How to Make Delectable Bath Bombs

By Freya D'Amico

It's time to sadly admit that winter is in and it's only going to get chillier from here on out. Not that I'm unhappy about that, I love layering clothes and wearing giant coats and making snow angels. But for as many days I love the winter, there are just as many when the wind tries to tear my face off and I just can't get the chill out of my bones.

I find there is nothing as relaxing as steeping in the tub, and nothing makes a bath better than the accompanied fizz of a bath bomb. It makes sense somehow that in the winter, when our sources of natural water have been converted to hard ice or snow, that we would want to lay in a hot bath.

Those times after a long day, I'll use bath salts to ease my muscles and light a candle and just lay there. When I'm feeling a little friskier, I keep some Mr. Bubble on hand. Most often though, I want something in between, relaxing and energizing. This is where bath bombs come into play; they're fizzy and fun but still have the aromatherapy and essential oils to calm me down.

Bath bombs are not only wonderful to use, but they're surprisingly easy to make and personalize yourself. After scouring various books and websites for the best, easiest to make bath bombs, I decided to experiment with elements from each. Most of the ingredients can be bought at a grocery or drugstore. The hardest thing for me to locate was the citric acid used to make the bath bombs fizz. The best place would be your local winemaking shop or, as I had to do, buy it online.

There are several ways to customize this recipe by using food coloring, special molds, one girl I saw even made bath cupcakes, but I'm not that savvy unfortunately.

Dry Ingredients:

• 1 cp Bicarbonate of Soda (baking soda)
  
• 1/2 cp Epsom salts or Coarse Sea Salts
  
• 1/2 cp Acitric Acid
  
• 1/2 cp Cornstarch (optional, makes the bomb float)

Wet Ingredients:

• 1/2 tsp of essential oil or fragrance
  
• 3/4 tbsp water or water and liquid glycerin
  
• 2 1/2 tbsp of any nut oil (optional)

1. Mix cornstarch, baking soda, essential oil and nut oil until it looks fluffy.
2. Add your Epsom salts and acitric acid. Mix again.
3. Mix in water. This is the hardest part because water starts the chemical reaction in the acitric acid. I use a spray bottle and used about two sprays, just enough where the mixture molds in your hand. Note: Spray every two to three molds as needed to keep enough moisture in the mix.
4. Mold the bombs into shape. I use the bottoms of cheap Easter eggs. Be careful not to twist out of the mold, just tap and it should, with a little luck, fall into the waiting cookie sheet or Pyrex. Repeat with all of the mixture.
5. Cover with a cloth overnight to dry. If you live in a wetter climate, it is possible to put the bombs in the oven at 200 to help the drying process, but my apartment was dry enough.
6. Use one bomb per bath and enjoy.

Here's another recipe that I though was really too fun not to include, it is also easier than the bombs and great to make with kids.

Bath Cookies:

Ingredients:

• 2 cps finely ground sea salt (or Epsom salts)
  
• 1/2 cp Baking Soda
  
• 1/2 cp cornstarch
  
• 2 tbsp light oil
  
• 1 tsp vitamin E oil (I use capsules and just break the gel coating)
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 5-6 drops essential oil/vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix all ingredients until doughy.
3. Take about a teaspoon of dough and roll it into a ball or roll the dough out and use cookie cutters. Feel free to add flower petals, cloves, or herbal tea (as I did) in the dough.
4. Place cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet. Make sure the cookies are a good distance apart otherwise they will run together like my first batch did.
5. Bake for about 10 minutes, no need for browning. Be sure not to over bake them.
6. Allow the cookies to cool completely, I say overnight. Carefully remove them with a spatula; they will be fragile.
7. Use one to two cookies per bath and allow to dissolve.

If your first batch of cookies crumbles like mine did, you can still use them; just place them in a nylon and under the running water as the tub fills up. A nylon is also helpful if you added anything to the dough, such as tea.

Freya runs http://www.fishnorfowl.net - where she writes about how to start and achieve your creative goals, cute indie shopping, and the occasional pumpkin eating dinosaur. She lives in Chicago with a six-toed cat and supply of hair dye in every color.

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Turning Household Items into Healthy Beauty Remedies

By Karla Ruzycki-Davis

1. How to Whiten yellow nails-If you have a problem with stained nails the first thing I'd recommend is to take the polish off and keep it that way for as long as you can, at least a month. This is the number one cause of yellowing nails. Secondly scrub your nails with toothpaste. This will remove some staining and help add a shine to the nails. Next, Take one tablespoon of lemon juice(natural bleaching agent) and the same of baking powder and mix together well to form a paste. Apply a small dot of the paste to the center of each fingernail. With the help of a buffer you'll want to gently buff each nail, don't overdo it by buffing too much. Now you can wash your hands again and pat dry. Massage a rich hand cream into the hands and nails. After doing this once per week you can get ready for polish. I'd start with a clear hardener or strengthener. Dark polishes are the worst for creating staining. If you must use a dark polish ALWAYS use a basecoat so it doesn't seep into the nail.

2. Moisturizing dry hands & cuticles-Create a mix for your hands of one tablespoon of olive oil and 1 teaspoon sea salt (sugar if you don't have salt). Once the mix is created wet your hands and quickly pat dry so still damp. Now pour the mix on the palms and tops of your hands to be sure to cover the cuticles and nails also. Keep rubbing this mixture for 1 minute. Now sit for 10 minutes and let the olive oil soak in. Now rinse your hands with lukewarm water and a gritty soap if you have it to cut the grease. You might have to wash a couple times with soap to remove. Once clean, pat dry and coat your hands and nails in some of your best rich hand cream. This replaces the need for such an exfoliating scrub like Sally Hansen. The oil moisturizes while the sea salt scrubs away dead skin to reveal new healthy skin. Do the same with your feet. I always do this before I begin painting my nails for an at-home manicure or pedicure.

3. Want to lighten your hair?-When spring and summer hit most people head to the salon and get themselves some highlights for that sun-kissed look. Highlights are great but the chemicals over time can cause hair to become dry and can be quite expensive. I know that most people that try sun-in spray from the drugstore usually go orange, especially if you are blond to begin with. If you aren't looking for a major contrast in color but just a simple lightening, try lemon juice. Use a spray bottle with ¾ lemon juice (freshly squeezed is best, but the store-bought will do) and ¼ water and coat your hair by spraying all over the top. The sun has to process this to work, so you'll have to sit outside in the sun. If you don't like to tan, cover yourself up and hold a towel over your face. After about an hour you can wash it all out with shampoo. You'll notice lighter, shinier hair. This won't be a dramatic difference but will do the trick.

4. Hair Moisturizing Mask-Use eggs. If you are like me and make egg whites for breakfast, save the yolks instead of throwing them away. The protein in them will help strengthen your hair and moisturize it. Mix up 2 whole eggs whipped, 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 of lime juice(lime juice optional-perks up curly hair). Leave on your hair for 20-30 minutes and tuck under a plastic shower cap. Add heat for better penetration such as a hairdryer or a heating pad and hot towel over the shower cap. Finish by shampooing hair twice and rinsing thoroughly.

5. Relieve Itchy Skin- Add 2-3 cups of quick cooking oats to your bathtub of hot water. Let is settle and stew in the water for a bit. When you are bathing, pick up handfuls of the oats and cover the itchy areas. You'll need to shower with clean water when you are done, but do not use soap. This little recipe is great for adults as well as a child with chicken pox or poison ivy.

6. Recipe for Soft Skin & Prevent Yeast Infections-Add 1/4 Cup of Apple Cider Vinegar to a bath instead of bubble bath. It will soften your skin and protect from getting yeast infections, unlike soaps that are often the cause of yeast infections.

7. Fixing Foot Odor-Baking soda is a gentle alkaline powder that will neutralize odor-causing acids by restoring your skin's pH level. Once a week create a relaxing food bath by adding ½ cup of baking soda to about 2 Gallons of water in your tub. Soak your feet for about 10-15 minutes. As you are draining the water, put a couple drops of peppermint or rosemary oil on each foot. This will create better circulation in the feet and a minty zing. Finish by rinsing feet, pat them dry and then ensure you use a lotion or foot cream to keep feet well moisturized.

8. Deep-Clean Oily Skin- A natural antiseptic and antibacterial ingredient, honey can be just the trick for your oily or blemished skin. Twice a day you'll want to use 1-2 tablespoons of honey and warm it either by rubbing in your own hands or by placing in the microwave for 10 seconds to soften it. Massage it onto clean, damp skin using a pressing and releasing technique. Rinse well with warm water and pat your face dry.

9. Got the Flu?- One of the most useful tips is to get out the hydrogen peroxide and place a clean cotton swab in the bottle. Use both ends of the swab and stick one into each ear every hour. This works to speed up the healing and recovery process of the flu. My husband just tried this again this week and it works!

10. Natural Teeth Whiteners- Here are 2 solutions, try them both and see which one you like best. Most people have heard that baking soda and peroxide work, well it does. Here is the recipe for Solution#1: Mix on teaspoon of baking soda on a plate and add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to make a paste, now scoop it off the plate with your toothbrush and use on your teeth. Rinse thoroughly and do not swallow! Another tip for whiter teeth is to avoid cola's like coke, pepsi, dark-colored juices especially those with artificial coloring as well as tobacco products and coffee/tea. In addition do brush 4 times per day, bring a toothbrush to work if you have to. Solution#2: Mash 1 ripe strawberry into a pulp and mix with ½ teaspoon of baking POWDER, not soda. Using your toothbrush you can brush with this for 1 minute and let sit on your teeth for 5 minutes. The malic acid in the strawberries acts as an astringent which causes stains to loosen and be removed. The baking powder breaks into small particles to reach deeper stains on teeth. You can use either of these once per week.

Karla Davis is a Certified Personal Trainer who has spent over 4 years focusing on Nutrition and Health. She also specializes in Staging and Organizing homes and office spaces as a Professional Organizer and is also a Public Speaker. Karla has over 10 years of experience and success within inside/outside Sales and Marketing, and is the wife of Author, Paul Davis. Karla too is now writing her own books as her life mission is to positively transform the homes and lives of everyone she meets.

Please contact Karla for your Home Staging, Interior Re-design, Professional Organizing or Nutritional needs at:

Karla Davis

Florida Home Staging & Redesign

Professional Home Stager

P.O. Box 684

Goldenrod, FL 32733

Tel: (407) 284-1705

Karla@FloridaHomeStager.com

http://www.FloridaHomeStager.com

Home Staging for the Serious Seller!

http://activerain.com/floridahomestager

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Aromatherapy Bath Oil - 4 Relaxing Aromatherapy Bath Oil Recipes That Will Melt Away Your Stress

By Nikki LeRoi

Mental and physical stress can take a toll on your body and mental health. At times of high stress, it's good to escape from the world and enjoy a nice, warm therapeutic bath where you can sit back, relax and meditate. Instead of purchasing commercial bath oil and bubble bath soap, you can make your own delightfully relaxing aromatherapy bath oil and mineral bath salt.

Chamomile Bath

A stressful day can tense up your tired muscles and cause various aches and pains. You've probably heard that a warm cup of chamomile tea can relax harried nerves. Soaking in a chamomile bath will have the same effect while also relaxing those tense muscles.

Chamomile Bath Recipe

Steep 6 chamomile tea bags in 3 cups of hot water for half an hour. Remove the bags. Stir in 2 cups of powdered milk. Pour mixture into a warm bath.

Lavender Bath

Having trouble sleeping?

Don't reach for those sleeping pills. Instead, relax in a warm lavender bath before bedtime. Lavender helps you to enjoy a deep, restful sleep and also reduces stress.

Lavender Bath Salts Recipe

In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup Dead Sea salts, 1/2 cup Epson salts, and 10 drops of lavender oil. Pour mixture into a warm bath.

Mint Bath

You will be energized and prepared to take on the world after soaking in a mint bath. Mint stimulates your circulation and helps oxygen pump natural energy throughout your body. If you lack energy, a mint bath will wake you up fast!

Mint Bath Recipe

In a large bowl, pour in 1/2 cup of Epson salts. Drop in 2 handfuls of fresh mint leaves. Rub the leaves against the salts for several minutes, until the salts have soaked up the mint leaf oils. Add the mint infused Epson salts only to a warm bath.

Flower Bath

In the mood for love?

An indulgent flower bath will give you the warm fuzzies and put you in the perfect mood for a romantic encounter.

Flower Bath Recipe

Roll up several rose petals and drop them into a glass bottle. Add in 2 ounces of grapeseed oil, 5 drops of jasmine oil and 5 drops of ylang-ylang oil. Shake the bottle to mix the oils well. Let sit overnight. Run a bath and add 1/4 cup of flower oil. For an extra romantic touch, drop fresh rose petals into your bath water.

Heal Yourself Naturally. Find the best tips and suggestions on natural healing remedies.
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Home Spa Regimen For A "Pamper ME" Night

By Rae Serenity

Feeling unappreciated, worn out, and just un-pampered? Don't let life get you down. Stop off at the store and pick up some simple, inexpensive items that will help you create a Spa experience right in your own home. Following this article is a shopping list and a recipe list to help keep you organized, (please refer back to the article for recipe directions.) It is a busy world out there these days, making time for yourself close to none.

So why not kick those heels off, untie your cinched waist and wiggle your nose into an evening of relaxation and reflection? There are so many treatments to choose from, so many ways to pamper yourself right into oblivian. All you need is about an hour maybe more depending on how long you enjoy soaking in the tub. Here is my regimen for a "Pamper ME" night in my very own HOME SPA!

First you will need to make the Witch Hazel Toner, the recipe can be found below. Combine ingredients, then pour from mixing bowl into a squeezable bottle for repeated use. Prior to each use you must shake the bottle well to re-mix. You will also need to gather several small mixing bowls, one medium mixing bowl, and a fork. Cut five slices of cucumber, two for your eyes during the bath and facial mask portion of your HOME SPA and place the other three in a tall glass of filtered water, to drink. You may want to gather these things ahead of time to save time and valuable energy.

You will also need at least one wash cloth, a hand towel, a large bath towel, a counter full of all your gathered and prepared ingredients, a lit scented candle, and a bubble bath to start off the treatment. Take your time in there, relax and enjoy your peaceful YOU time! When your done get out, wrap in something warm yet with short sleeves, like a night shirt. Leave the water in the tub, you 're going to need it again. This way you are also keeping your steam and heat in the room as well as allowing for a place to rinse your hands and feet during the treatment.

To begin your facial treatment start by hanging your head over the sink as you allow the hot water to run. You can even place the large towel over your head and shoulders creating a barricade, keeping the steam in, to open your pores. Close the drain, and turn the water off once the sink is full. Sit in this position for as long as you can stand it, or at least 5 minutes, adding more steam as needed. In doing so you are not only opening your pores but your lungs as well. Breathe in deeply and take in the smell of your candle, and bubble bath. Isnt that nice? As soon as you are through with the steam part of your treatment begin washing your face with the Homemade Facial Wash. Which is literally some milk and fresh lavender on a hot wash cloth rubbed into your face using gentle circular motions, massaging the face while avoiding the eyes. Rinse with warm water, pat dry.

Next render the Oatmeal Facial Exfoliate. Only exfoliate the skin on your face and neck once a week to avoid damage to the skin. Make sure the almonds and oats are very finely ground before mixing all ingredients together. Once ingredients are blended, carefully smooth the entire concoction over your face and neck in a circular motion, avoiding the eye area. Gently smooth onto skin, sloughing off dead skin cells for at least one minute. Rinse with warm water, pat dry.

Next is the Wrinkle Delayer Mask used to induce relaxation, moisturize, fight wrinkles and unclog pours. Begin this part of the treatment by mashing your avocado and beating the egg, blend those with the honey and Heavy Cream. Once all ingredients are together use it to cover entire face and neck, leaving a small circle around your eyes for the cucumbers. Now climb back into the bath, place the cucumbers over your eyes, and relax. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes. Get out of the bath, but once again leave the water for one last step. Rinse the mask off your face at the sink with cold tap water, or a cold, damp wash cloth. You can also get an ice cube and run it over your face and neck to close the pores, pat dry with a clean hand towel.

Find your premade Homemade Witch Hazel Toner and a cotton ball or cotton pad. Dispense the toner onto the cotton and apply in gentle upward strokes to face and neck. Allow to dry and examine skin. At this point depending on your skin type you may feel tight or dry, if so use your everyday facial moisturizer to even out the difference. Most people experience the smoothest skin from this treatment and need nothing else but the ME SPA treatment.

The very last step in your spa treatment is the Oatmeal Foot & Hand treatment. Whisk the egg with a fork, and blend ingredients until moist. Smooth over hands, forearms, feet and ankles, focusing on the cuticles, nails, or other dry areas. Allow treatment to sit on your skin for at least five minutes. Rinse off in bath water, pat dry. Apply a skin moisturizer or use olive oil as needed as a moisturizer. Leave oil on for 5 minutes. Then wash feet and hands thoroughly with a moisturizing soap.

After an evening of pampering yourself, go light a nice fire or curl up with a good book and focus on you, for once. You know you deserve this kind of treatment at least once a week. Just set a day, add these items to your shopping list, get started on loving yourself. You are the only one who can control how much YOU time you get with yourself. Don't miss out on the opportunity, to feel appreciated, relaxed, loved, and rejuvinated. It's as simple as an inexpensive trip to the grocery store, or quite possibly your very own kitchen.

Here is your shopping list:

Milk

fresh lavender leaves or flowers, or dried lavender pre softened with warm water and drained

small plain yogurt

1 cucumber

1 egg

honey

1 Avocado

Aloe Vera gel

Heavy Whipping Cream

Finely ground almonds

ground instant oatmeal

coconut oil

petroleum jelly

Witch Hazel

lemon juice

olive oil

Here is your Recipe List:

Homeade Facial Wash

use a hot wash cloth and a bit of milk

Witch Hazel Toner

1 cup Witch Hazel

½ cup lemon juice

1 cup filtered water

Oatmeal facial Exfoliate

1 tsp honey

1 tbsp ground instant oatmeal (dry)

1 tbsp finely ground almonds

1 tbsp Aloe Vera gel

Wrinkle Delayer Mask

1 egg (wrinkle delayer)

1 avocado

2 tbsp Honey

½ cup Heavy Whipping Cream (for normal skin)

or ½ cup yogurt (for Oily Skin)

or a combination of cream and yogurt (for combination skin)

Oatmeal Foot & Hand treatment

3 ½ teaspoon ground instant oatmeal

2 ½ tsp olive oil

½ cup lemon juice

Rae Serenity

http://www.myspace.com/rae_serenity

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How To Make Bubble Bath With Inexpensive Ingredients

By Rose Smith

The luxury of soaking in a hot bath is a great stress reducer for many women. By adding certain scents, bubble bath, and essential oils to the bath water, we can create a totally relaxing experience or energize ourselves once again, depending on the products we use.

Unfortunately, many of the bath products available on the market are laced with harsh chemicals that can irritate our skin or even cause infections. You have to be careful in what you purchase and actually research your product choices carefully.

An alternative choice is to make your own bath products. By combining readily available ingredients along with a selection of essential oils, your bubble bath will help to enhance the softness of your skin, aid in stress reduction, and contribute to your mental health and well being.

What Ingredients Constitute Homemade Bubble Bath?

Let's look at some of the ingredients that you'll be using to mix up your own homemade bubble bath formula.

Distilled Water - You can purchase distilled water in most grocery stores. The benefit over using this type of water over regular tap water is that chlorine, all minerals and other impurities have been removed from it.

Liquid glycerin - This is a clear, thick liquid that is extracted from animal fats and vegetable oils, and is a by-product of soap manufacturing. It's purpose is to increase moisture and softness, plus it helps to create bubbles.

Castile Soap - This type of soap was originally made from olive oil although other types of oils can also be used, such as: coconut, almond, hemp, and jojoba.

Essential Oils - There are many oils that have many different purposes so you will need to research this area. For a soothing scent try oils like lavender, rosewood, sandalwood, chamomile, and myrrh. Some of the essential oils that can help you to feel energized and rejuvenated are eucalyptus, spearmint, peppermint, and lemon oil. Oils that are especially good at softening the skin include almond and coconut oil.

Simple Bubble Bath Recipe

Here is a very quick and easy recipe that anyone can make. Once you have it mixed, pour the mixture into an unbreakable bottle. As it doesn't have any chemical ingredients to preserve it, it would probably be safe to say you could store your bubble bath for one to two months.

1 quart warm distilled Water

1 Bar castile soap, grated

2 oz Liquid Glycerin

3 to 4 drops essential oil of choice

Mix the water and grated soap together until all the soap is dissolved. It's best to use warm to hot water for this, as it helps the soap dissolve faster. Add the glycerin and essential oil stir gently. This is safe to use for kids as well.

Bubble Bath For The Winter Months

We all know how miserable getting a cold or the flu can be. Here is a wonderful bubble bath recipe to soak in when you're sick since Eucalyptus can help your body fight cold symptoms and reduce congestion.

6 drops of eucalyptus oil

3 drops of spearmint oil

3 drops of peppermint oil

1 quart of distilled water (heated)

1 bar of castile soap. (4 oz. Bar), grated

4 ounces liquid glycerin

Mix the water and grated soap together until the soap has dissolved. Add the remaining ingredients, stir gently, and store in an unbreakable bottle.

Women are notorious for always being on the go and putting everyone else's health first. Just remember, it is also important that you take care of yourself as well. Allowing yourself to relax is part that care. Preparing your own homemade bubble bath with favorite essential oils is one great way to do this. Now go find that novel you've been wanting to read, take that deliciously soothing bath and melt away the stress of the day.

Rose Smith enjoys writing about many things including weddings, Halloween, and inspiring thoughts. Visit Wedding Themes and More for additional wedding beauty tips to look your best on your special day.

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How to Create Natural Scents for Your Bath or Shower

By Lill Hawkins

Some people love to take long, luxurious baths. Others can't wake up without a shower in the morning. Whichever you prefer, hydrotherapy, in the form of a bath or shower, is something almost everyone enjoys. There's nothing better for waking us up in the morning than a nice, hot shower. And there's nothing better for relaxing our bodies and soothing our minds into restful sleep than a bath before we go to bed. It lowers our body temperature and prepares us for sleep, naturally.

Scented Bath Salts

When I want to relax, I take a bath with these bath salts. I've been making them since the 70's when I sold them at craft fairs. Now I make them for my own enjoyment. They're so simple to make and leave your skin soft and silky. Kids love to watch them color the bath water and they're not irritating like commercial kids' bath products can be.

Ingredients:

2 Cups Sea Salt, Kosher Salt or Rock Salt

20 Drops Essential Oil

Add the essential oil to the salt. Spread it out on a cookie sheet covered with tin foil or parchment paper. (Don't use paper towels, because they'll absorb the scented oil.) When it's dry, which may take as long as 24 hours or as little as 3, pour it into a pretty glass jar with a cover. If you like colored bath salts, use a couple of TBSPS of beet juice, or non-toxic food coloring to the salts with the essential oil. You can find non-toxic food coloring at Health Food Stores. To use, just scoop out about a half-cup and add to running water.

Remember, scent is a very personal thing. It's wonderful to surround yourself with it in your own home. But it's considerate to keep it very light or just not use it in public.

Scented Shower Gel

Ingredients:

1 Cup Water

1 ½ Cups Liquid Glycerine Soap, Scented (Dr. Bronner's or any natural brand)

2 TBSP Finely Milled Sea Salt

Natural Food Coloring (optional)

Add liquid soap to water. Do not add water to liquid soap, because you'll have a kitchen full of suds. Stir in salt and coloring, if you want it. If it separates, shake gently before using.

Variations: Use unscented liquid soap and add about 20 drops of essential oil to it. Or add a stick of cinnamon, a tsp of ginger, nutmeg, vanilla, coconut or chocolate extract. Store in a shampoo bottle.

Simple Soothing Milk and Honey Bath

Ingredients:

2 Cups of Dry Milk Powder (I use organic)

2 TBSP of Dried Honey Powder (I use HoneySweet Brand)

2 Cups of Finely Processed Oats (I use my food processor)

12-20 drops of essential oil (I use half lavender and half rose)

Mix milk and honey powder in large bowl. I use a whisk. Add essential oil, mix well and put in a plastic bag or tightly covered jar. Let the powder absorb the oil for at least 24 hours. Add ½ cup under the tap while you're running your bath. This is a good bath powder for children, although I omit the essential oil for children under 2, just in case it irritates them.

Looking for Natural, Organic and Green information? Get craft ideas, recipes and formulas for homemade household helpers. Lill's List is your resource for everything that's good for you.

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The Wonders Of Epson Salt

By Carol Belanger

Epsom salts are named for the mineral rich waters of Epsom, England, where they were known at least as far back as Shakespeare's day. When bathing, the magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) is absorbed through the skin and is an inexpensive and natural way to reduce stress, treat skin problems, and draw toxins from the body.

It has been a long time remedy natural remedy for a number of ailments. An Epson salt bath is known to relieve aching limbs, muscle strain and back pain. In addition, it has been known to heal cuts, reduce soreness from childbirth and relieves colds and congestion. Furthermore, Epson salt will flush toxins and heavy metals from the body.

It is a natural stress reliever too. Stress drains the body of magnesium. An Epson salt bath absorbs magnesium into our body thus helping to relieve stress. The magnesium helps to produce adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of calm and relaxation.

Ithas many uses, as an all body exfoliate to remove dead skin cells and promote circulation, as a foot soaking agent to smooth, relax and refreshes your feet and neutralize odors, and as a facial exfoliate.

Below are some easy skin care recipes using Epson salt. The cost is minimal yet very beneficial for your skin.

Just Like the Spa!

Massage a handful of Epsom Salt mixed with 1-tablespoon bath oil or olive oil and rub all over wet skin to cleanse exfoliate and soften the rough spots! Rinse well. Note recommended on freshly shaved legs.

Easy Facial Cleanser:

Mix ½ Tsp of Epsom Salt into cleansing cream for a deep-pore cleansing. Massage on skin. Rinse with cool water. Pat dry.

Epsom Salt Detox Bath Recipe

1 Cup Epsom salt

1 handful sea salt

2 Tablespoons bath oil

Pour the ingredients into the tub while the tub is filling.

It has wonderful properties and uses that are beneficial to the mind, body, and soul. In addition, the cost of a box of Epson salts is so minimal compared to all the fancy packaged skin care products, that you can indulge yourself as much as you like.

For those people that suffer from high blood pressure, heart problems, or diabetes, you should consult your doctor prior to using it in the bath. Additionally, the information provided above is not intended to replace the care or advice of a physician if you suffer from skin disorders, severe stress or anxiety, or other health problems.

Carol Belanger, author of 300+ Skin Care Recipes

For wonderful homemade skin care recipes, including body scrubs, facial peels and masks, etc., visit Complete Skin Care Therapy

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Homemade Hand Lotion

By Saiera Hilton

Come winter time and your hands start getting dry and chapped. Those long fingers, that were the envy of your friends in winters, now seem to have become extremely rough and parched. How you long for those soft and beautiful hands once again, but the price of hand lotions in the market seems to be skyrocketing.

Make Your Own Homemade Hand Lotion

Gas prices are going up. Money is tight. So how are we supposed to save money? One way is by making things at home that you would have to pay good money for in the store. In many cases, things you make at home will end up costing you a lot less than things purchased already made in the store.

To Make This Homemade Hand Lotion

Melt the petroleum jelly and beeswax in a double boiler. Add the glycerin and heat for several minutes until the mixture is smooth and well heated. Add the bee pollen and pour into a container while still hot since the mixture does harden as it cools.

Did You Know?

Glycerin - Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it attracts moisture to your skin. Glycerin is a natural by-product of the soap making process and while commercial manufacturers remove the glycerin for use in their more profitable lotions and creams.

Homemade hand cream

Use 2 teaspoons of perfumed body lotion and 1 to 2 drops of red food color. Put stearic acid, glycerin and wax in a "crock" on low heat, until all is well melted. Then add the 1/2 ounce of ammonia and stir fast with a wooden spoon (this will look a little milky). Have Borax dissolved in warm water; add, stir and immediately start beating (on low speed). Take off stove and beat until it looks like whipped cream.

Featuring Soaps Made the Old Fashion Way

Starting with an olive oil base, by adding a little coconut oil, some shortening and lye, with lots of patience and stirring, we can create a high quality, gentle soap. There is a waiting time for the soap to cure in their molds and when they are finished we have a lovely, hard bar that lasts a very long time.

Homemade hand cream recipes

Squeeze the oil out of 2 or 3 vitamin E capsules into a bowl. Add 2 Tbsp. each of olive oil and coconut oil, and mix together. This makes about a 4 oz. mixture. This can be stored in the refrigerator or a cool place for a few weeks, and used as needed. Since the concoction is very smooth, you may want to use it at bedtime as a night cream.

Hand creams are easily made at home. Most of them involve the use of beeswax as it is one of the best natural ingredients that lock in the moisture and protect the skin of the hands from drying and damage.

All Natural Hand Cream Recipes

Our natural hand cream helps heal dry, chaffed skin with regular use; Great for elbows, knees and feet. Contains contains grapeseed oil infused with Calendula flowers, aloe vera, tea tree oil, beeswax and tinture of benzoin. Great for rough, chapped hands, elbows and feet. Softens AND Heals.

A honey and almond cream that works great for dry skin requires 2 ounces of honey, 4 ounces of lanolin, and 2 ounces of almond oil. Melt the honey in a double boiler. Add the lanolin and mix thoroughly. Remove from heat and let cool. When cooled, add the almond oil, stirring well. Add perfume if desired. A shaving cream that can be made at home requires 8 ounces of heavy mineral oil, 8 ounces of glycostearin (diglycol stearate), and 40 ounces of water.

Dissolve gum in 1 cup lukewarm water. Soft water should be used. Let stand 24 hours or til it gels, then add other ingredients. Shake well and dilute with warm soft water until the desired consistency is obtained.

Visit StBotanica Natural Breast Enlargement Products. Also Read about Breast Enlargement Cream

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Easy Craft Ideas - Lip Balm Recipes

By Janet Ashby

A cheap, easy craft idea! It is easy to make lip balm yourself from cheap, easy to find ingredients. You can use Vaseline, cosmetic grade beeswax or petroleum jelly a s a base with essential oils for flavouring.

Containers

Small glass pots are suitable for your lip balm. If you have any old lip balm containers you can use these but they must be sterilised first. To do this wash them thoroughly with soap and water then rinse out with rubbing alcohol. Rinse with clear water then dry completely before use.

Colouring the Lip Balm

The lip balm does not need to be coloured but if you would like to colour it a you can use few slivers of lipstick shaved from a new lipstick. It is necessary to use new lipstick as lipstick that has been used could be contaminated with bacteria.

Melting the Base Material

The base material, whether it is vaseline, petroleum jelly or beeswax, needs to be melted before you can add the flavouring or colouring. You will need about two teaspoons for each small pot. There are a variety of ways to do this but whichever you choose only just melt the material. It does not need to be heated more than that. You can use a double saucepan to gently melt the material with steam or heat it in the microwave. if you use a microwave be careful not to overheat it. Place it in a small container then heat for only 30 seconds. Check to see if it is melted then heat again for 30 seconds if it is not. Continue heating for 30 seconds at a time until melting occurs. I find the easiest way is to place the material in a plastic bag, tie the ends, then float in some hot water. Once the material has melted snip off a corner and pour it out.

Flavourings

Once you have melted the base material the following flavourings can be added. Add only a small amount until the taste is satisfactory. essential oils must be handled carefully so make sure you read the safety instructions that come with your oil before you start. Citrus essential oils (e.g. orange, lemon etc) should not be used as they can make you skin more photosensitive.

Almond oil, vanilla oil, cocoa powder, tea tree oil, camphor, cinnamon, ginger, peppermint oil.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E acts as a preservative. Use a vitamin E capsule, puncture with a sterilised needle (hold it in a flame for a few seconds) then squeeze out the oil into you balm.

Moisturising Lip Balm Recipe

Materials

1. 1 1/2 teaspoons cosmetic grade beeswax



2. 1/1/2 teaspoons Shea Butter



3. 1/2 teaspoon Jojoba oil



4. 1/2 teaspoon almond oil



5. 4 drops essential oil of your choice



6. 3 capsules vitamin E

Method

Carefully melt the beeswax with the Shea butter. Be careful not to overheat as this can make the Shea Butter grainy. Allow to cool slightly then add the Jojoba oil,the almond oil, essential oil and the vitamin E. Pour into containers and allow to cool. Add a few more drops of almond oil if necessary to soften the lip balm.

Caution

The above recipes do not include any sun protection. Some people are allergic to some essential oils so be careful if you make these as gifts.

Janet Ashby loves crafts and making things at home from cheap, easy to come by materials. For lots more information and easy craft ideas visit Easy Craft Ideas or Easy Craft Ideas - Bath Salt Recipes.

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How to Make an Organic Skin Brightening Soap at Home

By Naweko N San-Joyz

There was a time in history when almost everyone crafted their own soap. The Earth is coming full circle and once again soap making has made itself a welcomed and rewarding past-time. But a few things have changed in the past 300 years of soap making.

For one, you can custom tailor soaps to your specific beauty needs while adding herbal elements to make the end-product more therapeutic. Moreover, milling soaps does not take all day or even months as it did for our ancestors. Now you can combine the healing and beautifying powers of soap into an organic skin lightener with just a few minutes of work. Here's how:

Short-cut soap milling

A major time saver in the world of soap making is using premade, all natural soap bars. Soap making from scratch can get messy and greasy. You can spare yourself, and your kitchen, such untidiness by buying an organic, creamy soap bar from your local health or drug store.

Ingredients

• 1 bar of organic soap (3.5- to 4-ounce bar)


• 1 navel orange


• 2 tablespoons of safflower or almond oil


• 4 tablespoons of filtered water


• 2 drops of lemongrass essential oil


• 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil


• ½ teaspoon of cinnamon

Utensils

• Spoon


• Large, microwave-safe bowl


• Plastic wrap


• Freezer-safe and flexible plastic cup


• Cheese grater


• Paper towels

Creating a Skin Lightening Soap

Prep work

Shredding

Shred the bar of soap into a bowl, using the cheese grater. Next, into the same bowl, with the cheese grater, shred the orange peel. Grate the orange until you reach the white-yellowish area of its peel.

Soap molds

To prepare the molds, dip a paper towel into the vegetable oil and coat the cup with the oiled towel.

Melting the soap

In the bowl used above, to the shredded soap and orange peels, add the water and safflower (or almond) oil.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the microwave on high for 30-45 seconds. (Note: Watch the soap as it melts because it could bubble over into the microwave.) If the soap has not completely melting after 45 seconds, place it in the microwave for another 30 seconds.

Mixing the soap

Once the soap has melted, remove it from the microwave and take off the plastic wrap.

Add the cinnamon and lemongrass essential oil to the melted soap and stir the mixture with a spoon for one to two minutes.

Molding the soap

Option 1: Cup mold

After you have mixed the soap, pour it into the cup. Use the spoon to pack the soap in and remove large air bubbles.

Option 2: Hand-molded

Alternately, you can just scoop the soap with your hands and mold the soap into balls or patties.

Hardening the soap

Now, top the cup of soap with plastic wrap to save it from possible freezer odors. If you made soap patties, just wrap them in plastic wrap.

Place the soap in the freezer for 1-2 hours to let it harden, then remove the bars. Once the soap is hard, slide it out of the cup. You can slice the cup-molded soap bar into smaller pieces using a knife.

You can store the soap in wax paper or plastic wrap.

The results

Let the soaps set at room temperature for one day before using. Then, enjoy cleansing your skin with a unique, organic skin lightening soap. The elements in the orange peel and safflower oil help promote the skin brightening effects of this soap.

Naweko San-Joyz helps people look better. You can get started by using her free beauty recipes ebooks located at http://www.noixia.com/blog

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How to Make an Exfoliating Body Soap

By Naweko N San-Joyz

Melt-and-pour soap recipes are like good short stories-there's one for just about every occasion. Now the occasion is invigorating tired, dull skin and the melt-and-pour recipe takes just 15 minutes to make.

Ingredients

• 1 3.5 to 4 ounce bar of soap


• ½ cup of safflower, sesame, jojoba or almond oil


• ½ cup of filtered water


• 2 tablespoons of powered oat meal


• 1 shredded, small loofah pad (about the size of a 4 ounce bar of soap) or shredded facial scrub pad

Tip






To "shred" your loofah pad or facial scrub, cut the pad length-wise at forth-inch intervals. Then cut the length-wise slits again at forth-inch intervals. Use a "hard" melt and pour soap for this recipe, meaning using a soap with more of a water-based than an oil-based (creamy) soap. For example, aloe vera based soaps have more water content than oil, making it a great candidate for this milling project. This way, the soap will hold the shredded pads better.

Utensils

• 1 large bowl


• 1 large spoon


• plastic wrap


• cheese grater

Melting

Over the large bowl, grate the soap bar. Add the water and oil to the grated soap in the large bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap.

Place the bowl in the microwave on high for 30 seconds. Watch the bowl to ensure that it does not bubble over. After 30 seconds, if the soap has not melted to a point where it is malleable, place it in the microwave for 15 more seconds.

Mixing

Remove the plastic wrap from the bowl. Now mix in the powered oatmeal and shredded loofah or facial pad. Stir the ingredients for one to two minutes.

Molding

The best mold for this soap is the hand patty. This shape allows the soap to mold to your own hands and makes exfoliating your skin delightfully easier.

To make hand patties. Just scoop the softened soap into your hands and roll it into a large ball. Then gently press the ball flat, to a height of about one-half to three-fourths of an inch.

That's it. Now you have a soap just for the moments when you need an uplifting shower.

Naweko San-Joyz helps people look better. You can get started by using her natural beauty recipes ebooks located at http://www.noixia.com/blog

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Soapmaking Idea: Sugar + Cornstarch = ?

By Lisa Chambers

To me, soapmaking is a never ending learning process. There's just so many different ingredients and techniques to try- the possibilities are endless. I have always kept my mind and eyes open for new ideas. Well, I also love to cook and where better a place to come up with new ideas than your very own kitchen? I'm not sure if anyone else has tried this or thought of it yet, but for me a new trick popped up and I wanted to share my experience with other soapmakers.

Having a sensitivity to coconut oil in soaps and also having temperamental skin in general, has kept me stingy with lathering oils in my soapmaking recipes. However, people are so used to the abundance of lather usually associated with bought soaps (since they cheat with sodium laurel sulfate), that a more "lotion-like" lather is harder for some to except. Besides, let's face it- who doesn't like big fluffy bubbles? Because of this I have always tried to increase lather in my soaps through other natural additives.

The addition of various types of powdered milks not only adds the nourishing we all know is famous for gorgeous skin, but has seemed to help somewhat in adding more of a lather and contributed a certain creaminess to it. Silk fibers added to my lye water gave even more positive results for me. I always knew silk provided wonderful "moisture locking properties" and a truly luxurious feel- but since I felt how it significantly increased my soaps ability to lather, it quickly became one of my favorite indulgences. Then there's the other trick of the trade... Sugar. Whether dissolved in lye-water or it's presence enters in from the addition of honey in my soap batches, sugar has displayed outstanding results. As a matter of fact, when I first began soaping, castor oil was almost mandatory in all my soap recipes due to the rare ricinoleic acid in it that contributes to lather without being nearly as drying as typically used "lathering oils". I have found the combination of silk and sugar works so well together that even though I still respect and welcome castor oil for it's wonderful content of essential fatty acids, it is no longer absolutely necessary for me to soap with.

Well, good thing I'm a "label reader"! One day while baking my husband a special treat, I happened to glance at the ingredients list on a bag of confectionery sugar. "Ingredients: sugar and cornstarch". As with many addicted soapers, I have a personal problem with often swiping items from our food cabinets to sneak into soap- if it's in the kitchen, it's game! I have tried cornstarch in my soap before and it was in fact really nice. (Cornstarch is soothing to the skin and sometimes used as a replacement for the feel that silk gives in vegan soaps.)

I decided to give it a shot. When my soap got to a very thin trace I added about one tablespoon confectionery sugar per pound of base oils, attempting to add it carefully and space it out around the bowl for easier mixing. I then put my stick blender to it and mixed it very well, making sure that it was evenly incorporated into the mix and no clumps were left behind. I noticed it did thicken up a tad, but not so much that it was that hard to manage getting my soap into it's mold when it was ready. Once curing time was up and I tried it, I jumped up and down like a kid at Christmas. It seemed to have the effects a soap would have from the batches I would take the extra steps to dissolve my sugar in water before introducing the lye, and the added feel that cornstarch can bring! The only difference is that was a lot easier and faster than having to heat up your water and stir like a mad person to dissolve your sugar, and then wait for it to cool down a little before adding my lye. It seemed to be a truly effective time saver.

I love sharing ideas with other soapmakers and I really hope some of you out there will find this trick helpful. Happy and safe soaping!

You can visit Lisa Chambers' website for more soapmaking ideas & tips and other health and beauty related articles from a more natural approach.

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Soap Making Recipes

By Marie Ackland

Homemade soap has excellent benefits for the skin, helping to ease conditions like eczema, psoriasis and acne. Soap making recipes are now widely available in book stores and on the internet and include hundreds of soap variations. Once you have grasped the basics of soap making, you can start making your own natural soap products using only those ingredients that you want to have in your soap.

Basic soap recipe ingredients:


Lye (sodium hydrochloride)

Distilled water

Fats and oils (lard, tallow fat, olive oil, coconut oil)

Fragrance oils and essential oils



Your chosen soap recipe should include the right type of fats or oils for you. Many soap making recipes use animal fats, but you can also use vegetable shortening. Various types of oil appear in soap recipes too. Olive oil helps make soap moisturizing, while coconut oil gives your soap a good lather effect. Other oils often seen in soap making recipes include almond oil, coconut oil and sunflower oil. When you're making homemade soap, you must take care to use the correct combination of fats and oils as they have different "saponification" properties, so you can't just substitute the same quantity of lard for olive oil, for example.

Fragrance oils and essential oils are the additives that give soap making recipes their appeal. Fragrance oils tend not to be so widely used in beginners soap making recipes as they contain alcohol and can interfere with the soap making process. Essential oils on the other hand, while a bit more expensive, are easier to use. Soap making recipes will usually tell you to add fragrance oils at the trace stage, although essential oils can be added earlier, with the base oils. Fragrance and essential oils come in a huge variety of scents and all have different aromatherapy and skin conditioning properties. Some of the soap making recipes you see today include these types of natural additives:

* Lavender soap making recipes; lavender is an essential aromatherapy oil said to have calming effects. It is also gentle on skin and acts as an insect repellent.

* Chamomile soap making recipes; with a gentle sweet scent, chamomile helps relieve stress and aid peaceful sleep.

* Citrus oil soap making recipes; lemon, orange and lime oils can give your soap a stimulating aroma and help you feel refreshed.

Of course, many of the aromatherapy and fragrance oils can be put together to create even more interesting soap making recipes. You can have a lot of fun playing around with the different scents and blends to come up with a perfect recipe for making your handcrafted soap!

Marie Ackland - Soap making was originally a hobby of mine that gave me great pleasure, theres something quite satisfying about creating from scratch a beautifully scented bar of soap.

It then turned into a full time passion, creating wonderful soap for family and friends to enjoy. When a friend surgested I take some along to a local craft fair, which I did and from that day on I never looked back. I now have a great soap business which makes a healthy profit and gives me great satisfaction.

So now 20 years on from my first batch I love to teach the art of soap making. It can be frustrating at first but if you learn the fundamentals and put into practice my methods you WILL have great soap every time.

Learn To Make The Most Amazing Soap Today - Step By Step Guide

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Acne Herbal Solutions

By Rick Coelho

Despite a person's age, one of the most frustrating known conditions to deal with is acne. Although we often label this condition as a teenager's problem, it's something that can last well into our adult lives. In fact, some people may struggle with acne their entire lifetime. Finding acne products that work in relieving and treating the symptoms can be a tiresome challenge. Many of the well-known treatments are filled with abrasive and harsh chemicals that can irritate the sensitive skin of the face. A much better alternative that seems to work well for many are the vast range of acne herbal remedies.

There are many misconceptions regarding why some people are more prone to blemishes than others. We've all heard that not washing your face often and thorough enough, or eating chocolate and oily foods can lead to breakouts. Although the cause of each individual case may vary, treatments usually work well regardless of what's at the root cause of the acne. Acne herbal remedies and traditional treatments are designed to fight the blemishes and act to make them vanish.

Researching the available acne treatments is a fairly simple task with the convenience of the Internet. Some natural products can be difficult to find so it's a good idea to stick to acne herbal remedies that are readily available nearby. There are actually many savvy techniques that can be used to combat this skin condition that involves products or items that you may already have in your own home.

Toothpaste is used for more than just keeping your teeth and gums clean. Many people don't give it much thought when placing it into the acne herbal remedies section, but it actually does. A small amount of toothpaste placed on a blemish before going to bed can help dry it out more quickly. The best toothpaste to use is likely one that is mint flavored. It's recommended to stay away from the colored pastes or those that have mouthwash in them.

Strawberry leaves have more benefits for women in terms of treating this cumbersome skin problem. Acne herbal remedies that use strawberry leaves just require the woman to wash her face as she normally would and then lay the leaves on the areas where the blemishes are appearing. The leaves have a cool, soothing quality to them which can remove some of the swelling that often occurs with a break-out.

Lemon juice is something that can be found practically anywhere and has been shown to be effective for some in battling acne. When using lemon juice as an herbal remedy for acne, choose fresh lemons and do the squeezing yourself. Apply the fresh juice to any blemishes. The acid in the juice helps to dry the pimple more quickly and you'll be left with a clearer complexion in a short time.

Rick Coelho has many interests and one of them includes health and nutrition. To receive a FREE no obligation report and obtain the full benefits on clearing your skin of acne Click Here!

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Formulating Homemade Soap Recipes

By Rick Coelho

The sensitivity of ones skin is a problem that many of us have to deal with on a daily basis. Finding the right cleansers and lotions that do not irritate the skin can be an exhaustive challenge. For some it means years of costly trial and error when purchasing new types of soaps for the effort to look for the right one that doesn't cause an allergic break-out or rash. Another novel approach that many people are attempting is to make their own soap. There are numerous homemade soap recipes online and they are easy to follow, it ends up being a great idea.

Most of the ingredients are likely items you already have stored in your pantry. Lye is the one common ingredient in all homemade soap recipes. You can typically find lye with all the regular soaps at your local drug, department or grocery store shelves. A word of caution is to be careful not to let children near the lye. Although it's certainly safe within the soap, you don't want a youngster putting it into their mouths or getting it in their eyes.

Distilled water is a definite must have when you take on the task of making your own cleansing product. It requires purity which is why all homemade soap recipes need to include distilled water. Furthermore, this is something you are more than likely to buy at the corner drugstore or supermarket.

Oils are also part of the finished product. Coconut and olive oils both are used many times in recipes to make soap. If you have a preference for the oil used, then only follow homemade soap recipes that use it, it's up to you. It's wise to keep an open mind though, and try a few different combinations so you can find the one best suited for your skin type.

Even folks without skin problems at all like to delve into the world of soap making. Women love the idea of creating or formulating their own unique homemade bars of soap. The most important main ingredient for most of them are the fragrances that can be added. If a person is not prone to sensitive skin, then many of the popular scented soaps are sufficient for them to use. That's why making your own soap and giving it as a gift is such a thoughtful and trendy idea.

Soap making is such a great, fun hobby that will also save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in the long run.

Soap making can be a fun hobby given you're provided with a recipe that works. For a complete guide to a homemade soap recipe that is proven to forming solid bars of your favorite soap click here!

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