Peppermint Beeswax Lip Balm

I get really chapped lips, as does my kids, so we always have lip gloss in hand it seems. My twins thought this was candy and if I didn't watch, it was all over them and the floor, the couch, you name it! So then I started to worry about what was in the lip balm and checked out pinterest. Seemed simple enough to make naturally. My first trial was not good at all - it was more beeswax and no shea/cocoa butter - it worked but was super hard. So I tried again, reading up on several mixes online and making it work for us. Hope you enjoy.

The Mix:
1.5 tbsp. Beeswax
1 tbsp. coconut oil
1 tbsp. Shea or cocoa butter
2 tbsp. Sweet almond oil (or Hazelnut oil)
10 drops Vitamin E oil
* 20 or more drops of Peppermint essential oil
* 2 tsp cocoa powder
* 2 tsp honey
* optional item

Don't forget something to put the balm in. This makes a nice consistency for little round containers with lids. you can also make it with a bit more beeswax and less other oil to put into tubes. It depends on your size on container how many you will make. Mine were 5 gram plastic round ones I found on amazon. it makes about 10-20 depending on what I'm messing with that day.


I make this using a crockpot I picked up cheap on Black Friday. You can also use a double boiler or microwave.

I have tried this with Shea butter with and without cocoa powder (for the chocolate minty taste). and the same with cocoa butter. I tend to like the Shea with cocoa best - as do my kids.

The directions:

Step 1:

Throw the beeswax in the crock and let melt. This takes while depending on the wax - I hear pellets melt faster but mine came from a local bee keeper. One this part is done, the rest goes fast.

Step 2:

Add coconut oil, Shea or cocoa butter, and vitamin E. Note: if using cocoa make sure you move when it's melted as it can overlook.

 

Step 3:

If you are adding fragrance oil, cocoa powder, or honey now is the time. the powder and honey can settle so you want to mix, pour, mix pour, etc as you are pouring your balm into the containers.

 

Step 4:

Pour into containers and let set up until it looks and feels hard. When I'm impatient I put them in the freezer to set up ;)

 

Voila - lip balm - mix and match to make it work for you. other oils that are tasty you can do as well.

Oatmeal lotion bars

I Who knew lotion can be a bar! I was very excited to try this. I work on computers all day and putting on lotion seems to never happen when I'm there but I have really dry hands so this looked like something to try. I've tried this recipe a few ways - so far with Shea and oatmeal is my favorite. I also get eczema on my fingers and this is very helpful in keeping it under control.

The Mix:

1/4 cup of beeswax (4tbs, 2oz same thing)

1/4 cup Shea butter or cocoa butter 

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 tsp vitamin E oil

* 1 tbsp of ground oats

* 10 or so drops of fragrance oil

*optional

I make this using a crockpot I picked up cheap on Black Friday. You can also use a double boiler or microwave. 

The directions:

Step 1:

Throw the beeswax in the crock  and let melt. This takes while depending on the wax - I hear pellets melt faster but mine came from a local bee keeper. Once this part is done, the rest goes fast.

Step 2:

Add coconut oil, Shea or cocoa butter, and vitamin E. Note: if using cocoa make sure you move when it's melted as it can overcook. 

Step 3:

If you are adding fragrance oil or oats now is the time. I have old fashion oats that I threw in a food processor to grind up as fine as I can get. I then mixed these in. When pouring the molds the larger pieces fell to the bottom and made it like an exfoliating lotion bar on one side.

Step 4:

Pour into molds. I use silicon ones for ease. When I'm impatient I put them in the freezer to set up ;)

 

Voila - lotion bars. I have also swapped in some almond oil and/or hazelnut oil for part of the coconut oil- these are great for eczema and sensitive skin. 

 

Brown Sugar Scrub

So about two years ago I was introduced to sugar scrub. Once I found out what it was and how to use it - I loved it and had to have more. So I did what I always do: read the basic recipes, did a few trial and errors and altered it to make it work well for eczema and sensitive skin. Voila! You have my recipe below! This makes a sugar cookie smell :) but you can always alter and make it work for you.

The Mix:

2 tsp almond oil

2 tsp hazelnut oil

2 tbs coconut oil

1/3 white sugar

2/3 brown sugar

1/4 tsp honey

10 drops vitamin E oil

7 drops vanilla oil 

Makes 8 oz of sugar scrub.

Note: I like mine with all brown sugar sometimes too!

How to mix:

Step 1: Melt the coconut oil.

Step 2: mix the oils together 

Step 3: put sugar mix in the container you want

Step 4: pour oils over the sugar

From here you can either let gravity make it happen or mix away. Voila you have sugar scrub ;)

How to use: 

If you are in a colder climate - warm before use or the coconut oil will be hard. I throw mine in the bottom of the tub during a shower and use at the end - it warms it up perfect. I like plastic lidded containers for this reason.

Then mix up if needed and rub on then rinse off and pat dry.

Enjoy