The Natural Beauty Workshop

Rosehip

 

The Rosehip plant produces an amazing little berry that is not only packed with Vitamin C, Essential Fatty Acids, and healthy minerals, it contains an oil that is prized as a natural skin and hair care ingredient.  Rosehip Oil comes in an amazing amount of varieties, the most popular of which are straight up, cold pressed Rosehip Seed Oil and Organic Rosehip Seed Oil.  These two Oils are fairly delicate, with a shelf life of only around 6 months.  This makes where you purchase your Rosehip Oil very important.  You must work with a trusted retailer, or you could run the risk of receiving an expired batch.  Because of Rosehip Oil's high fatty acid content, it can sometimes have a slightly acidic aroma, even when it is fresh.  This makes testing freshness "by nose" pretty difficult.  It's a good idea to keep track of your fragile Oils, like Rosehip, by labeling them with the date you received them.

So why would you want to work with a fragile Oil, such as Rosehip?  For starters, the high content of Essential Fatty Acids, Vitamins, and Minerals make it a very nutritious choice for both the hair and skin.  Its natural antioxidant value makes it great for anti-aging formulas, and its light, penetrating texture makes Rosehip perfect for facial creams, masks, and even oil based serums.  Rosehip Oil is said to help slow premature aging by reducing the formation of lines and wrinkles, reduce the formation of scarring, and may even be able to help regenerate new skin cells.

Rosehip CO2 Extract boasts all of these fine qualities and more, being a more pure and concentrated form of the standard Oil.  It has a slightly astringent property which makes it great for oily skin, combination skin, as well as mature or damaged skin.  It is also much more stable than standard Rosehip Seed Oil, having a shelf life of about 1 year.  Rosehip CO2 Extract is a great way to incorporate the properties of Rosehip Seed into formulations on a smaller scale.  This extract can be used at as little as 2% to begin adding Rosehip properties to a formula.

For water based recipes or ingredients, formulators can use Powdered Rosehip Extract*.  This water dispersible powder is concentrated at a rate of 4:1, meaning that it is four times as strong as the original extract.  Powdered Rosehip Extract is also rich in Vitamin C, which is rarely found in stable ingredients such as this.  When stored in a cool, dry, place, Powdered Rosehip Extract has a shelf life of about 2 years.

Rosehip Powder and Rosehip Seed Powder provide yet another way to use Rosehip in skin and hair care recipes.  These crushed Rosehip powders can be used as natural exfoliants in scrubs, masks, or ubtans.  They can also be infused into water to make natural tub teas or wetting agents.

*Click here to learn more about using Powdered Extracts.

Salt Scrub Recipes - Plus, Save 50% on Sea Salt at From Nature With Love

For a limited time, From Nature With Love is offering an amazing discount of 50% on all sizes of Fine Grain Sea Salt.  Visit our Sales & Specials Page to take advantage of this special offer while supplies last.  Its uniform texture, light color, and rich mineral content makes Sea Salt a perfect ingredient for Salt Scrubs.  It works well with almost any scent or color choice, and is totally shelf stable.  This is the perfect time to stock up on this must-have ingredient.  

Need some inspiration for what to do with all of that Fine Sea Salt?  No problem!  The following recipes from The Natural Beauty Workshop feature Fine Sea Salt as the main ingredient.

• Ginger Crush Salt Scrub
• Lemongrass Salt Scrub
• Melon Cooler Salt Scrub
• Monoi De Tahiti Summer Salt Scrub
• Sunrise Salt Scrub
• Trick or Treat Mini Salt Scrubs
• Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Scrub

Oatstraw

With its soothing properties and rich silica content, Oat Straw Powder makes an excellent addition to both hair and skin products.  When used in shampoos, hair conditioners, rinses, and hair masks, Oat Straw imparts a softness and shine that your hair will love.  It can also soothe itchy or irritated scalps.  In skin care products, Oat Straw acts as a calming agent, making it great for sensitive skin formulations.

When infused into water or oil, Oat Straw Powder releases a deep green color into the infusion.  It is so potent, that it can even be used to color both melt & pour and cold or hot  process soaps.  The Powdered Herb is great for creating oil or water infusions, bath teas, hair masks, or facials.  Oat Straw is also available as a Powdered Extract.  The water dispersible extract can be used to impart Oat Straw properties into almost any water based formula.  It works very well in shampoos, skin creams, lotions, and conditioners.  Oat Straw Powdered Extract will not, however, add any noticeable color to a formula.

Grape Seed Oil

The benefits of Grape Seed Oil are no secret. Jam packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and nutritive minerals, these little seeds offer a bevvy of goodness.  What is less well known is the variety of Grape Seed Oils that are available for use in cosmetics, hair care, and skin care. Standard Grape Seed Oil is available in both Conventional and Organic varieties.  Both of these standard Grape Seed Oils offer a light, moisturizing texture that is great for revitalizing dry skin or hair.

In addition to Standard Grape Seed Oils, there are two specialty Oils that are worth considering.  Both our Riesling and Chardonnay Grape Seed Oils are cold pressed, an extraction method that results in one of the highest quality Grape Seed Oils possible. Rich in antioxidants, phytonutrients, and essential fatty acids, these light, nutritive Oils make an excellent addition to high end massage oils, creams, or body lotions.

Safflower Oil

Photo by John Moore

While driving through farm country nowadays you might begin to notice countless fields of tiny, red and yellow flowers.  These are Safflower, and they are the source of what has quickly become one of the most popular oils for use in skin care and in food.  Safflower Oil is packed with Linoleic Acid, making it very moisturizing and nutritious for the skin.  It has a light texture, and is virtually odorless, making it a very versatile ingredient which can be used to make lotions, soaps, conditioners, massage products, or practically any type of formula you can imagine.  

Strawberry Seed Oil

Behold the Strawberry, one of nature's most delicious creations.  Rich in Vitamin C, and ever so tasty, these little red berries boast one of the most popular scents and flavors used in baking, skin care, and home fragrance, but did you know that Strawberry Seeds contained a bounty of beneficial attributes as well?  It's true!  Those itty bitty seeds contain huge amounts of antioxidants, tocopherol, and essential fatty acids.  When cold pressed, they yield a clear golden oil that is excellent for use in skin care.  Strawberry Seed Oil can be used in facials, specialty soaps, lotions, creams, and serums.  It is a great addition to anti-aging formulas, scrubs massage oils, or dry skin treatments.  Like most Berry Seed Oils, Strawberry Seed Oil has a delightfully light texture and a slightly sweet and acidic aroma. 

Pairing Strawberry Seed Oil with other ingredients couldn't be more fun.  Try using it along with Pink Kaolin Clay, Neroli Hydrosol, and Whole Milk Powder to create a sweet Strawberry Facial Mask.  Making a Salt Scrub?  Why not combine Strawberry Seed Oil with another light Oil such as Fractionated Coconut before adding it to some Bolivian Pink Salt and Dried Strawberry Seeds?  Top off any of your Strawberry inspired creations with a dash of our yummy Strawberry Fragrance Oil to make them totally irresistable.  Do you have any favorite recipes inspired by the Strawberry?  Share them with us in the comments below.

Bora White Sand & Tahitian Volcanic Black Sand

Photo by Claudia Meyers

Natural Sands from the Pacific Islands makes an exotic, and intensely exfoliating addition to hand, foot, and body scrubs.  These ethically harvested beach sands are collected under strict guidelines to ensure sustainability, and are sanitized for safe use in skin care products.  Though these Sands do make excellent exfoliants, they can be a little intense.  Keep this in mind when formulating. 

These Sands come in two varieties, Bora White Sand, and Tahitian Black Sand.  Bora White Sand is composed primarily of crushed coral or calcium carbonate.  It has a bright, white color, which adds a soft, lovely appearance to scrubs, soaps, and other exfoliating products.  Tahitian Black Sand is formed by volcanic lava, and has a gorgeous black color.

Cupuacu Butter

Another unique gift from the forests of Brazil, Cupuacu Butter contains a very beneficial variety of components.  It is rich in essential fatty acids which gives it the ability to restore elasticity and texture to the skin.  The rich, moisturizing abilities of Cupuacu are helpful to dermatitis and eczema, as well as other skin conditions.  Scientists believe that Cupuacu Butter can even help to protect the skin from harmful UV-A and UV-B rays.  When added to skin care products, Cupuacu can help to stabilize emulsions, and absorb moisture.  This is unique for a vegetable butter, and makes Cupuacu a very special addition to formulations such as lotions, creams, body butters, or lip balms.  To make this exotic ingredient even more irresistable, the creamy texture and mild aroma of Cupuacu make it a pleasure to work with. Like Shea or Cocoa, it can be used directly on the skin for intense moisture and conditioning.

Brazil Nut Oil

 You've surely seen loads of these tiny brown nuts sitting on coffee tables over the years, but did you know that the oil contained in Brazil Nuts is ideal for use in cosmetics?  Brazil Nut Oil is surprisingly light in texture and aroma, yet is extremely nourishing and moisturizing.  Brazil Nut Oil contains a high amount of Selenium, a powerful antioxidant, making this oil quite stable, and excellent for inclusion in skin care products.  This feather light nut oil hydrates and replenishes dry skin and hair so well, that is often recommended for inclusion in problematic skin formulations.  Brazil Nut Oil is great for treating psoriasis, eczema, chronic dry skin, and other skin conditions.  It's quick absorption makes it perfect for use in lotions, skin creams, and hair conditioners as well.

*Photo by Ed Seymour

Angelica Root

Photo by Axel Kristinsson

Angelica Archangelica is sometimes referred to as "the ginseng of the north".  The plant grows wild in many northern countries including Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, but is mainly cultivated in France. The oil extracted from its roots can provide a warming, stimulating sensation when used in massage and skin care products.  It is also said to help ward off infectious diseases.  In perfumery, Angelica Root is treasured for its unique aroma, which is both sweet and spicy.  

Angelica Root is available in many forms for use in skin care, aromatherapy, and herbalism.  The most commonly used would be Angelica Root Essential Oil.  This steam distilled Oil is quite potent, and can be used in massage oils, creams, salves, and perfumes.  Angelica Root CO2 Extract is a bit more potent, as it is a Select CO2, and have been standardized to include only the most potent portions of the plants extract.  Angelica Root CO2 can be used similarly to Essential Oil.  Angelica Root Hydrosol is yet another way to include the unique benefits of Angelica into your formulations.  Being far milder than Essential Oil or CO2 Extract, Angelica Root Hydrosol can be used more freely than its corresponding ingredients.  The Hydrosol can be used directly on the skin, or in a formulation such as a body splash, cream, or herbal steam.  This special Hydrosol is said to help relieve tension and anxiety as well as promote spiritual and mental wellness.