The Natural Beauty Workshop

Holiday Projects: Lip Balms

2008-11-21T08:50:00-05:00

Lip Balms make some of the best stocking stuffers ever. They are enjoyed by almost everyone, they are small, and you can make a huge batch of them very economically. Whether you give them out individually, or you pack them into small bundles, they are sure to be a big hit with family, friends, or co-workers. These small gifts can be made easily from a simple formula and customized with your own choice of scents and packaging.

Lip Balm Base
Our Lip Balm Base Kit and Vegan Lip Balm Base Kit contain all of the ingredients needed to create both soft and firm Lip Balms. Each kit contains Mango Butter, Fractionated Coconut Oil, and Jojoba. Our Classic Lip Balm Base Kit includes Beeswax, while our Vegan Lip Balm Base Kit contains vegetable based, Candelilla Wax instead. Both Kits make fabulous Lip Balm. Choose whichever base suits your lifestyle, or your recipients lifestyle best.

Scent & Flavor
You can enhance your Lip Balms by adding lip-safe scents called Flavor Oils. Unlike Fragrance Oils, Flavor Oils have been specifically designed for use in lip care applications like Lip Balms. Never use a Fragrance Oil to scent your Lip Balm or it could irritate your skin or even make you sick. While Flavor Oils can give your Lip Balms a strong scent, they will not actually add a taste to the Balm. In fact, most Lip Balms contain sweeteners such as saccharin to trick the senses into experiencing a tasty sensation. Our Flavor Oils do not contain sweeteners, so they will only add scent to your Lip Balms. Try blending your own unique Flavors by mixing and matching our great variety of Flavor Oils.

Certain Essential Oils, such as Peppermint Essential Oil can also be used in Lip Balms. However, it is very important that you research any Essential Oil thoroughly before using it in any formula. Lips are an especially sensitive body part, so most Essential Oils will not be suitable for use in Lip Balms. For instance, most Citrus Essential Oils such as Lemon or Orange are strong photo-sensitizers. This means that the Essential Oils can actually damage your skin when they are applied and exposed to the sun. Take great care when using Essential Oils, especially in Lip Care. For the beginner, we would recommend sticking to Peppermint Essential Oil if you are intent on creating an all natural Lip Balm. It should be noted though, that Peppermint Essential Oil is not safe for young children or babies.

Color Additives
Certain Micas can be used to add subtle or bold color to Lip Balm. Refer to our Mica Safety Chart when selecting a suitable color additive for your Lip Balms. You'll only need to add a pinch or two of Mica per batch to add subtle color to your Lip Balms. Experiment by adding a pinch at a time until you reach a color that you like. Remember, adding color to your Lip Balm is totally optional. In fact, many people prefer to leave Lip Balms un-tinted.

How to Make Lip Balm
For the best results, melt your ingredients over the stove in a double boiler. If you don't have a double boiler, the microwave will do. Melt the Wax first, then add and melt the Butter. When both are melted, add the Oils. Stir the mixture well and remove it from the heat. Next, add any optional colorants, followed by scent. Using a small measuring cup with a spout, or a hot drink cup with one side pinched into a spout, carefully pour the mixture into Lip Balm Tubes or Jars. Allow them to cool completely before trying to cap or move them. When the mixture cools it will contract, leaving a depression or sink hole in the top of the balm. You may want to reserve a little leftover Lip Balm to reheat and top the jars or tubes off with after they have cooled.

Recipes
The following four recipes have been designed for use with our Lip Balm Base Kit or our Vegan Lip Balm Base Kit. Packaging, Flavor Oils, Essential Oils, or Colorants must be purchased separately from these Kits. I've added estimated counts below to help you determine how much packaging to buy for each batch of Lip Balm. Remember, each Lip Balm Base Kit contains enough ingredients to make two batches of Lip Balm.

Classic Lip Balm

Easy Lip Balm Pot Recipe:

1 ounce Jojoba
1 ounce Fractionated Coconut Oil
2 ounces Mango Butter
1 ounce Beeswax
1 - 1 1/2 tsp. Flavor Oil or Peppermint Essential Oil

This recipe makes 5 ounces, enough to fill:

Lip Balm Tube Recipe

1 ounce Jojoba
1 ounce Fractionated Coconut Oil
2 Ounces Mango Butter
2 Ounces Beeswax
1 - 1 1/2 tsp. Flavor Oil or Peppermint Essential Oil

This recipe makes 6 ounces, enough to fill:

40 Lip Balm Tubes

Vegan Lip Balm

Easy Vegan Lip Balm Pot Recipe

1 ounce Jojoba
1 ounce Fractionated Coconut Oil
2 ounces Mango Butter
1/2 ounce Candelilla Wax
1 - 1 1/2 tsp. Flavor Oil or Peppermint Essential Oil

This recipe makes 4 1/2 ounces, enough to fill:

Vegan Lip Balm Tube Recipe

1 ounce Jojoba
1 ounce Fractionated Coconut Oil
2 ounces Mango Butter
1 1/2 ounces Candelilla Wax
1 - 1 1/2 tsp. Flavor Oil or Peppermint Essential Oil

This recipe makes 5 1/2 ounces, enough to fill:

36 Lip Balm Tubes

Using our Lip Balm Base Kitss, you can create a massive batch of gifts at a very low price! For example:

Lip Balm Base Kit: $20.00
1/2 Ounce Strawberry Flavor Oil: $3.00
80 Lip Balm Tubes: $38.80

That's $61.80 for 80 Lip Balms, making them cost about $0.77 each! Don't forget to use discount code: NBWS4277 during online checkout to receive an additional 5% off qualifying items.

Check out our article, Making Handmade Lip Balms to learn more about creating your own custom made Lip Balms. Making your own unique recipes is very rewarding, and surprisingly simple!

Beneficial Blends

2008-11-19T11:46:18-05:00

Every natural Carrier Oil has its own unique set of beneficial properties or active ingredients. Some Oils, for example, are rich in antioxidants, while other boast a high amount of Vitamin C. Blending Oils can be the key to creating truly nourishing skin care products.

FromNatureWithLove.com is proud to announce the addition of two new beneficial Oil Blends to our line of high quality, nutritive Carrier Oils. Our new, Super Berry Trio, and Veggie Trio Oil Blends do a fabulous job of combining three skin loving Carrier Oils into one easy to use Blend. These blends are superb for use in massage, masks, body oils, serums, and fresh creams and lotions. Essential Oils or CO2 Extracts can be added to further enhance these Oil Blends for your particular purpose.

Veggie Trio Oil Blend
This incredibly nutritious Oil Blend combines Carrot Seed Oil, Broccoli Seed Oil, and Pumpkin Seed Oil. These Oils are powerhouses of antioxidant, and vitamin power. Carrot Seed Oil is known for its abilities to help rejuvenate and restore aging and damaged skin. Rich in vitamins A, C, E, and beta carotene, Carrot Seed Oil boasts an impressive amount of nutritive components. Pumpkin Seed Oil is another super nutritious Vegetable Oil, containing a wide range of vitamins including vitamins A, C, E, and K. Pumpkin Seed Oil also contains a notable amount of the mineral zinc. Last, but not least, Broccoli Seed Oil lends its light, non-greasy texture to the mix. Broccoli Seed Oil is an antioxidant rich triglyceride which is extremely moisturizing. These three Oils create a deeply nourishing and moisturizing blend that will compliment any oil based skin care formula.

Super Berry Trio Oil Blend
The Super Berry Trio Oil Blend is composed of our three favorite Berry Seed Oils: Blueberry Seed Oil, Red Raspberry Seed Oil, and Cranberry Seed Oil. Each Oil is a star player, and brings something special to the mix. Like most Berry Seed Oils, these three Oils each have light, non-greasy textures that moisturize hair and skin with ease. Blueberry Seed Oil is one of the most potent sources of antioxidants available, making it a key ingredient for anti-aging, and mature skin blends. Blueberry Seed Oil can help to heal and protect skin by scavenging dangerous free radicals. Cranberry Seed Oil is another great source of antioxidants. It also contains a unique combination of essential fatty acids that is great for soothing and moisturizing dry, chapped skin. Red Raspberry Seed Oil, our most popular Berry Seed Oil, boasts an impressive range of benefits. Red Raspberry Seed Oil is an effective anti-inflammatory and can help to reduce redness and irritation when used on sensitive skin. This nutritive Oil contains a wealth of antioxidants, and essential fatty acids, and may be able to help reduce sun damage due to its unique chemical structure. These three nutritive Oils create an incredibly beneficial blend that can be used in a wide range of formulas. Try adding the Super Berry Trio Oil Blend to hair oils, massage oils, body butters, lip balms, serums, or fresh emulsions!

Rainbow Sprinkle Bath Tub Cookies

2008-11-17T09:52:00-05:00

Deliciously scented Rainbow Bath Tub Cookies make great Holiday and Birthday Gifts. These adorable bath tub treats fizz in bath water, just like a bath bomb. Bath Tub Cookies also enhance the bath water with a skin loving combination of natural ingredients including Milk Powder, Honey Granules, and Oatmeal. To enhance the appearance of these sweet little bath treats we've sprinkled them with a rainbow colored assortment of Jojoba Wax beads. You can create these adorable bath tub treats using the recipe below, or you can buy everything you need to create them in our Rainbow Sprinkle Bath Tub Cookie Body Care Craft Kit.

Rainbow Sprinkle Bath Tub Cookies

Ingredients
20 - 30 drops FD&C Yellow #5*
3/4 cup Epsom Salt
1 cup Oatmeal, Fine
1/4 cup Whole Milk Powder
1/4 cup Honey Granules
1 cup Cornstarch
1 cup Baking Soda
1/2 cup Citric Acid
2 oz. Mango Butter
2 oz. Organic Virgin Coconut Cream Oil
1/2 oz. Easter Cookie Fragrance Oil*
1/2 Teaspoon Assorted or Solid Colored Jojoba Wax Beads*

Directions
Line a large baking sheet with wax paper or plastic wrap and set it aside. Pour Epsom Salt into a large mixing bowl and color generously with the FD&C Yellow #5 Dye. You'll need about 20 to 30 drops to dye the salt bright yellow. Mix the salt thoroughly to make sure that it is evenly dyed. Next, add the Whole Milk Powder, Cornstarch, and Oatmeal, breaking up any clumps in the powders. Add the Honey Granules next. In a small heat proof container gently melt the Mango Butter and Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. You can either use a double boiler or a microwave to do this. If you use a microwave be sure to melt the oils in short 20 - 30 second bursts. Be careful not to overheat and damage the oils. When the oils are melted, allow them to cool for a few moments before adding the Easter Cookie Fragrance Oil to them. Next, add the Baking Soda and Citric Acid to the large mixing bowl. Mix the powders thoroughly then add the melted oil mixture, stirring constantly. After the oils and powders are mixed, wipe the mixing spoon clean and continue to knead the dough with your hands. This will make sure that all the ingredients are completely mixed. Using your hands, form small round balls out of the dough. Drop them onto the baking sheet and press them with your hands to form cookie shapes. Continue until all of the dough is used. This recipe will yield about 2 dozen 2 inch cookies. Allow the cookies to dry and harden for several hours before attempting to move or package them. The will harden completely when left overnight in a cool, dry place.

Usage and Packaging
Rainbow Sprinkle Bath Tub Cookies look adorable when packaged in our Small Cello Bags. Use a piece of ribbon or a twist tie to close each bag. To use the cookies, simply drop one or two in a warm bath. The cookies will fizz, melt, and disperse into the water.

*These ingredients contain synthetic components and can be left out if desired. Natural Herbs can be used to top the cookies, and Vanilla Absolute can be used to scent them. Leaving out the FD&C Dye will only alter the color slightly, so a substitute is not necessary.

Remember, you can purchase all the ingredients and packaging you'll need to create around two dozen Rainbow Sprinkle Bath Cookies in our Body Care Craft Kit for just $20.00! Body Care Craft Kits or finished cookies make excellent, affordable holiday gifts.

Holiday Projects: Melt & Pour Soap

2008-11-14T08:33:00-05:00

Melt & Pour Soap is a quick, easy, and nearly fool proof project that you can whip up for your friends, families, and co-workers in mass. Your charming, handmade soaps are sure to be a big hit when created with some of our fantastic, holiday themed molds and ingredients.

The Soap Base
Melt & Pour Soap Base is a transparent, glycerin soap, which has been specifically designed for melting and reshaping. Unfortunately, ordinary glycerin soaps will not behave this way, so you'll need to use soap that has been made specifically for this purpose. Sold on FromNatureWithLove.com in 2 lb. blocks, Melt & Pour Soap is available in many varieties. You can choose the most basic Clear or Opaque Soap Bases, or choose a specialty soap such as Goat's Milk Soap, Olive Oil Soap, or Aloe Vera Soap. Melt & Pour Soaps are also available in a wide range of pre-colored bases. These are great for crafters who only want to make a limited amount of soap, and don't want to invest in purchasing Color Additives. Click here to see our full range of Melt & Pour Soap Bases.

Molds
While there are many household objects that can be used as make-shift Melt & Pour Soap molds, you may want to invest in a high quality, plastic mold for making Holiday gifts. FromNatureWithLove.com carries a great line of soap molds, many of which are perfect for creating holiday themed soaps. Our entire line of Melt & Pour Soap Molds are currently on Clearance, starting at just $4.00 each!

Saddle Soap Molds have a classic shape that can be used for almost any scent or color.

Our Star Soap Molds are adorable. They would be perfect for kid's holiday soaps.

These lovely Dove Soap Molds portray a very peaceful image.

Last, but not least, our Bell Soap Molds are another Clearance find that is perfect for the holidays. You can also re-use containers such as potato chip cans, orange juice cartons, or milk cartons as melt & pour soap molds. Just make sure whatever you are using has been cleaned out very well. You can also use items such as silicone bakeware, or flexible ice cube trays to make melt & pour soap, but we wouldn't recommend using any of these items for food after you've used them for soap. Set these items aside just for soapmaking.

Coloring Melt & Pour Soap
There are several methods of adding color to Melt & Pour Soaps. Using pre-colored Melt & Pour Soap Base would definitely be the easiest way to do this, but you can also add color by hand. This allows you to be a little more creative and spontaneous during your soapmaking.

FD&C Liquid Dyes - These water based, brightly colored, liquid dyes provide bright, easy to customize colors. These dyes are very easy to use and can be added directly to the soap base, drop by drop. FD&C Dyes can also be mixed and matched to produce new and unique shades of color. It should be noted, though, that FD&C colors can bleed into one another when used in layers.
Oxides & Ultramarines - These dry, powdered colorants are mineral based. They provide deep, matte color and are a bit trickeier to use in Melt & Pour Soap than liquid dyes. In order to incorporate Oxides and Ultramarines into Melt & Pour Soap Base it must first be mixed with a small amount of oil. Add a very small amount of powder to a small mixing bowl or cup (starting at around 1/4 tsp for every pound of soap). Add a few drops of a Carrier Oil, such as Olive Oil or Sweet Almond Oil, and mix the powder into a slurry, adding additional drops of oil as needed. When the powder has formed a smooth paste you can add it to your soap base.
Pearlecent Micas - Available in a very wide range of colors, Pearlescent Micas provide shimmering colors to Melt & Pour Soaps. These mineral based powders have been colored using a wide variety of additives, tints, and minerals to produce such a wide range of colors. Pearlescent Micas can be added directly to Melt & Pour Soap Base, but they tend to clump quite a bit when this is done. Like Ultramarines and Oxides, Pearlescent Micas disperse easier when they are first added to a small amount of oil. Add a very small amount of powder to a small mixing bowl or cup (starting at around 1/4 tsp for every pound of soap). Add a few drops of a Carrier Oil, such as Olive Oil or Sweet Almond Oil, and mix the powder into a slurry, adding additional drops of oil as needed. When the powder has formed a smooth paste you can add it to your soap base.

Scenting Melt & Pour Soap
Melt & Pour Soaps can be scented with natural ingredients such as Essential Oils or Absolutes, or they can be scented using synthetic Fragrance Oils. Which ingredient you choose depends on your personal preference, and the preferences of those you are giving the soaps to.

Essential Oils & Absolutes - Since Essential Oils and Absolutes contain active ingredients, they have the ability to add beneficial properties to your soaps. However, these same active ingredients can also make your soaps dangerous if used incorrectly, or by people with certain health conditions. Most skin safe Essential Oils can be used in Melt & Pour Soaps at about .5 oz. per pound of soap. However, it is very important that you research any Essential Oil thoroughly before adding it to your soaps. Many Essential Oils will have usage rates particular to that oil. Heed the expert advice that you find during your research and never take a guess when it comes to using these potent natural ingredients.

Essential Oils for Holiday Soaps:

Fragrance Oils - While Fragrance Oils are not natural, they have been specifically designed for use in soaps, and skin care products. They are easy to use and come in a very wide range of scents. Fragrance Oils can be used at a rate of about .5 to 1 ounce per pound of soap. Add less Fragrance Oil when working with spicy scents such as Cinnamon. Fragrance Oils can still contain components that may irritate the skin.

Fragrance Oils for Holiday Soaps:

There are many more wonderful Fragrance Oils available at FromNatureWithLove.com that would be great for holiday soaps. Click here to check out our complete selection. You may also want to try one of our Fragrance Oil Samplers. These variety packs let you sample several Fragrance Oils at once.

How to Make Melt & Pour Soap

Using a sharp kitchen knife, carefully chop the Melt & Pour Soap Base into cubes.
Melt the cubes in a double boiler over medium to high heat. Make sure the soap is completely melted before moving on.
Pour the soap from the double boiler into a small mixing bowl or pyrex dish. We've found that using a pre-warmed pyrex dish can be very helpful.
Add the color to your melted soap base first. This will allow the soap to cool slightly before adding your Fragrance Oil or Essential Oil. Add the Color Additive of your choice using the directions above.
Next, add your Fragrance Oil or Essential Oil and stir well. Don;t stir too quickly though, as that will cause bubbles to form in the soap.
Carefully pour the melted soap base into a mold. Spritzing the surface of the soap with alcohol can help stop bubbles from forming on the top.
Allow your soaps to cool completely before attempting to un-mold them. Trying to take them out too early can ruin your soaps. When they have cooled, simply turn the mold over and gently press on the outside of the mold to release the soaps. If you are having trouble, try putting the mold in the freezer for 1-2 minutes before trying again.
Wrap your soaps in plastic wrap or tightly sealed Cello Bags as soon as they are fully cooled. Humidity in the air can cause the glycerin in your soaps to sweat, creating small beads of moisture on the soap's surface. Keep your soaps as dry as possible to avoid this happening. If your soaps do sweat, simply wipe them off with a warm, slightly damp paper towel. You can add a few drops of alcohol to the towel for a smooth finish.
Make sure you label your soaps with all the ingredients they contain before giving them to friends and family. You should include the ingredients in the Melt & Pour Soap Base, and the ingredients you've added.

Ordering Supplies

Melt & Pour Base: It takes roughly 4 ounces of Melt & Pour Soap Base to make 1 bar of soap. For every two pound block of Melt & Pour Soap you order, you'll get about 8 bars of soap. (If you are using a mold with very large cavities, you may need to fill them only 1/2 or 2/3 full in order to produce 4 ounce bars.)

Fragrance Oils: You can use .5 to 1 ounce of Fragrance Oil per pound of soap, so you should order 1 to 2 ounces of Fragrance Oil for every 2 lb. block of Melt & Pour Soap you order.

Essential Oils: Most Essential Oils should be used at about .5 oz. per pound of Soap Base. If you are using Essential Oils, order 1 ounce of Essential Oil per two pound block of Melt & Pour Soap you order.

Color Additives: Unless you are making huge quantities of soap you should do fine if you order the smallest sizes available of any colorants you'd like to use. For example, a 1 ounce bottle of FD&C Dye or a 1/2 ounce bag of Mica will be more than enough for a holiday project.

To Make About 8 Bars (As low as $11.11*)

2 pounds of Melt & Pour Soap Base
2 ounces of Fragrance Oil or 1 ounce of Essential Oil
Optional Color Additives

To Make About 16 Bars (As low as $19.58*)

4 pounds of Melt & Pour Soap Base
4 ounces of Fragrance Oil or 2 ounces of Essential Oil
Optional Color Additives

To Make About 32 Bars (As low as $27.25*)

6 pounds of Melt & Pour Soap Base
6 ounces of Fragrance Oil or 3 ounces of Essential Oil
Optional Color Additives

* Prices based on Colored Transparent Melt & Pour Soap Base, and Spiced Plum Fragrance Oil. Don't forget to use discount code: NBWS4277 during online checkout to receive an additional 5% off qualifying items.

New Body Care Craft Kits at FromNatureWithLove.com

2008-11-11T10:09:00-05:00

Introduce someone you love to the world of handcrafted skin care by giving them one our new Body Care Craft Kits! With each kit priced under $25.00, our new line of Body Care Craft Kits make wonderful gifts. We are pleased to introduce seven new kits, including a kit for one of the most popular recipes we've published on The Natural Beauty Workshop, our Candy Cane Sugar Scrub. Other wonderful selections include:

Rainbow Sprinkle Bath Tub Cookies
These fizzy bath treats look and smell like delicious sugar cookies! Sprinkled with colorful Jojoba Wax Beads, and made with skin nourishing powders, natural butters, and nutritive oils, these cookies are sure to please!

Cocoa Almond Whipped Body Butter
This easy to make whipped body butter has an amazingly rich aroma, enhanced by pure Cocoa Butter. Particularly beneficial to dry, winter skin, this smooth, creamy creation is intensively moisturizing and surprisingly non-greasy.

Black Raspberry Salt Scrub
Inspired by our popular Kiwi Salt Scrub Recipe, the Black Raspberry Salt Scrub looks and smells amazing! This beautiful scrub is also a great treat for your skin, made with antioxidant rich Black Raspberry Seed Oil, and mineral rich Dead Sea Salt.

Jasmine & Acai Berry Hair Oil
Your hair is sure to love this deeply nourishing hair oil. Scented with Jasmine Absolute, the aroma of this nutritive hair oil is subtle and sophisticated. A nourishing blend of Acai Oil, Jojoba, and Camellia Oil makes Jasmine & Acai Berry Hair Oil healthful and moisturizing.

Milk & Honey Facial
The Milk & Honey Facial Kit comes with everything you need to create a soothing, all natural facial mask treatment. This fresh mask kit is made with soothing White Willow and Yarrow and nourishing Milk and Honey Powders.

Vanilla Almond Whipped Lip Butter
This kit makes nine jars of extra creamy, Vanilla Almond Whipped Lip Butter. These adorable little lip balms have a unique texture, and delicious aroma, making them a pleasure to use and to share. Give the kit as a gift, or use it to make stocking stuffers!

Check out our entire line of New Body Care Craft Kits at FromNatureWithLove.com!

How to Make Bath Salts

2008-11-10T08:30:00-05:00

Bath salts are a classic bath product with more potential than you may realize. Though a basic bath salt can be constructed quite easily, without the use of special equipment or expensive ingredients, they can also be enhanced with specialty ingredients to create new twists on an old concept.

Why Bath Salts Work
Salt water has long been prescribed as a cure for what ails you. Physicians have been known to advise patients to bathe in the sea, or routinely take salt baths at home in order to alleviate skin conditions, improve circulation, or as a general restorative. Many natural salts contain healthful minerals such as calcium, magnesium, or potassium. Salt baths are also credited for their cleansing and detoxifying properties.

How to Make Bath Salts
Making a bath salt can be as simple as pouring your favorite kind of salt into a jar and telling the user to pop it in their bath tub. Of course, Bath Salts are much more interesting with the use of Additives. Additives can be used to add color, aroma, and even beneficial properties to your Bath Salts. To create a Bath Salt with all the bells and whistles, use the following formula:

Salt + Aromatic Additive + Color Additive + Beneficial Additives = Bath Salt

We'll discuss the proportions as we explore each kind of Additive.

Salts
The most classic salts to use in the bath are Epsom Salt and Sea Salt. However, there are many more options available. The type of salt you choose for your recipe should depend on its appearance, grain size, and the salts properties. You can also blend salts together to enhance the appearance or properties of your Bath Salts.

Bolivian Pink Salt: This beautiful, pure salt has been harvested from ancient salt beds located beneath the Andes Mountains. Rich in beneficial minerals, this naturally rosy colored salt makes both a beautiful and beneficial addition to bath salts. Our Bolivian Pink Salt is available in both Fine and Coarse grain sizes, the latter being the most popular for use in Bath Salts.
Dead Sea Salt -The Dead Sea yields some of the most mineral rich salt found on Earth. Supposedly, bathing in the Dead Sea can have restorative benefits. These benefits are most likely due to the high mineral content present in the salt and clay of the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea Salts offered at FromNatureWithLove.com are harvested directly from the Dead Sea, and are available in Fine, Medium, and Coarse Grain Sizes. Our Dead Sea Salts have a lovely, almost translucent appearance, making them a wonderful choice for bath salts. Both the Medium and Coarse grain size would be ideal for this application.
Dendritic Salt - Usually used as an additive, Dendritic Salt is special because of its unique structure. Grains of Dendritic Salt resemble tiny stars, this special shape allows Dendritic Salt to cover more surface area, meaning that it can retain fragrance better than other salts. Adding Dendiritic Salt to your Bath Salt recipe can help stabilize the aroma, color, and texture of your recipe. It can also help to keep your salt from becoming clumpy over time. To incorporate Dendritic Salt into your Bath Salt recipe, try adding it at around 5% of your total recipe. Aromatic Additives such as Essential Oils or Fragrance Oils should be added directly to the Dendritic Salt before being mixed with the other recipe ingredients.
Epsom Salt -Also known as Magnesium Sulfate, Epsom Salt has a knack for improving circulation. This makes Epsom Salt a great choice for basic bath salts, foot soaks, medicinal baths, and sore muscle soaks. Unlike natural salts, Epsom Salt has a consistent, bright white appearance, making it very easy to color and scent to taste.
Icelandic Geothermal Brine - This bright white, finely grained brine has a consistency similar to sand. Icelandic Geothermal Brine is an extremely pure salt that is high in silica, but surprisingly low in sodium. It's fine texture dissolves instantly in water, leaving the bath feeling silky and soft. Icelandic Geothermal Brine looks lovely when tinted and layered in multiple colors. This technique can create beautiful displays when presented in clear glass bottles and containers.
Sea Salt -Grains of Natural Sea Salt can vary in size, color, and shape, giving them a very organic appearance. Naturally rich in beneficial minerals, but far less expensive than specialty salts, Sea Salts remain one of the most popular main ingredients in bath salts. Our Natural Sea Salts are available in Fine, Medium, and Coarse Grain Sizes.

Aromatic Additives
There are several options available for adding an aroma to your Bath Salts. Essential Oils, Absolutes, Attars, and some CO2 Extracts are the most effective natural options available. Using natural ingredients can also add an added benefit of Aromatherapy to your Bath Salts. However, because these natural ingredients contain active ingredients you must be very careful when choosing which ingredients to use, and at what percentage to use them. Research any Essential Oil, Absolute, Attar or CO2 Extract carefully before adding it to a Bath Salt Recipe. Look for warnings, health hazards, or other useful information before adding anything to your formula. These types of natural ingredients can generally be added at around 1-3% to Bath Salts, but make sure to heed any warnings or advice that indicates a different usage rate.

While using a natural aromatic ingredients may be the best choice for some formulators, others may prefer to choose from the wide range of aromas available in the form of Fragrance Oils. If you are not opposed to using synthetic ingredients, you may find Fragrance Oils to be a great option for scenting your Bath Salts. Our Cosmetic Grade Fragrance Oils have been specifically designed for use in soap, skin care, and bath products. They are available in over 300 scents, and are easy to use. Fragrance Oils can be used at around 2 - 5 % in Bath Salts. One thing to look for when selecting a Fragrance Oil is whether or not it contains Vanillin. This substance is used to create vanilla-like Fragrances and can cause browning in products. If you choose to use a Fragrance Oil containing Vanillin, make sure that you only use colorants that will compliment a brown hue, or your Bath Salts may lose their visual charm later.

Nutritive Additives
Depending on what you wish your bath salt to accomplish, you can choose from a wide range of additives. These kinds of Additives must be added to Bath Salts at a rate suitable to each particular ingredient.

CO2 Extracts - These high quality extracts are made from a wide range of herbs and botanicals, many of which are too fragile to survive the steam distillation used to produce Essential Oils. Many CO2 Extracts have strong aromas, but they are mostly used for their properties. Co2 Extracts can vary wildly in color, scent, and consistency. Make sure to experiment with small amounts before creating large batches of bath salts when using CO2 Extracts, just in case the Extract doesn't turn out to behave how you expected. Like Essential Oils, CO2 Extracts should be used at around 1-3% in Bath Salts.
Powdered Herbal Extracts - Powdered Herbal Extracts are usually either water soluble, or water dispersible, making them perfect for Bath Salts. These powders will dissolve or disperse in the bath water along with the salts. They must be added to recipes depending on the strength of the extract. The potency of each extract should be denoted in the products name.
Dried Herbs and Sea Vegetables - Dried Herbs and Sea Vegetables are available in whole, cut, and powdered forms. These ingredients can add color, subtle aroma, and beneficial properties to your Bath Salts. However, it should be noted that Dried Herbs and Sea Vegetables will not fully dissolve in bath water. Keep this in mind when choosing which botanicals to work with and deciding how much to add to your Bath Salts.
Clays & Dry Muds - These mineral rich powders can add color and cleansing power to your Bath Salts. Clays and Muds are rich in toning and detoxifying minerals. They can be layered with your salts or used to coat the salts in a dusty powder. Usage is up to your own taste, but keep in mind the varying strengths of Clays and Muds when selecting which to use. Also, only use Clays and Muds that are in dry, powdered form.

Color Additives
Adding a pleasant color and appearance to your Bath Salts is an important part of the finished product. Keep the natural color and appearance of the salt you are working with in mind when selecting a Color Additive. You can add as little or as much color as you like in order to give your Bath Salts the appearance you desire.

FD&C Liquid Dyes - These brightly colored, water based, liquid dyes provide the quickest and easiest way to color Bath Salts. These dyes can be added one drop at a time, giving the formulator plenty of control over the final product. FD&C Liquid Dyes can also be mixed and matched to create and unique shades of color. Unlike Bath Salts colored with powdered Color Additives, Salts colored with FD&C Liquid Dyes tend to retain much of their translucent appearance. It should be noted, though, that these Dyes can bleed into one another when layered, and can lose potency and brightness over time. Also, please note that FD&C Dyes are available in oil dispersible and powder form. These products would not be suitable for making Bath Salts.
Pearlescent Micas - Pearlescent Micas are powdered, mineral based colorants that provide shimmering opaque color to Bath Salts. Most Pearlescent Micas can be used very scantly to provide intense color. Start out with 1/8 teaspoon per 1-2 cups of salt, and add more if needed. Though these Micas will add some color to dry salt, they coat most evenly when added to Bath Salts directly after a wet ingredient, such as Fragrance Oil, or Essential Oil is added. Most Pearlescent Micas will not fade over time or bleed when added to layered salts, however, some Micas, especially those containing FD&C dye will bleed. Be sure to experiment with the colors to see how they will behave over long periods.
Ultramarines & Oxides - Another line of mineral based colorants, Ultramarines & Oxides can be the trickiest of our Color Additives to use. These powders provide opaque, matte color, and are oil dispersible. To coat salt evenly using an Ultramarine or Oxide you'll need to incorporate some kind of oil. However, you don't want to make your Bath Salts too slick by adding too much oil. Try mixing the Ultramarine or Oxide in a small dish with a few drops of Carrier Oil to create a slurry. Add your chosen Fragrance Oil or Essential Oil to the dish and stir again. Pour the mixture into your salt and stir well. This method should provide a fairly even coating of color on your salts, but you may want to experiment to find another method of application that works well for you. Like Micas, you'll only need to use a small amount of Ultramarine or Oxide to color your salts. Start out with 1/8 teaspoon per 1-2 cups of salt, and add more if needed. Be careful not to add too much of your Oxide or Ultramarine colorant, or it can leave the tub rather messy.

Packaging
Once you have created a Bath Salt recipe that you love, you'll need to package it. Salts can be ruined by humidity in the air so it is important that you choose an airtight container for long term storage of your salts. It is also important not to underestimate the power of the scents contained in the salts. Porous materials, such as plastic can wick scents in and out of even the most tightly sealed containers. Make sure you keep each variety of Bath Salts you create separate.

Cellophane Bags - Tightly sealed Cello Bags are an attractive, but economic choice for packaging Bath Salts. Ribbons, tags, or colored twist ties can enhance the appearance of these bags.
Tin Tie Bags - With or without windows, these lined papr bags make for a beautiful Bath Salt presentation. These are especially suitable for giving large portions of Bath Salt and look great when packaged with one of our Wooden Scoops.
Bail Jars - These beautiful glass jars come in both round and square shapes. They hold a hefty amount of salt. Our Beveled Wooden Scoops look lovely accompanying our Glass Bail Jars.
PET Jars - These heavy duty, clear plastic jars come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, and come with a variety of caps.
Flint Glass Jars - Available in a wide range of sizes, these sturdy glass jars look gorgeous holding colored salts.

Chocolate Peppermint Essential Oil

2008-11-07T11:57:59-05:00

A subtle twist on classic Peppermint, this unique Essential Oil contains a gentle touch of chocolate aroma. This all natural Essential Oil has been distilled from a special kind of mint that has been grown organically in accordance with USDA Organic Standards. The aroma of Chocolate Peppermint Essential Oil is a bit softer and smoother than that of most classic Peppermints, making it an excellent choice for perfumery, spa, and skin care applications. We recommend adding it to formulas containing Cocoa Butter to help highlight the Essential Oil's chocolate note. Chocolate Peppermint Essential Oil would make a great choice for holiday themed lip balms, bath truffles, and soaps. As with classic Peppermint, be careful not to use too much, or it can cause an overdose of cooling effects, especially when used in a bath or directly on the skin.

What's Happening on the Web

2008-11-06T08:09:00-05:00

A Funneling Tutorial
Joanna of The Soap Bar and Corrie of Lomond Soap share a unique technique for swirling Cold Process Soap. This technique is called "funneling" and it produces bars that are just absolutely gorgeous. Check out The Soap Bar for the full tutorial..

Candle Waxes Explained
Jadewicks Home Goodness shares some insight on the many kinds of waxes used in candle making on The Etsy Green & Clean Guild's blog.

Bath & Body 101
On Sunday, January 25th, FromNatureWithLove.com's own Mary Helen will be teaching a crash course in beginner's handmade bath and body at Etsy Labs in Brooklyn, NY! Students will create basic Melt & Pour Soaps, Lip Balms, and Sugar Scrubs. The simple recipes used in this class have been created so that students can later customize them, making their own unique recipes and creations. Visit Etsy Labs to learn more about their exciting lineup of crafty classes or to purchase a space at Bath & Body 101.

Mary Helen worked with Etsy earlier this year to create a Video Tutorial for creating Fizzing Bath Salts. Visit The Storque, Etsy's online magazine to check it out!

Cranberry Pumpkin Salt Scrub

2008-11-04T08:00:00-05:00

This fragrant Salt Scrub is packed with skin loving ingredients that can help to soften and moisturize your skin. Pumpkin Seed Oil contains high levels of zinc, and vitamins A, C, E, and K. Cranberry Seed Oil is rich in antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. All of this natural goodness can help to improve your skin's condition while mineral rich Bolivian Pink Salt provides exfoliation and stimulates circulation. This simple scrub is quick and easy to make, and a pleasure to use. We've added Polysorbate 20 to this recipe to make it rinsable, and Cranberry Fragrance Oil to enhance the scrub's aroma. For an all natural scrub, simply leave out these two ingredients and double the amount of Cranberry Seed Oil and Pumpkin Seed Oil.

Cranberry Pumpkin Salt Scrub
Makes about 4 Ounces

Ingredients
1/2 cup Bolivian Pink Salt, Fine
1/2 ounce Pumpkin Seed Oil
1/2 ounce Cranberry Seed Oil
1/2 teaspoon Cranberry Fruit Fiber
1/2 teaspoon Cranberry Fruit Seeds
1 ounce Polysorbate 20
1/2 teaspoon Cranberry Fragrance Oil

Directions
In a small mixing bowl, combine the Pumpkin Seed Oil, Cranberry Seed Oil, Polysorbate 20, and Cranberry Fragrance Oil. Stir the liquids well to make sure they are fully combined. Next, add the Bolivian Pink Salt and stir again, making sure to break up any clumps in the salt. Add the Cranberry Fruit Fiber and Cranberry Fruit Seeds and mix well. A natural or synthetic preservative may be added to this recipe at your own discretion. For information on preservatives, please visit our informational library.

Packaging & Usage
Spoon the mixture into a PET plastic Jar. Make sure that the top of the jar and the lid are totally free from oil before you cap the jar. Any oil on the lid or the top of the jar can cause the scrub to leak. 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.

There are many scrubbing techniques out there, but this is one I am particularly fond of. Step into the shower and before turning the water on, scrub your body all over! (Of course, avoiding very sensitive areas or broken skin.) When you are thoroughly scrubbed, turn the shower on and rinse. When the shower is over, make sure to moisturize your skin with a body oil, cream, or lotion.

To Make an All Natural Version
Simply double the amount of oils, and leave out the Polysorbate 20 and Fragrance Oil. An Essential Oil can be added or you canleave the scrub unscented.

Now you can purchase all the ingredients and packaging you'll need to create around our Cranberry Pumpkin Salt Scrub in our Body Care Craft Kit for just $20.00! Body Care Craft Kits or finished cookies make excellent, affordable holiday gifts.