If you are an avid sourdough starter user you are familiar with those times that you have left your starter on the counter for more than 24 hours and it isn’t as full of life as it used to be. By all means, this sourdough starter is still good! It can simply be considered discard at that point which means you can make easy sourdough discard recipes with it.
You might also have sourdough discard if you are starting a new sourdough starter and literally “discarding” half of your starter in those first few days. Once a sourdough starter is established there is no need to discard before feeding again. It is important to note, all of these 3 easy sourdough discard recipes can be made with bubbly and active starter, it does not have to be lacking bubbles in order to make sourdough discard recipes.
3 Easy Sourdough Discard Recipes
Sourdough Discard Crepes
Sourdough Discard Tortillas
Sourdough Discard Pizza
What are the benefits of sourdough?
Sourdough is a long time tradition, dating back to biblical times. Although it wasn’t always called sourdough, any reference to ‘yeast’ before approximately 1850 was most likely referring to sourdough. Packet yeast was not available until right before the turn of the 20th century.
The benefits of sourdough come from the probiotics that create a nice bubbly sourdough starter. In order for the sourdough starter to become bubbly, it must continuously multiple good bacteria (aka, probiotics). As most of us probably know, probitoics are great for our gut health!
The benefits from a sourdough starter are more prominent when you do extended soaking time with your recipes. This means making the mixture and allowing it to rest for at least 12 hours so the good bacteria can soak up into your flour (depending on the recipe).
Combine all of the ingredients in a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment.
Turn the mixed on low and allow the sourdough discard tortillas knead for about 10 minutes.
Once the dough is done, take it out of the mixer and start pinching off palm-size balls to roll out.
Roll out your tortillas to whatever size you like, I prefer to do around 6-8 inches.
Add the tortilla to your hot pan and allow to cook about 1 minute on each side.
IMPORTANT!!!!! Once the tortillas has cooked, immediately place it into a towel and wrap it up. This is what makes the tortillas stay soft. If you skip this step they might feel crunchy or hard to roll/fold.
Store flat in the freezer and defrost as needed.
Sourdough Discard Pizza
Ingredients:
1 Cup Sourdough Discard
Toppings of Choice
Directions:
Preheat a well seasoned cast iron skillet in a 425 degree oven.
Once the pan is hot, take it out of the oven and pour your 1 cup of sourdough discard into the skillet.
Move the skillet around so the sourdough discard coats the entire pan, even up the sides of the pan. This will be your pizza crust.
Put the sourdough discard pizza crust back into the oven to cook for about 10 minutes.
While the crust cooks prepare whatever toppings you like, I used onions caramelized in a balsamic glaze.
NOTE* It is best to precook any raw ingredients before adding them to the pizza to ensure the crust will not overcook.
Once the crust is done cooking it will come away from the sides. Take your sourdough discard pizza out of the oven and add all of your toppings.
Place the pizza back into the oven and use the broil function to quickly melt the cheese, if you choose.
Serve as usual.
All of these 3 easy sourdough discard recipes can be made in unique ways depending on what you have or what is in season. Adding fresh fruit and raw whipped cream to the sourdough discard crepes would be a marvelous addition!
Making your own detox bath recipe is a great way to remove toxins from the body. Unfortunately, the world we live in is full of toxins. Although we might not think about it too often, there are tons of toxins in our life every day. To give a few examples, are you wearing polyester or other synthetic clothing? According to this study, polyester has been linked to infertility due to the toxic chemicals in the material.
Detox Bath Recipe
Do I Need to Detox?
Our clothing is only one small factor that contributes to toxins in our life. Is your house connected to the city’s tap water? You can go to this website, type in your zip code, and see the literally hundreds of chemicals in your water. Unless you’re using a high-quality water filter, we use this one in our house, you are ingesting these toxic chemicals in your water.
Needless to say, most of us need to detox every now and then considering how many toxins we are exposed to. It is important to note, not everyone is a good candidate for detoxing despite being exposed to chemicals. Pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as young children should not detox.
The main and most well-known benefit of adding oatmeal to your bath, or in this case to your detox bath recipe, is that oatmeal is very moisturizing. Do you know how babies have the softest skin? That’s what it feels like to get out of an oatmeal bath. Oatmeal baths can also be soothing if you have a skin irritation such as eczema or psoriasis.
Detox Bath Recipe with Bentonite Clay
Bentonite clay is volcanic ash that has become compressed over time. It has a naturally high colloidal value. Bentonite clay works to detox in a unique way as it slowly draws out the toxins in your skin as you soak in a detox bath. You’ll notice this recipe only calls for two teaspoons of bentonite clay. That is because there can be a risk of over-detoxifying your body, which would essentially make you feel worse than before.
Coriander Oil for Detox
Coriander essential oil is derived from the cilantro plant. When cilantro goes to seed, it becomes coriander. Cilantro has many detoxifying benefits, mainly to detox heavy metals in the body. Most tap water contains heavy metals and if you’re not using a high-quality water filter, you are directly drinking heavy metals every day.
DIY Detox Bath
How to Make a Detox Bath
Ingredients Needed:
1/2 Cup Oatmeal
2 Teaspoons Bentonite Clay
5-7 Drops Coriander Essential Oil
Instructions:
Blend oats into a powder, it does not need to be very fine.
Combine all ingredients; blended oats, bentonite clay, and coriander essential oil.
Start a warm/hot bath and add 1/4 cup of your detox bath recipe to the water. Stir it around until mostly dissolved.
Notes:
The finer you blend the oats the less mess that will be left in your bathtub once you’re done bathing in the detox bath.
This recipe only makes 1 detox bath, feel free to double or triple the recipe if you want to keep it on hand for the future.
I do not recommend using this if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or a small child.
Okay… one of these recipes is a bug-repellent candle, but I had to use skincare in the title for google-search purposes. If you live in a place like mine, spring is hot and sunny (most of the time). DIY skincare recipes like homemade sunscreen, Bug-repellent lotion, and sunburn relief cream are essential this time of year. Also, a bug-repellent candle keeps those freshly hatched mosquitos away!
Many store-bought products aimed at repelling bugs and protecting you from the sun can be filled with chemicals. Switching to homemade skincare can significantly reduce your exposure to toxins.
Here Are Your 4 Must-Have DIY Skincare Recipes for Spring
Melt the shea butter and coconut oil over a double boiler.
Once melted, turn the heat off and mix in the remaining ingredients.
Allow the DIY homemade sunscreen to sit at room temperature for about an hour until it has fully set.
Apply as needed.
It is that simple! Now, you might have a few questions about making sunscreen at home. Here are some common questions that most people wonder when making a DIY natural sunscreen recipe.
Tips For Avoiding a Sunburn
Wear a homemade natural sunscreen (to learn about the toxic ingredients in conventional store-bought sunscreens, keep reading.)
Limit sun exposure to increments of 2 hours at a time before seeking shade, then reentering into the sunshine.
Optional, wear large hats to cover sensitive areas like your face, neck, and shoulders.
Is Homemade Sunscreen Waterproof?
The answer is yes. You might find it odd to add beeswax to a homemade sunscreen recipe but beeswax is the key to making the sunscreen waterproof. If you’ve ever used beeswax on your skin before you will know that it wicks away water, allowing the homemade sunscreen to stay active on your skin even while getting wet.
It is important to note; that using too much beeswax can cause the homemade natural sunscreen to not set properly. Therefore, following the recipe measurements is important with this one.
What is Non-Nano Zinc Oxide?
This is essentially the SPF part of the natural sunscreen recipe. According to this article, “Zinc oxide sits on top of your skin (rather than soaking in, as chemical sunscreens do) and protects you by scattering, absorbing, and reflecting the sun’s rays. It can stand alone as a sunblock because it is truly effective against UVA, UVB, and even UVC rays — this is called a “broad-spectrum blocker.” But zinc oxide isn’t just effective at blocking the sun! It’s also good for your skin.”
Another great thing about using non-nano zinc oxide is that it is considered safe for marine animals, whereas nano zinc oxide is not safe for marine animals. To read more about that, check out this study.
Homemade Sunscreen with Essential Oils
I love adding essential oils to almost every homemade recipe. Essential oils add a great fragrance when used in natural sunscreen made at home. If using peppermint essential oil in your DIY natural sunscreen recipe as I did, your skin will feel cool and tingly, in a good way, when using this sunscreen.
If you want to make this sunscreen a 2-in1 deal, aka, bug repellent and sunscreen, there are some essential oils to repel bugs that you can use. Examples: peppermint, citronella (great for repelling mosquitos), and eucalyptus. To learn more about essential oils that repel bugs, check out my DIY Bug Repellent Lotion Recipe.
Here are some essential oils for homemade sunscreen:
In recent years, some studies have exposed the toxic and harmful ingredients used in common conventional sunscreens. Some of the harmful ingredients include oxybenzone, octinoxate, homosalate, and nanoparticles. Not only are these ingredients harmful when used on our bodies, but they are also harmful to marine animals. When swimming in the ocean specifically, I am sure you have seen your sunscreen leave an oil trail next to where you are in the water. Leaving that trail behind means the marine animals will encounter it, later on, harming them the same way it harms us.
To read more about the harmful effects of conventional sunscreen, check out this website.
If you do end up with a sunburn, check out my Natural Sunburn Relief Cream recipe to help ease the pain and discomfort of a sunburn.
How to Properly Store Sunscreen
When making a DIY sunscreen recipe with essential oils, it is important to store the sunscreen in a glass container. Essential oils have the capability of breaking down plastic over a long period of time therefore it is better to be safe than sorry and just use glass. Make sure to use a tight lid on whichever glass container you choose.
1. Melt the shea butter and coconut oil over a double boiler.
2. Once melted, turn the heat off and whisk in the remaining ingredients.
3. Allow the DIY homemade sunscreen to sit at room temperature for about an hour until it has been fully set.
4. Store in an airtight glass container and apply as needed.
Notes:
It is nearly impossible to measure exactly how much SPF this natural homemade sunscreen has, however, it is safe to assume the SPF is around 30, give or take.
This sunscreen is generally safe to be used anywhere you would normally apply sunscreen, like your face. Just be sure to use essential oils that you are not allergic to and be sure to keep the sunscreen out of your eyes.
Use your best judgment when applying this to your children. I use this on my kid’s age 6 months and up with no issues. Some kids might have sensitive skin when using essential oils, so feel free to omit that.
DIY Bug Repellent Lotion
DIY Bug Repellent Lotion
Dealing with bugs in the summer is inevitable, especially mosquitos. These little insects love to eat me up all spring and summer. That is why I decided to make my own DIY bug repellent lotion. When using this lotion, I notice a significant reduction in the number of mosquito bites I get when I’m outside, it has been a life saver!
You might be wondering, what can I put on my skin to keep bugs away? The key to this DIY bug repellent lotion is the essential oils, this is what will help repel the mosquitoes, as well as other bugs. There are a few different essential oils you can use to repel certain bugs, for example, citronella is a great oil to use when you want to repel mosquitoes.
Essential Oils for Bugs
Citronella
Citronella essential oil is great for repelling mosquitoes. If you have ever purchased a “bug-off” spray from the store, this usually contains artificial citronella fragrance.
Peppermint
Peppermint essential oil is truly one of the most versatile essential oils, especially when it comes to pests. It is one of the strongest natural insect repellents. This essential oil can be effective at repelling ticks, mosquitoes, moths, spiders, you name it.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus essential oil is great for repelling mosquitoes. There was a study done in 2014 that showed eucalyptus oil provided more than 95% of protection from mosquitoes for up to 3 hours.
Nature Shield Blend
Nature Shield Blend is a great all-in-one blend to have on hand. This blend combines the citronella and eucalyptus essential oils plus a few others, making it very effective at repelling mosquitoes.
Kids Shield-Me Blend
If you plan to use this DIY mosquito repellent lotion on little kids, I recommend using the Shield-Me essential oil blend because it is deemed kid-safe.
Shea Butter Mosquito Repellent Lotion
Shea butter is my favorite ingredient to use in my homemade lotion recipes. Once melted and solidified, shea butter truly feels like butter on your skin. Although shea butter might feel a bit oily, it is extremely moisturizing for the skin. You can purchase the shea butter I use right here.
Coconut Oil for Skin
Coconut oil is a versatile ingredient, having benefits when used in the kitchen and your skincare. According to this article, “There are different mechanical and chemical processes that are used to manufacture coconut oil—for use in skincare, unrefined (virgin or extra-virgin) cold-pressed coconut oil is what’s recommended.” This is because when coconut oil is cold-pressed, meaning the oil is removed without the use of heat, the process is thought to retain more of the oil’s nutrients compared to other processing methods.
How to Use DIY Bug Repellent Lotion
Using this lotion is simple, just apply the lotion to areas you find mosquitoes bite you the most. Me, I am often a bit on my legs and arms therefore I always apply the lotion in those places before going outside during the spring and summer.
Set up a double boiler on the stove, this is a pot filled 1/3 of the way up with boiling water and a heat-safe bowl placed on top.
Once the double boiler is hot, add your shea butter and coconut oil into the heat-safe bowl. Stir continuously until both have melted completely.
When the shea butter and coconut oil are melted, turn off the heat.
Add the essential oils and stir until combined.
Working quickly, pour the hot mixture into your lotion container, I like using mason jars since they are heat-safe.
Allow the DIY mosquito repellent lotion to set completely on the counter, this will take a few hours if it is hot inside your house. You can also put it in the fridge to set up quickly.
Once completely set, take a small dime-size amount of lotion and apply it to your body. A little goes a long way!
DIY Bug Repellent Candle
How to Make a Bug Repellent Candle
It is that time of year again, the bugs are out and trying to come inside. Living in the south, bugs are something we deal with all year however, the mosquitos, flies, gnats, and a whole host of other bugs show up in great quantities during the spring and summer. This bug repellent candle is simple to make, only requires a few ingredients, and is effective at keeping (most) bugs away.
Before learning about the negative effects artificial fragrances and chemicals can have on our bodies, I, like most people, would go to the store and buy a generic brand bug repellent candle. Now, once educating myself on how harmful these candles can really be, I make my own every year using this recipe.
To learn a little bit more about creating beeswax candles, check out my blog post HERE.
Two Ingredient Bug Repellent Candle
There are only two simple ingredients needed to make this DIY bug repellent candle:
For this recipe, I used a combination of essential oils including peppermint, eucalyptus, and citronella, although using just one can still make an effective bug repellent candle.
This is a classic scent used in most generic brand mosquito repellent sprays and candles. As I mentioned before, the artificial fragrances and chemicals used to make these repellents can be toxic for us to inhale. When using a pure citronella scent, like with this essential oil, there are no artificial fragrances or chemicals. With that being said, this scent is great for repelling a lot of bugs but in particular, mosquitoes.
Peppermint essential oil can be effective for many different things throughout the home. I personally love using peppermint oil in my garden to keep pests away as well as in a candle like this bug repellent candle to keep most insects away from the inside of my house.
Eucalyptus oil is great for keeping mosquitoes away. There was a study done in 2014 that showed “eucalyptus oil provided more than 95% protection against mosquitoes for 3 hours.”, You can find that study here.
Thyme is another wonderful essential oil to use when making a bug repellent candle, There was a study done that showed thyme to be a more effective mosquito repellent than DEET. You can see that study here.
Clary sage essential oil is typically associated with women’s health, particularly in its ability to induce labor naturally (I would know, it induced my second labor very quickly!), however, there are also properties to the essential oil that help to deter many insects including mosquitoes.
Creating a combination using any of these essential oils to make a bug repellent candle can be an effective method to keep bugs away from your home.
Make a double boiler by filling your pot with water 1/3 of the way up. Once the water is boiling, add your glass bowl or measuring cup on top of the pot so the water is hitting the bottom of the glass.
Add the candle wick to the candle container.
Pour in beeswax pellets and stir consistently until they are completely melted.
Once the beeswax has melted, turn off the heat, add your essential oils, and continue to stir.
Immediately pour melted beeswax into your candle container, the beeswax will harden quickly so this process must be fast. If your beeswax happens to harden before you are able to pour it into the candle mold, turn the pot of water back on and reheat the glass bowl or measuring cup until the beeswax melts again.
Allow the candle to completely set before using, mine usually takes around 30 minutes – 1 hour depending on how big the candle container is.
I like to burn my candle near the back door so when the door is open to let the kids or dogs in and out of the backyard, the bugs aren’t tempted to hurry inside while the door is open.
Natural Sunburn Relief Cream
Even with using sunscreen, which by the way, I would recommend using a natural sunscreen like this one if you don’t want to make your own, there are times when sunburn is inevitable.
Sunburns can be avoided, for the most part, by limiting your time in the sun to increments of 2 hours and using a natural sunscreen if desired. When sunburn does appear, it can be painful and uncomfortable. I love to use this sunburn relief cream on my whole family. The aloe vera brings instant relief from that burning feeling while the shea butter moisturizes the skin, aiding in quicker healing of the sunburn.
Tips for avoiding a sunburn:
Unfortunately over the years, many people have had the belief that the sun is bad for us, but it really isn’t. The vitamin D we receive from direct sunlight is essential for optimal health and overall wellness. With that being said, sunburn is one side effect of being in direct sunlight. There are a few things we can do to avoid sunburn when possible, such as;
Limit sun exposure to increments of 2 hours, taking a small brake inside or in the shade before going back out for a few hours.
Wear a wide brim hat to protect the most common areas where our skin burns, such as our face and shoulders.
Aloe vera for sunburn:
Growing up at the beach meant lots of sunburns for me when I was a child. My mom would always apply aloe vera to my skin after a long day in the sun, however, it was always the bright green kind from the drugstore. After learning more about harmful ingredients, I have come to realize this artificial aloe vera we see on most store shelves is actually toxic. It is full of artificial dyes, preservatives, and many other hormone-disrupting ingredients.
According to this article, “Aloe vera is soothing and moisturizing, and it has cooling properties. This makes it an ideal and inexpensive choice for soothing the pain of minor sunburns at home. Sunburned skin loses moisture, and applying aloe may help retain skin moisture due to a substance called mucopolysaccharides found in the plant.”
Make sure the aloe vera you choose is a gel, not a liquid. This will help the mixture solidify once cooled.
Shea butter for sunburn:
Sunburns usually cause the skin to become dry and peel off. Applying a natural sunburn cream with shea butter, like the one in this recipe, can help to moisturize the affected area. Once the area has become moisturized, the skin can begin to heal.
According to this article, “One suggestion for an especially potent sunburn moisturizer comes from Dr. Ernest Brown, founder of Doctors To You: shea butter. “In addition to moisturizing the skin (which helps to reduce infection), shea butter is packed with nutrients and vitamins that increase its healing properties.”
Lavender essential oil for sunburn:
Lavender essential oil is great for natural pain relief. When adding the oil to the natural sunburn relief cream, be sure to only use a few drops since essential oils are very potent.
According to this article, “Just like chamomile, lavender oil also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to treat sunburn, says Dr. Sobel. A 2004 study refers to lavender as “one of the mildest of known plant essential oils,” making it a safer pick if you have sensitive skin.”
Begin by setting up a double boiler, this is a pot of water filled 1/3 of the way up, brought to a boil, with a glass or heat-safe bowl on top.
Once the double boiler is ready, add in your shea butter.
Allow the shea butter to melt completely.
Once melted, turn off the heat.
Add in the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
Pour into your container of choice, remember this is a lotion so you will not be able to squeeze or pump this out, a wide mouth jar like this is a good option.
Once cooled, put cream in a stand up mixer or mix with a handheld mixer using a whisk attachment. (see notes)
Apply as needed
Notes:
Although whipping the cream is an extra step, it helps to ensure the aloe vera and shea butter mix completely. During the cooling process, the aloe vera gel and shea butter tend to separate, therefore mixing them together after the natural sunburn relief cream has cooled allows the cream to provide its full benefits.
You can watch a tutorial on making all of these recipes right here!
With summer quickly approaching (it has definitely arrived in the south already!), many of us are probably spending lots of time in the sun. I love to use this natural sunburn relief cream on my whole family. Even with using sunscreen, which by the way, I would recommend using a natural sunscreen like this one, there are times when sunburn is inevitable.
Sunburns can be avoided, for the most part, by limiting your time in the sun to increments of 2 hours and using a natural sunscreen if desired. When sunburn does appear, it can be painful and uncomfortable. I love to use this sunburn relief cream on my whole family. The aloe vera brings instant relief from that burning feeling while the shea butter moisturizes the skin, aiding in quicker healing of the sunburn.
Tips for avoiding a sunburn:
Unfortunately over the years, many people have had the belief that the sun is bad for us, but it really isn’t. The vitamin D we receive from direct sunlight is essential for optimal health and overall wellness. With that being said, sunburn is one side effect of being in direct sunlight. There are a few things we can do to avoid sunburn when possible, such as;
Limit sun exposure to increments of 2 hours, taking a small brake inside or in the shade before going back out for a few hours.
Wear a wide brim hat to protect the most common areas where our skin burns, such as our face and shoulders.
Aloe vera for sunburn:
Growing up at the beach meant lots of sunburns for me when I was a child. My mom would always apply aloe vera to my skin after a long day in the sun, however, it was always the bright green kind from the drugstore. After learning more about harmful ingredients, I have come to realize this artificial aloe vera we see on most store shelves is actually toxic. It is full of artificial dyes, preservatives, and many other hormone-disrupting ingredients.
According to this article, “Aloe vera is soothing and moisturizing, and it has cooling properties. This makes it an ideal and inexpensive choice for soothing the pain of minor sunburns at home. Sunburned skin loses moisture, and applying aloe may help retain skin moisture due to a substance called mucopolysaccharides found in the plant.”
Make sure the aloe vera you choose is a gel, not a liquid. This will help the mixture solidify once cooled.
Shea butter for sunburn:
Sunburns usually cause the skin to become dry and peel off. Applying a natural sunburn cream with shea butter, like the one in this recipe, can help to moisturize the affected area. Once the area has become moisturized, the skin can begin to heal.
According to this article, “One suggestion for an especially potent sunburn moisturizer comes from Dr. Ernest Brown, founder of Doctors To You: shea butter. “In addition to moisturizing the skin (which helps to reduce infection), shea butter is packed with nutrients and vitamins that increase its healing properties.”
Lavender essential oil for sunburn:
Lavender essential oil is great for natural pain relief. When adding the oil to the natural sunburn relief cream, be sure to only use a few drops since essential oils are very potent.
According to this article, “Just like chamomile, lavender oil also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to treat sunburn, says Dr. Sobel. A 2004 study refers to lavender as “one of the mildest of known plant essential oils,” making it a safer pick if you have sensitive skin.”
Begin by setting up a double boiler, this is a pot of water filled 1/3 of the way up, brought to a boil, with a glass or heat-safe bowl on top.
Once the double boiler is ready, add in your shea butter.
Allow the shea butter to melt completely.
Once melted, turn off the heat.
Add in the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
Pour into your container of choice, remember this is a lotion so you will not be able to squeeze or pump this out, a wide mouth jar like this is a good option.
Once cooled, put cream in a stand up mixer or mix with a handheld mixer using a whisk attachment. (see notes)
Apply as needed
Notes:
Although whipping the cream is an extra step, it helps to ensure the aloe vera and shea butter mix completely. During the cooling process, the aloe vera gel and shea butter tend to separate, therefore mixing them together after the natural sunburn relief cream has cooled allows the cream to provide its full benefits.
It is that time of year again, the bugs are out and trying to come inside. Living in the south, bugs are something we deal with all year however, the mosquitos, flies, gnats, and a whole host of other bugs show up in great quantities during the spring and summer. This bug repellent candle is simple to make, only requires a few ingredients, and is effective at keeping (most) bugs away.
Before learning about the negative effects artificial fragrances and chemicals can have on our bodies, I, like most people, would go to the store and buy a generic brand bug repellent candle. Now, once educating myself on how harmful these candles can really be, I make my own every year using this recipe.
To learn a little bit more about creating beeswax candles, check out my blog post HERE.
bug repellent candles indoor
Two Ingredient Bug Repellent Candle
There are only two simple ingredients needed to make this DIY bug repellent candle:
For this recipe, I used a combination of essential oils including peppermint, eucalyptus, and citronella, although using just one can still make an effective bug repellent candle.
Bug Repellent Essential Oils
Citronella
This is a classic scent used in most generic brand mosquito repellent sprays and candles. As I mentioned before, the artificial fragrances and chemicals used to make these repellents can be toxic for us to inhale. When using a pure citronella scent, like with this essential oil, there are no artificial fragrances or chemicals. With that being said, this scent is great for repelling a lot of bugs but in particular, mosquitoes.
Peppermint
Peppermint essential oil can be effective for many different things throughout the home. I personally love using peppermint oil in my garden to keep pests away as well as in a candle like this bug repellent candle to keep most insects away from the inside of my house.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus oil is great for keeping mosquitoes away. There was a study done in 2014 that showed “eucalyptus oil provided more than 95% protection against mosquitoes for 3 hours.”, You can find that study here.
Thyme
Thyme is another wonderful essential oil to use when making a bug repellent candle, There was a study done that showed thyme to be a more effective mosquito repellent than DEET. You can see that study here.
Clary Sage
Clary sage essential oil is typically associated with women’s health, particularly in its ability to induce labor naturally (I would know, it induced my second labor very quickly!), however, there are also properties to the essential oil that help to deter many insects including mosquitoes.
Creating a combination using any of these essential oils to make a bug repellent candle can be an effective method to keep bugs away from your home.
Make a double boiler by filling your pot with water 1/3 of the way up. Once the water is boiling, add your glass bowl or measuring cup on top of the pot so the water is hitting the bottom of the glass.
Add the candle wick to the candle container.
Pour in beeswax pellets and stir consistently until they are completely melted.
Once the beeswax has melted, turn off the heat, add your essential oils, and continue to stir.
Immediately pour melted beeswax into your candle container, the beeswax will harden quickly so this process must be fast. If your beeswax happens to harden before you are able to pour it into the candle mold, turn the pot of water back on and reheat the glass bowl or measuring cup until the beeswax melts again.
Allow the candle to completely set before using, mine usually takes around 30 minutes – 1 hour depending on how big the candle container is.
I like to burn my candle near the back door so when the door is open to let the kids or dogs in and out of the backyard, the bugs aren’t tempted to hurry inside while the door is open.
Make a double boiler by filling your pot with water 1/3 of the way up. Once the water is boiling, add your glass bowl or measuring cup on top of the pot so the water is hitting the bottom of the glass.
Add the candle wick to the candle container.
Pour in beeswax pellets and stir consistently until they are completely melted.
Once the beeswax has melted, turn off the heat, add your essential oils, and continue to stir.
Immediately pour melted beeswax into your candle container, the beeswax will harden quickly so this process must be fast. If your beeswax happens to harden before you are able to pour it into the candle mold, turn the pot of water back on and reheat the glass bowl or measuring cup until the beeswax melts again.
Allow the candle to be completely set before using, mine usually takes around 30 minutes – to 1 hour depending on how big the candle container is.
Looking for a topical bug repellent to use on you or your kids? I love this one!
If you’re a 90’s baby like me, you probably grew up loving the big colorful candles you can buy at the mall. They smell amazing, right? But, unfortunately, in recent years a lot of information has come out about artificial fragrances used in most commercially made candles being toxic to our health. Making your own beeswax candle at home using only essential oils to create the fragrance is really easy and much better for us to have lit around our family.
That is it! How is easy, right? You might not have beeswax readily available but don’t fret, you can buy a bag on amazon HERE and have it at your door in two days or less.
To be honest, this beeswax candle recipe does require using a lot of essential oils which can be a bit pricey, especially depending on the brand you use. It would be more cost-effective to put a few drops of your essential oils into a diffuser, however, this candle does put off a beautiful aroma and lasts a while depending on how often you light it. I usually light my candles once a day for an hour or two and this 4oz candle lasts about 3-4 weeks.
This recipe uses a sweet orange essential oil, which is my absolute favorite. This scent is great for any time of year. In the summer it makes me feel like I’m on a tropical vacation but in the winter It creates a cozy and warm feeling in the house.
Citronella is the best oil to use in the summer, especially if you live in the south and deal with a crazy amount of mosquitos like me. It is one of the best natural mosquito detergents there is, I also like to have one of these candles going during the summer whether it is next to our grill outside while I’m cooking or just in the house to keep them away.
Almost everyone loves the scent of lavender and lavender essential oil has so many uses and benefits. Check out my blog post on the Uses and Benefits of Lavender Essential Oil to learn more.
This scent combination is great for a cozy winter day. The smell of fir trees with the sweet hint of eucalyptus makes for the perfect relaxing environment.
Of course, this particular blend by plant therapy is amazing for Christmas time. Looking to get in the Christmas spirit, and relax by the tree with a fire going? Use this oil in your candle! The blend consists of cinnamon and clove oils however there are tons of different Christmas combinations you could make on your own.
Beeswax Candle vs. Soy Wax Candle
Beeswax is a safe non-toxic option to use when it comes to making candles. Although it is a little bit tricky to deal with (I’ll explain later), there are no added chemicals or artificial ingredients. When choosing a pre-made wax like soy, there is often paraffin in the wax. Paraffin wax can be derived from petroleum, oil shale, or coal. When you think about it, that is not something we should be inhaling when our candles are going. To make your candles the least toxic It is best to use organic pure beeswax with essential oils as the fragrance.
You will want to start with an old tin container, like one leftover from canned beans or maybe an old coffee tin. This is because beeswax can be nearly impossible to wash out of a bowl since it dries quickly and is very hard when solid. It is also important to use a stirring utensil that you do not care about, I use an old wooden knife that I have dedicated to beeswax candle making.
Prepare your candle container by adding a wick to the middle of the container. Have your essential oil bottle close by and ready to use.
Fill a small to medium size pot with water approximately 1/3 of the way up, bringing the water to a boil.
Once the water is boiling, add your beeswax into the tin container. Set the tin container inside the boiling water. The tin will get hot so be sure to use oven-mitts or something similar to protect your hands.
Consistently stir the beeswax using whatever utensil you chose. The beeswax should melt in about 5-7 minutes. Once the beeswax has melted it is important to work quickly since it does dry fast.
Pour the melted beeswax into an empty candle container of your choosing. Quickly add in 30-50 drops of whatever essential oil you have chosen. The more drops you add the more fragrant your candle will be.
If you are choosing to use dried flowers as I do, now is the time to add them. Be sure you have crushed the dried flowers to almost a powder so they don’t cause a large flame when coming in contact with the fire. Simply sprinkle the dried flowers on top of the beeswax before it has melted.
When the essential oil has been added be sure not to touch the candle anymore until it dries, the essential oil will sink and move around throughout the beeswax before drying, spreading the fragrance around.
The candle should be dry in about an hour or two depending on the temperature inside your home. You can put the candle in your fridge to speed up the process however the wax might sink in or crack if you do this so I suggest leaving it out on the counter to dry.
Once the beeswax candle has set completely you can trim your wick down and light the candle! Enjoy!
Face toner is very common in the skincare world, Usually coming after face wash to help moisturize the skin. Adding green tea to any skincare routine is beneficial, especially if you’re after glowing skin.
4 Simple ingredients Used to Make Face Toner for Glowing Skin
Green tea is commonly known to help with acne because it has antibacterial-like properties. According to this site, “Green tea is especially rich in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol that research has shown can improve acne and oily skin.”
Although there are many reasons why acne pops up, bacteria on the skin, from touching our face with dirty hands or being in an environment with air pollution, etc. is commonly associated with acne. Adding green tea into your daily skincare routine can be beneficial for anyone, especially those who deal with acne.
Face Toner Benefits for Dry Skin
Another benefit of using a green tea toner is the moisturizing aspect. The combination of green tea, aloe vera, and vitamin E oil in this green tea toner DIY is the perfect recipe for glowing, moisturized skin.
Dealing with dry skin is common and honestly a little annoying. Peeling skin, dry flakes, itchiness, who wants that? If you don’t add this into your daily skincare regime, Having this face toner for glowing skin on hand in your bathroom or vanity is great for those days you’re extra dry and flaky.
Aloe Vera for Glowing Skin
Aloe vera can be great at evening out your skin tone. If you deal with uneven skin tone or acne, adding aloe vera into your beauty products can be a game-changer. The key to glowing skin is creating an even skin tone and moisturized skin. By removing the dead skin cells on the surface of your face, aloe vera helps create a glowing complexion.
Benefits of Vitamin E Skincare
Vitamin E oil is something I use a lot in my homemade skincare products because it has so many benefits. To briefly sum it up, Vitamin E oil can help clear light acne scarring, moisturize dry skin, and help to reduce signs of aging. A little goes a long way when it comes to vitamin E oil since it is so full of antioxidants.
Essential Oils for Glowing Skin
When diluted properly, essential oils are great to add to most beauty products. I love adding essential oils to my DIY skincare products. My favorite blend for anything skincare is one formulated by Plant Therapy, you can find it here, called ‘soft skin’. This not only smells amazing, but it truly does help my skin feel soft.
If you don’t already have face toner in your skincare routine, you should add this one! Face toner has many benefits for our skin as mentioned above. Adding a face toner into a daily skincare routine is easy. Simply, wash your face with your favorite face wash (I use this one when I don’t have time to make my own), and Pat your skin dry with a towel. Spray face toner onto your face (don’t forget to close your eyes!), and allow it to dry completely before moisturizing with a lotion or cream, although a moisturizer is optional since the green tea face toner is already very moisturizing.
Start by brewing a bag of green tea, I used matcha green tea because that is what I had on hand but any green tea will work. Once your cup of tea is done, allow it to cool completely before starting the rest of the process.
When the cup of tea is cooled, add all of the remaining ingredients into a jar or bowl and mix.
With everything mixed, add it into a spray bottle (I like these ones).
Notes:
If you have the powdered bright green matcha tea, not in bags, it might change the outcome of this recipe. The matcha green tea I used to make this was in individual bags so I did not have to deal with the powder itself. You can try brewing the matcha as normal and using it or putting the matcha in tea bags to brew.
It is important to use pure aloe vera, many aloe vera gels you typically see in the store are bright green and filled with artificial colors and chemicals. The gel I always use can be bought here, or you can make your own by cutting open the leaf of an aloe vera plant, scraping out the clear gel, and blending it, or using a fork to mix it so it is easier to manage. Aloe vera juice would also work for this recipe.
There are many different essential oils you can use in this recipe, just be sure to keep it to 2 drops total no matter which ones you choose to use. Having essential oils diluted properly is important, especially when being used on the skin.
Start by brewing a bag of green tea, I used matcha green tea because that is what I had on hand but any green tea will work. Once your cup of tea is done, allow it to cool completely before starting the rest of the process.
When the cup of tea is cooled, add all of the remaining ingredients into a jar or bowl and mix.
With everything mixed, add it into a spray bottle (I like these ones).
Notes
If you have the powdered bright green matcha tea, not in bags, it might change the outcome of this recipe. The matcha green tea I used to make this was in individual bags so I did not have to deal with the powder itself. You can try brewing the matcha as normal and using it or putting the matcha in tea bags to brew.
It is important to use pure aloe vera, many aloe vera gels you typically see in the store are bright green and filled with artificial colors and chemicals. The gel I always use can be bought here, or you can make your own by cutting open the leaf of an aloe vera plant, scraping out the clear gel, and blending it, or using a fork to mix it so it is easier to manage. Aloe vera juice would also work for this recipe.
There are many different essential oils you can use in this recipe, just be sure to keep it to 2 drops total no matter which ones you choose to use. Having essential oils diluted properly is important, especially when being used on the skin.
You might associate green tea with a nice warm beverage you drink, however, green tea has many benefits for the skin when used topically. This homemade anti-aging eye cream is nourishing, moisturizing, and great for helping prevent wrinkles.
how do you make homemade anti-aging eye cream?
This DIY eye cream recipe is made using 4 simple ingredients:
DIY Anti-Aging Eye Cream for Wrinkles and Dark Circles
what does anti-aging eye cream do?
Homemade eye cream is great because you can control what ingredients go into it. When looking at store-bought eye cream, oftentimes some ingredients are nearly impossible to pronounce. Making your own, like with this anti-aging eye cream recipe, you can probably pronounce everything in it because it is made with natural and pure ingredients. Plus, this is the best and easiest homemade eye cream
The main benefit of green tea in an eye cream is minimizing signs of aging. There are many antioxidants present in green tea, even when used topically. According to this article, “Antioxidants help protect the skin from environmental stressors which can damage (skin) leading to common signs of aging.”
Another wonderful benefit of incorporating green tea into your daily skincare routine is the vitamin C present. Vitamin C in skincare is great for helping to brighten the skin.
Overall, anti-aging eye cream is a skincare product you should add to your daily routine because it helps moisturize the skin, brighten under-eye circles, and reduce signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles.
Benefits of Shea Butter on the Skin
Shea butter is an amazing product and has so many benefits for the skin. If you’ve never felt anything made with shea butter before, you’re missing out! Shea butter, once reduced to a liquid state and cooled off back to solid, is creamy like lotion even though it’s just one simple ingredient.
The benefits of shea butter on the skin are it is moisturizing, anti-inflammatory (helpful with reducing skin irritation), and has anti-aging properties.
To read more about the 28 Best Shea Butter Benefits for Skin, Hair, and Health check out this article.
Almond Oil Benefits for Skin
Using almond oil on the skin is great for reducing under-eye puffiness and dark circles. Although you can substitute almond oil for coconut oil in this recipe, almond oil is a great beneficial addition to the anti-aging eye cream recipe.
Vitamin E Oil Under Eyes
Vitamin E oil, when used under the eyes like with my anti-aging green tea under eye cream, can help to lighten dark circles and reduce puffiness due to the anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties of vitamin E oil.
Essential Oils for Dark Circles
This particular recipe does not include essential oils. Although essential oils can be great for helping reduce the appearance of dark circles, being careful with essential oils near the eyes is crucial. If the oils are properly diluted most people would not have a problem adding essential oils into this recipe for anti-aging eye cream however if you are sensitive to essential oils it is best to omit them from this recipe. It is also important to note that if using essential oils, you want to use extra caution to ensure the eye cream does not go in your eye or it may cause a burning sensation.
If using essential oils in your DIY anti-aging eye cream for wrinkles and dark circles, you want to choose some that have specific anti-inflammatory properties, here are some great ones for dark circles:
Create a double boiler, this is just a pot of water filled 1/4 of the way full. Let the water come to a boil and set a glass, heat-safe, bowl on top of the pot.
Add shea butter into the glass bowl, whisking to ensure it melts.
Once the shea butter is melted, turn off the heat and add the remaining ingredients. Whisk until fully combined. You want to work quickly on this part so the shea butter does not solidify before transferring the mixture into your eye cream container.
When everything is well mixed, transfer the eye cream into whatever air-tight container you have chosen to use. Let it cool for 2-3 hours until fully set.
You can use this as a part of your nightly skincare routine!
How to Use Under Eye Cream
Once the anti-aging green tea eye cream is fully set, it is ready to be used. I like to wash my face at night before bed, apply the eye cream under my eyes (where my dark circles are), and leave it on until I wash my face again in the morning.
Be sure not to rub your eyes once the cream is on, the ingredients are natural and safe however it’s not comfortable to get anything in your eyes!
Notes:
I used matcha green tea in my eye cream because that is usually when I have it in my cupboards however what type of green tea you use does not matter, as long as it is green tea without any other teas mixed in. I tested this recipe using brewed green tea and the final product was never set so it is important to use the dried tea inside the packet directly into the eye cream.
If the green tea is a loose-leaf, meaning it hasn’t been ground into a powder, it is best that you grind the tea in a small blender or mortar and pestle, otherwise you will be spreading large chunks of tea onto your face which is no fun!
You will see small flecks of tea in the finished product, even if using a ground green tea powder.
https://youtu.be/EdDJO6iAU9w
The Best Homemade Anti-Aging Eye Cream with Green Tea
Create a double boiler, this is just a pot of water filled 1/4 of the way full. Let the water come to a boil and set a glass, heat-safe, bowl on top of the pot.
Add shea butter into the glass bowl, whisking to ensure it melts.
Once the shea butter is melted, turn off the heat and add the remaining ingredients. Whisk until fully combined. You want to work quickly on this part so the shea butter does not solidify before transferring the mixture into your eye cream container.
When everything is well mixed, transfer the eye cream into whatever air-tight container you have chosen to use. Let it cool for 2-3 hours until fully set.
You can use this as a part of your nightly skincare routine!
Notes
I used matcha green tea in my eye cream because that is usually when I have in my cupboards however what type of green tea you use does not matter, as long as it is green tea without any other teas mixed in. I tested this recipe using brewed green tea and the final product was never set so it is important to use the dried tea inside the packet directly into the eye cream.If the green tea is a loose-leaf, meaning it hasn’t been ground into a powder, it is best that you grind the tea in a small blender or mortar and pestle, otherwise you will be spreading large chunks of tea onto your face which is no fun!You will see small flecks of tea in the finished product, even if using a ground green tea powder.
DIY Anti-Aging Eye Cream for Wrinkles and Dark Circles
I recently shared my homemade shampoo bar recipe on the blog, you can check that out here, so now is the perfect time to share my favorite coconut milk conditioner recipe. This recipe is simple and the perfect pairing to use after the homemade shampoo bar.
If you’re like me, conditioner is a must in my haircare routine. I have thick, wavy, and coarse hair that gets tangled very easily if I don’t use any conditioner which is why I created this coconut milk conditioner recipe. With most of the recipes I make, it comes from a need. Usually, that need is to find a natural alternative to most products on the market which is exactly what happened with this recipe as well.
Many conditioners have tons of ingredients, most of which I can’t pronounce, and even the ones that claim to be natural are not always natural. My coconut milk conditioner recipe is truly natural, you know every ingredient going into it, and it works on my thick hair!
Usually, you see coconut oil used in a wide variety of skincare and haircare products, but you don’t see coconut milk as an ingredient too often. That’s usually because it is only shelf-stable for about a month or two and most store-bought products are meant to last years on a shelf, hence the immense list of unpronounceable ingredients.
Coconut milk, like its counterpart coconut oil, has many benefits for hair. One of the main benefits of using a coconut-based product is the lauric acid found in coconuts. According to this article, “This long-chain/medium-chain fatty acid is known for its ability to penetrate hair easily and help strengthen the cuticle.”
Another benefit to using coconut milk in haircare products like this coconut milk conditioner recipe is less dandruff. Coconut milk is very moisturizing to the scalp and hair. Dandruff is typically derived from a dry scalp and using many products that include chemicals can contribute to drying out the scalp even more. The moisturizing properties in coconut milk are essential to stopping dandruff from a dry scalp.
Castile Soap for Hair:
Castile soap is not a normal ingredient found in a homemade conditioner recipe because it is usually used in shampoo, like my homemade shampoo bar recipe, however, using soap after any oil-based products is important. Most shampoo, homemade or not, has oil in it. Oil-based products are great for moisturizing however they can leave the hair greasy, therefore finishing up your haircare routine with a conditioner that has soap in it can take away any oily residue leftover from shampoo.
Sweet Almond Oil for Hair:
Almond oil is great for leaving hair feeling soft. According to this article, “Almond oil is an emollient, meaning it can fill in gaps in your hair at a cellular level. That makes your hair feel smoother to the touch. Using almond oil on your hair gives it a softer texture over time. Once almond oil is incorporated into your hair care routine, you may also notice that your hair is easier to comb through and style.”
The great benefit to using almond oil in hair care products is that it is not a temporary fix to dry hair, it works at a deeper level to repair and create smooth hair indefinitely.
Essential Oils for Hair:
Essential oils are great for so many things, including hair care products. Different oils hold so many different benefits to the hair. In this particle coconut milk conditioner recipe, I used lavender essential oil to pair nicely with my homemade shampoo bar that also uses lavender essential oils however, that is not necessary at all. The possibilities are close to endless when it comes to what oils can be used in this recipe.
If your can of coconut milk is in the fridge, take it out and allow it to come to room temperature. Once at room temperature, shake your can of coconut milk really well to ensure it is somewhat mixed.
Add the entire can of coconut milk to a mixing bowl along with the rest of the ingredients.
Once all ingredients have been added to the bowl, whisk vigorously until everything is mixed together and there are no clumps of coconut milk.
Pour this into a container and set it in your shower. This will last 1-2 months in the shower, just make sure to check periodically to make sure there is no mold since coconut milk is technically a food product.
Notes:
It is important to use full-fat coconut milk in order to get a thick conditioner. If you were to use regular coconut milk that comes in a half-gallon contained at the store the mixture will be pure liquid and nearly impossible to use.
I prefer sweet almond oil due to its benefits for hair however there are many other oils that can be used in place of this. A few great oils for hair are argan oil and jojoba oil.
If your can of coconut milk is in the fridge, take it out and allow it to come to room temperature. Once at room temperature, shake your can of coconut milk really well to ensure it is somewhat mixed.
Add the entire can of coconut milk to a mixing bowl along with the rest of the ingredients.
Once all ingredients have been added to the bowl, whisk vigorously until everything is mixed together and there are no clumps of coconut milk.
Pour this into a container and set it in your shower. This will last 1-2 months in the shower, just make sure to check periodically to make sure there is no mold since coconut milk is technically a food product.
Notes
It is important to use full-fat coconut milk in order to get a thick conditioner. If you were to use regular coconut milk that comes in a half-gallon contained at the store the mixture will be pure liquid and nearly impossible to use.
I prefer sweet almond oil due to its benefits for hair however there are many other oils that can be used in place of this. A few great oils for hair are argan oil and jojoba oil.
Coconut Milk Conditioner
Check out more of my homemade Beauty & Bath recipes here:
Finding a natural shampoo without chemicals can be hard. Most of the time, when you do find a natural shampoo, it is more expensive than the cheap chemical-filled shampoos at the store. Making your own homemade shampoo bar recipe with beeswax is easy, only uses natural ingredients, and lasts a while. If you double or triple this homemade shampoo bar recipe you can have months’ worth of shampoo that won’t go bad.
Need a homemade conditioner to go with your easy shampoo bar recipe? Check out my post on how to make coconut milk hair conditioner right here.
The Natural Ingredients Used in Homemade Shampoo Bar Recipe With Beeswax are:
Although some of the ingredients used in the homemade shampoo bar recipe with beeswax may not be something you have on hand, purchasing these is well worth it for many reasons. I have a lot of recipes on my blog using all of the ingredients listed above so they have never gone to waste in my house.
check out these recipes to get an idea of how to use these ingredients more than once.
You might get a little nervous when you see the word beeswax on a homemade shampoo bar recipe however I can assure you, beeswax is nothing like honey. There is no mess, it is not sticky, it melts and solidifies the same way coconut oil does, and it is super beneficial for hair.
Beeswax is moisturizing for our hair so if you deal with dry split ends, try incorporating beeswax into your haircare routine by incorporating this homemade shampoo bar recipe with beeswax.
Castile Soap in Shampoo:
Castile soap is a vegetable-derived natural soap. This is a great ingredient for shampoo because it can get rid of product build-up in hair but it is gentle so it will not leave you with a dry scalp.
Vitamin E Oil for Hair:
Vitamin E Oil is often used in skin care products because it has so many benefits, to learn more about the benefits of vitamin E oil for the skin, check out this post. As for hair, vitamin E oil is great for creating a shine without leaving your hair feeling greasy.
According to this article: “When the protective fat layer on the outside of the hair’s cuticle is removed, it loses its shine and becomes difficult to manage or style according to the Academy of Dermatology. A vitamin E-rich oil can help replace that protective layer and bring back shine. Oil in general also helps seal out moisture, reduce breakage, and protect the hair from damage
Shea Butter Benefits for Hair:
Shea butter is great for moisturizing the hair and scalp. If you deal with a dry flaky scalp, using hair care products with shea butter can be beneficial in moisturizing and rejuvenating a dry scalp.
Homemade Shampoo Bar Recipe with Beeswax
How to Make a Homemade Shampoo Bar Recipe with Beeswax:
Start by creating a double boiler, this is a pot of water boiling on the stove (not too much water, I use about 2 cups), with a glass bowl set on top of the pot.
Add your beeswax and shea butter to the glass bowl, using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, mix every few minutes to ensure these ingredients are melting.
Once the beeswax and shea butter are completely melted, turn off the heat.
Add the vitamin E oil, unscented liquid Castile soap, and essential oils while the glass bowl is still on top of the pot with the stove turned off. The Castile soap will instantly turn into a solid, just stir it vigorously until it melts and mixes in with the other ingredients.
Working quickly, take a small measuring cup and pour the mixture into your molds. I used these silicone cupcake liners, filling them 1/3 of the way up, but you can also use this soap bar mold.
Once the mixture is in the molds you will notice it immediately starts to firm up. Allow the bars to cool for at least 1-2 hours to ensure they are completely set.
When set, they are ready to use. See notes for how to store the extra homemade shampoo bars.
Notes:
This recipe makes 6 shampoo bars for me, I typically take 1 bar to my shower and leave the rest in plastic bags in the freezer. When I need another one I will simply take it out of the freezer and begin using it immediately.
You could easily double this recipe to make a large batch that will last a while.
If using a different mold than what I used, you will get a different number of shampoo bars in the end, whether that is more or less.
Start by creating a double boiler, this is a pot of water boiling on the stove (not too much water, I use about 2 cups), with a glass bowl set on top of the pot.
Add your beeswax and shea butter to the glass bowl, using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, mix every few minutes to ensure these ingredients are melting.
Once the beeswax and shea butter are completely melted, turn off the heat.
Add the vitamin E oil, unscented liquid Castile soap, and essential oils while the glass bowl is still on top of the pot with the stove turned off. The Castile soap will instantly turn into a solid, just stir it vigorously until it melts and mixes in with the other ingredients.
Working quickly, take a small measuring cup and pour the mixture into your molds. I used these silicone cupcake liners, filling them 1/3 of the way up, but you can also use this soap bar mold.
Once the mixture is in the molds you will notice it immediately starts to firm up. Allow the bars to cool for at least 1-2 hours to ensure they are completely set.
When set, they are ready to use. See notes for how to store the extra homemade shampoo bars.
Notes
This recipe makes 6 shampoo bars for me, I typically take 1 bar to my shower and leave the rest in plastic bags in the freezer. When I need another one I will simply take it out of the freezer and begin using it immediately.You could easily double this recipe to make a large batch that will last a while.If using a different mold than what I used, you will get a different number of shampoo bars in the end, whether that is more or less.
sulfate free homemade shampoo bar recipe with beeswax
Homemade Shampoo Bar Recipe with Beeswax Video Tutorial
Did you like this recipe? Check out more of my Homemade Bath & Beauty Recipes Here:
