How to pamper your skin or Body "Sauce"

Several times I made the body butter or whipped body butter and it is excellent products to use after shower or bath.
This time I would like to make the body product with more fluid consistency.  Body Milk? Body Lotion? Or Body "Sauce" - :)? Why? Easier and faster to use. Even for hair as a balzam.
Usually for making body milk or lotion they use water.
My product should be without water because I do not like to use any preservative - most of the time it is purely chemical product.
The procedure is the same as for making body butter: mix, whip and keep it cooler.
Melt above ingredients together. Put all ingredients together in glass measuring cup. Mix with electric mixer for 1 minute, put in freezer for 3 minutes. Repeat 5 times until it thickens to a whipped "sauce" consistency.

The idea is to use more oils in the recipe and less butters:

36 g Shea butter
32 g virgin Cocoa butter which has wonderful tropical scent
32 g Caledula macerat in Sweet Amandel oil
24 g Perzik oil
20 g Jojoba oil
10 g Glycerine
15 g Starch

E vitamin and my favorite EO: Grapefruit, Mandarin, Orange 60 drops

 

Coconut Body Pralines

After a bath or shower  I like to treat my skin with Coconut Body Pralines. Wonderful skin oil properties of Coconut Butter, Sweet Almond Oil  moisturize, make my skin smooth and  supple. It gives a good feeling very sure: my skin loves it and I love that it’s easily absorbed.
So,  to create the Coconut Body Pralines I need two ingredients:

Coconut Butter is a top favorite of mine. The unrefined Coconut Butter has a strong typical Cocos odor, for people who really enjoy this stunning fragrance. Coconut butter helps increase or maintain skin elasticity and is very hydrating.
Coconut Oil an organic is best, to make sure that all the nutrients and beneficial properties are intact. Coconut oil’s antioxidant properties protect the skin from free radical damage and because it’s so full of essential fatty acids, it also helps to build and strengthen skin-cell structures. This keeps the skin’s connective tissues strong and supple, which helps to prevent sagging and wrinkles.

What is the difference between Coconut Oil and Coconut Butter?

Coconut Butter is the pureed meat of mature coconuts.  It is roughly 60% oil, but it also has the fiber from the meat in it.  It is solid at room temperature, a creamy white or beige color and when warmed up is thick and creamy and smooth.
Coconut Oil on the other hand has no fiber.  The oil has been separated from the meat of the coconut.  It is solid at room temperature and translucent.  If you see it solid it will look like it has florets or snowflakes in it.  When warmed up is becomes liquid and completely clear.  It can be used for higher temperature cooking or frying.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/245310-what-is-the-difference-between-coconut-oil-coconut-butter/

Sweet Almond Oil is an emollient – in that it smooths and softens skin more than hydrates it. It’s full of vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant and great skin protector and healer. I also love that it’s easily absorbed into the skin without leaving a greasy residue.

In a bain-marie, melt down 90% of Coconut Butter and 10% of Sweet Almond until fully liquid.

Pour the mix  into the ice-molds and keep in in cold.

Black Soap for men

Who tried my Black Eucalyptus Beldi understand why I was so motivated to create the Black Soap for men. Incredibly scent and scrub power of milled Eucalyptus  leaves will make their hands clean and gentle. Exactly as we, women, want :)

Ingredients:

Avocado oil, Cacao oil, Cocos oil, Olive oil, Palm kernel oil, milled Eucalyptus leaves,
EO: Eucalyptus, Laurel.

Aloe Vera Macerat homemade

http://sacredsourcenutrition.com/top-12-benefits-of-aloe-vera/:

 

Aloe Vera contains anti-inflammatory and anti-septic properties properties. The elements in Aloe Vera such as amino acids, enzymes, vitamins and minerals are essential for human body. The organic components help us be healthy.

Because of Aloe’s well-known healing properties for the skin. Aloe is one of the primary compounds used in the cosmetic industry. It helps heal wounds and is great for applying topically to burns, abrasions, psoriasis and even to bug bites.
Aloe is also an antipruritic: a substance that relieves or prevents itching.
Aloe Vera is an astringent: which causes the contraction of body tissues, typically used to reduce bleeding from minor abrasions.
Due to aloe’s high water content over 99% water, it is a great way to hydrate, moisturize and rejuvenate the skin.
Aloe increases the elasticity of the skin making it more flexible through collagen and elastin repair. Aloe is an emollient, helping to soften and soothe the skin. It helps supply oxygen to the skin cells, increasing the strength and synthesis of skin tissue and induces improved blood flow to the skin through capillary dilation.The Aloe gel if applied to scalp restores pH balance of the scalp and encourages hair growth. Therefore if used in hair oils, it promotes hair growth and helps to reduce dandruff. Aloe vera is also helpful to restore the shine and glow of the hair and give them a healthy look. Therefore use of aloe vera is a permissible, cheap and easy therapy to promote hair growth and curtail hair loss. 

 

To prepare Aloe Vera hair oil you can follow the following steps:

 

- First take 1/4 cup of Aloe gel;

- Mix it with one cup of vegetable oil: Sweet Almond oil;

- Store it in a cool, dark and dry place 3-4 weeks.
 

 

My grandmother never used any medicine. Aloe Vera was for her the panacea against all problems: tooth pain, skin problems, headache... Absolutely independent I start to use  this wonderful plant by the same way :).

 

Black Eucalyptus Soft Soap - Moroccan Beldi

This soap is a vegetable paste made from natural oils. For my soap I used:

- Olive Oil,

- Palm-kernel  Oil,

- Castor Oil,

- Cocoa Butter,

- Cocos Butter,

- milled Eucalyptus leaves,

- EO: Eucalyptus, Laurel.

It is in the  black beldi form of a slurry becomes smooth in contact with water.

This soap is really a magic cream what offers purification, gentle scrub, nourishing, comprehensive skin care and wonderful fragrance.

The Beldi is a mild natural exfoliant that removes skin impurities, removes toxins and purifies the skin surface. It has  soothing and softening properties.

Before applying soap, your skin should always be hot, so let the jet flow of hot water a few minutes before applying. Take a ball about 3 cm in the palm of your hand and massage for five minutes your body, use it as a scrub. Once the scrub soap done, you will get rid of dead skin cells and you will find a soft and silky skin.
 

Massage Oil

There are many different types of massage oils available.
 After my study all of them I decide to use two of the best carrier oils:

1. Grapeseed oil makes a great massage oil, it has  a smooth, silky texture without being greasy. It is absorbed fairly well into the skin, but not too quickly. This makes it an ideal choice for an ingredient of massage oil. Grapeseed oil is "long" oil, rich source of omega-6, vitamin E. Helps mature, damaged, tired, stressed skin.
2. Jojoba oil has antibacterial properties and contains long chain wax esters that closely resembles skin sebum. Antioxidant, conditioning, reach in vitamins and minerals. It is very well-absorbed, is  not irritating to skin, is "medium" oil.

 

To choice of Essential Oils depends on the purpose of massage. Would you like to relax and get a portion of energy?

So, these EO will help: Mandarin, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lemongrass, Sweet Orange.

Homemade Calendula Macerated Oil

I am able to grow calendula myself and learn to use this wonderful flower for my own cosmetic products. I love the Calendula toner and use it almost daily. The ice cubes from Calendula toner is perfect product to reduce wrinkles :).

I made my first Calendula macerated oil  from fresh flowers and grapeseed oil by cold infusion method. Unfortunately it was not success, probably too much water in flowers provoked the fermentation process.

Based on my experience I made the macerated Calendula oil from good dry flowers and sweet almond oil.  The oil  has to stay on sunny place to infuse for 4 weeks and I believe that this time it will be success.

For what do I need the Caledula macerated oil? To make lotion, creams, soap, body oil, to apply it to specific problem areas where might be a dry skin, inflammations, or rashes.

20/08/2013: My macerated Calendula oil is ready! Nice sunny color and excellent quality.

Body mix oils for Antoaneta

The right mix of oils offer a wealth of skincare benefits because they contains minerals, vitamins and other nutrients essential for the treatment of healthy, glowing skin. Few drops of essential oils activate qualities and makes lovely fragrance.

For my colleague Antoaneta I prepare recipe of the body mix oils for dry skin:

- 10 ml jojoba oil
- 10 ml argan  oil
- 10 ml avacado oil
- 5 ml apricot kernel oil
- 5 ml coconut oil
- 10 ml grapeseed oil
- 6 drops of Grapefruit EO
- 6 drops of Lemon Grass EO

I am sure Antoaneta will be happy! Enjoy it, baby :)

Calendula toner

 

Calendula is a very nice flower with particular healing properties: contains a large amounts of valuable substances, vitamin C, essential oils, tannins, malic acid and salicylic acid. Calendula is used in cosmetology  to make decoctions, infusions and tinctures, facial masks. These delicate flowers contain active substances that help fight skin aging and prevent a negative skin problems. I grew Calendula flowers from organic seeds this summer in my bio-garden and now is the time to make a toner.

Today is very sunny day and I picked the flower tops when they were in full blossom. Put the flower tops in a glass jar and cover with boiling water. I put the jar into the own 70 C for 20 min. Once the  infusion has cooled I strain the liquid into a fresh bowl and it is ready to be used.

This homemade toner is perfect for either using as a conventional toner after cleansing, or as a quick fix sprizer for a wonderful and refreshing skin boost.

Once this spray is made up it needs to be kept in  the refrigerator and used within 1 month.

Shaving foam

For making the shaving foam I use:

15g stearic acid,
4g rasped handmade soap which creates a good foam
2g shea butter,
2g cocos butter,
2g borax,
75 g hot water,
4 drops vitamin E
1g rose clay
15 drops of EO Grapefruit and Sweet Orange

This recipe is already tested by my boyfriend and his feedback is very positive. As an improvment I use rasped handmade soap instead of liquid soap and vitamin E. I find this recipe is much better than the recipe in my previous post (Shaving cream For my Son) because PH is neutral: PH=7.

Shaving cream For my Son

I hope my  son will be satisfied with this shaving cream. I did my best to create a light creamy texture only from natural ingredients as usual:

112g liquid handmade soap
28g glycerine
18g cocos butter
10g aloe vera butter
10g shea butter
water
vitamin E 6 drops
10 drops Eucalyptus EO
15 drops Limon EO

Melt butters and glycerine, add the liquid handmade soap and a bit water. Whip it up with a mixer until everything is creamy. After about 4 or 5 minutes (aproximatelly 50g  additional water added) it frothed up and became a cream. Do not forget to add EO, vitamin E and whip a bit more and fold it into jar.
P.S. Hmm...PH=9, not good....I am afraid it will provokes some irritation or dry skin.

Rose hydrolat

It is the flowering roses time. I enjoy their color, fragrance and of course would like to use the qualities for my homemade cosmetic. How to make the hydrolat I already posted in my blog. The same method I have applied to produce the Rose hydrolat. My last improvement to use the plastic sac with cold water for better condensation process.
Read more about Rose hydrolat qualities http://www.naturesgift.com/hydrosol/RoseHydrosol.htm:

Rose hydrolat is wonderful in homemade skin care products. It can be used by itself as a toner, used to moisten a mask, or used in place of water in lotions or cosmetics recipes. Rosewater stimulates the skin, heightening the blood flow. Experts disagree about using it on extraordinarily sensitive skin. Rosewater controls and balances sebum production, making it useful for both dry and oily skin. It can balance and restore the skin's Ph and helps tighten pores. Its antibacterial properties help fight acne giving troubled skin a gentle, rather than a harsh treatment. It is reputed to be useful in the treatment of all sorts of dermatitis. Suzanne Catty recommends blending Rose Hydrosol with Cistus Hydrosol as an anti-wrinkle treatment.

In Bulgaria, there is much scientific research being done about the therapeutic and medicinal benefits of Rosewater indicates that Rosewater, taken internally. is effective against strep and staph infections, among many others. Rosewater has been recommended as a gargle or throat spray for sore or inflamed throats.

Rose Hydrosol is a wonderful woman's tool for healing. It may be used externally, as a facial or body spray, or in a compress. Some recommend taking a teaspoon of the hydrosol to calm stress and anxiety. Others recommend a rosewater douche as a treatment for low libido (low sex drive); it seems to act on both the body and the psyche to gently bring down barriers. Catty recommends taking Rose Hydrosol internally to help balance female hormones. She writes that by helping balance the endocrine system it can combat PMS, menstrual cramps and moodiness, as well as assist during menopause.



Face Cleanser Miledi

This recipe doesn't require heating. Add the ingredients to a desinfected jar and stir until it is a homogenous solution. Fill the cleansing liquid into a pump foamer bottle. Aloe Vera oil, Glycerin make this face cleanser very good for the normal or sensitive skin type. Milk Acid stabilises the PH=5 what is ideal for the skin.

- Distilled Water 190g
- Aloe Vera oil 10g - humectant
- Glycerin 14g - humectant
- Xantan Gum 3,5g - thickener
- Natural liquid soap 36g - cleansing agent
- Milk Acid 2g
- Grapefruitkernextract 18 drops - preservative
- Orange EO 10 drops
- Grapefruit EO 10 drops
- Thee tree EO 3 drops

P.S. Good cleanser but is a bit too thick. For next recipe I will use less oil (7g), less Glycerin (5g), less Xantan Gum (1,2g).

Grapefruit Skin Benefits

I never thought that grapefruit applied directly can also give you beautiful skin.

Like other citrus fruits, grapefruit is rich in vitamin C, which is necessary for collagen production in the skin and it has lycopene, a known cancer-fighting chemical. It also protects skin from UV damage. Since most visible signs of skin aging are the direct result of sun damage, this is one more layer of defense to add to your skin-care regimen.
Grapefruit also has unique phytochemicals (a.k.a. bioflavanoids) that help promote skin health and general health. Grapefruit also has a phytochemical known as naringin which helps to reduce toxins in the liver, which results in healthier skin.

So, healthy liver = healthy skinJ. I start to drink handmade natural grapefruit juice every day and have a very good pleasant feeling. I would like to drink daily 28 days and after evaluate (believe in!) a positive changing. Today is the third day.

The anti-oxidants in grapefruit will fight free radicals in the skin that can cause lines, wrinkles, discolorations and other blemishes that can make you look older than you are. Grapefruit juice also has restorative properties that can help tone skin, even out skin color, and safely and gently cleanse skin.  People who have oily skin usually find that their problems with oily skin clear up very quickly after they start using a grapefruit cleanser and toner.

We can make own grapefruit cleanser, toner or mask at home very easily and cheaply. Using red grapefruit will give your homemade cosmetic products a pretty pink color.  We can also use grapefruit to keep the skin on the rest of your body, including your feet, soft and smooth. 

The easiest and cheapest grapefruit cleanser is a fresh grapefruit juice. I love to rinse my face only with this juice and let it dry. The remnants of juicers are very tasty and useful to make a mask. Pure grapefruit pap for a mask is quite acid PH=2, that is why I add 2 spoons of dry milk. PH changes and PH=4 is the best for the skin. Also the mix is thicker, so easily to apply as a mask. 

 

A simple grapefruit sugar scrub made from sugar, a little oil, and fresh grapefruit juice will gently exfoliate our body and leave your whole body smelling sweet.  This sugar scrub is great for our feet during the summer because grapefruit juice has natural anti-bacterial properties and it will cleanse our feet as well as soften then and give them a healthy natural tone.

Natural Grapefruit Sugar Body Scrub
This is a great smelling, body scrub that not only makes your skin feel great, it helps detoxify your skin, and makes you feel and smell great all over. Combine:

150g of sugar,
25g jojoba oil,
25g liquid natural soap (I have own handmade Castile soap)
10 drops essential oil of grapefruit,

Sources:
http://www.pittmandavis.com/articles/citrus/grapefruit/eat-grapefruit/grapefruit-benefits/grapefruit-can-give-you-beautiful-skin.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/88638-grapefruit-skin-benefits/

29/07: If you want a natural lifting of your skin just drink one glass of the grapefruit sap daily. After 30 day your face will be 5 years younger and some wrinkles will disappear.
Unfortunately I can't confirm that it is easy to lose some weight. My experience shows that drinking one glass  of the grapefruit sap daily do not support losing weight.

Nettle hydrolat homemade

Herbal distillates (floral water, hydrosol, hydrolate, herbal water and essential water) are aqueous solutions of  essential oils usually obtained by  steam distillation from aromatic plants. These herbal distillates have uses as flavorings, medicine and for the skin care.  Usually a PH=5-6 and it makes them suitable for use as facial toners.

A hydrolat is produced by the distillation process, so that in effect we have two distinct products from distillation of plants, i.e. essential oil and distillate, (hydrolat). In this process steam is passed through plant. The heat of the steam bursts open the membrane of the oil receptacles in the plant and the volatile plant oil molecules are released into the steam. The steam rises and takes with it hydrophobic, and hydrophilic molecules. When this mixture of water and various other molecules of the plant components separate back into liquid by means of being condensed, it produces two types of natural chemical cocktails. These separate into hydrophilic molecules suspended in water, (philia – a tendency towards or liking) making hydrolats, and hydrophobic molecules (phobia – aversion to), making essential oils.

Nettle hydrolat is suitable for oily and combination skin – moisturizing, regeneration and toning up, particularly for taking care of head skin and hair. Nettle hydrolat balances fat level, strengthens hair and facilitates blood circulation enhancing hair growth. Nettle hydrolats can be added to homemade cosmetics (creams, masks, gels) as well as applied pure on hair and face as everyday tonic, compresses and refreshment. Contents (INCI): Nettle Hydrolat (Urtica dioica (Nettle) Distillate), Potassium Sorbate. So how to make the nettle hydrolat?

Clean and cut nettles and put it in a fit device for distillation. Wait approximately 30-40 min and collect your homemade fresh Nettle Hydrolat. 

Because distillates are produced at high temperatures and are somewhat acidic, they tend to inhibit bacterial growth. They are not however sterile. They are a fresh product, like milk, and should be kept refrigerated:

 

ops ...it seems in my refrigerator more cosmetic products than food :)

Apple Cider Vinegar: homemade proces

How To Make Apple Cider Vinegar?  - we can find a lot of recipies online:
http://thehealthyeatingsite.com/apple-cider-vinegar-recipe/
http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/how_to_make_apple_cider_vinegar.html
http://www.cookforgood.com/recipe/homemade-organic-apple-cider-vinegar.html

Why do we need Apple Cider Vinegar? -  Apple Cider Vinegar uses are nearly endless. It is the best natural product for our skin and our hair:
- Apple Vider Vinegar can be used as a rinse for your hair after shampooing, and will aid in increased body and shine;
- Natural Apple Cider Vinegar regulates the PH of the skin, can also be left on the skin overnight to fade age spots or acne scars.

That is why today I start the proces to make ACV:
1. 2 kg of grated apples with warm water and honey are ready for fermentation proces;
2. During 10 -14 days twice per day I have to stir this mix;
3. Next step will be done on 8-10/06 - filtration. See you soon!

4. Every few days the mixture was stirred and I enjoyed the bubbles and specifiec acid smell.

5. Full fermentation will take about 3 to 4 weeks and now is the time to filter the liquid (today is 11/06).



6. Pour mixture through a clean strainer into very clean jar.

7. Store in a cool, dark place for about six weeks.

 

29/07:  the final product is here, PH=3, good taste:

 

 

Shaving cream for a loved one

Yes, I spoil my boyfriend with different creams for his hardworking hands but also I enjoy the process to learn and create my cosmetic products.
Today I was focused to make the shaving cream for him. Something new and for first time:

- 30 g Stearic Acid to melt:

- add 4g Cocos Butter and 4 g Shea Butter, to melt together:

- dissolve 8g of Borax in 80 g of hot water,

- all mix together and add 80g of hot water more,

- add 20 g of my natural soft soap,

- add 4g  rose clay,

- add 25 drops of EO Grapefruit

- whip the cream with mixer approximately 10 min.

The mixture looks very soft and light:

My surprise is ready for tomorrow :)
***********************************************************************************
P.S. And HE is veryyy satisfied! I feel proud of myself :)

Post-operative scar massage cream

Post-operative scars are common after any type of surgery, some of them can take up a year to heal naturally.
Although post-operative scars will never completely go away, there are treatments that can greatly improve their appearance.

For my colleague I have made the scar masage cream based on:

 

- Beeswax with propolis
- Shea butter also stimulates collagen production in the skin
- Aloe vera oil  moisturizes the skin and acts as a natural skin lightener
- Jojoba oil and Wheat Germ oil moisturize the skin and help promote new, healthy skin cell formation, which may help reduce the appearance of scarring.

- Rosemary oil has antibacterial and antiseptic properties, it promotes healing improving the appearance of skin. High in antioxidants and because of it being a natural astringent Rosemary also increases blood circulation to the skin's surface, smooths the appearance of wrinkles, tones, moisturizes and can help with the treatment of scars and sun damaged skin.

- Black seed oil supports cell renewal, connective tissues are strengthened, blood supply to the skin is stimulated and the skin is revitalised.   

- Pomegranate Seed Oil supplies skin, improves better skin texture in general

- EO Lavender

My products based on the birch sap

I learn more about birch sap qualities and decide to make the birch shampoo soap (solid shampoo).
Light green pigment reminds spring and color of young birch leaves.

Also I found the recipe of the birch vinegar and will wait approximately 2 months untill it is ready:

- 2 l birch sap

- 100g wodka

- 40g honey

Not needed to explain that both products will be used to wash and rinse hair.

 Frozen birch sap is the best cosmetic ice.
This cosmetic ice has a beneficial effect on the skin due to the large amount of vitamins and minerals that are contained in the birch sap in the colloidal state, thereby ensuring their almost complete assimilation by skin. I can say that my skin loves this treatment.
 

Birch tears

After a long, cold winter the first signs of spring would have been welcome - sweet, nutritious Birch Sap. It is the essence, the life-blood, of the tree, carrying nutrients essential for growth. Birch sap is also a great source of vitamins, minerals and sugars – mainly fructose and glucose. Vitamins and minerals include potassium, manganese, thiamine, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc, sodium, iron, amino acids and Vitamin C – perfect for fending off spring colds.

The birch sap is very valuable product that influences well on the whole human organism. It helps to overcome the winter weakness, depressions and distractions. The birch sap also increases the resistive ability from infectious diseases and has the diuretic and other good effects because of its composition from organic acids, minerals and vitamins.

The birch soap shows positive effect in case of protection against oxidative stress on skin cells. Observed effects indicate that birch sap could be included in anti-ageing cosmetic formulations. Research showed positive effects on deeper layers of skin: increased elasticity of skin due to formation of new collagen. (http://www.pcccl.lv/f/uploads/PCCCL_P26.1_Abstracts.pdf)

That is the main reason why we were to collect the gift on the NATURE -  “birch tears” and I am looking forward to use it for:

 

- my skin as the natural lotion,

- for my hair as the natural conditioner,

- for new formula of my natural soap.

Birch sap should be consumed quickly and stored at refrigerator temperature. The sap can be frozen and I made ice blocks to use them later.