Aromatherapy & Do-It-Yourself Recipes

How would you like to make your own sunscreen at home with natural ingredients and avoid the chemicals found in most commercial brands? Check out the notes at the end of the recipe for some helpful tips.

 Prep Time: 5 minutes
 Cook Time: 10 minutes
 Cooling time: 1 hour
 Servings: 1.25 cups
 Author: Katie Wells

Ingredients

• ½ cup almond or olive oil (can infuse with herbs first if desired)
• ¼ cup coconut oil
• ¼ cup beeswax
• 2 TBSP zinc oxide
• 1 tsp red raspberry seed oil (or less, optional)
• 1 tsp carrot seed oil (or less, optional)
• 2 TBSP shea butter(optional)

Optional Ingredients

• essential oils
• natural fragrance oils
• other natural extracts (not citrus)

Instructions

1. Combine all the ingredients, except zinc oxide, in a 16 oz glass measuring cup or jar.
2. Fill a medium saucepan with a couple of inches of water and place on the stove over medium heat. Place the glass mixing vessel into the saucepan.
3. Stir the contents of the jar occasionally to mix the ingredients as they melt.
4. When all the ingredients are completely melted, remove from heat and stir in the zinc oxide and essential oils. Stir well then pour into suitable container(s) to cool. (yields 10-12 ounces)
5. Once poured, continue to stir the contents as the mixture cools to make sure zinc oxide is evenly distributed throughout.
6. Store at room temperature or in the refrigerator to increase shelf life.

Notes

• This sunscreen is not waterproof and will need to be reapplied after sweating or swimming.
• Make sure not to inhale the zinc oxide when adding. Use a mask if necessary.
• Add more beeswax to make thicker sunscreen, less to make smoother sunscreen.

Original recipe found on WellnessMama.com

Do your essential oils have an expiration date? The short answer is, 'Yes'. While the quality of an essential oil can vary from company to company based on many factors, once we open our bottle, all oils degrade the same way, some faster than others. The main factors that cause oil degradation are oxidation due to persistent opening and closing, warm temperatures, and sunlight. 

Every time we open our essential oils, they are susceptible to oxidation. Over time, oxidation does not only decrease the therapeutic, chemical constituents inside each essential oil, but it can also be a catalyst for the formation of harmful chemicals within the oils, too. Certain oils oxidize faster than others, especially those that are high in monoterpenes. What can we do to slow the oxidation process down? Ensuring lids are seated tightly a top of bottles, only opening for short periods of time, decanting half empty bottles into smaller vessels with less oxygen inside, and adding natural antioxidants, such as rosemary antioxidant or mixed tocopherols to our essential oils can slow the oxidation process. 

Temperature and light can also quicken the degradation process of our oils. Oils do not like heat or sunlight, so this must be considered when we are storing them. We recommend storing oils in the fridge, in a closed container to avoid contamination, for extended shelf life. Because we have learned that temperature change from the fridge to room temperature does not negatively affect the essential oils, we recommend fridge storage for all. While amber bottles provide the strongest UV protection, if bottles are stored in a dark place, glass type does not really matter. 

So, when is it time to say farewell to our oils? Signs of oxidation include colour change, increased viscosity, and a change in the overall odour. Typically, most essential oils will expire 2 years after the bottle is opened. With this fact in mind, dating oils after opening and batching out our recipes accordingly will help us to not waste these precious plant medicines. A safe way to dispose of any expired essential oils is by returning them to the earth from which they were created. You can safely pour oils into a dug hole in the ground and cover with soil, without harming the environment, and recycle your bottles as you see fit. 

Ensuring we are using fresh, properly stored oils is the best way to reap the full therapeutic benefits of our essential oils in the safest possible way. So, we’ve dug our hole, ridded our collection of expired oils, and we are getting a bigger fridge! Happy blending and stay safe.

This is a wonderfully simple recipe to create your own, luxurious and moisturizing whipped body butter for almost all skin types. We have tried this recipe and loved it from the first batch. Now, many of our customers have tried this recipe and we’re all hooked on this fun to create, all natural, four ingredient body butter. The final product has a natural cocoa scent from the cocoa butter wafers so if you decide to add essential oils or high quality fragrance oils, anything that goes good with chocolate is a go.

Whipped Body Butter

Shea Butter – 1/2 cup

Coconut Oil – 1/2 cup

Olive Oil – 1/2 cup

Cocoa Butter Wafers – 1/2 cup

Essential Oils or Fragrance Oils if desired - 10-30 drops

2 – 8 oz jars & 1 - 4 oz jar or any combination for 20 oz

Body Butter Instructions

1. In a double boiler or glass bowl, combine all ingredients except essential oils.
2. Bring to medium heat and stir constantly until all ingredients are melted.
3. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Add essential oils if using.
4. Move to fridge and let cool another hour or until starting to harden around the edges but still somewhat soft.
5. Use a hand mixer to whip for 10 minutes until fluffy.
6. Return to the fridge for 10-15 minutes to set.
7. Store in a jar with a lid and use as you would regular lotion or body butter. If your home stays above 75 degrees, it may soften and need to be kept at the fridge, but it will stay whipped at a temperature lower than that.
8. Keep for yourself, or give away! Enjoy!

This body butter is definitely more emollient and has a heavier texture than lotion does, but after a few minutes it will penetrate the skin and lose any greasy feel.

Stored away from moisture and light this homemade body butter should last 6-8 months. Using a spoon or spatula to dip rather than your fingers will extend the life of the body butter.

Source: wellnessmama.com

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