Another Way to Pamper Yourself

BATH BEADS: ANOTHER WAY TO PAMPER YOURSELF

The following recipes can be adapted for any scent you choose, and
are easy to make.

The recipes make 10-12 bath beads. When one or two of the beads are
put in warm water, they release skin-softening milk and oil, and the
scent is terrific. You can custom blend the essential oils, or just
have a single scent.

Rosy Bath Beads

1/4 c. powdered milk
2 T. white flour
2 T. borax powder
1/4 c. rose water
2 t. mineral oil
10 drops rose oil
1 drop red food coloring (optional)

Mix the dried milk, flour and borax in a small bowl until well
blended. Add the rose water, mineral oil, rose oil and food coloring
(if desired). Stir until you have a thick dough. Taking about 1
teaspoon of dough, roll it into a ball with your hands. Repeat until
all the dough is used. Place the balls on a sheet of waxed paper and
dry for 24 hours. Store in a cool, dry place. To use, add one or two
beads to running bath water. Substitute any other scent you prefer.


This recipe is a little different, and will also leave your skin
feeling silky smooth.
You can use any scent you prefer.

1/4 c. Epsom salts
1/3 c. white flour
1/4 c. powdered milk
2 T. distilled water
4 t. sweet almond oil
10 drops essential oil
1 drop food coloring (optional)

Crush the Epsom salts into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle or
food processor. Put in a bowl, add the flour and milk, and mix until
well blended. Add the water, almond oil, essential oil, and food
coloring (if desired). Stir until the mixture is a thick dough. Knead
the dough until the food coloring is evenly distributed. Roll
teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, using your hands. Set on waxed
paper and let dry for 24 hours. Store in a cool dry place.


Make your own bath powders
by Jackie Griswold


MAKE YOUR OWN BATH POWDER

After you've soaked in a warm, fragrant bath, extend the experience
by using a bath powder with the same scent.

The basic recipe is very simple, but can be modified by adding
different scents and botanicals.

BASIC RECIPE

1 cup cornstarch
4 tablespoons powdered green French clay or powdered kaolin clay
(optional)
25-30 drops essential oil - either a single scent or a combination.

Combine the cornstarch and oil in a large bowl and stir until the oil
is evenly distributed and the lumps are all gone. Store in a cool,
dry place.



An old dusting powder box or a wooden box make fine powder
containers. You could also use a shaker jar, like the ones used in
restaurants for grated cheese.

VARIATIONS:

VANILLA BATH POWDER

To the basic recipe add 25-30 drops vanilla essential oil. Mix well
as above. Store in a cool, dry place.


FRUIT AND HERB POWDER

To the basic recipe add:

1 teaspoon dried mint leaves
10 drops lemon oil
6 drops peppermint oil
6 drops grapefruit oil

Crush the mint leaves to a fine powder in a spice grinder, then mix
with the cornstarch and French clay. Add the oils and stir until
evenly distributed. Store in a cool, dry place.


ROSE OR LAVENDER POWDER

To the basic recipe add:

1 teaspoon dried rose petals or dried lavender flowers, ground into a
fine powder
25- 30 drops rose or lavender essential oil

Mix all the ingredients until the oil is well distributed. Store in a
cool, dry place.

Any floral scent can be substituted for the rose or lavender. Or
develop your custom blend.

Lavender Baby Powder and Baby Oil
by Jackie Griswold


LAVENDER BABY POWDER AND BABY OIL

In addition to its calming, sleep-inducing qualities, lavender oil
also lessens pain, is healing to the body, is a disinfectant and its
vapors help breathing. If you don't have a baby, use these for
yourself.


Baby Powder

1 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon lavender oil

Mix well and store in a covered jar, and old powder box or a jar with
holes in the lid.


Baby Oil Blends

1/2 cup hazelnut, flaxseed, olive or sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon lavender oil.

Mix well and store in a bottle with a tight cover or use an old baby
oil bottle with a flip up lid to make dispensing it easier.


If you want to make these oils in larger quantities, add the oil from
6-8 Vitamin E capsules to every 1/2 cup of oil to help preserve it.

If you want a change from lavender, other oils also have similar
qualities. The following have disinfectant properties, ease pain or
promote healing:

Ylang ylang
Tea Tree
Thyme
Rosemary
Patchouli

Feel free to create your own blends - 1/4 teaspoon is the equivalent
of 25 drops of oil, so you could make a blend of 15 drops lavender
and 10 drops tea tree oil - it's up to you.


LOTION BARS
by Barbara Cook
February 7, 2001

I hope anyone who hasn't had a chance to try these makes them soon.
They are one of my hottest sellers at my soap parties. You can add an
extra ounce of oil to make an awesome massage bar. My sister has
really dry, cracked hands and they are baby smooth since she's been
using these. Really easy to make and easy to drop into purses,
suitcases, anything! Here's a recipe for the ones I've been making:


LOTION BARS

1 part beeswax

1 part shea butter or cocoa butter

1 part coconut oil

Melt together in top of double boiler (or a few minutes in the
microwave), add fragrance oil if you want--I add 1 to 2 tsp. to a 9
ounce batch. Pour into little soap molds and place in the freezer til
set, about 20 minutes.
Pop out of molds and place in little zip lock bags. I love these
things. Just roll around in your hands and rub hands together. I put
on my hands, elbows, lips, anywhere! Enjoy!



BATH BLENDS
by Barbara Cook
February 12, 2001

Here are some bath recipes for that nice relaxing bath you need and
deserve. There is a blend for dieter's, a blend for energy, a blend
for healing and a bath for the lovers. An extra special bath can make
you feel so much better and help you to deal with the everyday
stresses. There is nothing like a good relaxing bath to make you
forget the day's troubles and put you in a wonderful mood.

BATH BLENDS

Dieter's Bath
2 parts Rosemary
2 parts Fennel
1 part Lavender
1 pinch Kelp
**************************************************
Energy Bath
3 parts Carnation
2 parts Lavender
2 parts Rosemary
2 parts Basil
**************************************************
Healing Bath
3 parts Rosemary
2 parts Lavender
2 parts Rose petals
1 part Peppermint
1 part Cinnamon
**************************************************
Love Bath
3 parts Rose petals
2 parts Lovage
1 part Dill
Or Make up your own recipes. Whatever appeals to you will work.


PEACHES AND CREAM BATH SALTS
by Barbara Cook
February 17, 2001


PEACHES AND CREAM BATH SALTS IN A JAR

Pretty layered bath salts make a perfect gift for teens, co-workers
or teachers.

12 tall jelly (12-ounce) canning jars with lid and rings

2 4-pound cartons Epsom Salts (approximately 16 cups)
4 pounds sea salt or Kosher salt (approximately 6 cups)
1/2 teaspoon glycerin, divided
12 to 15 drops peach essential oil
12 to 15 drops orange food color


Instructions:

Wash, rinse and dry canning jars.

Empty one carton Epsom Salts into large mixing bowl or batter bowl.
Add 3 cups sea salt, stir well. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon glycerin and 6
to 8 drops essential oil. Mix well.

In second large mixing bowl, empty one carton Epsom Salts, and add 3
cups sea salt. Stir well. Add 1/4 teaspoon glycerin, 6 to 8 drops
essential oil, and food color. Stir until completely blended. Color
should be even.

I use a heavy-duty stand mixer to mix bath salts easily. Set mixer to
lowest setting and mix until color is even--but don't try this with
hand mixers or smaller stand mixers!

Holding canning jars at an angle, layer salts in jars, alternating
white and colored mixtures.

This recipe makes 12 12-ounce gift jars, plus a bonus of 3 to 4 cups
extra bath salts.
Package them in small plastic zipper craft bags for easy stocking
stuffers!

Makes 12 gift jars.

GOAT MILK AND HONEY SOAP
by Barbara Cook
February 12, 2001

GOAT MILK AND HONEY SOAP

13 cups rendered fat (6.5 pounds)
1 small can red Devil lye
1/2 cup honey
4 cups goat milk
1 cup hot water

Into a large stainless steel or enamel container, dissolve the honey
into the hot water. Add the 4 cups goat milk, stir to mix well and
slowly add the lye to the milk/honey mixture. This will get very hot.
Let it set until it cools down to 75 degrees. This could take an hour
or more. When the lye mixture reaches 75 degrees, warm the lard to 85
degrees and pour in a slow steady stream into the lye/milk mixture.
Stir constantly until the mixture reaches the consistency of honey.
This will take 20 or 30 minutes.
When thick as honey pour into prepared molds. Allow to set for 24 to
48 hours. Un-mold and cut into bars. Air-dry the soap for 4-5 weeks
to cure it.


Honeysuckle Bath Potion
http://www.jentlesoaps.com/

20 drops Honeysuckle fragrance oil
5 drops Angel Vanilla fragrance oil
1 teaspoon grated cocoa butter
2 cups baking soda
5 T. citric acid
2/3 cup cornstarch
1/3 cup tapioca starch

Mix all together well. Store in an airtight container. Fizzy fragrant
bliss!