bath Salts, or Bath Bombs.  Kids will have a blast guessing each scent, then using them in the tub.  The same idea can be used to create a set of fun scented Lip Balms.  Try using some of the following Flavor Oils to create a set of Lip Balms that kids will adore:

• Blueberry Delight
• Bubble Gum
• Caramel Apple
• Red Licorice
• Mango
• Maple
• Milk Chocolate
• Peach
• Tangerine
• Vanilla Pear
• Wild Cherry

What are your favorite recipes to craft for kids?  Share them with us in the comments below.

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.

Natural Skin Care for Babies

When it comes to skin care for little ones, my philosophy has always been "less is more".  Babies can be sensitive to much more than older children or adults.  Like adults, their bodies absorb chemicals and active ingredients from substances that they come into contact with.  However, since their systems are so tiny, even small amounts of irritants can upset their delicate balance.  The younger the child, the more important it is to keep their little bodies away from harsh chemicals and potential allergens.  Using Organic Ingredients whenever possible may be especially important when formulating products for children and babies. 

It is also important to bear in mind that babies and children are in a constant state of change.  Their allergies and sensitivities can change without warning, developing and then disappearing again as they grow into adults.  This makes patch testing on children and babies very important.  Whenever you introduce a new formula to their routine, make sure to patch test a small amount on their skin.  Wait 24 hours to see if there is any reaction before applying the product liberally.

To learn more about natural skin care for babies, check out this informative article in FromNatureWithLove.com's Information Library: Pure and Simple Skin Care for Baby.  This detailed article will provide you with some basic techniques, recipes, and staple ingredients to help you and your baby enjoy pure and natural skin care throughout their first year.