Bath time is the perfect time of the day to relax. Many people add things to their baths to make it even more relaxing. This is often done by adding bath fizzes to the water that will dissolve and leave a relaxing scent. Often it is hard to find scents that you really enjoy and this is where making them at home to use are perfect. They also make the perfect gift to give to all of your friends and family.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup citric acid
- 1 cup baking soda
- 3/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup organic cane sugar
- About 6 drops food coloring
- 10 to 15 drops essential oil(s)
- Special equipment: 2-ounce travel-size spray bottle, plastic pipette, silicone ice-cube tray, storage jars
Directions:
1. Stir together citric acid, baking soda, and cornstarch in a glass measuring cup.
2. Pass mixture through a fine sieve or a flour sifter into a mixing bowl. Stir in sugar.
3. Fill spray bottle with water, and add food coloring. Spritz mixture lightly (it should become damp but not fizzy) until you can pack mixture with your hands.
4. Using pipette, add oil, 1 drop at a time, until strength of scent is to your liking. Using a metal spoon or your hands, mix ingredients until color is even throughout (mixture will begin to dry out; when this happens, spritz until packable again).
5. Spoon into ice-cube tray, pressing firmly. Let dry at room temperature overnight. Pop out of tray gently. Transfer to jars.
Lip balm is something that millions of people every year. It is a necessity for anyone during the winter months to protect your lips from the cold and wind. The biggest problem with most commercial lip balms on the market is that they are made from petroleum products which are harmful to the body. Lip balm is must safer if made at home or from a certified organic supplier that uses beeswax. Making your own lip balm is easy and you get to choose if it has a scent or flavor to it.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon beeswax pearls (also called pellets or pastilles)
- 1 tablespoon pure Shea butter
- 2 tablespoons sweet almond oil
- 10-15 drops essential oils
Directions:
1. Melt beeswax, Shea butter, and almond oil together in the top of a double boiler or in a heat-safe bowl set over a pot of simmering water; stir continuously with a whisk.
2. Once the ingredients are liquefied, remove them from heat. Whisk in essential oils. Working quickly, transfer the liquid to a measuring cup or a container with a pour spout and then divide it among four 1/2-ounce lip balm tins.
3. Let balms cool completely until solid, about 20 minutes. Store in a cool, dry place.
Variation: Peppermint-Eucalyptus Lip Balm
Use 6 drops of peppermint essential oil and 4 drops of eucalyptus essential oil.
Variation: Vanilla-Rose Lip Balm
Use 10 drops of rose oil, also called rose otto, and 5 drops of vanilla oil, also known as vanilla absolute.
Going to the spa is a great experience and can be very relaxing. The only problem is that it requires a lot of waste. This waste includes the gas to drive to the spa and the electricity to run the spa. The solution is to make your own spa materials at home. Today we will look at making your own salt based body scrubs. Over the next two weeks, I will also share how to make your own lip balm and bath fizzes.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Epsom salts or organic cane sugar
- 1 cup carrier oil
- 8 drops essential oil in any scent you find relaxing
- 1 drop food coloring
- Special equipment:Â plastic pipette, canning jars
Directions:
1. Stir together Epsom salts or sugar and carrier oil in a bowl, mixing well.
2. Using pipette, add essential oil, 1 drop at a time. Add food coloring, and stir until color is even throughout. Spoon into canning jars.
3. (This step is optional and would be good if you are making these as gifts) Download clip-art labels, enlarging or reducing to fit top of canning jar if necessary. Print onto ink-jet bumper-sticker paper (which is designed to withstand water). Cut out the labels, and affix to clean jars.
Lotion is something that at least every woman has around the house. The only big problem with commercial lotions is that there are all sorts of chemicals added to the lotions. They are also found in plastic bottles by the millions. I have started to cut down the amount of chemicals and plastic bottles by making a simple body lotion at home from things found in my kitchen already.
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp. borax
- 1 cup rose water
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- Lavender flowers
- Medium mixing bowl
- Small microwave safe bowl
- Hand mixer or whisk
- Strainer
Directions:
- Make basic homemade lotion. Mix borax and water in a medium bowl. Use a whisk or hand mixer. Warm the olive oil in a small bowl in the microwave. Using a hand mixer slowly add warmed olive oil. Mix until all ingredients are added and an emulsion forms.
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Make lavender water. Infuse two handfuls of lavender flowers into 2 cups boiling water. Stir flowers in water for 15 minutes. Pour water through a strainer to remove flowers.
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Add lavender water to the emulsified lotion mixture. Mix and let stand for about 1 hour. Strain the mixture and put into a container for future use.
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Pick a different scent. Consider using rose petals, orange peels, cinnamon sticks, sage, rosemary, geranium, juniper or any other scent. Just infuse the same way you did with the lavender flowers.
Many people exfoliate their faces and their body whilst they are in the bath or shower to take off excess dry skin. Why spend money and the environment on doing it when there is something 100% natural and readily available in your kitchen! Sea Salt!
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Suffer from dandruff? Worried about the environmental impact of your haircare? Then read on….
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I didn’t always use roll-on deodorant. I never liked it when I was young and trying different types of deodorant.
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Don’t take the toiletries from your hotel, these are mainly plastics that will go to landfill. Instead, fill small bottles with your own shampoo from home.
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Ever fancied making your own eco-friendly mouthwash? Well if you fancy a bit of a basic chemistry experiment, it’s worth having a go. Eco-Friendly Daily has a few recipes you can try. Here’s an example that uses Vodka as a base! Let’s hope it’s eco-friendly vodka!
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Have you ever thought what chemicals might be in your make-up products? Make up products are not very strictly controlled, particularly in the United States. This means cosmetic manufacturers can put almost anything they like in products, regardless if they’re toxic or not!
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Ditch your conventional antiperspirant and deodorant! They use aluminium compounds which block sweat from being released. There are some health issues associated with using aluminium-based products, including cancer.
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It’s no surprise that all of the moisturising creams and lotions available in supermarkets contain plenty of nasty chemicals and toxins that are far from any good for a person, let alone a baby. Why not try some home-made baby lotion using natural and safe ingredients?
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