Tutorials on soapmaking, bath fizzies, lotions and more
Watermelon is one of my favorite summer fruits. It's refreshing, light and delicious! With watermelon coming into season, I was inspired to create this fruity soap (of course!). The natural green, white and pink layers of watermelon are surprisingly simple to recreate with thick soap batter. This … Continue Reading
Preparing your work space before making cold process soap is essential. It helps the process run smoothly, as seen in this post. However, as any soaper can attest, even with the best planning you can forget something. Maybe it's a colorant, a fragrance, or an oil. Trust me, it happens! Not that I'm … Continue Reading
With summer quickly approaching, now is the perfect time to prep your skin for swimsuits and tank tops. Scrubs help get rid of dry winter skin. They also help moisturizer absorb, leaving your skin soft and smooth. Handmade scrubs are even better because you can customize the ingredients and create a … Continue Reading
With the weather warming up, it's time for road trips, camping and vacation. If you're vacationing this summer, travel-sized products can eliminate large bags. Small products are especially necessary if you're traveling on an airplane. Travel size is key! If you're looking for some products that are … Continue Reading
The masculine projects continued this week with the Pumice and Poppy Seed Melt and Pour Tutorial. They bars are made with pumice, poppy seeds and Lagoon Green Jojoba Beads to help scrub away dead skin. The exfoliants also add color and interest to the soap. For a masculine scent, the soap is scented … Continue Reading
"Mechanic soap" usually refers to extra scrubby bars. The exfoliants help remove grease and oil from working hands. For these bars, I added 5 tablespoons of pumice and 8 tablespoons of walnut shells for plenty of exfoliation. Both pumice and walnut shells are effective yet fine grained, so they are … Continue Reading
Candles are a crowd pleaser. They fill a room with your favorite scent, and can really "set the mood" for the space. If you're looking to create a cozy atmosphere, a spicy warm candle like the Chai Tea Latte Candle does the trick. On the flip side, the Purple Blackberry Flower Candle adds a … Continue Reading
Exfoliation removes dead skin, brightens up skin and helps moisturizer absorb better. These melt and pour soaps contain an exfoliating trio of pumice, poppy seeds and Lagoon Green Jojoba Beads. Jojoba beads are smooth and round, and feel gentle on the skin. They are great for delicate facial skin. … Continue Reading
Stick blenders are an amazing tool in the soapmaking world. They can emulsify oils and lye in a minute or less, while whisks and hand mixers can take hours. Have you ever had a recipe thicken a little bit too quickly? As in, instant pudding as soon as the lye is added? Don't toss out that stick … Continue Reading
I love pink hues, floral scents and glitter, but this week the blog was all about masculine projects like the Easy Scrubby Body Wash. The recipe is made with Stephenson Suspending Body Wash. The base evenly distributes the Sierra Sky Jojoba Beads, which add color and exfoliation. The recipe is … Continue Reading
This Cold Process Shaving Soap recipe creates thick and luxurious bubbles. The key is a combination of castor oil, combined with skin-loving butters like cocoa and avocado. It's scented with a combination of spearmint and patchouli essential oils for a refreshing, yet earthy blend. Bentonite clay is … Continue Reading
Last week, I shared 5 Tips for Swirling Cold Process Soap. Swirls are possible with melt and pour, but can be a bit tricky because the soap hardens quickly as it cools. Swirls in melt and pour soap end up looking much different than in cold process soap. You can read more about my tips for swirling … Continue Reading
Jojoba beads are one of my favorite exfoliants. They are round and smooth, making them gentle on the skin. The biodegradable beads (sometimes called jojoba esters) are derived from the wax of the jojoba shrub. Jojoba beads are not to be confused with microbeads, which are made from plastic. Click … Continue Reading
Bath and beauty products are often made with women in mind, but men need soap and grooming products too! With Father's Day right around the corner, now is the perfect time to create something for the guys. One of my favorite handmade gifts for men is beard oil. It's incredibly easy to make; simply … Continue Reading