Honey (buzz, buzz)

Honey

One of my favorite healing and nourishing additives is honey. I love honey. Dark honey, light honey, clover honey, Vancouver Island Honey, Peace River Honey, Australian honeys, honey comb, honey capping's, my Scottish Heather honey I brought back from a trip to Scotland, I could go on for ages. I've never met a honey I didn't like.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock contributor, Sergey Peterman 

Why do I like it so much? The first reason is it is a culinary treat. To me, no honey tastes the same but they are all sweet and do lovely things to my palate. I prefer unpasteurized raw honeys but creamed honey with almond essence is really  amazing. Here is an unsolicited product plug: If you live near Vancouver Island you really need to try Van Isle Aperies Almond Flavored Creamed Honey! Um, yum.

The next reason is that the nutritive value in this sugar source is substantial when compared to other sugars. Unpasteurized honey is a rich array of complex sugars, amino acids, minerals, vitamins and even has antioxidant properties. I was recently given a full comb of mature capped honey from a retired beekeeper who is now a very good friend. My boys love to chew the wax and honey even though they KNOW bugs crawled all over it and jokingly tease each other about their love of bee puke (their words not mine). What other food in the world can boast these wonderful properties and be entirely manufactured by bugs (my favorite bee--the honey bee). If you want to know the exact list of nutrients in honey here is a Wiki Link you might enjoy- Honey . Of course remember, the nutrients vary with the diet of the bees who produce it.

I also use honey in lip balms, lotions and facial treatments. The natural aroma can be intensified by the addition of essential oils such as patchouli or vanilla.  Honey all on it's own has this amazing meadow in bloom smell that has to be my favorite all time scent. At the top of my favorite running trail I catch a whiff of the scent of my bees. My husband can't detect it and I think he thinks I'm a little nuts when I remark on the amazing perfume in the air. My hives reek of it and I love working with the bees and enjoying their essence.

I even use honey for first aid treatments. It's soothing but can sometimes sting at first, on a cut or scrape but it seems to me that the wounds heal and pain disappears faster than when left untreated. In medieval times it was part of many healers potions and salves. Use only raw honey. The reason why? It works.

Now for the recipes...

This first one is a teaser from the next edition my book Beauty Crafts...

Honey Bee Lip Balm

2 Tablespoons Virgin Coconut Oil

2 Tablespoons natural Beeswax Beads

1 teaspoon Almond Oil

1/2 teaspoon Castor Oil

1 teaspoon of your favorite honey

Melt beeswax in a double boiler. Remove from heat. Add the remaining ingredients and stir well. Keep stirring vigorously as it cools or the honey will pool on the bottom. You can use a ice water bath on the outside of the double boiler to speed up the process.  Pot into small jars with tight seals. This will melt on hot days so store in a cool place in an upright position.

**Use cookware and utensils that are disposable as this mixture is very difficult to clean. A tin can works well as a double boiler and a fork works well as a whisk.

This next recipe was a custom order I used to consign at Babes Honey Farm years ago. Babe told me once that she loved it so much that she kept most of the bars for herself! Here is the recipe if you would like to try this wonderful soap...

Babes Raspberry Honey Bars

1 lb Honey Melt and Pour Soap

1  two week cured and pH tested recipe raspberry Palm Blend Soap from Scratch

(recipe follows)

Spritz the raspberry scented Palm Blend Soap with vodka or other high grade alcohol. Pour melted honey soap over the raspberry layer. Allow to cool and harden at room temperature. Carefully slice into bars. If they separate while cutting, 'glue' them back together with water and allow them to dry undisturbed for several hours.

This recipe is from Beauty Crafts...

Raspberry Palm Blend

150 grams coconut oil

150 grams olive oil

150 grams palm oil

169 ml water

65 g. sodium hydroxide.

Follow the directions for making cold process soap...

Assemble your tools:

Deep stainless steel cooking pot 10 litres or more

Rubber gloves

1 gallon ice cream bucket

2 Plastic stirring spoons

Hand Mixer (a.k.a. stick blender)

A good kitchen scale (one that measures in standard & metric as the recipes differ & also the results will differ widely)

Plastic soap mold (square plastic food storage containers work well--use a casserole or deep large size)

Lemon juice or vinegar—first aid precaution in case skin comes in contact with lye. If you feel an itch or burn anywhere splash the skin liberally with lemon juice or vinegar to counteract the basic nature of the lye. Rinse well with water.

Assemble ingredients:

Oils /fat/butters

Distilled water

Sodium hydroxide (lye) (look in the cleaning supplies or plumbing supply aisle in your local grocery store.)

Fillers Fragrance/essential oils

Colorants

Put on safety gear:

Goggles or glasses

Rubber gloves

Long shirt sleeves or smock (lab coat works very well)

Long pants Shoes

Socks (Don’t laugh, I got burned by not wearing socks!)

Directions:

Carefully volume measure your water and pour into small plastic bowl. Using the scale measure the sodium hydroxide. In a well-ventilated area (such as outside), carefully add the sodium hydroxide, a little at a time. Stir after each addition. Stir until  all crystals are dissolved. Be sure to avert your face to avoid inhaling fumes. The fumes can burn the lungs and cause damage to tissue they come in contact with. Wear a mask if you are unable to avoid inhalation of the steam from the lye-water reaction. The mixture will become very hot. Cover and allow mixture to cool in a safe place away from pets or children.

Weigh your oils and melt on the stove over medium heat until melted. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.

Both the lye and the oil mixtures should be approximately the same temperature when combining.

Pour sodium hydroxide mixture (still quite hot) a small amount at a time, into the melted oils (hot).  Add 1 teaspoon of Red Soap Tint and 15 ml raspberry fragrance oil.

Using a hand blender (goggles on please boys and girls) blend until emulsified. Once it thickens to a pudding consistency pour into a plastic mold (for square bars the size of a loaf pan). Make sure your mold is deep enough (4-5 inches at least) because you will be adding more soap later.

Cover and wrap carefully in towels to insulate the soap. After 24 hours, check the soap. It should be firm enough to remove from the mold. Uncover the mold and allow it to air dry and cure for 1-2 weeks. Check for safety of use (pH 7-10). Use litmus paper and dip it into the bubbles for your reading.

Sugar!!!????

Sugar

Sugar is a very popular additive for cosmetics these days. It is a bigger 'craze' than the bacon products. The most popular products are types of 'scrubs'. What is a scrub? A scrub is a exfoliate for the skin.  Sugar is very gentle to the skin and isn't as irritable to open sores as salt which is also a popular scrub ingredient. The most favored types of scrubs are solid sugar scrubs and cream based sugar scrubs. Two of my favorites are Brown Sugar Body Scrub and Mojito Lip Scrub (posted here on June 5, 2012). I recently designed two different solid sugar scrubs which can also be used in the bath. One is soap based and the other is oil based for extra moisturizing.

Honey is another sugar that has cosmetic benefits but we'll save that discussion for next time.

So here are the recipes...

Brown Sugar Scrub

4 c. Brown Sugar

1-2 c. Unscented thick skin cream or lotion

1 T. Almond fragrance 

Measure the brown sugar into a large bowl. Add cream or lotion until desired consistancy is achieved (some prefer a thicker scrub paste. Add fragrance oil (you can us your favorite of course--almond is mine). Mix well and store in a cool dry place.

To use in the bath or shower. Rub handfuls of the scrub all over the body avoiding delicate areas (be gentle to your skin). Rinse well.

White Sugar Scrub

 4 c. white sugar

2 T. Vitamin E oil

4 T. Jojoba 

Almond Oil (not fragrance)

1/2 t. Sweet Birch essential oil

 Fill your container with sugar. Add vitamin E and Jojoba. Add fragrance. Slowly add the Almond oil until desired consistency is achieved. 

This sugar scrub is oilier and more moisturizing than the Brown Sugar Scrub. It is especially good for those with dry skin or for use during the harsher winter months. Sweet Birch essential oil smells like a wintergreen candy and leaves the skin tingly like a mint soap. If you prefer not to tingle pick your favorite fragrance or essential oil. You can tint it to match the scent. Use 1 tsp food grade dye or soap tint.

Soapy Solid Sugar Scrub

1 c. melt and pour soap base.

1 1/2 -2 c. sugar (regular white)

1/2 tsp fragrance

Melt the soap base in the microwave. Mix in the fragrance oil.  Add the sugar until it resembles a paste. Pack into molds. Cool and pop out of the molds. Store in a cool dry place until ready to use.

Melty Solid Sugar Scrub

1 c. cocoa butter

1/2 c. virgin coconut oil

1-2 c. sugar

1/2 tsp fragrance (optional)

Melt the cocoa butter and coconut oil. Add fragrance oil. Mix in sugar until you get a thick paste (as much as you can with it still sticking (make a snowball and it doesn't fall apart). If you add too much sugar add more coconut oil. Pack into soap molds or small plastic cups. Pop into the refrigerator so the oils will set firmly and quickly. You can also use ice cube trays for this one. It's the perfect size for a single bath or shower.

Using natural cocoa butter makes these melty solid sugar scrubs smell like chocolate so pick a fragrance that goes well with both cocoa butter and coconut. I prefer not to add any scent as coconut candy bar scent is pretty awesome.

 P.S. This one even tastes good and can be used on the lips to remove dry skin. ** *Just be gentle.

These make great Valentine's Day gifts. Tint pink and tie with a bow and you are set to wow all your favorite valentines!

Pictures to follow... Enjoy!!

Tingle Soap Wild Mint

One of my favorite soaps to make is made with peppermint essential oil. This past week I discovered Mentha Arvensis which smells a lot like peppermint but is actually Wild Mint. Here is a link that tells you more about Mentha Arvensis...Wiki link to mentha arvensis

 My source is organic which is always nice and 'tingles' in soap just like peppermint.  For all those who wanted the recipe here you go...

Wild Mint Tingle Soap

1 lb melt and pour goat milk base

15 ml Mentha Arvensis essential oil

1/2 c. ground oatmeal

Melt the soap base. Cool until thickening but still pourable. Add the essential oil and ground oatmeal. Stir well and cover until hardened. Cut into 4-6 bars of soap. Wrap each well and store in a cool dark place just as you would essential oils. Use within 6 months --essential oils evaporate quickly so make only as much as you will use. You can try adding the eo's to a Tablespoon of orris root powder and it will hold the scent longer.

Warning: This really DOES tingle sensitive parts. It won't burn the skin in this dilution. But it does leave a cooling tingle that lasts for 20 min to an hour. 

Camping Essentials, Essential Oils That Is...

I recently returned from my first true camping with a tent trip. It was really fun, super hard but full of  unknown dangers. I thought I'd take the time to give you some tried and true tips to using essential oils in your first aid kit. Here I will update periodically as I learn what works well in the wild, so this is just the first instalment of this post so check back from time to time for more ideas for natural protection from the Wild.

I visited the forested area around Shawnigan Lake this past week with my daughters and a group of girls from my church aged 12-18. One of my daughters has CP (cerebral palsy) so I was really nervous about taking her to the Wild. I live on Vancouver Island  in British Columbia and we have a lot of forested areas that are amazing to camp at. What I didn't realise is that many areas are called Stinging Nettle Forests for a reason. So as soon as we started setting up camp many of the girls were running and yelping (okay so I was the one yelping) about the abundance of Nettle. It was EVERYWHERE!  Here are some ways we dealt with the pain of our injuries...

One leader suggested tooth paste would soothe the pain. I didn't want more sticky goop on my skin so I thought about what in toothpaste might stop the pain...PEPPERMINT! I brought my 'Just Breathe' with me (a blend of secret essential oils one of which is Peppermint) and Voila! No more itchy stingy sensations on my ankles and calves. Never use EO's full strength on the body. Most need a carrier oil such as Amond Oil to make them skin safe.  Here are two recipes for Stinging Nettle Soother...

Stinging Nettle Soother #1

10 ml Almond Oil

1 ml Peppermint Essential Oil

Blend the oils and store in an amber dropper bottle. The peppermint really did help my stings and some others agreed--others individuals needed repeat applications.

Stinging Nettle Soother #2

1/4 c. baking soda

1 ml pepermint essential oil

1 ml tea tree essential oil 

10 ml almond oil

 Mix the essential oils into the baking soda. A plastic baggie works well at evenly mixing the oils with the soda. According to the article below this formula works because the nettle sting is acidic and the basic nature of soda counteracts the sting efficacy. I like it because it isn't goopy or sticky. Store in an amber cream jar.

 

Here is a link to other ways to deal with nettle stings... Stinging Nettle Treatments

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto free pics.

Medlar Facial Mask Recipe

Medlar is a fruit that is more popular in Europe than in North America. You can buy the fruit paste at some high end gourmet grocery stores. So far I haven't found it for sale online. If you have access to the fruit, here is a link to a good medlar jelly recipe. I planted one in my yard here in Victoria, BC and the first year it produced fruit. It has the most lovely white flowers that bloom after the leaves have sprouted. Here is a close up of  blossoms on my tree in bloom...

Medlar is primarily used to make fruit pastes due to its high pectin content. Fruit pulp is really good for the skin and is often used in fresh preparations.  The fruit is harvested once it becomes soft on the tree.

It has a sweet sticky consistency.  The scent of medlar reminds me of pears so I like to combine the two fruits. Last year I made a fruit paste. From that fruit paste I have tested the medlars cosmetic 'worthiness'. If you can't get medlar feel free to substitute pears.

It makes a lovely soap. Here is a medlar soap recipe you can try...

Medlar Pear Soap

1 lb Crystal Melt and Pour

2 oz Medlar Fruit Paste

 1 T. unscented cocoa butter

 15 ml Brandied Pear Fragrance Oil

Melt the soap at a low temperature or microwave on high for 1 min. intervals, stirring between. When soap is no longer 'steaming hot' and yet liquid add the fruit paste, cocoa butter, and fragrance oil. Pour into a 1 lb mold. Once cooled and hardened cut into 4 large bars. You can add soap tint to this but I prefer it slightly brown from the fruit. The Brandied Pear fragrance is heavenly! It also turns the soap a golden yellow over time.

Alpha and beta hydroxies are used in the cosmetic industry to reverse the aging process claimed by time. They are particularly effective in facial products. Acidic fruits such as oranges and apples are naturally rich in these chemicals. Since less is known about medlar's chemical compostition I formulated with known sources to increase its effectiveness. The alphas will 'burn' or itch and the betas counteract that effect by soothing the skin. I used a combination of these to create my Medlar Facial Mask.

Medlar Facial Mask

1 Tablespoon Medlar fruit paste or jam
2 T. apple puree (raw Alpha source)

2 T.  almond meal/flour

1 T. pink clay 
1 tsp. green tea powder (Matcha--Beta source)

1 teaspoon virgin coconut oil

Melt the coconut oil and mix in the fruit paste. Add the almond meal. If the mixture is too thick, add water to make it the consistency of pudding (spreadable). Apply liberally to the face. Let dry for 30 min. Wash carefully, by warming a wet towel and soaking it off the skin. Rubbing too vigorously will damage the delicate tissue of the skin. Follow up with your favorite moisturizer. If you have oily skin you can leave out the coconut oil. Smells good enough to eat, but please do not.

This is a single use mask recipe---discard leftovers or freeze for a later time. I often use a ice cube tray to freeze my fresh preparations.

As with all preparations for the skin, allergy test it on a small portion of skin before applying it to large areas of the body such as the entire face. Inside of the wrist application for 15 min then checking for redness or itch is an easy test to perform before using a new product.

 

Ickle Baby Bum Cream

As the mother of 5 of my own children and several others, I've had vast experience with babies and their delicate skin. Dealing with 'mystery rashes' that babies develop can be scary for a new mom to handle.

Most conditions can be solved without antibiotic or cortisone creams. Sticky zinc creams will stain washable diapers. Try these first and see if they help the baby bum burn...


This first recipe I used with all of my babies. It was originally developed for a friend who had severe eczema. She had twins who also suffered from this condition and it helped elevate some of the itchiness and promoted healing.

Chickweed Salve

8 oz olive oil

 2 c. dried chickweed

2 oz beeswax

1 tsp lavender essential oil

1/2 tsp tea tree essential oil 

Warm the olive oil and add the chickweed. Allow to steep for 3 days. Drain off the herb. Warm the beeswax in a double boiler (put wax in a tin can). Warm the olive oil blend and add the melted wax. Once the mixture is no longer hot to the touch and beginning to thicken, add the essential oils. Store in a dark container in a cool place. Test the skin for allergy before using any new skin product...apply a tiny amount to the inside wrist. Wait 20 min to an hour. If no rash or redness appears this is most likely safe for you to use.

Ickle Baby Bum Cream was developed in the last couple of years and it is very good for healing and soothing chapped skin as well as those rashes. It is also the simplest of my formulae and sometimes basic is best.

Ickle Baby Bum Cream 

1 cup virgin coconut oil

20 drops lavender essential oil 

Melt the coconut oil. When cool add the lavender essential oil. The best storage container for any product containing essential oils is amber or other dark glass.  Store in a cool dark place. 

This last recipe is much better for baby bums than talc.

Natural Baby Powder

2 c. cornstarch

10 drops rose essential oil

10 drops vanilla essential oil

Add the essential oils to a tablespoon of cornstarch. Mix well by rubbing the spoon against the powder. Slowly add more cornstarch mixing well each time. This blend of essential oils will give you a natural baby powder scent. I also enjoy substituting lavender or tea tree as both have healing properties and smell nice. If you want you can forgo the essential oils and leave it unscented. Fill a empty baby powder container or a salt shaker with larger holes to dispense. Ideally your container should have some type of lid.

Pop Rocks Snap Crackle Soap

I have favorite cosmetic companies that I buy products from. It's kind of like going to various bakers for your favorite foods. One of those companies that has my regular patronage is Lush Handmade Bath Products. Here is a link for you to have a browse around...

Lush Handmade Cosmetics 

Why do I like Lush? Because I always find something new to tempt my skin. There are few brave souls in my family that can visit the Lusheous heady aroma of the Lush store. I love it! Last year I bought scads of their Toothpaste Tabs and Sugar Scrub Lip treatments. One of those lip treats was called Pow Wow. It was yummy and also worked really good at removing dead skin. The problem with Lush is they discontinue their products too fast IMO. So what's a girl to do? Make a copy cat or forever do without, that's what!

 Mojito Lip Scrub

1 Tablespoon virgin coconut oil

1 Tablespoon jojoba

1/4 c. sugar

10 drops lime essential oil

1 drop peppermint essential oil

1- 9.5 gram package green pop rocks type candy

Melt the coconut oil. Add the jojoba and sugar. Add pop rocks, and essential oils. If you want it more like the lush version of their discontinued Pow Wow leave out the peppermint. Pot into small containers. Makes 10 lip scrubs---lots for yourself and it makes a wonderful gift.

 To use: Wet the lips. Taking a very small (1/16 teaspoon) amount rub over the lips. Rub gently to loosen dead skin. Lick off the extra scrub. It tastes amazing!

CAUTION: Use only once or twice per day at the most! If you overuse it your lips will become sore and may get a 'lip scrub burn'. Be gentle with your lips. Dry lips are also a sign of dehydration. If you suffer from this condition, try to increase your water intake.

Since discovering that Pop Rocks make a fun additive cosmetic ingredient,
I thought I'd try it in a soap. I wanted the soap to crackle while you used it. Embedding the crystals in the soap makes it a great scrubby. The popping and snapping going on while you use it is a lot of fun!

Snap Crackle Pop Soap

100 g. melt and pour soap

2 packages  Pop Rocks type candy

10 drops lime essential oil

10 drops lemon essential oil

10 drops grapefruit essential oil

Crush one package of the pop rocks candy until a fine powder.

Melt the soap in the microwave for 30 second intervals until liquid.

 Allow to cool until no longer steaming. Add the essential oils and soap tint.

Once it begins to thicken add the crushed pop rocks. If you add to liquid soap the reaction will be used up in the soap and there will be no 'snap, crackle' to your soap.

Next, hand form and press your soap into a mold such as a muffin tin. Flexible molds work better than metal ones. I used a knife to remove mine below...

Melt some more white base and dip the soap to give it a smooth and shiny appearance.

Finally, Sprinkle dipped soap with additional Pop Rocks or other fizzy candy.

My kids love it when I make this one. Here is the proof...

Warning: Be prepared for lots of giggles the first time a child uses this soap! The toppings make a nice snap crackle at the first washing, but the smaller particles as you use the soap you have to listen really hard for, but it's nice not to have the sharp bits while washing.

You can also add fizzy candy to your favourite bath bomb or bath powder recipes. Here is one that I really like...

Cherry Bomb

1 c. baking soda

1/4 c. citric acid

1 package  Cherry Pop Rocks 

5 drops almond fragrance (benzylaldhyde)

5 drops soap tint.

Mix the baking soda and citric acid.

Add the soap tint and fragrance. Mix it well, rubbing the color to blend it to a pink. 

Spritz with water/witch hazel solution until you can make a 'snow ball'. Over spritzing will use up the reaction so be very cautious and use a fine mister. 

Add pop rocks last, while molding into shapes. Pop out of mold carefully and allow to dry naturally or in a slow oven on rainy days. (prop your oven open a crack and set to about 150 F)

Use one whole 'bomb' per bath. Fizzy Bliss!

As with all preparations for the skin, allergy test it on a small portion of skin before applying it to large areas of the body such as the entire face. Inside of the wrist application for 15 min then checking for redness or itch is an easy test to perform before using a new product.