Learn how to create your own natural homemade aftershave with herbs, spices and other healthy ingredients. I also include 3 aftershave recipes to get you started: Bay Rum, Juniper Woods, and Cedarwood & Vetiver. Several months ago, my husband requested that I create some natural aftershave recipes for him. In preparation, I spent a long […]
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Learn why you need lye to make soap and how to handle it safely. Our great great grandmothers made soap without having to use a caustic chemical, so why do we? The short answer is that our grandmothers manufactured their own caustic chemical of sorts, called potash, by combining hardwood ashes and water. This created […]
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Learn how to make this non-toxic homemade natural deodorant recipe that features sweet orange and frankincense essential oils, along with herbal infused coconut oil for extra skin-soothing properties. This recipe makes a cream style natural deodorant that you store in a jar and spread on with your fingers. You only need a small amount to […]
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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! :) I was inspired to make this recipe […]
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While there are other methods of making soap (hot process and melt & pour), this soap making 101 tutorial provides a basic overview on how to make soap the cold process way. It will be added to my Natural Soap Making page along with other helpful links and recipes; so be sure to bookmark or pin it […]
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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) […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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, I put salve on them, and while that helped a lot, it just wasn’t enough. Lotion bars have a long history of […]
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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 […]
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These pretty spring flower foot scrub bars are simple to make and require just three ingredients. 1/4 cup sea salt 1/4 cup fresh flower petals or herbs (loosely packed) 2 Tbsp coconut oil Use them to polish and prepare your feet for sandal weather! (You can also find this recipe on page 119 inside my […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 soap recipes in that article, and today will cover lotions. There are two different recipes options provided below, […]
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A few months ago, I asked newsletter subscribers what they’d like to see me write about this year. (Not a subscriber yet? You can join us HERE.) Multiple readers asked for mild unscented soap and homemade lotion recipes that are extra gentle and can be made especially for loved ones that are going through cancer […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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: cayenne – contains capsaicin which has been shown to offer relief from arthritic and other types of pain ginger – traditionally used to warm, […]
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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 […]
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This tricolored soap was dreamed up by newsletter reader Patricia who wanted to make her friends a cute soap for Valentine’s Day. She requested a soap with three layers – chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, and wanted it to smell like strawberries and chocolate. While my version doesn’t smell like strawberries since I have family members […]
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