Shea Butter Archives - Page 2 of 3

Making Bath Truffles on Soap Queen TV

October 25, 2012 Filed Under: Bath Fizzies

Learn to make luxurious and fun bath truffles! What’s a bath truffle? It’s like a bath fizzy with lots of moisturizing oils and butters that you crumble into your bath for a home spa experience. In this episode, I use cocoa butter and shea butter for that luxurious touch. Bath truffles are a great project for beginner and advanced crafters alike. They are easy to customize with fragrance and essential oils of your preference.

This video includes two recipes. The first is a natural mix using Kaolin Clay and Lavender Essential Oil. The second recipe is a Sweet Bubbly Bar using a blend of Chocolate and Vanilla fragrances. Both bath truffle recipes smell amazing, and feel great in the tub. Do be careful when getting out of the tub; the extra butters in this recipe can make the bottom of the tub a little bit slippery! To help the butters in this recipe disperse better in the tub, you can add a bit of polysorbate 80. Polysorbate 80 is an emulsifier and helps prevent large pools of oil and butter in bath water. [Read more…]

Talk It Out Tuesday: Lip Balm

July 3, 2012 Filed Under: Lip Products

Guess what day it is? Yep! It’s Talk It Out Tuesday (you can check out previous TIOT’s on melt and pour, preservatives, colorants, bath bombs and our most recent one on lotions)! This is a fun topic because lip balm are a blast to make and use. Read on to find the answers to many of Bramble Berry’s frequently asked questions. If there is anything I didn’t cover, feel free to ask your questions in the comment section. Or if you want to get started right this very second, check out our Lip Balm Quick Start Guide on the Bramble Berry Website.

What is lip balm?

Lip gloss, lip shimmers, lip conditioners, lip sheers, lip balms and lip butters are all very easy and inexpensive to make. Generally, they are a mixture of oils and waxes combined to heal and soothe dry or chapped lips (and sometimes, they provide a bit of color as well). You can create an all-natural mixture using edible essential oils and nourishing vegetable butters or you can get wild and make them sparkly and decadent with micas and flavors. But a word of warning – once you start making your own beautifully hand crafted lip balms, you won’t be able to buy another mediocre, manufactured, tube of low quality oil and wax again. We’re all addicted to our homemade creations here and, it’s a good thing! [Read more…]

Talk It Out Tuesday: All Things Lotion

June 26, 2012 Filed Under: Lotion

Woohoo! Here we are again with another installment of Talk It Out Tuesday (check out our previous TIOT’s on bath bombs, colorants, melt and pour and our latest on preservatives). I am delighted about the topic this week because I know many of you have questions about water-based lotions. I can’t wait to help you answer them. So read on and find out everything you wanted to know about lotions! And, if I didn’t answer it, feel free to ask me in the Comments section.

What is lotion?

Lotion is a basic skin-care product that is used to soothe dry skin and often has ingredients that are intended to give extra added benefits to your skin. Body butters, balms, salves, lotion bars, creams, and massage candles can all be considered a lotion. Generally, a traditional lotion will have water + oils + emulsifiers + preservative.

How do I make lotion?

While there are hundreds of recipes for lotions, body butters and salves out there, a basic lotion recipe would consist of your oils/butters, preservative, fragrance, an emulsifier and distilled water. To create your own lotion from scratch, you can go by the following guidelines: [Read more…]

How to Make Infused Lip Balm on Soap Queen TV

July 7, 2011 Filed Under: Lip Products

In this episode of Soap Queen TV, I’ll show how to quickly and easily infuse Sweet Almond oil with Calendula petals. Then use this nourishing oil in a simple, from-scratch lip balm recipe featuring Shea Butter and Natural Beeswax. You can also get creative and use the infused oil in homemade lotions, salves, and massage oils!

How to Make Infused Lip Balm from Soap Queen on Vimeo.

For more in-depth information on how to make infused oils check out my book Infusing: Herbs, Spices, Teas & Clays (there’s a print version and an e-book).

Ingredients you’ll need to make the project in this video:

For infused oil:
16 oz. Sweet Almond Oil
1/2 oz Dried Calendula Petals

For Lip Balm:
2.5 oz Calendula Oil
1 oz Yellow Beeswax
1/2 oz Coconut Oil
1/2 oz Shea Butter
5 mini scoops Stevia
about 16 lip tins

Buy everything you need with the click of a button!

Soap Queen TV Makes Soap for a Gardener

June 2, 2011 Filed Under: Melt & Pour Soap

Learn to make a soap that is perfect for scrubbing those green thumbs clean! In this episode of Soap Queen TV, Anne-Marie shows how to make a beautifully layered soap using 2 kinds of natural exfoliants – Walnut Shells and Shredded Loofah. This project is perfect for that gardener in your life or just someone who needs a little extra help getting those little piggies clean! And if you’ve ever wondered about our tray molds, this episode shows just how easy it is to make 8 bars of soap at once.

Make Gardener’s Soap from Soap Queen on Vimeo.

We’ve created a kit with all of the ingredients you need to make the soap in this video. You can make at least 8 bars of soap with our kit. Buy it NOW!

In this episode, Anne-Marie uses:

Lotion Bar Love

April 14, 2011 Filed Under: Lotion

There have been so many requests for a lotion bar tutorial so I hopped into the soap lab and busted out a twist on the traditional Lotion Bar Kit found at Bramble Berry. It’s made with fun colors, a fruity fragrance and skin loving ingredients. Time to soften up those hands as the nice weather starts to roll in.

[Read more…]

Luck of the Green Beer (CP tutorial)

February 17, 2011 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

[Read more…]

Loofah Cold Process Soap Tutorial

February 10, 2011 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Loofah soap can be super scrubby on the skin. I designed this recipe with a mild scrub in mind. This recipe is great because it has a nice gentle scrub on one side of the soap and it’s silky smooth on the other. Plus the fragrance combination of Pomegranate and Mint is positively swoon-worthy.

What You’ll Need:

8 oz Coconut Oil

1.0 oz Jojoba Oil

11.20 oz Olive Oil

8 oz Palm Oil

1.6 oz Palm Kernel Flakes

1.0 oz Shea Butter

1.3 oz Sweet Almond Oil

4.5 oz Sodium Hydroxide

10.5 oz Distilled Water

1.5 oz Moonlight Pomegranate

1.5 oz Moroccan Mint

1 Tablespoon Shredded Loofah

1 Teaspoon Super Pearly White

9 Bar Baltic Birch Mold

Buy everything you need below (less the olive oil and distilled water).

Also remember that you can delete anything from your shopping cart.

Preparation: Safety First: familiarize yourself with the safety precautions of Cold Process Soap Making. Please watch these videos on Lye Safety, Basic Terms, Using Fragrance and Essential Oils, Using Colorants. Review the lye safety blog post here. Also, be sure to line your mold ahead of time with freezer paper.

ONE: In your soaping gear (gloves, goggles and long sleeves) prepare your Lye Water.

TWO: Heat/melt and combine the Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Olive Oil, Palm Oil and Sweet Almond Oil. Then mix in the Shea Butter until fully melted and incorporated.

TIP: When adding the shea butter to your melted oil, put the stick blender right on top of the shea and blend it in. Trap it down on the bottom. This will speed up the process of the normal hand stirring.

THREE: Carefully add your Lye water to the oils and mix with your stick blender.

TIP: Remember to “burp” your stick blender by tapping the air out of your stick blender before you start mixing.

FOUR: Once all of the ingredients are combine split the batch in two containers (make sure they’re big enough to mix in). Does not have to be perfect but try to eyeball it the best that you can.

FIVE: In one half of the batter, add 1 tablespoon of shredded loofah and 1.5 ounce of Moonlight Pomegranate fragrance oil. Mix well. Moonlight Pomegranate is an Advanced Soaper Fragrance; it will want to separate on you but if you keep mixing and mixing and mixing with the stick blender you’ll get it to incorporate. The fragrance combo is worth the effort! But, if you want something easier because you’re not quite sure you want to deal with a fragrance that likes to separate? Mangosteen or Berry “I smell horrible out of the bottle but soap up way nicer” Wine would be great with Mint!

SIX: Pour this layer into your lined, 9 Bar Baltic Birch Mold.

SEVEN: In the second half of your batter, add about ½ teaspoon of Super Pearly White mica and 1.5 ounce of Moroccan Mint fragrance Oil. Give it a mix with the stick blender and pour the second layer.

TIP: Pour the second layer over a spoon or spatula so the top layer does not break through the bottom layer.

EIGHT: Carefully smooth the top layer out with your spatula. Leave as is or texture the top of your soap using a spoon or whisker. Have your dividers assembled already and carefully place them in the mold.

NINE: Let the soap harden up for 24 hours and it’s ready to unmold and cure for 4-6 weeks.

PS – We’re testing the awesome soap beveler that I used to bevel this soap above. I can’t wait to approve that nifty piece of equipment for sale!

Martha, Martha, Martha!

February 9, 2011 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Yay! I’m on Martha Stewart Living Radio on Sirius Satellite once again. I’ll be a guest on the Living Today show with Jamie Gwen (Sirius 112 and XM 157 at 10:30 a.m. PST/1:30 p.m. EST) TODAY (Wednesday). I have so many great projects I want to share. I hope I have time to share them all. See the full list below.

If you have any question you’d like to ask – just give us a call! 1-866-675-6675

Chocolate Lip Balm using real Cocoa powder. I made this lip balm with Shea butter and Vitamin E oil for an extra rich and moisturizing feel.

Get everything you need (except the cocoa powder) to make these delectable lip balms.

Next up is my melt & pour soap project using repositionable rubber stamps. In addition to the step-by-step blog post, I also created a video on how to make these. They are easier than they look!

Get the ingredients you need to make these heart felt soaps.

Here I have my Champagne and clay face mask recipe. What a great way to use up any leftover Champagne and so refreshing for your skin!

Get the ingredients you need to make this from Bramble Berry (excluding the Champagne, of course).

And finally we have my Bath Bomb Cupcakes, the perfect calorie free gift for Valentine’s Day! In addition to the video tutorial, I also posted a blog with a price break down to show just how economical these little beauties can be.

Bramble Berry has a complete kit for making these adorable treats.

Martha Projects for Sirius Radio

December 14, 2010 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

We’re so honored that you’re visiting. If you’re new, welcome and if you’re a regular, thank you! If you just listened to me on Sirius Radio, “Living Today with Mario Bosquez”, you can find the projects that we discussed below. If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments section. Thanks for listening and happy soaping!

Shimmer Stick -click HERE to see the recipe – the cure for your dry winter legs and a subtle, sophisticated faux tan. Ingredients cost just $65 if you get the Foundation Kit (make foundations and shimmer sticks? Get out!). Or make the bronzer (recipe HERE) and buy those ingredients plus the shimmer stick ingredients for around $47. If you do it that way, you’ll have lots of leftover bronzer.

Exfoliating Lip Scrub – click HERE to see the recipe – by far, my favorite recipe I’ve designed this year, this yummy edible lip scrub will keep your lips soft and supple all winter long. For just $2 per scrub, you can make 20 scrubs and have at least 20 scrubs worth of leftover materials to do it all again the next day!

Peppermint Bark – click HERE to see the recipe – ingredients (including the awesome silicone mold) for 4 pounds of soap are $36 and the recipe makes either two 2 pound batches or one big 3 pound batch with soap and ingredients left over for another small batch.

Candy Cane Soap – click HERE to see the recipe – This recipe is incredibly cost effective to make. It’s just $23 for all the ingredients and if you go with the glitter overlay option, it’s $29.

These are just a few fun stocking stuffer recipes you can make for the holidays.

HERE are some other holiday themed projects.

Exfoliating Kisser Scrub

December 12, 2010 Filed Under: Lip Products

Martha Stewart Radio Sneak Peak!

Tune in to Martha Stewart Radio (sirius 112 and XM 157) at 11:30 a.m. PST/2:30 p.m.EST this coming Tuesday (just 2 days away!) to talk about some fun Winter projects. I’m taking live callers so give us a jingle. I’m excited to answer your questions LIVE! 1-866-675-6675.

Ingredients

.7 oz Yellow Beeswax

.6 oz Avocado Oil

.7 oz Sweet Almond Oil

.2 oz Vitamin E Oil

1 oz Shea Butter

2.5 oz White Sugar

6 ml Buttercreme Flavoring

4 ml Lip Smakin’ Sweetener (optional)

14 Non-Stackable Clear Lip Butter Pots

Get everything you need in the click of a button
(does not include sugar or sweetener)

ONE: Combine the beeswax, shea butter and liquid oils in a microwave safe container and heat until the beeswax has completely melted (doing 30 second increments in the microwave).

TWO: Once all of the oils are in liquid form, stir in your flavoring oil of choice and sweetener. Mix well.

THREE: Stir in 2.5 ounces of white sugar pour into your lip butter pots and let the mixture harden.

How to use the Kisser Scrub: Use your finger to apply a small amount of the sugar scrub to your lips and rub in a circular motion for 30 seconds (or longer if you want extra exfoliation). Then wipe the scrub off with a damp towel and apply lip balm. Your lips will feel silky smooth!

BONUS BALM: Try the Bramble Berry Lip Balm Base for a super easy balm. Just melt, add a flavor, pour into lip butter pots and let cool. Couldn’t be easier. If you have never made lip balm before, check out this premium episode of Soap Queen TV.

Have a question about this blog post? Come join us at Bramble Berry’s Facebook page and we can help you out with any of your soapy questions!

Exotic Belly Balm – Oil Choices & Why

November 24, 2010 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Even though I’m only 18 weeks along, my belly is stretched tight and it’s itchy and peeling. It’s really not all that attractive. Given that I make yummy products for a living, I took this on as a personal challenge! Stay tuned for the recipe later today. The oils I used:

Cocoa Butter – Long used for centuries for stretch marks, cocoa butter has proven to be no better than a placebo for actually preventing stretch marks (NYTimes article). So, why did I put it into my formula? Cocoa Butter has a compound called CMP (cocoa mass polyphenol), a substance that helps with dermatitis.

Vitamin E – Vitamin E beat out Cocoa Butter for stretch mark relief (citation here). Vitamin E is a an anxi-oxidant that helps to defend skin from free-radicals. Free-radicals attack the skin structure leading to aging, wrinkles and generally unhealthy skin.

Jojoba Oil infused with Calendula Petals – Jojoba oil is a liquid wax. Out of all the oils (or in this case, liquid waxes!), it is closest to the human skin in its make up. Calendula is incredibly nourishing to skin, especially irritated skin. For infusion directions, click here.

Hemp Seed Oil, Unrefined: Hemp Seed Oil is fantastic to use in skin care products because of its lipid profile; it has over 80% Essential Fatty Acids. Additionally, Hemp Seed Oil has been found to help with eczema.

Shea Butter: If there was only one butter I could be stranded on a desert island with, this would be it. High in unsaponifiables, this butter is extremely emollient, making it a key ingredient in many body butters and lotions.

Essential Oils:

Carrot Seed: Carrot Seed Essential Oil is well known for its help with aging skin and to protect skin against wrinkles. Carrot Seed has a very earthy smell.

Frankincense: Used by some of the large cosmetic companies in their anti-aging skincare, Frankincense is known to be soothing and skin-loving.

Helicrhrysum: This essential oil has almost a magical lore about it for healing bruises and soothing dry skin.

German Chamomile: One of my favorite essential oils for skin care, German Chamomile helps calm itchy, irritated skin because of its high azulene content. German Chamomile smells herbal-y and not sweet at all.

Dressing and Soaping Green

October 25, 2010 Filed Under: Business Musings

I was super impressed with my order from Dress Green on Etsy. So, of course, I have to give the creator, Lauren, a soapy shout out. I love everything especially my Tricky Lip Lush and CP Soaps (Cocoa Addict and Cucumber & Guava). Her packaging was darling, her branding consistent and she even stuck in a couple of samples for me. I also ordered Fresh Start Skin Serum and Grapefruit Bergamot Body Cream. Yum! Thanks Lauren!

Here’s a little more Lauren and Dress Green. Enjoy!

Anne-Marie: Tell us a little bit about yourself. What keeps you busy when you’re not making soap?

Lauren: My name is Lauren and I’m currently living in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Although I’m a native Michigander, I just recently moved back after spending the last few years exploring various other states and areas including Washington, Oregon, Arkansas, and Panamá.

It’s rare that I get out of my work studio, but when I do, I can usually be found spending time with my partner, Justin, and our pup, Porthos; on a hiking trail; at a great local brewery; sitting in my backyard with a cup of coffee (and even better if there’s chocolate involved too); or just reading in a corner. Oh and I’m also now found at the local community college taking classes in my *spare* time (this semester is Chemistry).

Anne-Marie: What inspires your recipes? Do you follow trends? Listen to your customers?

Lauren: My background is in mechanical engineering and industrial design, and my interests have always tended toward product design. I love combining the practical, problem-solving aspects of engineering with the aesthetic, user-focused aspects of design. These two worlds come together perfectly, allowing me to create all facets of my line – from the product ‘designs’ (recipes) to the packaging and labeling solutions.

I try to keep the focus of DressGreen products on not only effectiveness, but also user enjoyment. And I always try to choose sustainably-sourced and organic ingredients when available. Most every product I make is inspired by either a personal need I have had, or by a request from a friend, family member, or customer. I like to hear (and really do listen to) feedback, and always appreciate thoughts on new products people would like to see in the line.

Anne-Marie: What’s your favorite product (that you make or sell)?

Lauren: My facial care products! I can’t begin to describe how my skin used to freak out at most commercial products before I started the DressGreen line. It has been such a relief to have products that not only keep my skin from reacting negatively, but actually keep it healthy. Staples in my bathroom cabinet are the Calming & Clarifying Facial Cream, unDressed Facial soap, Toning & Clarifying Facial Serum, and Delicate Toner.

Anne-Marie: What’s your favorite fragrance?

Lauren: Hands down my Grapefruit Bergamot blend. I’ve literally been using this same scent for my body cream for years now, and still haven’t gotten the least bit bored with it.

Anne-Marie: Oh I agree. The Grapefruit Bergamot is fabulous. I’m so glad that I ordered the Body Cream! And I am loving the Fresh Start Facial Serum. I’m even using it on my belly to maybe stave on stretch marks. Thanks again, Lauren for the fabulous products!

Check out Dress Green on Etsy!

Advanced Oatmeal Stout Cold Process Soap

October 7, 2010 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

The tutorial and recipe you’ve all been waiting for…Oatmeal Stout scented cold process made with real Oatmeal Stout Beer. Can it be? It’s true and it’s made with real oatmeal too!

Learn how to make oatmeal stout cold process soap in this tutorial!

If you have never made cold process soap before, I strongly suggest getting a couple of basic recipes under your belt before diving in…working with beer is definitely an advanced technique. Click here to read more about how to use alcoholic beverages such as beer in your soap. Check out Soap Queen TV on Cold Process if you want to get started with cold process. It’s a 4 part series that will take you through the basics (and be sure to watch the episode on Lye Safety). If you’re a book worm, Bramble Berry also has some helpful reading on the cold process.

technique.

Ingredients

Oatmeal Stout Fragrance Oil

18 Bar Birch Wood Mold

Oatmeal Stout Beer

Titanium Dioxide

Super Pearly White (optional)

Long-Cook Ground Oatmeal

Tools

2 large glass mixing bowls

Stick Blender

Spatulas and spoons

Infrared Thermometer

Get all of the ingredients in one click!

(olive oil, beer and oatmeal not included)

PREP: The first step to a successful beer batch (in my opinion) is boiling flat beer. Let your beer sit open for 24 hours to get rid of the fizz then boil it for about 5 minutes to cook out all of the alcohol. The beer really ‘poofs’ up during this boiling phase so don’t leave it unattended. Also, be sure to line your wooden mold with freezer paper, shiny side up.

ONE: Measure out your lye (by weight) and beer (by volume) and slowly add the lye to the beer in 3 batches (pour a little lye and stir- repeat 2 more times). Repeat until the lye is completely added and stir until the lye is dissolved. Let the lye mixture cool to about 130 degrees.

TWO: Melt and measure the Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Kernel Flakes and Palm Oil. Then stir in the Shea Butter (until liquid). Let the oils cool to 130 degrees.

THREE: Slowly pour the lye mixture into the melted oils and mix with your stick blender for about 30 seconds.

FOUR: Separate your soap batter in half. It does not have to be exact but try to eyeball it so it’s equally separated.

FIVE: Add a heaping table spoon of Titanium Dioxide to the one half of the batch to lighten it up and mix with the stick blender. Then add 1.5 tablespoons of long-cook ground oatmeal to the mixture and stick blend.

SIX: Hand stir in 2 ounces of Oatmeal Stout Fragrance Oil and pour the soap into the mold.

OPTIONAL: I dusted a vein of Super Pearly White Mica. This is an optional step. I couldn’t see it as much as I wanted in the final, cut soap.

SEVEN: To your other half of soap batter, add the rest of your Oatmeal Stout Fragrance Oil (2.1 ounces). Hand mix the fragrance in and pour the second layer.

TIP: To make sure the top layer of soap doesn’t penetrate the bottom layer of soap, pour the soap onto a spatula so it drips slowly into the mold.

EIGHT: Press your dividers down into the mold and sprinkle on some whole oats on the top for decoration. Pop the lid on and insulate with a towel to keep the temperature up. It will help with a lovely gel phase and also prevent soda ash. Once the soap hardens up, carefully unmold the soap and let it cure for 4-6 weeks.