In my last blog post, I mentioned that I’d received several requests for gentle homemade lotion and soap recipes that would be suitable for extra sensitive skin, especially when it’s caused by cancer treatments. I shared some extra gentle soap recipes in that article, and today will cover lotions. There are two different recipes options…
This after bath sleepy time lotion recipe was requested by newsletter subscriber Bonnie who was seeking a simple non-greasy lotion or cream, not based on coconut oil, that could be used on a 2 1/2 year old after her bath. She also wanted it to be lightly scented with lavender or a blend of essential…
This recipe was inspired by newsletter subscriber Bonnie, who was seeking a lotion bar in a deodorant stick container for achy muscles and arthritic pain. It features a trio of herbs: (Sources: Making Plant Medicine, by Richo Cech; PubMed: here, here, here, here, here, here.) The lotion bar stick format is especially handy for products made with cayenne, since…
If you suffer from dry chapped lips, try these seven DIY recipes to help soothe, heal and protect. There are many oil, butter, herb and essential oil choices when it comes to making lip care products. If you’d like to further customize these recipes or swap out oils that you don’t have, be sure to…
This DIY eczema cream recipe features: Eczema is a miserable condition that causes skin to be intensely itchy and inflamed. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common forms of eczema, so you’ll sometimes see the two terms interchanged. I had severe eczema as a kid and still get the occasional flareup in winter,…
A few weeks ago, I asked my newsletter subscribers for their input on projects that I can make and share throughout 2018. This recipe was inspired by Tree Lady Kay’s request for a lotion bar for some hardworking lawn maintenance men whose hands see all kinds of weather conditions, soil, water, concrete, and more. In…
Bath bombs are loved by many and a popular gift to give, but figuring out how to package them can be a pain point. Below, are the methods I use to package both individual bath bombs and bath bomb gift boxes. I’ve also included a video tutorial on how to create personalized labels for your…
Starting this month, and going forward into 2018, my goal is to get back to the “mad scientist mode” I enjoyed when my blog was younger. I’ve spent so much time on projects outside of the blog, that I kind of forgot the whole reason I do what I do. I love making products that…
Recently, a nurse I know asked if I could make her a hand cream. Because she has to wash her hands so frequently, they’d gotten really dry and cracked. She requested a rose or honeysuckle fragrance, but since it’s hard to naturally capture the scent of honeysuckle, I went with rose. Below are two versions…
A Complete Guide to Make Your Own Lip Balm Recipes – Learn about which oils, butters, herbs & essential oils to use to design your own custom lip balms from scratch! If you look closely at the homemade lip balm recipes that I’ve shared to date, you’ll note that they have similar ratios of oils, beeswax,…
This beautiful soak, filled with colorful flowers and a pretty floral scent, is reminiscent of a walk through a flower garden on a lovely spring day. You can use any combination of dried flowers that you like. For this batch shown, I used cornflower, rose and calendula. (You can also find this recipe in my…
This bath helps relax tense, sore muscles, yet doesn’t leave you smelling of a medicinal vapor rub. The aroma will soothe frayed nerves, but won’t lull you to sleep. It’s useful to relieve soreness and aches and pains. It also smells fantastic and is just the thing to use next time you feel a little…
This echinacea salve is made from the leaves & flowers of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). It’s simple to make & handy to keep in your first aid kit or backpack while hiking and camping. In his excellent book, Making Plant Medicine, herbalist Richo Cech mentions that a salve made with dried echinacea flowers and leaves is…
This rose petal salve recipe is made with real rose petals along with rosehip seed oil, which has amazing benefits when applied to mature, sun-damaged, dry, or irritated skin. Today’s project is Rose Petal Salve! I like to enrich this salve with Rosehip Seed Oil which is well known for its anti-aging and skin healing…
This salve features elder flowers, which are an old-fashioned remedy for softer, more evenly toned skin. Elder flowers are also traditionally used to heal scrapes, scratches and wounds, and as a treatment for dry skin. I like to include rosehip seed oil in this salve, for its well known effectiveness against scarring, wrinkles and signs of aging. The…
Learn how to use common weeds growing in your backyard to make a dandelion salve that’s useful for sore muscles, achy and arthritic joints, and rough chapped skin. Dandelion salve is especially ideal for those who work outdoors and with their hands a lot! Dandelions are one of my favorite plants! They’re the epitome of…
Today’s herbal massage melts recipe is a special feature from the new book The Beeswax Workshop by Chris Dalziel. It’s a fantastic book filled with 130+ recipes and ideas for using beeswax to make everything from candles, soaps and personal care products to surfboard wax, shoe polish and beeswax crayons. Reading through this book, I was…
These beautiful heart-shaped bath bombs are naturally colored with rose clay and scented with a relaxing blend of essential oils, while creamy cocoa butter and milk powder are added for their extra skin-loving benefits. To use, run a comfortably warm bath then drop a bath bomb into the water. Watch it fizz and enjoy a…
These scrub cubes feature creamy cocoa butter combined with coffee grounds and brown sugar to gently polish away dull flaky skin. Use 1 or 2 cubes during your shower or bath, rubbing over rough areas of skin that need exfoliating. They’re especially effective on dry feet, knees and elbows. The heat from your skin will melt the…
Today, I have the great pleasure of sharing this lovely lemon honey balm recipe created by one of my favorite bloggers, JES from the Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth blog. It features: lemon-infused oil coconut oil beeswax and honey The directions are excerpted (with permission) from her wonderful new ebook that’s filled to the brim with creative ideas for using…
