Tutorials on soapmaking, bath fizzies, lotions and more
The home spa theme continued this week with projects like the Lavender Lotion Bars. They’re made with argan oil, avocado butter and white beeswax, which feel moisturizing and luxurious on the skin. The lavender 40/42 essential oil gives the bars a relaxing scent. They work well on dry areas like elbows, hands and feet. The bars are also ideal for traveling because they fit easily in a bag or purse.
I always use moisturizer in the morning and at night. But every now and then, my skin still feels a little dry throughout the day. If your skin is in need of a pick-me-up, this Cucumber and Lavender Face Spritzer is great for quick hydration. It’s made with a combination of aloe vera liquid, cucumber essential water, lavender essential water and glycerin. Essential waters are purified water infused with essential oil. They have a mild scent and feel great on the skin. Feel free to swap out any of the essential waters in this recipe for another if you prefer.
Simply spritz the mixture onto your skin any time, and allow it to dry. This spray feels refreshing during the hot months, and relieves dry winter skin. I actually made this spray in July and used it throughout the summer after being out in the sun all day. I like to carry it in my purse for little pick-me-ups.
When skin needs serious moisture, lotion bars are the way to go. A lotion bar typically refers to a combination of butters, wax and oil that create a firm yet spreadable product when combined. Because they are made solely of oils, they are great for extremely dry areas like elbows, knees and cuticles. They are wonderful for a home spa day, or if skin needs a pick-me-up throughout the day.
These Lavender Lotion Bars are made with a luxurious blend of argan oil, avocado butter and white beeswax. Argan oil is rich in vitamin E and gives this bar a spreadable texture. Avocado butter and beeswax add firmness to the bars. Lavender 40/42 essential oil gives a light and calming floral scent. I love using the mini deodorant tubes for lotion bars because they are easy to travel with and carry around in your purse. Download and print this free label template for a finishing touch.
If your hair is feeling dry, oil might be the answer. This is especially true if you use hot styling tools every day or color your hair. Hair oil can be used in a variety of ways depending on your hair texture and severity of dryness. This Hydrating Hair Oil was specifically formulated to be easy to make and to be used in a variety of ways depending on your preference. Fractionated coconut oil gives this oil an overall light texture, while argan oil adds amazing antioxidant properties along with a blend of fatty acids that are amazing for hair.
Need some extreme moisture? Gently heat the hair oil and apply to dry hair. Wrap your hair in a warm, dry towel and allow the oil to penetrate the oil for about 30 minutes. Wash out thoroughly; it will probably take two shampoos to fully remove the oil. You can also apply a small amount of oil to the ends of dry or wet hair to keep hair smooth throughout the day. This recipe is also suitable for beards, facial hair and can be used as a body oil. This project also includes free templates! Download them here.
Cucumber is such a soothing and refreshing fragrance. It’s the perfect scent to relax and rejuvenate. Earlier this week, I mixed it with lavender to create Cucumber & Lavender Bath Bombs. Now that our skin has been treated to a hot bath, the next step in the home spa experience is to scrub away dead skin. This Cucumber Sea Salt Scrub does the trick.
The base of this scrub is Foaming Bath Butter. It’s a premade base that when whipped with a hand or stand mixer, transforms into a light and fluffy consistency. It is made of gentle surfactants that mildly cleanse the skin. To the base, a combination of Fine Grained Dead Sea Salt and Forest Green Jojoba Beads are added. The jojoba beads add a light green color and gentle exfoliation. Learn more about jojoba beads here, and how they differ from microbeads.
Fine grained Dead Sea salt is great for the body, but can be a little scratchy on gentle facial skin. The amount of salt in this recipe provides gentle exfoliation. If you prefer something “scrubbier,” feel free to add more salt to suit your preference. We also created free printable labels for this scrub! Simply add download the label and print the labels on waterproof label paper.
Need a few minutes to relax and unwind? This Soothing Eye Tea is a great pick me up. The “tea” is made from a combination of chamomile herb, calendula petals and lavender buds. Once you’re ready to kick up your feet, boil some water and submerge the tea bags just like normal. “Brew” the tea for about a couple minutes and remove the tea bags. Place the tea bags into the fridge to completely cool, then place the cold tea bags on your eyes for a refreshing feel. You can also place the warm tea bags on closed eyes until fully cool. It all depends on what you prefer. =)
I like to make a large batch of these to have on hand whenever I need a little pick-me-up. They are especially nice during a bath, or before bed. The recipe below makes about eight tea bags, so feel free to size up the recipe as you’d like. You can also adjust the amounts of each herb as you see fit. This project is the perfect time to use a “Keep Calm and Make Soap” mug! =)