Embrace Moisturized, Protected Skin with DIY Cleansing Facial Balm!

Unmask your natural beauty with this easy-to-make, cost-effective Cleansing Balm! Designed to seamlessly melt away makeup, this balm stands out as a practical alternative to commercial formulas. For those new to the world of solid cleansing balms, consider this your gateway to a realm of skincare enriched with nourishing ingredients.

This project is fueled with a mixture of lightweight Avocado Oil, soothing Chamomile Extract, and enchanting Natural Juicy Pear Fragrance Oil, allowing you to experience a symphony of refreshing and hydrating sensations. This formula is engineered to loosen makeup effortlessly and ensures that the balm washes away without leaving any greasy residue.

The instructional video included in this blog post is your visual companion to crafting this smooth cleansing balm, guiding you through each step with precision and clarity.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to blend essential ingredients like Emulsifying Wax and Polysorbate 80 for a smooth application.
• The art of incorporating scents and preserving agents, like the Natural Juicy Pear Fragrance Oil and Optiphen, to enhance the cleansing experience and ensure your product remains mold and bacteria free.
• Detailed application methods focusing on areas with stubborn makeup.

Benefits of this Cleansing Balm:

• Holistic Care: The combination of Avocado Oil and Chamomile Extract nurtures your skin, offering a holistic cleansing experience.
• Eco-Friendly & Cost-Effective: This DIY approach grants you the freedom to control the quality and quantity, proving to be an eco-conscious, economical choice.
• Customizable Scent: The recipe can be modified to include your preferred fragrance or be left unscented.

Whether you’re a seasoned skincare enthusiast or stepping into the world of DIY skincare, this cleansing balm promises a journey of creativity with a useful end product.  So why wait? Dive in, create your personalized cleansing balm, and elevate your skincare routine!

Remember, once your skin is free from makeup, follow up with a DIY facial oil to lock in the freshness and let your skin breathe freely. Enjoy the path to clearer, happier skin!

The post DIY Cleansing Balm with Avocado Oil appeared first on Soap Queen.

Usually clay masks are designed for oily skin. Because clay absorbs oil, it’s a natural fit. This Lavender Clay Face Mask was specifically formulated for dry and sensitive skin. Don’t let the list of ingredients intimidate you – it’s surprisingly easy to make! Transforming the clay, water and oil into a luxurious mask is a satisfying and rewarding creative process.

This Lavender Clay Mask recipe contains a luxurious blend of argan and avocado oil to moisturize the skin. Argan oil is well known for its nourishing properties, and contains high percentages of vitamins A and E. The oils and distilled water are mixed together with Polawax Emulsifying Wax and BTMS-50 Conditioning Wax. These emulsifiers create a smooth, creamy, lotion-like texture, and prevent separation of the oil and water.

A mixture of kaolin and purple Brazilian clay is added to the water and oils. The majority of the clay in this mask is kaolin clay, which is very fine and gentle. Purple Brazilian clay adds a beautiful color and helps create a thicker mask. Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil adds a light scent, but can be omitted if your skin is extremely sensitive. Evening primrose extract adds skin-loving properties, but can easily be swapped for any other extract you may prefer. Find out more about extracts here.

Overall, this mask has a lotion-like texture that spreads easily on the skin. Because it’s formulated with dry skin in mind, it contains a fairly small amount of clay. If you apply a very thin layer to the skin, you’ll find that after about 10 minutes it will dry. But if a heavier application is used, it may not fully dry and will continue to have a wet, lotion feel. If you prefer the mask to fully dry on the skin, increase the amount of total clay in the recipe to about 6 ounces.

A few notes about recipe substitutions and changes:

• Polawax Emulsifying Wax is a highly reliable and strong emulsifier. It could be substituted for the generic version, Emulsifying Wax, if you prefer, although this recipe was not tested with Emulsifying Wax. Due to the clay in the recipe, we splurged and used Polawax Emulsifying Wax to avoid any chance of separation.
• This recipe calls for avocado and argan oil. Other oils can be used instead if you prefer; we recommend staying with liquid oils that absorb easily into the skin. Changing the total amount of oil in the recipe will change the overall texture of the mask.
• Because this recipe is essentially a lotion and contains a large amount of water, a preservative is necessary to prevent mold and bacterial growth. We chose Optiphen, but other water soluble preservatives will work. Learn more about preservatives here.
• Increase the total amount of clay if you want it to be better suited for normal to oily skin types. Decreasing the amount of clay may create a thinner product with more moisturizing properties.
• If you prefer to use different clays, feel free to swap them. Clays have different absorbing properties, which will affect how it feels on the skin. Learn which clay is right for your skin.
• If you have very sensitive skin, fragrance and essential oils can be irritating. Omit from the recipe if you prefer.

What You’ll Need:
Four Short 8 oz. Bail Jars 
21.4 oz. Distilled Water
1 oz. Argan Oil
1.3 oz. Avocado Oil 
1 oz. Polawax Emulsifying Wax
0.8 oz. BTMS-50 Conditioning Wax
3.5 oz. Kaolin Clay
1 oz. Purple Brazilian Clay
2 mL Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil
0.5 oz. Evening Primrose Extract
0.2 oz. Optiphen
Clay Mask Template – Free Downloadable PDF

Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!

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EQUIPMENT PREP: Disinfect your utensils by dipping them in a 5% bleach water solution and allowing to dry. This includes mixing containers, your stick blender, and any spoons or spatulas that may come in contact with your mask. Your products must be as free of germs, bacteria, and microbes as possible. To be safe, bleach water all your utensils.

CLAY PREP: In a small separate container, measure 3.5 ounces of kaolin clay and 1 ounce of purple Brazilian clay. If you like, you can add them to the same container. In the steps below I added them separately, but the purple Brazilian clay can be added along with the kaolin clay if you prefer.

ONE: In a heat-safe container, combine the avocado oil, argan oil, BTMS-50 and Polawax. Heat the container in the microwave using 30-60 second bursts until the waxes have fully melted. Be careful when removing the container, as it will be quite hot. Set aside.

TWO: In a separate large container, heat the distilled water in the microwave (or on the stove top) until it reaches about 160-170 ° F. Once the water reaches the correct temperature, some of it may evaporate. Remeasure and add more distilled water if necessary until you have 21.4 ounces of hot water.

THREE: Check the temperatures of both containers. Each container should be about 160°-180° F. If the oil and wax mixture has cooled, place back into the microwave until fully melted. Place the stick blender into the water and burp it to help get rid of bubbles. Pour the oil and wax mixture into the water and use a spatula to make sure every little bit is added. Begin pulsing the stick blender. The mixture will take on a “milky” appearance once the water, oil and waxes have begun to emulsify. Continue to pulse and stir for about a minute.

FOUR: Begin adding heaping spoonfuls of the kaolin clay (or the kaolin clay and purple Brazilian Clay mixture) and pulsing the stick blender until combined. Continue adding the clay to the mixture and blending in small amounts until all the clay is added.

FIVE: Continue stick blending for about 1-2 minutes. Use a spatula to scrape down any clay that may be on the sides of the bowl. Check the temperature of the mixture. Once the mixture is about 130-140°F, add the Optiphen, Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil and primrose extract. Stick blend (don’t forget to burp the stick blender!) the ingredients in until fully mixed.

SIX: If not already added, add the purple Brazilian clay and stick blend until the mixture is fully blended. Continue to stick blend for several more minutes, just to make sure the ingredients are fully emulsified.

SEVEN: Pour the mixture into the bail jars. If you find you have a lot of bubbles on the top, you can spritz the top of the containers with 99% isopropyl alcohol to help get rid of some of them. Allow the containers to cool for several hours with the lid open to avoid condensation. Once fully cooled, the mixture will have become a thick, lotion-like texture. We found that the top of the mask does form a bit of a skin as it dries.

To use, apply a medium layer to dry, clean skin. Avoid the immediate eye area. Allow the mask to sit on the skin for about 10-15 minutes. Use warm water to rinse off. There is no need to wash the skin after, but you can if you prefer. For drier skins, do no use more than one time per week.

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DIY Lavender Clay Face Mask

This Lavender Clay Mask is great for dry skin. It's formulated with argan oil, primrose extract and lavender essential oil.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• Four Short 8 oz. Bail Jars
• 21.4 oz. Distilled Water
• 1 oz. Argan Oil
• 1.3 oz. Avocado Oil
• 1 oz. Polawax Emulsifying Wax
• 0.8 oz. BTMS-50 Conditioning Wax
• 3.5 oz. Kaolin Clay
• 1 oz. Purple Brazilian Clay
• 2 mL Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil
• 0.5 oz. Evening Primrose Extract
• 0.2 oz. Optiphen

Instructions

EQUIPMENT PREP: Disinfect your utensils by dipping them in a 5% bleach water solution and allowing to dry. This includes mixing containers, your stick blender, and any spoons or spatulas that may come in contact with your mask. Your products must be as free of germs, bacteria, and microbes as possible. To be safe, bleach water all your utensils.

CLAY PREP: In a small separate container, measure 3.5 ounces of kaolin clay and 1 ounce of purple Brazilian clay. If you like, you can add them to the same container. In the steps below I added them separately, but the purple Brazilian clay can be added along with the kaolin clay if you prefer.

• In a heat-safe container, combine the avocado oil, argan oil, BTMS-50 and Polawax. Heat the container in the microwave using 30-60 second bursts until the waxes have fully melted. Be careful when removing the container, as it will be quite hot. Set aside.
• In a separate large container, heat the distilled water in the microwave (or on the stove top) until it reaches about 160-170 ° F. Once the water reaches the correct temperature, some of it may evaporate. Remeasure and add more distilled water if necessary until you have 21.4 ounces of hot water.
• Check the temperatures of both containers. Each container should be about 160°-180° F. If the oil and wax mixture has cooled, place back into the microwave until fully melted. Place the stick blender into the water and burp it to help get rid of bubbles. Pour the oil and wax mixture into the water and use a spatula to make sure every little bit is added. Begin pulsing the stick blender. The mixture will take on a “milky” appearance once the water, oil and waxes have begun to emulsify. Continue to pulse and stir for about a minute.
• Begin adding heaping spoonfuls of the kaolin clay (or the kaolin clay and purple Brazilian Clay mixture) and pulsing the stick blender until combined. Continue adding the clay to the mixture and blending in small amounts until all the clay is added.
• Continue stick blending for about 1-2 minutes. Use a spatula to scrape down any clay that may be on the sides of the bowl. Check the temperature of the mixture. Once the mixture is about 130-140°F, add the Optiphen, Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil and primrose extract. Stick blend (don’t forget to burp the stick blender!) the ingredients in until fully mixed.
• If not already added, add the purple Brazilian clay and stick blend until the mixture is fully blended. Continue to stick blend for several more minutes, just to make sure the ingredients are fully emulsified.
• Pour the mixture into the bail jars. If you find you have a lot of bubbles on the top, you can spritz the top of the containers with 99% isopropyl alcohol to help get rid of some of them. Allow the containers to cool for several hours with the lid open to avoid condensation. Once fully cooled, the mixture will have become a thick, lotion-like texture. We found that the top of the mask does form a bit of a skin as it dries.
• To use, apply a medium layer to dry, clean skin. Avoid the immediate eye area. Allow the mask to sit on the skin for about 10-15 minutes. Use warm water to rinse off. There is no need to wash the skin after, but you can if you prefer. For drier skins, do no use more than one time per week.

The post DIY Lavender Clay Face Mask appeared first on Soap Queen.

Summer is the perfect time to try bright makeup colors. If the idea of bright cosmetics makes you feel a little intimated, sheer lip colors are one way to try the look without committing fully. This Neon Pink Lip Tint has a sheer yet buildable color. Use your fingers or a brush to apply a thin layer for a tint of color, or apply more with a lip makeup brush for a more bold look.

I designed this recipe to be simple and easy to make. Avocado oil and cocoa butter are added to moisturize lips, while beeswax gives the tint a solid texture. The tint gets its hot pink hue from Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant. It’s mixed with some of the avocado oil using a Mini White Plastic Mixer. This helps get rid of any clumps and mix in smoothly.

What You’ll Need:
10 Non-Stackable Clear Lip Butter Pots
6 Tbs. Avocado Oil
2 Tbs. Cocoa Butter Pastilles
2 tsp. White Beeswax
2 Tbs. Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant
Optional: Mini White Plastic Mixer

Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!

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ONE: In a small container, add 2 tablespoons of avocado oil. Then, add the Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant and mix the two together until completely smooth. Use the Mini White Plastic Mixer to help remove clumps.

TWO: In a separate heat-safe container, add the remaining 4 tablespoons of avocado oil. Add the white beeswax and cocoa butter pastilles. Then, add the pink colorant mixture and stir together.

THREE: Place the container into the microwave, and heat on 30 second bursts. Continue to microwave until the cocoa butter and beeswax are completely melted. Be careful when removing the container, as it may be very hot. Stir to fully incorporate the ingredients together.

FOUR: Continue to stir the mixture until it cools slightly (several minutes). Carefully pour the mixture into the lip butter pots and allow to fully cool. Use your fingers or a lip brush to apply. Enjoy!

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Neon Pink Lip Tint Tutorial

This hot pink lip tint is simple to make, and creates a sheer yet buildable color.

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• 10 Non-Stackable Clear Lip Butter Pots
• 6 Tbs. Avocado Oil
• 2 Tbs. Cocoa Butter Pastilles
• 2 tsp. White Beeswax
• 2 Tbs. Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant
• Optional: Mini White Plastic Mixer

Instructions

• In a small container, add 2 tablespoons of avocado oil. Then, add the Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant and mix the two together until completely smooth. Use the Mini White Plastic Mixer to help remove clumps.
• In a separate heat-safe container, add the remaining 4 tablespoons of avocado oil. Add the white beeswax and cocoa butter pastilles. Then, add the pink colorant mixture and stir together.
• Place the container into the microwave, and heat on 30 second bursts. Continue to microwave until the cocoa butter and beeswax are completely melted. Be careful when removing the container, as it may be very hot. Stir to fully incorporate the ingredients together.
• Continue to stir the mixture until it cools slightly (several minutes). Carefully pour the mixture into the lip butter pots and allow to fully cool. Use your fingers or a lip brush to apply. Enjoy!

The post Neon Pink Lip Tint Tutorial appeared first on Soap Queen.

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 fun design, like the green and white layers in this Apple Sage Salt Scrub.

The recipe features the new Apple Sage Fragrance Oil, which has notes of juicy apple, sage, pineapple and coconut water. It’s a perfect blend of sweet and herby. Evergreen Mica and Apple Moss Green Mica complement the fresh notes in the fragrance. The scrub also has Epsom salt, avocado oil and Stephenson Organic Liquid Castile Soap for a cleansing, gently exfoliating texture that also moisturizes the skin.

This scrub works great for the body. In our tests, we found the micas wash off and don’t stay on the skin. Epsom salt is finely grained, so the recipe may be gentle enough for the face. If you have sensitive skin, you may prefer to use it on the body only. Because the scrub will be applied near the nose, you may want to decrease the fragrance amount so it’s not as strong.

What You’ll Need:
3 Tall 8 oz. Plastic Bail Jars
28 oz. Epsom Salt, Extra Fine
2 oz. Stephenson Organic Liquid Castile Soap
1 oz. Avocado Oil
.6 oz. Apple Sage Fragrance Oil
1/4 tsp. Apple Moss Green Mica
1/4 tsp. Evergreen Mica
.3 oz. Optiphen

Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!

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ONE: Measure out 9.3 oz. of Epsom salt into three separate containers. To one container, add 1/4 tsp. of Apple Moss Green Mica and mix thoroughly to combine. To another container, add 1/4 tsp of. Evergreen Mica and mix to combine. Leave the third container uncolored.

TWO: In another container, measure out 2 oz. of Stephenson Organic Liquid Castile Soap, 1 oz. avocado oil, 0.6 oz. of Apple Sage Fragrance Oil and 0.3 oz. of Optiphen. Thoroughly mix the liquids together. You will find that the mixture turns opaque white. This is normal.

NOTE ABOUT PRESERVATIVES: Although this scrub doesn’t contain water, it will likely get water splashed in it during use. The extra water may cause bacteria and mold to grow. We added a preservative to be extra careful, but it is optional. You can read more in the Talk It Out Tuesday: Preservatives post.

THREE: Split the liquid mixture equally between the three salt containers. You can use a scale to measure 1.3 oz. into each or just eyeball it. Stir each container until the liquid is fully incorporated.

FOUR: Spoon the Apple Moss Green salt mixture into the bottom of a bail jar. You can use a scale to measure 3.5 ounces of the mixture or just eyeball it. Use the spoon to pack the salt down and smooth it out to form an even layer.

FIVE: Spoon in the white salt and pack it down. Finally, spoon in the Evergreen salt and pack it down. Fill the other two jars. Enjoy!
Note: We found the scrub does discolor a slight yellow after a few months. It still feels great on the skin, but will affect the final color.

What is your favorite way to add a personal touch to your scrubs?

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Apple Sage Salt Scrub DIY

This Apple Sage Salt Scrub will get your skin ready for warmer weather!

Course Scrub

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• 28 oz. Epsom Salt Extra Fine
• 2 oz. Stephenson Organic Liquid Castile Soap
• 1 oz. Avocado Oil
• .6 oz. Apple Sage Fragrance Oil
• 3 Tall 8 oz. Plastic Bail Jars
• 1/4 tsp. Apple Moss Green Mica
• 1/4 tsp. Evergreen Mica
• .3 oz. Optiphen

Instructions

• Measure out 9.3 oz. of Epsom salt into three separate containers. To one container, add 1/4 tsp. of Apple Moss Green Mica and mix thoroughly to combine. To another container, add 1/4 tsp of. Evergreen Mica and mix to combine. Leave the third container uncolored.
• In another container, measure out 2 oz. of Stephenson Organic Liquid Castile Soap, 1 oz. avocado oil, .6 oz. of Apple Sage Fragrance Oil and 0.3 oz. of Optiphen. Thoroughly mix the liquids together. NOTE ABOUT PRESERVATIVES: Although this scrub doesn’t contain water, it will likely get water splashed in it during use. The extra water may cause bacteria and mold to grow. We added a preservative to be extra careful but it is optional. You can read more in the Talk It Out Tuesday: Preservatives post.
• Split the liquid mixture equally between the three salt containers. You can use a scale to measure 1.3 oz. into each or just eyeball it. Stir each container until the liquid is fully incorporated.
• Spoon the Apple Moss Green salt mixture into the bottom of a bail jar. You can use a scale to measure 3.5 ounces of the mixture or just eyeball it. Use the spoon to pack the salt down and smooth it out to form an even layer.
• Spoon in the white salt and pack it down. Finally, spoon in the Evergreen salt and pack it down. Fill the other two jars. Enjoy! Note: We found the scrub does discolor a slight yellow after a few months. It still feels great on the skin, but will affect the final color.

The post Apple & Sage Salt Scrub DIY appeared first on Soap Queen.

If you have a lot of wedding favors to create, the task can seem a bit daunting. I recommend keeping the project simple to avoid unwanted stress. When you need to make a lot of individual favors, soaking salts are a great option. Simply mix the salts with colorant, fragrance and a small amount of oil to create adorable gifts. Best of all, you can make them well ahead of time or days before if need be.

For this project, I created ten jars at once using two different scent and color combinations to make five jars of each. One combination features Sweet Pea Fragrance Oil and Rose Gold Mica for a feminine option. The other combination uses King’s Gold Mica and Tobacco & Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil for a more unisex or masculine choice. These soaking salts can also be used as a body scrub by applying it to damp skin rather than adding the salts to bath water.

What You’ll Need:
Ten 4 oz. Plastic Bail Jars
40 oz. Fine Grained Dead Sea Salt
3 oz. Avocado Oil
0.4 oz. Sweet Pea Fragrance Oil
0.4 oz. Tobacco & Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil
King’s Gold Mica
Rose Gold Mica
12 mL Optiphen
Droppers
Optional: DIY Wedding Labels (Digital Download)

Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!

ONE: In a large mixing bowl, mix the fine grained Dead Sea salt and 3 oz of avocado oil. Use your hands or a spatula to thoroughly mix together.

TWO: Add the Optiphen and continue to mix until it’s thoroughly mixed in.
Note: Although this soak/scrub doesn’t contain water (which is the key component to mold growth), the scrub will likely get water splashed in it during normal use. The extra water may cause bacteria and mold to grow. We added a preservative to this recipe to be extra careful. You can read more in the Talk It Out Tuesday: Preservatives post.

THREE: Split the salts in half. This way, you can add different color and scents. If you are only making one color and scent, do not split the batch. To one half, add the Tobacco and Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil and 1/2 tsp. King’s Gold Mica. Use your hands or spatula to thoroughly mix in.

FOUR: To the other half of salts, add 1/2 tsp. Rose Gold Mica and a pinch of King’s Gold Mica to create a slightly warmer tone. Then add the Sweet Pea Fragrance Oil and use your hands or a spatula to thoroughly mix in.

FIVE: Fill each jar with salts. To use as a scrub, apply to damp skin and use circular motions to gently exfoliate. This scrub would be great for legs, body, hands and feet, but might be a little scratchy for the face. To use as soaking salts, scoop a heaping spoonful of the salts into hot bath water. Enjoy!

What is your favorite color and scent combination for scrubs and soaks?

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DIY Soaking Salt & Scrub Wedding Favors

These soaking salts are easy to make, and are great for wedding or party favors! They can also be used as a scrub.

Servings 10 4oz. jars

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• Ten 4 oz. Plastic Bail Jars
• 40 oz. Fine Grained Dead Sea Salt
• 3 oz. Avocado Oil
• 0.4 oz. Sweet Pea Fragrance Oil
• 0.4 oz. Tobacco & Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil
• King’s Gold Mica
• Rose Gold Mica
• 12 mL Optiphen
• Optional: Droppers

Instructions

• In a large mixing bowl, mix the fine grained Dead Sea salt and 3 oz of avocado oil. Use your hands or a spatula to thoroughly mix together.
• Add the Optiphen and continue to mix until it’s thoroughly mixed in.
• Note: Although this scrub doesn’t contain water, it will likely get water splashed in it during use. The extra water may cause bacteria and mold to grow. We added a preservative to be extra careful. You can read more in the Talk It Out Tuesday: Preservatives post.
• Split the salts in half. This way, you can add different color and scents. If you are only making one, do not split the batch. To one batch, add the Tobacco and Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil and 1/2 tsp. King’s Gold Mica. Use your hands or spatula to thoroughly mix in.
• To the other batch of salts, add 1/2 tsp. Rose Gold Mica and a pinch of King’s Gold Mica to create a slightly warmer tone. Then add the Sweet Pea Fragrance Oil and use your hands or a spatula to thoroughly mix in.
• Fill each jar with salts. To use as a scrub, apply to damp skin and use circular motions to gently exfoliate. This scrub is great for legs, body, hands and feet, but might be a little scratchy for the face. To use as soaking salts, scoop a heaping spoonful of the salts into hot bath water. Enjoy!

The post DIY Soaking Salt & Scrub Wedding Favors appeared first on Soap Queen.

Avocado oil is a great choice for a wide variety of bath and beauty products. It is processed in a similar way to olive oil. First the skin and seed are removed. Then, the oil is extracted from the creamy green pulp. Non-refined avocado oil can appear dark green and has a natural smell, while refined avocado oil is light in color and scent.

Avocado oil is known for its moisturizing properties, and is rich in vitamin A, B, D and E. It absorbs easily into the skin, making it a staple for lotions, balms, massage oils and more. Avocado oil is also commonly used for cooking due to its nutritional value and high smoke point. Keep in mind that the avocado oil sold at Bramble Berry is not edible, as our warehouse is not considered “food-safe” by the FDA. Avocado oil has a shelf life of about 1 year.

Avocado oil is not to be confused with avocado butter, which is solid at room temperature. Avocado oil is shown on the left, avocado butter is shown on the bottom right.

In cold process soap, avocado oil provides a medium lather and mild cleansing properties. I’ve found a usage rate of 12.5% in cold process recipes to be a great amount. If you’re looking to substitute avocado oil, both chia seed oil and sweet almond oil are great options. Avocado oil is used in many recipes here on the blog, including some of my all time favorite cold process recipes. Avocado oil is not to be confused with avocado butter, which is solid and creamy at room temperature.

If you’re looking for cold process soap recipes using avocado oil, the Alpine Adventures Cold Process Tutorial has 15% avocado oil. It adds moisturizing properties to the soap. The Jasmine Lace Tutorial (the top tutorial for 2015!) also contains both avocado oil and butter. If you love the feminine look of the Jasmine Lace, you may also like the Once Upon a Dream Cold Process Tutorial, which also contains avocado oil. Avocado oil contains a high amount of unsaponifiables, which makes it a great choice for superfatting cold process soap.

Left, clockwise: Jasmine Lace Cold Process, Alpine Adventures Cold Process, Once Upon a Dream Cold Process

Avocado oil contains a large amount of oleic acid, which contributes to its conditioning properties. Its moisturizing abilities make it a great option for massage and body oils. You can find avocado oil in the Herb Infused Bath Oil, which also contains argan oil and herb infused sweet almond oil. Avocado oil is also used in the Sensuous Rose-Infused Massage Oil, which is a great Valentine’s Day project. If you’re looking for a simple massage oil project, the Natural Baby Oil combines avocado oil with rice bran and sunflower to create a super lightweight product.

Top left, clockwise: Sensuous Rose-Infused Massage Oil, Herb Infused Bath Oil, Natural Baby Oil

If you prefer a lotion or balm, the Rose & Aloe In-Shower Lotion is applied right before you get out of the shower. Then, rinse away the lotion and gently pat yourself dry with a towel. The combination of avocado oil and green tea seed oil leave your skin feeling super soft and hydrated. The Gingerbread Man Lotion Bars use avocado oil and hard butters and wax to create a firm yet spreadable texture. Other luxurious balm recipes include the Mango Avocado Balmy Salve and the Shimmery Ski Lip Balm Tutorial.

Top left, clockwise: Rose & Aloe In-Shower Lotion, Gingerbread Man Lotion Bars, Mango Avocado Balmy Salve, Shimmery Ski Lip Balm

Last but not least, avocado oil also works great in scrubs and bath bombs. In the Easy DIY Cranberry Sugar Scrub Tutorial, avocado oil gives the scrub a moisturizing feel. When used in bath bombs, avocado oil fills the tub with nourishing properties. Using oils in bath bombs also helps them retain their shape. In the Sparkle Power Bath Bomb, I added just a touch of avocado oil to create a super hydrating product.

Left to right: Sparkle Power Bath Bomb, Easy DIY Cranberry Sugar Scrub Tutorial

What’s your favorite way to use avocado oil? I love using it in just about everything! It feels so amazing. =)

The post Sunday Night Spotlight: Avocado Oil appeared first on Soap Queen.

Handmade gifts are a special treat around the holidays. However, handmade gifts can require a bit more work. That’s where this Cranberry Sugar Scrub comes in. It’s easy to make and ready to use right away. Your family and friends don’t even have to know how simple it is to make!

Along with being easy, the scrub also feels amazing on the skin. Sugar and cranberry seeds exfoliate, which make your skin feel clean and fresh. The cranberry seeds also add a pop of red. Avocado oil and potassium cocoate moisturize the skin without feeling greasy. Glycerin is added to help draw moisture to the skin. To complete the festive look, the scrub is colored with Merlot Sparkle Mica and scented with sweet and tart Cranberry Fig Fragrance Oil.

What You’ll Need:
24 oz. Granulated Sugar
1 oz. Cranberry Seeds
1/2 tsp. Merlot Sparkle Mica
1 oz. Avocado Oil
.3 oz. Glycerin
.5 oz. Potassium Cocoate
12 mL Cranberry Fig Fragrance Oil
8 mL Phenonip
Four 8 oz. Tall Plastic Bail Jars

Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!

ONE: In a large bowl, add the granulated sugar and cranberry seeds and mix to thoroughly combine.

TWO: Add 1/2 tsp. of Merlot Sparkle Mica and mix until the color is thoroughly combined into the dry ingredients.

THREE: Add the avocado oil, glycerin and potassium cocoate and stir to fully combine into the dry ingredients. This can take a little time! You may find it easier to use your hands to mix everything together.

THREE: Add the Cranberry Fig Fragrance Oil and Phenonip and continue to mix until it’s thoroughly mixed in.
Note: Although this scrub doesn’t contain water, it will likely get water splashed in it during use. The extra water may cause bacteria and mold to grow. We added a preservative to be extra careful. You can read more in the Talk It Out Tuesday: Preservatives post.

FOUR: Transfer the scrub into the plastic bail jars or another packaging option of your choice and enjoy! To use, apply the scrub to damp skin and use circular motions to gently exfoliate. This scrub is great for legs, body, hands and feet, but might be a little scratchy for the face. If you’d like to use this recipe on your face, mixing this with liquid soap will cut down on the exfoliating dramatically. You may also want to decrease the fragrance amount, as it can be strong right by your nose.

What’s your favorite gift to make for the holidays?

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Cranberry Sugar Scrub

This Cranberry Sugar Scrub is a perfect holiday gift for family and friends!

Course Scrub

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• 24 oz. Granulated Sugar
• 1 oz. Cranberry Seeds
• 1/2 tsp. Merlot Sparkle Mica
• 1 oz. Avocado Oil
• .3 oz. Glycerin
• .5 oz. Potassium Cocoate
• 12 mL Cranberry Fig Fragrance Oil
• 8 mL Phenonip
• Four 8 oz. Tall Plastic Bail Jars

Instructions

• In a large bowl, add the granulated sugar and cranberry seeds and mix to thoroughly combine.
• Add 1/2 tsp. of Merlot Sparkle Mica and mix until the color is thoroughly combined into the dry ingredients.
• Add the avocado oil, glycerin and potassium cocoate and stir to fully combine into the dry ingredients. This can take a little time! You may find it easier to use your hands to mix everything together.
• Add the Cranberry Fig Fragrance Oil and Phenonip and continue to mix until it’s thoroughly mixed in. Note: Although this scrub doesn’t contain water, it will likely get water splashed in it during use. The extra water may cause bacteria and mold to grow. We added a preservative to be extra careful.
• Transfer the scrub into the plastic bail jars or another packaging option of your choice and enjoy! To use, apply the scrub to damp skin and use circular motions to gently exfoliate. This scrub is great for legs, body, hands and feet, but might be a little scratchy for the face. If you’d like to use this recipe on your face, you may want to remove the cranberry seeds so the scrub is a bit more gentle. You may also want to decrease the fragrance amount, as it can be strong right by your nose.

The post Easy DIY Cranberry Sugar Scrub appeared first on Soap Queen.