The Natural Beauty Workshop

How to Make Bath Salts

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.

Creating All Natural Body Powders

When I was a child, I had a bad habit of getting into my Mother's stash of skin care and bath products.  She had a special box in the bathroom that was off limits to all kids, but my curiosity got the best of me time and time again.  She had a great variety of fragrant bath goodies and mysterious creams, but my favorite thing to manhandle was her collection of  delicately scented dusting powders.  Each powder was stored in an elaborate case, and included a fancy, ribboned powder puff.  Something about dusting powders just screams femininity to me.  Even as an adult I find myself drawn to the intricately decorated powder boxes that I see in department stores and boutiques.

Aside from being sentimentally endearing, Body Powders can be of great benefit to a natural skin care routine.  Dusting a pleasantly scented powder on your body after a shower or bath can help to keep your skin feeling smooth and silky during humid weather.  Soothing powders such as Oat Starch can help to keep sensitive skin calm and happy all year long.  Body Powders can also help to regulate skin's moisture by absorbing excess oil, and can help reduce friction that can cause heat rashes and irritation which commonly occurs on the legs and arms.

Body Powders are simple to make, and can be composed of a variety of ingredients.  Rice Powder and Oat Starch make great bases since they have a similar texture to talc.  Arrowroot Powder, White Kaolin Clay, and Silk Powders can be added to enhance the texture or properties of a Natural Body Powder.  A small portion of Baking Soda may also be added to contribute a deodorizing quality to your powder.  This is especially helpful for making Foot Powders.  You can also choose to add powdered Herbs to your formulas, but bear in mind that most herbal powders are not ground finely enough to fully blend in with the rest of the powders in the recipe.  This may leave your powder feeling grainy or coarse.  Test small amount of herbal powder recipes before creating large batches to make sure you find the texture to your liking.

To scent your Natural Body Powder, simply add a few drops of Essential Oil or Absolute to a small amount of Rice Powder or Oatstarch.  Jasmine, Rose, or Lavender are some excellent choices.  A blend of Vanilla, Bergamot, and Ylang Ylang would also be wonderful.  Make sure that the Oil is totally dispersed before adding the scented starch to the rest of your batch. Stir the powder well after adding the Essential Oil or Absolute.  Take care not to stir your powder too quickly.  Doing so can cause the powder get into the air and can be dangerous if inhaled.  If you suffer from Asthma, or another respiratory condition, you may want to wear a mask while creating any powder type recipes.

While a box and a powder puff is a luxurious, classic way to package a Body Powder, it is not your only option.  Cardboard Powder Sifters are less messy, and far more convenient than a powder puff.  They are also much easier to find.  However, if you are like me, and have a soft spot for the powder puff, you may enjoy making one at home.  The simple sewing instructions below will help you create a powder puff from scratch.  These make great accessories for Natural Body Powders.

To make your own powder puff you'll need the following supplies:

• 1 8" x 8" swatch of plain Cotton, Terrycloth, or Bamboo Fabric
• 1 8" x 8" swatch of Fleece or another fuzzy textured Fabric
• 1 6" - 8" long piece of Ribbon
• Cotton or Synthetic Batting

Creating a powder puff is easy.  Simply follow the simple sewing instructions below:

• Trace a 6 inch circle onto both pieces of Fabric, then cut them out.
• Sandwich the Ribbon between the two circles and stitch most of the way around the outer edges, leaving about an inch of the circle open.
• Turn the circle inside out and stuff it with batting.
• Using a slip stitch, close the opening on the puff.

Natural Deodorants

Forgive my blatant pun, but all too often deodorants get the short end of the stick when it comes to our personal beauty routines.  For something that most people apply to their body every single day, it is surprising that many of us are willing to settle for a mass produced stick of deodorant, when making your own customized, all natural deodorant is quick, easy, and affordable.  Simply create a base for your Deodorant using Oils, Waxes, Butters and Additives, then scent it with a customized blend of Essential Oils.

Deodorant Base
A Deodorant Base can be created similarly to a Balm Base. Combine 1 part Vegetable Butter, 2 parts Vegetable Oil, and 1 part Wax to create a base. Next, add 1 part Baking Soda, and 1 part Cornstarch or Dry-Flo to lend absorbency and deodorizing ability to the base. Depending on the Butters, Oils, and Waxes you choose, you may need to adjust the proportions to acheive an ideal consistency.  You may want to package your first batch of Deodorant in a wide mouth jar to make it easy to use regardless of its texture.  If the recipe you create yields a very hard Deodorant, you can package in Stick Tube or Deodorant Containers.

Essential Oil Blend
The majority of your Essential Oil Blend should be composed of Essential Oils that you will enjoy smelling throughout the day.  Some personal favorites of mine include: Jasmine Absolute, Rose Essential Oil, Vanilla Absolute, Ylang Ylang Essential Oil, Lavender Essential Oil, and Bergamot Essential Oil. Creating your own, personal blend will make your Deodorant a pleasure to use every day.

Many Essential Oils contain deodorizing properties that can help to enhance your Deodorant Base. Cypress, Myrrh, Lemongrass, Spruce, and Pine Essential Oils contain components that can help to add extra deodorizing power to your blend.  Tea Tree, Niaouli, Nerolina, Juniper, and Ravensara Essential Oils are known for their antiseptic properties.  Adding an antiseptic Essential Oil to your deodorant is another way to enhance its deodorizing abilities.

Remember to reasearch your chosen Essential Oils well before adding them to your recipe.  Make sure that the Essential Oils you are using won't conflict with any medical conditions that you may have.  While the exact percentage of Essential Oil can be adjusted to suit your personal taste and tolerance, I would recommend using a total of around 2% Essential Oil in your Deodorant Formula.

More Deodorant Recipes
There are many more recipes available for creating handmade, Natural Deodorants.  One of my favorite bloggers, Amy Karol, recently posted this recipe of her own.  Recipes for Herbal Stick Deodorant and Herbal Deodorant Spray are available at FromNatureWithLove.com's Recipe Database.  You can also find a great recipe for Solid Deodorant in the Database.

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. 

Liquid Castile Soap

One of the first mass produced soaps in the world, Castile is traditionally made into a bar soap, and is made entirely from Olive Oil, water, and lye.  Although most Castile soaps today still include a hefty portion of Olive Oil, many Castile recipes include other Vegetable Oils such as Hemp Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, or Sunflower Oil.  These simple, vegetable based soaps produce gentle, all natural bars of soap that are often cornerstones in handmade soapmakers' recipe books.

Our Liquid Castile Soap is made from similar ingredients, but has been liquefied to create an all natural liquid soap base that can be used as is, or included in a wide range of natural formulations.  Unlike most liquid soaps, our Liquid Castile Soap Base contains no chemical preservatives, sulfates, or other synthetic additives, making it one of the gentlest liquid soaps available. 

FromNatureWithLove.com is proud to carry three varieties of all natural, Liquid Castile Soap Base.  Each base is made from a combination of Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Aloe Vera Gel, Water, and Rosemary Oil Extract. 

• Our conventional Liquid Castile Soap is made from conventional ingredients, and has a thin, watery texture, and characteristic aroma of classic castile soap.
• Organic Liquid Castile Soap Base is made with the same recipe as our conventional base.  However, the ingredients and process used to create this base are Certified USDA Organic.
• Our Aloe Castile Shower Gel Base is a unique variation of classic Liquid Castile Soap.  Vegetable Gum/Glycerin Extract, and Jojoba have been added to the recipe to produce a thicker, more gel-like Castile Soap.  This base also carries a slightly lighter natural aroma than classic Liquid Castile Soap, making it easier to scent.  Aloe Castile Shower Gel Base makes an excellent addition to thick scrubs and other formulations where classic Castile would be too thin.

Liquid Castile Soap Bases can be scented with either natural Essential Oils or synthetic Fragrance Oils.  In our experience, Liquid Castile Soaps tend to blend more easily with Essential Oils.  While most skin safe Essential Oils can be used to scent Liquid Castile Soap, we have found Lavender, Peppermint, and Lime Essential Oils to be our favorites.  Essential Oils can also be added to Liquid Castile Soap with the soap's purpose in mind.

• Tea Tree, Naiouli, and Citrus Essential Oils can be combined with Liquid Castile Soap to make an excellent dish washing soap. 
• Naiouli, Peppermint, and Lemongrass can be used to scent a Castile based foot scrub. 
• Lavender, Rosemary, and a few drops of Peppermint Essential Oil can be used to create an invigorating, all natural, Castile shampoo. (Make sure to accompany any Castile Shampoo with a vinegar rinse to remove any excess residue that Castile could leave behind.)

As always, be sure to take care with the dilution of the Essential Oils being used in your Liquid Castile Soap creations.  An overdose of Essential Oil in your shampoo, for example, could be very unpleasant, or even dangerous.  A good starting point for these kind of formulas is a usage rate of about 2 - 4 %.  However, some Essential Oils may require extra dilution. 

Creating All Natural Bath Oils

Bath Oils are a simple way to add moisturizing and aromatic benefits to the bath.  While plain oils can be added to bath water, water dispersible oils create a less messy, and more pleasant bathing experience.  By dispersing the oil into the water, the oil can improve the feel of the water, and evenly disperse aromatic Essential Oils or Extracts throughout the tub. 

The easiest way to create a water dispersible bath oil is to cut your Carrier Oil with 50% Polysorbate 20.  Polysorbate 20 behaves fairly consistently with most light oils, making it extremely easy to use, however, Polysorbate 20 is a synthetic product so it wouldn't be suitable for all natural formultions. 

Making an all natural water dispersible bath oil can be a little bit trickier.  Turkey Red Oil, a sulfated Castor Oil is miscible in water, and has the ability to help disperse small amounts of other Carrier Oils into water.  You'll need to experiment with Turkey Red Oil and your chosen Carrier Oil to see exactly what ratio will be needed to disperse your oil.  Choose a light Carrier Oil such as Peach Kernal Oil, Watermelon Seed Oil, or Macadamia Nut Oil to make the dispersal easier.  I would recommend starting out with a ratio of 90% Turkey Red to 10% Carrier Oil. Test a few drops in water, then add more Turkey Red Oil until the final mixture becomes dispersible. 

You can use any skin safe Essential Oil, Absolute, Attar, or CO2 Extract to scent your natural bath oil.  Make sure that you consider how much bath oil is likely to be added to each bath when deciding upon the dilution of the Essential Oils in your mixture.  Most skin safe Essential Oils should be used at a rate of about 5 - 8 drops per bath.  Also, consider the properties of each Essential Oil you are using.  Certain Essential Oils should be diluted at lower doses than others. To learn more about proper Essential Oil dilution, check out one of the following books:

• Essential Aromatherapy by Susan Worwood & Valerie Ann Worwood
• The Essential Oils Book by Colleen K. Dodt

Mineral Makeup

Creating your own custom made mineral makeup at home is easier than you may think.  FromNatureWithLove.com recently published an informative Guide to Creating Your Own Mineral Based Cosmetics which can help get you started.

Learn about commonly used ingredients, necessary equipment, packaging, shelf life, and more!  The Guide to Creating Your Own Mineral Based Cosmetics also provides some basic recipes that are great for the beginning mineral makeup diva.

When you are ready to start creating your own mineral makeup, be sure to check out the Mineral Makeup Ingredient Section at FromNatureWithLove.com.  Find all of the ingredients you'll need to get started in one convenient place accompanied by a wealth of detailed product information.

Using Preservatives

Natural products are wonderful.  I love the way they feel on my skin, how they smell, how they look, and I especially love the process of creating them.  Making natural products for yourself is relatively simple.  Make small batches, use them up quickly, and take care not to contaminate anything.  When you plan on sharing your creations with others the situation can grow a little more complex.  Because you cannot be sure how your product will be handled or how quickly it will be used once it leaves your hands, adding a preservative may be a necessary step.

Formulas that contain only oils and waxes are fairly stable on their own.  An average balm, or water free body butter will last several months to a year before going rancid.  Some formulators choose to add an antioxidant such as Rosemary Oil Extract or Vitamin E (T-80) to protect the shelf life of the oils contained in the formula.  Preservatives are not generally used in these simple balms and butters for two reasons:

• The formula does not contain water or water based ingredients such as Hydrosols or Aloe Vera Gel.
• The formula is not likely to come into contact with water during use. Most balms are applied to dry skin or lips.

When water or water based ingredients are introduced to a formula it becomes fragile.  Fresh lotions and creams are a good example of a fragile formulation, but any product that contains any amount of water will be subject to the same issues.  This includes wet masks, bubble baths, tinctures and more.  The water in these formulas will attract bacteria, mold, and other unsavory characters causing the product to become contaminated, break down, or go rancid.  This growth can pose serious health risks and unfortunately, is often invisible to the naked eye.  Extreme care must be taken when creating fresh creams and lotions even for personal use.  If you choose to create a lotion, cream, or other recipe that includes water without a preservative you must store it carefully and use it up within a few days to be safe or store it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.  In order to responsibly share your product with others an effective preservative must be added.

You should also consider adding a preservative to products that may come into contact with water during use.  Sugar and Salt Scrubs are a great example of this situation.  While the product does not contain water, the user is likely, despite your best instructions, to bring the entire jar of product into the shower with them, introducing bacteria, water, and other unwanted additives into the product when it is used.  The jar will then be sealed up until it is used again.  Meanwhile, the bacteria that has been introduced will be growing inside the jar.  Another alternative to using a preservative in oil based scrubs is packaging the scrub in single serving portions so that your customer will use the entire jar in one shot, eliminating the dangerous situation.

Natural preservatives such as Grapefruit Seed Extract or Optiphen can be helpful in warding off bacterial growth, but unfortunately are not always enough to preserve an aqueous formulation for an extended period of time.  Synthetic preservatives offer stronger preservation properties, but unfortunately can be very controversial.  Great care must be taken when selecting a preservative and professional testing is necessary if you intend to sell the formulation to the public. Without the use of a Professional Challenge Testing Lab it is very hard, if not impossible, to be certain of whether your formula has been properly preserved. 

Scents for Men's Skin Care

Selecting scents for male consumers can be especially challenging.  The range of aromas that men prefer can seem limited in comparison to the vast array of fragrances that are marketed toward women.  However, with the right ground rules in mind, it is possible to create a wide variety of natural, aromatic blends that men will adore.

When formulating for men, it is best to start out with the basic types of aromas that they tend to prefer.  Most male fragrances are composed of woods, waters, and spices.  Vanilla also makes a great base for male fragrances and blends. When you are building a unique aroma, remember to keep the basics of perfumery in mind.  Base notes, mid-notes, and top notes must be combined thoughtfully to achieve the best possible result.  Here are some popular Essential Oils and Absolutes for use in male oriented blends.

Top Notes
Basil
Eucalyptus
Grapefruit
Lemongrass
Mandarin
Spearmint

Mid-Notes
Allspice
Bay
Cinnamon
Clary Sage
Clove Bud
Cypress
Fir
Hemlock
Hyssop
Nutmeg
Palmarosa
Pine
Rosewood

Base Notes
Amyris
Cedarwood
Frankincense
Ginger
Myrrh
Patchouli
Sandalwood
Vanilla
Vetiver

Do you have a favorite male oriented blend that you would like us to share on The Natural Beauty Workshop?  Please let us know! 

Making Handmade Lip Balms

Lip balms are one of the first handmade cosmetics that most people create.  They are easy to customize and a cinch to make.  They also make great gifts, party favors, and are perfect for group projects.  Even the simplest natural balm will usually receive rave reviews from those who are used to commercial petroleum based lip balms.  Unlike many commercial lip balms, a natural formula can help to soothe, heal, and protect your lips, not just seal them beneath a layer of sludge.

Base
A lip balm base can be created using this simple formula:

• 1 part Wax
• 1 part Solid Oil or Vegetable Butter
• 1 part Liquid Oil

The ratios will change slightly depending on the Butter, Wax, and Oil you choose.  For example, Beeswax is much softer than Carnauba Wax.  If you use a vegan wax such as Carnauba Wax or Candelilla Wax you will probably need to add a little more Oil and Butter to compensate.  Some Butters are softer than others as well.  For example, Kokum, Cocoa, and Illipe Butters are very hard at room temperature, while Shealoe, Aloe, and Macadamia Nut Butters are soft and creamy.  The best way to create a lip balm base that you'll love is to experiment!  Try starting at the ratio above using your favorite ingredients.  Let your mixture cool, than readjust as needed.  If your balm is too soft, add more wax.  If it is too hard, add more Oil or Butter.  Once you achieve the perfect base you can choose some additives to further enhance your lip balm.

Additives
There are many ingredients you can add to color, scent, or enhance your lip balm.  Lecithin and Lanolin Oil are two additives that can give your lip balm and extra creamy texture that most people love.  You only need to add a tiny percentage of either of these additives to enhance the lip balms texture.  Try adding soy based Lecithin at or animal derived Lanolin Oil at 1-4%.  Vitamin E Oil (400IU/g) can also be a useful addition to your lip balm.  This potent antioxidant is very beneficial to the skin, making it a helpful addition to any lip balm.  Vitamin E Oil (400IU/g) should also be added at a very small percentage  to your formula.  *About 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon of Vitamin E Oil (400IU/g) per ounce is enough to add the products properties to your formula.

Scent & Flavor
Lip Balms can also be scented in many ways.  Certain Essential Oils can be used in lip balm formulations but they must be chosen with care.  Many Essential Oils can be damaging to the sensitive skin of the lips or toxic if ingested.  Be sure to research any Essential Oil thoroughly before adding it any product, especially a lip balm!  Some Essential Oils that work well in lip balms are:

• Peppermint Essential Oil
• Peppermint, Chocolate Essential Oil
• Lavender
• Spearmint Essential Oil
• Cornmint Essential Oil
• Tea Tree Essential Oil

Mint Oils will add a refreshing, tingling sensation to your lip balm.  This is a very popular, natural way of scenting lip products.  Synthetic Flavor Oils are an un-natural, but lip safe alternative to these natural Essential Oils.  Flavor Oils come in a wide variety of scents.  Unlike their name suggests they do not actually add a taste to lip products.  Instead they enhance the scent.  If you want your lip balm to have a flavor, you can add a sweetener such as Stevia Powder in conjunction with a Flavor Oil.  When a lip balm is sweetened it tricks the mind into thinking it is tasting the scent.  For example, a lip balm that is scented with Raspberry Flavor Oil, and sweetened with a product like Stevia Powder will create the illusion of a raspberry flavor.  While there are other sweeteners available, be sure to only scent or sweeten your lip balms with oil based, lip safe products.  Ingredients such as honey or baking flavors are not compatible with lip balms.

Color
Adding color to your lip balms can be a fun way to enhance your product.  Lip balms can be colored naturally by infusing one of our Natural Tinting Herbs into the oil you are using.  While these natural herbs will add a color to the balm, it will not leave a color on your lips.  Pearlescent Micas can be used to incorporate sheer color into your lip balm. Be sure to choose only Micas that are marked as "lip safe".  Please view our Mica Safety Chart to help you select an appropriate mica for lip products.  You can add a very small amount of Mica to add a touch of color to your lip balm or you can add a heavier amount to create a balm that will leave a sheer color on your lips.  Begin experimenting with a very small amount of Mica to achieve your desired color and shade.

Packaging
The type of packaging that will be ideal for your lip balm will depend on the texture that you have created.  If you've created a soft lip balm you can package it in one of the following small jars or tins:

• 1/4 oz. Clear Dome Jar
• 1/8 oz. or 1/4 oz. Dome Cream Jar
• 1/8 oz. or 1/4 oz. Flat Cream Jar
• 4 ml Crystal Jar
• 1/2 oz. Silver Tin

If you've created a very firm lip balm you may prefer to package it in one of our Lip Balm Tubes.

Instructions
To create your lip balm, simply heat the Oils, Wax, and Butter in a double boiler over medium heat.  Once the mixture is fully melted remove the mixture from the heat.  Give the mixture a few moments to cool before adding any additives, colorants, Essential Oils or Flavor Oils.  Once the mixture has cooled slightly add any additional ingredients and quickly transfer the hot mixture into Lip Balm Tubes or Jars.  While the balms cool they will develop sink holes.  You may want to reserve a small amount of lip balm mixture to remelt later on and top off your jars or tubes.

 

*Please note that if you are using a different strength of Vitamin E Oil you will need to adjust the usage rate. Vitamin E Oil comes in many strengths and can be harmful if it is over dosed.