by Jan Berry
YIELD: 4 OUNCES (120 ML)
¼ cup (71 g) coarse sea salt
½ tbsp (7 ml) calendula-infused sweet almond oil (see here for how to infuse oil)
1 tsp raw honey
1½ tbsp (22 ml) liquid castile soap
⅛ tsp ginger
tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp pure vanilla extract
Place all of the ingredients in a small mixing bowl and stir together until completely combined. Some brands of castile soap have a stronger scent than others, so smell the mixture to determine if it needs more vanilla or spices, and add extra of those ingredients if desired.
Spoon the mixture into a 4-ounce (120-ml) jar.
For best results, apply the scrub to skin dampened by a shower or bath. Scoop out a small amount and rub over dry spots and other places on your body in need of cleansing and exfoliation. You can also use this scrub as a hand wash. Rinse well with warm running water. Be careful if using in the shower or tub, since the oil might make the floor a little slippery.
See photo here.
Peony & Orange Sugar Scrub
Fresh peony petals are used to naturally color this invigorating hand and body scrub. For best color results, use dark pink or red flowers. The granulated sugar in this scrub polishes away dull flakiness and increases blood flow to the surface of the skin. Sunflower oil is added for its ability to protect and repair damaged skin. After using this scrub your skin will glow and feel silky and smooth!
YIELD: 4.5 OUNCES (130 G)
Small handful of fresh peony petals (about 5 g)
½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
2 to 3 tbsp (30 to 45 ml) sunflower or other light oil
3 drops sweet orange essential oil
FOR THE PEONY SUGAR
Place the peony petals and sugar in the bowl of a small food processor. Blend until an even texture and color is achieved. Spread the now-colored sugar in a single layer over a sheet of wax paper and allow it to air dry for 1 to 2 days. Run through the food processor again, if needed, to break up any large chunks before proceeding with the recipe.
FOR THE SCRUB
Place the dried peony sugar in a small mixing bowl. Add the oil, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) at a time, stirring well after each addition. Continue adding oil until you’ve reached a consistency that you like. Add 3 drops of orange essential oil for scent. Stir well.
Store in a tightly sealed container, out of direct heat and sunlight. Your scrub should stay fresh for several months as long as you keep water out of it.
For best results, apply the scrub to skin dampened by a shower or bath. Scoop out a small amount and rub over dry spots and other places on your body in need of exfoliation. You can also use it as a hand scrub after washing your hands. Rinse well with warm running water. Be careful if using in the shower or tub, since the oil might make the floor a little slippery.
Variation: If you don’t have peonies growing near you, try pink or red rose or dianthus petals instead.
Whipped Spearmint Scrub Butter
Spearmint adds an uplifting and invigorating aroma to this scrub, which moisturizes as it exfoliates. Grapeseed was chosen for this recipe because it’s quickly absorbed and won’t leave an excessively oily feeling behind. If that’s not available, try sweet almond or sunflower oil instead. While this scrub can be used all over your body, it’s especially nice for relieving and rejuvenating tired, achy legs and feet.
YIELD: 5.5 OUNCES (156 G)
½ cup (112 g) shea, mango or avocado butter
2 tbsp (30 ml) mint-infused grapeseed oil (see here for how to infuse oil)
40 to 50 drops spearmint essential oil (optional)
¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
Place the shea, mango or avocado butter in a medium mixing bowl. For this recipe, you don’t need to melt the butter first. If the brand or type of butter that you have is excessively hard, try buying from another source. You want a slightly soft texture for this project.
Using a handheld or stand mixer, beat the butter for 2 to 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. If using an inexpensive handheld mixer, you may need to periodically stop beating while making this recipe so you won’t overheat the motor. Add the mint-infused oil and spearmint essential oil, then beat for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. The butter should now be light and fluffy, much like buttercream frosting.
Lightly fold the sugar into the whipped butter until it’s evenly distributed. Spoon into jars for storage.
For best results, apply the scrub to skin dampened by a shower or bath. Scoop out a small amount and rub over dry spots and other places on your body in need of exfoliation. Avoid using on the face or other sensitive areas. Rinse well with warm running water. Be careful when using in the shower or bath, since the oils from the scrub tend to make the floor a little slippery.
Store the scrub butter in a cool, dry area. Shelf life should be 3 to 6 months, but will be shortened considerably if water gets into the mix.
Variation: For a relaxing scrub butter, try substituting spearmint with lavender instead.
Floral Salt Foot Scrub Bars
By blending salt and fresh flowers together, then binding them with skin-softening coconut oil, you can create a rainbow of these naturally colored scrub bars that polish and smooth rough, dry feet. Some flowers that work well in this recipe include: violets, roses, dandelions, peonies, dianthus and forsythia. For a pretty green tint, try mint or lemon balm. While most scrubs should be used only once every week or two, if your feet are particularly rough or dry, you can use more often until the level of smoothness you desire is reached.
YIELD: 4 OR 5 SCRUB BARS
¼ cup (70 g) coarse sea salt
¼ cup (5 g) loosely packed fresh flower petals
2 tbsp (27 g) coconut oil
TO MAKE THE FLORAL SALTS
Using a small coffee grinder, blend the sea salt and flower petals together. Spread the now-colored salt onto a sheet of wax paper and allow to air-dry overnight. The salt helps to rapidly dry the fresh petals, without the fading of color that normally occurs when you dry flowers. The result is brightly colored salts that last for months and look beautiful in scrub and bath salt recipes.
TO MAKE THE SALT SCRUB BARS
Melt the coconut oil in a small saucepan. Stir in the floral-colored salt. Scoop the mixture into shaped silicone molds and place in the freezer for half an hour, or until solid.
These melt easily in warm weather, so store in an airtight container in your refrigerator or freezer.
Use one or two bars during bath time to scrub the bottom of your feet. The salts will dissolve into the bathwater after their exfoliating job is done, while the coconut oil stays behind to seal in moisture, leaving your skin soft and smooth. Be careful as you exit the tub, since the coconut oil can make the floor slippery.
Chamomile Brown Sugar Scrub Cubes
These scrub cubes feature brown sugar, which acts as a gentle exfoliant to polish away dull, flaky skin. Chamomile was selected for this recipe because it helps calm and soothe most skin types. Coconut oil is an excellent antimicrobial and moisturizer, but if you happen to be allergic to it, you can replace it with another oil, such as sunflower, olive or sweet almond. Honey always makes a great addition to skin care recipes because it leaves your skin feeling wonderfully rejuvenated after it’s washed off. Creamy cocoa butter binds all of these ingredients together in a convenient and easy-to-use cube form that will leave your skin feeling smooth and silky.
YIELD: 5 SCRUB CUBES
2 tbsp (28 g) cocoa butter
1½ tbsp (15 g) chamomile-infused coconut oil (see here for how to infuse oil)
½ tbsp (7 ml) raw honey
¼ cup (56 g) brown sugar
Place the cocoa butter and chamomile-infused coconut oil in a heatproof jar or, for easy cleanup, an empty unlined soup can. Place the jar or can into a saucepan containing a few inches (7 cm) of water. Set the pan over a medium-low burner until the cocoa butter is melted.
Remove from heat a
nd stir in the honey and brown sugar. Scoop the mixture into the sections of an ice cube tray, then place in the freezer until solid. Remove from the mold.
During summer and in warm climates, store the scrub cubes in a cool place or even your refrigerator to prevent melting.
Use 1 to 2 cubes during your shower or bath on dry, rough areas of skin that need exfoliating. These are especially effective on feet to help them get summer-sandal ready. Scrubs should generally be used only once every week or two, but if using on tough areas such as your feet, you can use them more often until you reach a level of smoothness you’re happy with. Be careful as you exit the tub after using a scrub cube, since the cocoa butter and coconut oil can make the floor slippery.
DIY Lip Care
There’s no need to spend a fortune on little tubes and jars of natural lip balms, glosses and scrubs from the store when you can make your own at home for far less!
Lip balm is probably one of the simplest DIY projects around and a fun activity for all ages. In this chapter, I share several of my favorite lip balm projects along with a couple of scrubs to help keep your lips smooth and flake-free.
Once you’ve tried your hand at making one of my recipes, you might want to jump in and create your own variations. I’ve got you covered with my detailed guide for making the perfect custom lip balm that’s just right for you!
Favorite Herbal Lip Balms
While I’ve listed a few fun lip balm recipes, they represent only a tiny fraction of the potential recipe combinations to be created. After you’ve tried out one or two of my projects, see here and try your hand at making your own custom lip balms from scratch!
The ingredients for each recipe are listed by weight. You’ll get the best results by using a digital scale to measure them out. I realize, though, that some may not have access to a scale, which makes it difficult to follow the recipes closely. Here are a few volume equivalents that might help you approximate the recipes more easily:
1 tbsp of oil = about 10 to 12 grams
1 tbsp cosmetic butter = about 14 grams
1 tbsp tightly packed beeswax, grated or pastilles = about 10 grams
The directions for each lip balm are the same, so choose one that sounds good to you (here and here), assemble the ingredients and follow the directions below.
To Make the Lip Balm or Tint
Combine the oil(s), butter (if using) and beeswax in a heatproof jar or container. For easy cleanup, you can use an empty, unlined tin can. If your recipe calls for alkanet root as a colorant, add it to the oils before heating.
Set the jar down into a saucepan that has 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) of water in the bottom, then place the pan over a medium-low burner until the wax is melted. Remove from heat, add essential oils, if desired, and pour into lip balm tubes or small tins.
Allow the lip balm to cool for several hours or until completely firm. Cap and store out of direct heat and sunlight. When stored properly, lip balm will stay fresh for around 6 to 9 months.
Classic Peppermint Lip Balm
Castor oil lends a slight glossy sheen and helps this minty fresh balm glide on smoothly, leaving lips feeling hydrated and refreshed.
YIELD: 12 TO 14 TUBES OF LIP BALM
1 oz (28 g) mint-infused sunflower oil (see here for how to infuse oil)
0.5 oz (14 g) castor oil
0.5 oz (14 g) beeswax
8 to 10 drops peppermint essential oil
Chocolate Mint Lip Balm
This lip balm has a yummy chocolate-mint flavor thanks to the addition of real chocolate chips and peppermint essential oil. Melt the chocolate chips in the same container and at the same time as you melt the beeswax and cocoa butter.
YIELD: 14 TO 16 TUBES OF LIP BALM
1.5 oz (42 g) mint-infused grapeseed oil (see here for how to infuse oil)
0.5 oz (14 g) cocoa butter
0.5 oz (14 g) beeswax
6 chocolate chips
10 to 12 drops peppermint essential oil
Basil & Lime Lip Balm
Basil is a terrific herb with anti-inflammatory and antiaging properties. Lime essential oil adds a sprightly flavor and scent, but double check that the brand you use is distilled, so that it doesn’t cause your lips to be more sensitive to sun exposure.
YIELD: 12 TO 14 TUBES OF LIP BALM
1 oz (28 g) basil-infused olive oil (see here for how to infuse oil)
0.5 oz (14 g) castor oil
0.5 oz (14 g) beeswax
10 to 12 drops distilled lime essential oil
Daisy Vanilla Lip Balm (1)
The common daisy has been studied and shown to have some quite remarkable healing properties. Use this balm on chapped or damaged lips. Vanilla absolute oil, which is not the same thing as vanilla extract, adds a nice bit of scent, but if you’re unable to procure some, you can omit it or try another essential oil, such as peppermint.
YIELD: 14 TO 16 TUBES OF LIP BALM
1.5 oz (42 g) daisy-infused olive oil (see here for how to infuse oils)
0.5 oz (14 g) mango butter
0.5 oz (14 g) beeswax
10 to 12 drops vanilla absolute oil
Dandelion Plantain Chapped Lip Treatment (2)
Dandelion and plantain are two of the greatest skin-healing herbs around. The best part about them is that often they’re available in your own yard, free for the picking! If you suffer from dry, chapped lips, try this recipe for soothing relief.
YIELD: 6 (0.5-OUNCE [14-G]) TINS
1 oz (28 g) dandelion-infused oil (see here for how to infuse oils)
1 oz (28 g) plantain-infused oil
0.5 oz (14 g) kokum butter
0.5 oz (14 g) castor oil
0.5 oz (14 g) beeswax
10 to 12 drops peppermint essential oil
Rosy Lip Tint (3)
Alkanet root provides the rosy red color in this lip balm that appears dark in the tin, but shows up as a sheer pale pink when rubbed over your lips. You can adjust the amount of alkanet root at will for lighter or darker shades of pink or red.
YIELD: 4 (0.5-OUNCE [14-G]) TINS
1.5 oz (42 g) rose-infused oil (see here for how to infuse oils)
0.5 oz (14 g) castor oil
0.5 oz (14 g) beeswax
⅛ tsp alkanet root
Vegan Sunflower Lip Tint
Sunflower wax is colorless, resulting in a pure white lip balm that takes color nicely. In keeping with the sunflower theme and because of its terrific skin conditioning properties, I used sunflower-infused sunflower oil in this recipe.
YIELD: 2 (0.5-OUNCE [14-G]) TINS
0.65 oz (19 g) shea butter
0.15 oz (4 g) sunflower wax
0.5 oz (14 g) sunflower-infused sunflower oil (see here for how to infuse oils)
⅛ tsp alkanet root
Create Your Own Lip Balm
Homemade lip balm is so easy to make and so much better than store bought! By learning just one basic formula, you can create an almost unlimited variety of personalized lip balms and glosses. They make wonderful gifts to share with friends and family as well!
This basic formula is the cornerstone of every lip balm recipe that I make. It helps nourish and protect the delicate skin found on our lips and keeps them feeling hydrated and smooth. Be sure to read on past the recipe instructions for the helpful sections on customizing your lip balm further with herbs, essential oils, natural colorants and honey.
YIELD: APPROXIMATELY 12 TO 16 TUBES OF LIP BALM
1.5 oz (43 g) oil, infused or plain (see here for how to infuse oils)
0.5 oz (14 g) shea, mango or avocado butter (optional)
0.5 oz (14 g) beeswax
8 to 12 drops essential oil (optional)
Combine your chosen oil(s), butter (if using) and beeswax in a canning jar, unlined tin can or other heatproof container.
Shea, mango or avocado butter are soft enough that you can add them to the recipe, if you’d like, without them adversely affecting the ratios of oil to wax. However, if y
ou decide to use a hard butter such as cocoa or kokum instead, you may need to add 3 or 4 extra grams of oil to compensate for the extra firmness they bring to lip balm.
Set the jar or container down into a saucepan that has 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) of water in the bottom. Place the pan over a medium-low burner until the wax is melted. Remove from heat, add essential oils, if desired, and pour into lip balm tubes or small tins.
Allow the lip balm to cool for several hours or until completely firm. If you find that your lip balm is too soft, you can melt it back into a liquid state and add a little more beeswax. Conversely, if your lip balm is too firm, you can melt it again and add more oil.
Cap and store the finished product out of direct heat and sunlight. The shelf life of lip balm depends on the quality and age of the ingredients that you start with. Older oils will go rancid more quickly, but homemade lip balm usually stays fresh for around 6 to 9 months.
Tip: If the lip balm is intended for use in jars or metal tins instead of tubes, add another ounce (14 g) of oil for a softer consistency that can be applied more easily with your finger.
Variation: For a vegan option, use approximately 8 to 10 grams of candelilla wax or 6 to 8 grams of sunflower wax instead of beeswax.