Honeysuckle Orangeade is a refreshing summer drink recipe with the added benefits of honeysuckle herbal tea. It’s easy to make, kid-friendly and was so well received by my family, I barely got photos of it before they drank every last drop. My goats also seemed fascinated! :) How to Make Honeysuckle Orangeade Step 1: Make…
This salve captures the essence of two well-loved summer flowers – roses and honeysuckle. Roses are often used in skin care recipes for their cooling and anti-inflammatory properties. Honeysuckle flowers, while better known for treating flu and viruses internally, can also be used as a skin soothing component in skin care formulations. A touch of rose (or geranium)…
This herbal vinegar face soap recipe features sage for its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties, plus chlorella, a nutritious algae that has impressive acne fighting and anti-aging skin benefits. It’s especially helpful for those with normal to oily, or acne-prone skin. Sage & Chlorella – for potential skin benefits & natural color This face soap recipe features…
Do you want to make your own aloe vera soap using fresh aloe? If so, then this tutorial is just for you! I’ve also included a gentle aloe vera facial soap recipe, along with a variety of ingredient substitution ideas. With a little bit of preparation, fresh aloe can be used to replace part (or…
Learn how to turn the common dandelions in your backyard into these super soothing lotion bars for dry, cracked, and damaged hands! I originally made these lotion bars for my husband. His primary job is as a rock mason and the mortar and rough stone often leaves his hands dry, cracked, and bleeding. At night,…
This lavender rose balm recipe was requested by newsletter subscriber Patti, especially for her mom who gets sore from sitting in a wheelchair. Patti’s mom loves lavender and roses so I combined the two scents together along with calendula in a balm designed to help soothe and heal chapped irritated skin. To get the creamy…
These pretty spring flower foot scrub bars are simple to make and require just three ingredients. Use them to polish and prepare your feet for sandal weather! (You can also find this recipe on page 119 inside my print book, 101 Easy Homemade Products for Your Skin, Health & Home. Available at Amazon, Barnes &…
To accompany my Calendula Shave Soap Recipe, I though it’d be helpful to write up some FAQS I’ve received about how to create your own shave soap recipe. This information is also useful to know if you want to make substitutions in an existing recipe you’ve found in a book or online and aren’t sure…
This calendula shave soap recipe was requested by newsletter subscriber Lianne, which was perfect timing since my husband also requested some new shave soap. :) It includes both sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, plus has a high amount of stearic acid in order to produce a dense lather that’s perfect for shaving. Most shave soap…
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, or if it’s from having eczema or another skin condition. I shared some extra gentle soap recipes in that article, and…
These mild unscented soap recipes are extra gentle and can be made especially for loved ones who have allergies, eczema, or are going through cancer treatments and have sensitive and more fragile skin. The goal here is to especially avoid irritants such as fragrances, overly cleansing ingredients, or scratchy exfoliants. Choose a Recipe: Extra Gentle…
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…
Pencil lines in soap are thin horizontal lines that are created by lightly dusting a powdered colorant over a layer of freshly poured cold process soap batter, before adding the next layer on top. They’re a fun and relatively easy way to add visual interest to your soap recipes. While micas or charcoal, or my…
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,…
Energize your mornings with these DIY aromatherapy shower steamers (also called shower bombs) featuring natural ingredients & essential oils to wake you up. This recipe was inspired by newsletter subscriber, Melody. She makes sinus bombs for the shower when her family has colds and also wanted to make some “wake up” bombs, but wasn’t sure…
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…
