The Truth About Soap

Coming Clean: The Truth About Soap by Chere Deshayes What Is Soap? Soap is the oldest cleanser around.  It is created by a chemical reaction between oils, water and lye. Although lye is used to make soap there is no lye left after saponification (the chemical reaction that makes soap) is complete. There is no such thing as a bar of soap that was made without the use of lye. Different kinds of soap are made...

Massage Candle Recipe

Ingredients 3oz Soy Wax 1oz Sweet Almond or Jojoba Oil 1/2 teaspoon Vitamin E (or 2 capsules) 30 drops Essential Oil (see below for blends) 4oz candle tin or jar Pre-tabbed Candle Wick Directions Prepare your candle tin or jar by fixing the candle wick to the bottom of the tin. (You can use glue tabs or a bit of hot wax to hold it in place. I generally just press it down really hard.) Put about an inch...

Shea Butter Lotion Recipe

Ingredients 3/4 cup (4.5oz) Cocoa butter 3/4 cup (4.5oz) Shea Butter 3/4 cup (4.5oz) unrefined Coconut oil 1/4 teaspoon Vitamin E (or 1 capsule) 5 drops Grapefruit Seed extract 30 drops essential oil – see below for blends Directions Put about an inch (2.5cm) of water in the bottom of a medium-sized pot and heat to a low simmer. Place the Cocoa butter, Shea butter and Coconut oil in a large heat-proof glass...

Citrus Mango Body Butter Recipe

Ingredients 2/3 cup (4oz) Shea Butter 1/3 cup (2oz) Mango Butter 1 teaspoon Jojoba oil 3 teaspoons Grapeseed oil 1/4 teaspoon Vitamin E (or 1 capsule) 10 drops Bergamot essential oil 8 drops Lemongrass essential oil 8 drops Palmarosa essential oil 2 drops Cypress essential oil 1 drop Rose Geranium OR Ylang Ylang essential oil 1 teaspoon Corn Starch (reduces “greasy” feeling) cosmetic Mica (optional...

Lavender Body Butter Recipe

Ingredients 1/4 cup (1.5oz) Cocoa Butter 1 cup (6oz) Shea Butter 2 tablespoons Kukui or Sweet Almond oil 1 tablespoon Jojoba oil 1 tablespoon Rosehip or Sea Buckthorn oil 1/4 teaspoon Vitamin E (or 1 capsule) 1 teaspoon Corn Starch (reduces the “greasy” feeling) Lavender Flower Blend Lavender Spice Blend 20 drops Lavender essential oil 20 drops Lavender essential oil 5 drops Frankincense...