Category Archives: beauty

Friday, November 22, 2013

Chemical-Free Homemade Deodorant

I have but a few words to describe this homemade deodorant, quite simply: it works (for me at least…and my husband).  I didn’t run a marathon with this deodorant so I can’t speak to it’s long-term/heavy duty performance, consider this deodorant for regular day to day use.  For years I’ve put off making my own deodorant (because if you know me in real life I am one of the most skeptical people you will ever meet) and I honestly didn’t think homemade deodorant worked (like, at all).  Okay, let me explain that I am a gal who NEEDS to wear deodorant.  I don’t get super funky, but I honestly need to wear something.  I tried to go o’natural once and it did not go well (for my nostrils anyway).  I personally know people who don’t need deodorant, so there is certainly a spectrum of body odor from nearly non-existent to musky to downright offensive.  Over the years I’ve tried every “natural and chemical free” deodorant out there and still nothing worked the way I wanted it to (no thank you to smelling like a perfume factory…you might know by now I have a severe chemical sensitivity).  I love proving myself wrong.  This homemade deodorant works BETTER than any store bought brand and I’m thrilled I can add another homemade beauty product to my ever growing list.  For a while now I’ve been on a mission to decrease my exposure to chemicals and have been quite successful thus far.  Curious about the toxicity to any particular ingredient or chemical? Visit the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database.  I’ve been using this site for years to check ingredients and I would be lost without it.  
 
Okay, here is a challenge for you. 
 
 Go grab your shampoo bottle (or for the purpose of this post, your deodorant) and enter the ingredients in the database.  You will receive instant answers.  Be forewarned, you might feel a little panicky about the ingredients, but don’t worry.  Start today, start now.  Empty those bottles, then recycle those bottles, and find chemical-free alternatives.  They do exist, and no, they do not cost a thousand dollars.  Check out my Pinterest board dedicated to all things natural and homemade.  
Chemical-Free Homemade Deodorant 
 
Ingredients:
-4 tablespoons coconut oil here or here 
-2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda* 
-1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin (optional)
-Essential oils of choice (optional) 
 
Buy the 4 ounce glass amber jars HERE
 
HERE is my recipe for homemade body spray (nice to make along with the homemade deodorant)
 
How To:
1.  In a 4 ounce jar add in coconut oil and baking soda and mix until incorporated.  Then add in the vegetable glycerin and mix well.  At this point you can add in some essential oils.  They won’t smell very strong however.  
2.  For a stronger essential oil smell, omit the essential oils from the above recipe.  Rub some of the deodorant on your armpits then add three squirts of homemade body spray directly to each armpit.  The essential oils will be much more potent if you spray on.  
 
Notes:
*The coconut oil is soothing on the skin.  The vegetable glycerin is added for additional moisture, but is an optional ingredient.  The baking soda controls the odor and is not uncomfortable or too gritty, add more if you feel like you need more odor control (another teaspoon or two).  
*I keep this at room temperature.  My husband also uses this deodorant, so this batch is adequate for two adults.
*Read HERE about some of the harmful ingredients in deodorant.  Remember, you put deodorant on your body everyday (often more than once) for your entire adult life.  The toxins do build up and often never leave the body. 
*In the summer your coconut oil might be liquid (like mine), so you can try a different oil that holds up better in warm weather, like shea butter or cocoa butter.  Or just use coconut oil and store in the fridge.  
*My friend Emily from Recipes to Nourish suggests using lemons as a deodorant.  
Here is a list of other homemade beauty products from The Tasty Alternative 
 
Other: 
 
 
 
Colloidal Oatmeal for eczema and itchy skin
_________________________________________________
Shared on: Whole Food Fridays, Fat Tuesdays
Posted by Amber at 11:41 pm

Labels: beauty, homemade beauty products, homemade remedies.

6 Comments

  • Emily Sunwell November 24, 2013 at 12:32 am

    Amber this is awesome! Just pinned it. And you are such a dear for including the part about lemons. xo

    Reply
    • Amber November 30, 2013 at 11:34 pm

      Thanks so much, Emily!!

      Reply
  • Laura November 25, 2013 at 5:03 pm

    I love homemade beauty products and natural toxin-free deodorant. I can’t wait to try this Amber. I love the addition of glycerin to it to make the skin super soft!

    Reply
    • Amber November 30, 2013 at 11:35 pm

      Hi Laura. I think you will love this deodorant. I can’t tell you how empowering it is to make homemade products that work and that are good for you…and the environment. So awesome. :-)

      Reply
  • sandi July 6, 2015 at 5:43 pm

    What about antiperspirant? I am in Texas, and it is HOT 6+ months a year. I sweat without antiperspirant. Any additional ingredients to block the sweat? (Yes, I know sweating cools the body. :))

    Reply
    • Amber July 8, 2015 at 5:16 pm

      No sorry, but good question! My issue is odor…not sweat. I found this article that might help with the sweat issue! :-)

      http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/beauty/skin-care/stop-sweat-tips/

      Reply

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Wednesday, May 9, 2012

How To Make Homemade Body Spray (with essential oils)

I’m not one to wear perfume, but if you knew me as a teenager, then yes, I had a variety of scents (didn’t we all)?! I don’t know when it happened (perhaps it correlated with my Crohn’s diagnosis) but a few years ago I developed a significant sensitivity to chemical smells, perfumy smells, detergents, hair spray, lotions, those plug-in scent things, shampoos and conditions, you name it.  My symptoms are pretty uncomfortable: instant headache, nausea, dizziness, irritability, stomachache ache, lethargy, etc.  I can only spend about 30 seconds in one of my favorite stores (Bed Bath and Beyond) before running for the door, desperate for fresh air.  Perhaps some of you can relate to this?  This all being said, I don’t have a problem with essential oils, which is so nice, because I love them.  I don’t wear them everyday, but I like having this option and some on-hand for when I want a little scent on me.  Last week I was browsing around in the health and beauty department at my local Coop and found some body spray (made with essential oils), and it caught my eye.  It was a lovely fragrance, lemon, ginger and peppermint.  I looked at the ingredients (3 included: essential oils, filtered water, vegetable glycerine).  What!  That’s just too easy!!  I have all these at home, so I made my own body spray- and LOVE it.  I used one of my favorite smells (patchouli) and also made one with orange.  You could go crazy with the combinations, the ideas are endless really.  What a fun Mother’s Day gift.  And this would pair nicely with one of my homemade lotions, such as homemade cocoa and shea body butter.  
Enjoy!  
Ingredients
Orange Blossom Body Spray
-1 oz filtered water 
-60 to 90 drops essential oil of orange (less or more to your liking)
-1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerine 

Bohemian Momma Patchouli Body Spray 
-1 oz filtered water 
-1/8 teaspoon essential oil of Tunisian Patchouli (less or more to your liking)
-1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerine

How To

1.  Mix ingredients together in small glass spray bottle and shake well.  Always shake before using. 

Shared on: It’s a Keeper Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Potluck Party Friday, 
Posted by Amber at 11:56 pm

Labels: beauty, how to.

63 Comments

  • Vicky May 10, 2012 at 1:50 am

    I think I might try making these! How long do you think they keep and do you think they should be stored in a cool place? I wonder if I can get glass spray bottles in the UK..mm I will look for those and the ingredients tomorrow..thank you, they look so simple to make!

    Reply
    • Amber September 24, 2013 at 12:59 am

      Hi VIcky,

      I store mine at room temperature. I’ve had one batch now for 2 years, just used the last of it. It held up all this time. Good luck finding the spray bottles.

      Reply
  • ella@lifeologia May 10, 2012 at 12:42 pm

    I love this!
    The bohemian momma sounds so great 😉
    Would love to try making these. And the recipes are so simple. Love that!
    xo

    Reply
    • Amber September 24, 2013 at 12:59 am

      Thanks Ella! :-)

      Reply
  • Adrienne @ Whole New Mom May 10, 2012 at 6:25 pm

    I can’t stand those artificial fragrances either – never could. I would suspect it corresponds w/ Chron’s b/c candida sufferers typically are very sensitive to scents and that deals w/ intestinal health as well.

    I love essential oils and am currently trying to sort out which company’s to use and recommend. Very intense studying going on here :-).

    Reply
    • Cindy Serfoss January 1, 2013 at 3:38 am

      Mountain rose herbs is a wonderful company you should check into….

      Reply
    • Anonymous January 27, 2013 at 11:54 pm

      Majestic Mountian Sage (MMS) not only has pure essential oils but are very helpful with any questions you might have. FD

      Reply
    • Illya Follins June 5, 2013 at 6:44 pm

      JEdwardsinternational.com is the best place to get all essential oils at wholesale prices.

      Reply
  • Sonia @ Natural New Age Mum May 10, 2012 at 9:15 pm

    Love handmade scents – nothing better and you get the benefits of the aromatherapy! Great post, thanks!

    Reply
    • Amber January 9, 2013 at 4:30 am

      Thanks Sonia! :-)

      Reply
  • Jenilyn -Holistic Fertility Coach May 11, 2012 at 2:34 am

    Amber, I too am very sensitive to artificial scents, even as a little kid. I remember having a study partner in graduate school who wore Obsession and I would get a headache within a half an hour. I asked her several times to please not wear it as I got sick, she wore a little less-but it didn’t help much. It’s hard for others to understand the impact they have on other people’s health, it’s perfume pollution. Thanks for these wonderful alternatives. Jenilyn

    Reply
    • Amber January 9, 2013 at 4:34 am

      Glad to know I am not alone in this! It’s terrible isn’t it. It’s very difficult to be around people that smell like that. Good for you for speaking up…sorry to hear it didn’t get much better for you. I don’t think people realize how STRONG their chemical perfumes are. Bummer for us sensitive folks. :-)

      Reply
  • Laura Black May 16, 2012 at 12:40 am

    I’ve tried making essential oil sprays before, but my little spray bottles get jammed up. Is there a solution for this?

    Reply
    • Amber May 16, 2012 at 4:05 am

      Hi Laura,

      Great question. Did you try the vegetable glycerine in there? I think this might be the magic ingredient. I’ve been experimenting with a bottle. Made it on May 4th (with the orange oil) and it still sprays great. No clogging. Let me know what you’ve tried in there along with the oil. And do you remember which oil?

      Thanks,
      –Amber

      Reply
  • Kirsten July 27, 2012 at 6:41 am

    hi, i would love to make this for after gym. its so simple! i always try to look for natural body sprays because artifical scents give me a huge headache.

    i just have a few questions:
    will the scent last long?
    will it be okay in a plastic bottle?
    is the scent going to go weird if the temp. is warm?

    really helpful post :)

    Reply
    • Amber July 28, 2012 at 3:34 pm

      Hi Kristen,

      Good questions!

      I’ve had mine for over 2 months and the scent is still going strong. It’s my assumption that the scent will last for the life of the spray.

      I’m sure it will be fine in a plastic bottle. Just remember that oil leaches out the toxins found in plastic, and so then you’ll be spraying it on your skin, and thus it will be absorbed by your body. If you can fine a stainless steel bottle, I would go with that.

      And no, if the liquid gets warm it will not affect the smell, just perhaps the texture and integrity of the liquid. It may thicken up? Not sure? Then you may have issues with the spray. If this happens, just rinse off the sprayer to loosen.

      Please let me know how it turns out.

      Thanks,
      –Amber

      Reply
  • Anonymous September 17, 2012 at 1:59 pm

    Amber,

    I am in love with your website! You are such an inspiration. I am so excited about trying this body spray :) Where did you find your blue glass spray bottles?

    Nicole

    Reply
  • Amber September 26, 2012 at 6:03 pm

    Hello Anonymous,

    Thank you for your message. You made my day, :-)

    I found these cute blue bottles at my local natural health food store. They have an entire section dedicated to DIY lotions, spays, etc.

    Hops this helps.

    Be Well,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • Andrea October 25, 2012 at 4:18 am

    WHAT size are these bottles? I’d like to try these recipes however I don’t want a bottle that is too big. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Amber October 25, 2012 at 8:28 pm

      Hello Andrea,

      The blue bottles are 1 ounce.

      Hope this helps.

      Thanks,
      -Amber

      And P.S. You can make them as big as you want – especially if you use a lot of spray or want to use it for a room.

      Reply
  • fidelity December 12, 2012 at 12:49 pm

    Hello Amber!
    Can i just use distilled water and essential oil (skip the glycerin). What is the purpose of the glycerin? How do you stick your selfmade labels on the bottle? Do you use sticker labels and cut them to fit the bottle? It looked so pretty! But when we wash the bottles, the labels will come off right?

    Reply
    • Amber January 9, 2013 at 4:20 am

      You can try to skip the glycerin. Let me know how it turns out? I would venture to say the glycerin is like a carrier for the oil and thus scent. But I guess you can just spray the water and oil on your body and it would be fine. I use mailing labels found at any office supply store. Take the labels off before you wash. They are only made of paper. Hope all this helps.

      Reply
  • fidelity December 12, 2012 at 12:53 pm

    Do you normally make a fresh spray (start all over again in a fresh or washed bottle) or do you top up the water in your bottle when it runs low?

    Reply
    • Amber January 9, 2013 at 4:20 am

      I would start over again. :-)

      Reply
  • lilak January 4, 2013 at 7:56 pm

    Hello!! Love your site and thank you for the vast information found on your site. I have a question or two for you, is this mixture safe for clothes…i make my son a blend of essential oils as a cologne mixed with distilled water and vodka and make it in very small batches for him. Secondly what is the advantage of using glycerin vs alcohol mix, or is this just a personal preference for you?

    Reply
    • Amber January 9, 2013 at 4:26 am

      Great questions. I cannot answer the question about it being safe for clothes, sorry. I would just be cautious if using around something delicate…the essential oils are oils and will stain I am sure. I would think that the alcohol and glycerin serve the same exact purpose. I made this body spray after reading the ingredients off a bottle of body spray at my Natural Foods Coop. They were: essential oil, glycerin, and water. So, I decided to just make my own because I did not like the scents they had (too strong as well). Making my own allows me to adjust the level of scent to my preference. That all being said, I have not experimented with other forms of body spray or ingredients, so I have never thought about using alcohol. I happen to really like vegetable glycerin and it’s a great moisturizer, so that’s why I use it. Let me know how it turns out for you and your son. Thanks.

      Reply
  • Megan January 9, 2013 at 3:07 am

    I found a bottle of glycerin and I am not sure if it is the vegetable kind or not…is there different kinds? Thank you and I cant wait to try it out! Oh an can you buy it at walmart?

    Reply
    • Amber January 9, 2013 at 4:30 am

      Hello Megan,

      Please see my link above to the glycerin I use. I am not sure about what brand you purchased. And not to sound like too much of a snob on my end, but I don’t shop at Walmart. Sorry I can’t help you out with any products there. I found all my supplies at my Natural Foods Coop, but I am sure you can find similar things at Rite Aid or any drug store would carry glycerin. Good luck and I hope it works out for you. I am having fun with different scents and they are well received as gifts.

      Reply
  • feeldivinefood March 11, 2013 at 9:12 pm

    I was searching for a recipe to make essential oil body spray to use in a yoga class for my students and came across this recipe. I find the addition of glycerine interesting and, like someone else, was wondering exactly why it’s included. I was wondering: does it help the oils distribute evenly through the water? It also moisturizes the skin, so maybe that could be the reason? Has anyone found how is better with the glycerin than without?

    Reply
    • Amber March 12, 2013 at 12:05 am

      Hi There,

      Good question. First, I want to be honest and tell you I don’t know exactly why glycerin is used, but I believe it is perhaps used as a carrier of the oil. It might distribute it more evenly when sprayed, with the added bonus of moisturizing.

      I don’t think there is any harm in using just water, but you could do an experiment and make one with just water and the other with glycerin and water.

      As mentioned in the post, I simply used what I found in the store on a bottle of body spray that was WAY too expensive to purchase, it was pennies to make and so I followed the ingredients list from the store product. I have not made any spray with just the essential oil and water.

      I don’t think leaving it out would make that big of a difference, that being said, I have not tried it so I cannot say for sure. I am still using my spray that I made in November. It still work great and smells the same. When I run out maybe I will just refill with water and essential oil and see how that works for the long-term.

      Thanks and have a great day.

      Reply
  • Anonymous March 13, 2013 at 2:05 am

    Hello Ladies,

    I was searching for a way to make natural body sprays and came across your website. This is fantastic, thank you for the recipe!! I wanted to offer an answer to your most common question as a thank you. Glycerin is used in body sprays as a preservative and a moisturizer. If you leave out the glycerin, the fragrance will only last a few days in the water.

    Have a great day!
    Heather

    Reply
    • Amber March 13, 2013 at 2:10 am

      Hi Heather,

      Thank you, thank you!!! :-)

      Reply
    • Jamie June 13, 2013 at 7:52 pm

      I made a body spray out of distilled water, essential oils, and a couple of tablespoons of vodka about 3 weeks ago and the scent is still going strong. Maybe the vodka preserves the scent?

      Reply
    • Amber September 24, 2013 at 12:58 am

      Awesome!

      Reply
  • Sarah April 25, 2013 at 2:46 pm

    I am so glad I found this recipe. I received Zum Mist as a gift for Christmas and I LOVE it. It is labeled as a body mist/aromatherapy room spray. It has lasted a long time, and I love that it doesn’t start smelling like alcohol after awhile (like most other sprays do over time). Like you, I looked at the ingredients and thought, “Surely I can make this!” I didn’t know what amounts of each thing to use, so I’m happy for your info! Thanks so much. I can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
    • Amber April 26, 2013 at 4:36 am

      Thanks Sarah. You’ll have to tell me how it works out for you. This recipe/post is one of my most popular (I get a ton of hits on it) but I always wonder if anyone has tried making it and how it worked for them.

      Have a great rest of your week and have a fabulous weekend.

      Be Well,
      –Amber

      Reply
  • Anonymous July 9, 2013 at 3:45 am

    Thanks for sharing these great recipes! I am so excited to try them!!

    Just so you know, from your description you probably have Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. My husband & I have had it for almost 3 years now following a mold exposure in our previous apartment. It can be very debilitating! I’m so sorry you’ve experienced this. The best helps for us are chemical avoidance, detox, vitamins/supplements, antifungal diet, and also a medicine called cholystyramine – Google it along with mold. I’m not an md, but wanted to share what has helped us. Chemical sensitivities are so challenging! People don’t understand that we can smell their laundry products on their clothes (and get very sick from them). Hopefully companies will source more natural products for their scents in the future. :)

    Thanks for sharing the recipe! I wish you all the best!

    PS. Sherry Rogers has some good books on detox, MCS, and candida diet and supplements. They may prove helpful to you and/or others here who are struggling with chemical sensitivities.

    Glad I found you on Pinterest! :)

    -ma

    Reply
    • Amber July 9, 2013 at 4:35 am

      What an amazing, informative comment! Thank you so much! This is why blogging has been so helpful to my health. I receive such valuable information from far and wide and I love it. I will look into everything you mentioned. My chemical sensitivity is out of control and I am telling you, I feel like I have the nose of a Bloodhound. I can smell EVERYTHING!!! Things my husband can’t smell at first. Anyway, thanks so much for stopping by.

      Be Well,
      –Amber

      Reply
  • Jean Marie July 25, 2013 at 11:20 am

    I love this product. It leaves my skin feeling so soft and if you use a corresponding scent in their body scrub, you will smell good all day long.

    Dry Skin Care

    Reply
  • Anonymous July 29, 2013 at 4:31 am

    Do you filter the water with a normal Brita type filter or is it distilled water?
    Thanks so much !

    Reply
    • Amber September 24, 2013 at 12:54 am

      You can use any filtered water. I purchase excellent water at my local Coop and use it for drinking and cleaning veggies/fruit. We have well water here, so lots of calcium and minerals. It would compromise the quality of the spray.

      Reply
  • Anonymous July 30, 2013 at 3:32 am

    Hi, I just found this and I was doing a similar sort of thing with essential oils as an insect repellent and tried witch hazel (which you might not want for a perfume due to the scent) and aloe vera (to help keep the mix in suspension). Don’t know if it will stay in suspension long term (just mixed it tonight), but it should help it stay mixed longer. I was looking this up for doing a body spray, not realizing that I had much of answer at hand. Great post and web site.

    Reply
    • Amber September 24, 2013 at 12:55 am

      Many thanks! We also make homemade bug spray. So awesome. :-)

      Reply
  • Anonymous September 23, 2013 at 8:45 pm

    Do you know of anyone that sells essential oils without Phenoxethanol, or, any derivatives of that preservative. I am severely allergic to anything with that in it. I like your recipes. They sound great. If I can now find essential oils without that ingredient, I will try them. I may actually get to wear something nice.

    Thank you very much.

    Reply
    • Amber September 24, 2013 at 12:58 am

      The several oils at my Coop are preservative free. You might want to check out my friend, Laura’s blog. She sells high quality essential oils that I am sure are free of any preservatives.

      Here is her site and link to the oils: aurasglutenfreepantry.com/my-gluten-free-pantry

      Reply
  • Joanne May 10, 2014 at 2:47 pm

    Dear Amber ,
    How long does the scent of the body mist last on your body?
    Joanne

    Reply
    • Amber May 10, 2014 at 7:12 pm

      Hours. I also spray it on my clothes and my hair. I find that rolling on plain oil is just too powerful for me and the spray is much more tolerable. I would say that the duration of the scent is very individual. So if you make your own, add in more oil to your liking so it’s a little stronger if you feel the scent wears off. Hope this helps.

      Reply
  • Amy Fearn May 11, 2014 at 9:18 am

    I just made a spray in a 2 ounce bottle — using just under 2 ounces distilled water, 1 tsp vegetable glycerin and 1/2 tsp of Sweet dreams (bergamot, tangerine & lavender essential oils) and a “dash” of clary sage. I don’t want to ruin the batch but i’m not sure I smell me?? LOL! It is cool/refreshing but not sure if its strong enough but too afraid to waste more oil and ruin it…or have too strong of an oil combo and have a reaction….any advise for first timer?

    Reply
    • Amber May 11, 2014 at 5:47 pm

      Hi Amy,

      Curious. My batches are not sticky, so I’m not sure what is going on there. Wait, you might have used too much vegetable glycerin (I noticed you used 1 teaspoon). I only use 1/2 teaspoon, so for your next batch, use only 1/2 teaspoon and see if the stickiness is better for you. The body spray is not going to be very pungent, as it’s meant to be a light mist of scent. I hope this helps. And I am sure you smell great.

      Reply
  • Amy Fearn May 11, 2014 at 9:21 am

    and to add to my previous question…as it dries…slightly sticky feel??? help!

    Reply
  • Meredith August 27, 2014 at 6:30 am

    Hi Amber,

    I’m happy I found this site, because I’m slightly chemical sensitive and I have friends who really are. I did have a question though: is the vegetable glycerin necessary? Can we just mix the water and essential oils? Could I substitute coconut oil for the vegetable glycerin? Just ruminating. :)

    Thanks!
    Meredith

    Reply
  • DIY Makes Spray Bottles Better | Blackle Mag September 26, 2014 at 1:03 am

    […] a skin safe fragrance, body spray can be made with only 3 ingredients: filtered water, vegetable glycerin and essential oils. Adding […]

    Reply
  • anasbeauty September 29, 2014 at 4:56 pm

    Hi,
    i love this recipe! ! Thank you so much for sharing this.
    I was wondering how to calculate the ingredients if i want to make a bigger batch. Like 1 gallon

    Reply
    • Amber November 17, 2014 at 8:03 pm

      Oh goodness. I am not sure. You might want to do a little experimentation. Let me know how big your batch turns out. :-)

      Reply
  • Pat October 27, 2014 at 8:26 pm

    My family went to Disneyworld many years ago and we visited an orange orchard. I fell in love with the orange blossom fragrance and I bought a bottle of cologne which I quicky used up. I would love to get a body spray now because I can’t wear perfumes or colognes any more because of allergies but I can’t find an orange blossom spray that doesn’t have several other fragrances with it. I love your recipe but I was wondering if the essential oil of orange smells like oranges or orange blossom.
    I just found your website tonight and I love it!! My husband and I are just getting ready to start the Wheat Belly/Paleo way of eating and I am gathering all the recipes I can find so I will be able to cook what we like without grains and sugar. Thank you for the wonderful information you post!

    Reply
    • Amber November 16, 2014 at 10:01 am

      Thank you so much for your comment. I’m always intrigued by how many people suffer from chemical sensitivities and allergies. The orange orchard sounds divine! What a wonderful memory. Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  • Arnab Roy Choudhury November 10, 2014 at 2:38 am

    As per my opinion, body sprays should be non alcoholic in order to maintain proper hygiene. I feel your method is absolutely amazing. I really want to make one of these. Can you suggest me a substitute for vegetable glycerin?

    Reply
    • Amber November 16, 2014 at 9:57 am

      Thanks for your comment! I would just leave the glycerin out if you don’t like it. You could add in an oil perhaps.

      Reply
  • How To Make Oil Scents | healt.stool.me April 21, 2015 at 4:41 am

    […] How to make homemade body spray (with essential oils […]

    Reply
  • Elica June 20, 2015 at 7:33 pm

    What is something I can use to sub. the vegetable glycerin? I don’t have any and don’t have the need to buy much. What is some at-home ingredient that would work instead?

    Reply
    • Amber June 24, 2015 at 3:10 pm

      Hi Elica. You can just leave it out.

      Reply
  • Kanupriya June 30, 2015 at 3:29 am

    Is it necessary to add Vegetable Glycerin??

    Can we make it only with essential oil and filtered water?

    Reply
    • Amber July 8, 2015 at 5:22 pm

      Not sure about the water? I would just leave out the glycerin. :-)

      Reply

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Friday, April 6, 2012

Cocoa and Shea Body Butter for Dry Skin and Eczema

I’m so excited to share this lotion with all of you!  It’s incredible in terms of healing.  I’ve been using it on Ethan’s skin for about 5 days and his dry eczema patches have nearly disappeared, and the rest of his skin feels like velvet.  My poor son has awful seasonal allergies and this exacerbates his eczema.  So during this time of the year I keep his immune system strong and keep him lubed up with healing lotion.  I am also using this lotion on my legs and back (where I tend to get dry this time of year).  I’m just really impressed with cocoa butter…and it’s fun to smell like chocolate. Oh, and I’m also using it as lip balm.  So fun!  If you’re searching for a healing lotion for your dry, itchy skin, this one might be for you!  I’ve included links below if you’re interested in making it.  I can’t stress how easy it is to make your own lotion.  I’m saving so much money; comes out to about $2.50 per jar (I was paying $10 – $15) for similar store bought lotions.
 Cocoa and Shea Body Butter 

Ingredients: 
-2.5 ounces Raw organic cocoa butter 
-3.5 ounces Raw organic unrefined shea butter 
-3 tablespoons organic apricot oil
-1 teaspoon teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, adds scent) 
-1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerine 

How To:
1.  Weigh out the butters.
2.  Shave the cocoa butter and add it to a glass Pyrex submerged in water and bring the water to a boil. This will melt the cocoa butter while keeping it raw.  This step is optional, you could also just shave it and add it to the food processor.  The heat from blending will melt it pretty well.  
3.  Add the shea butter to food processor, pulse few times to loosen up and warm the butter – it will become very smooth.
4.  Slowly drizzle in the coco butter, apricot oil vanilla, and vegetable glycerin.
5.  Blend until velvety and creamy.
6.  Transfer lotion mixture to glass jars.  The lotion will be soft and will harden as it cools.  It will last for MONTHS at room temp.  Yields about 12 ounces.

Raw cocoa butter
Mmmmm, looks good and smells outrageous!
I make two jars at a time. 
One for our room and one for Ethan’s.  
The small jar holds 4 ounces  
The large jar holds 8 ounces 
Click HERE for additional homemade lotions from The Tasty Alternative
Posted by Amber at 9:29 pm

Labels: beauty, eczema, Holistic healing, homemade remedies.

27 Comments

  • Ina April 6, 2012 at 11:15 pm

    This body butter looks wonderful. How much oil did you use? Or do you just pour in slowly until it becomes smooth? Also, instead of vegetable glycerin could you use Coconut oil?

    Reply
    • Amber April 7, 2012 at 1:30 am

      Hi There Ina,

      Thank you so much!

      Little oversight on my part there. I just added the info above. Thanks for the heads up. :-)

      And I’m sure coconut oil would be fine in place of vegetable glycerine (or just leave this ingredient out, it’s only 1/2 teaspoon). I added the glycerine in there because it has a ton of healing properties and makes the lotion very silky and smooth. But yes, play around with different ingredients. And if you can, drop me a message here with your modifications. Always fun to read what others come up with!

      Be Well,
      –Amber

      Reply
    • Anu July 21, 2012 at 3:15 am

      Hi Amber,
      Thanx for your wonderful recipe. One question.., should the lotion be stored in glass containers only?? If yes, why?

      Reply
  •  Curly J April 7, 2012 at 6:44 am

    I want to make this!!! I have eczema that comes and goes on my fingers/hands/wrists, legs, feet, and the back of my neck. It’s so annoying and irritating! :( I’m going to look into where I can buy what I need! :)

    Reply
    • Amber April 7, 2012 at 4:00 pm

      Hello There,

      I’m sorry to hear about your struggles with eczema! My husband gets eczema soooo bad on his hands! That’s a difficult place to get it too, as our hands are always in water and exposed to the elements. When it gets really bad, my husband finds it helpful to lather on my homemade lotion before bed and wear cotton gloves all night. :-)

      Reply
  • Tessa Domestic Diva April 7, 2012 at 1:07 pm

    Two questions my dear so i can make this…..how much should I expect to pay for shea butter? And what are some other ‘healing’ oil I could try in place of the jojoba?

    Reply
    • Amber April 7, 2012 at 3:55 pm

      Hi Tessa,

      Great questions.

      Check back up in the ingredients, there’s a link to where I buy the shea butter. :-)

      Other healing lotions, good for inflammation include:

      -Calendula Oil (one of my absolute favorites)
      -Almond Oil (use caution with nut allergies)
      -Coconut Oil (you’ll have to melt)
      -Olive Oil (the best you can find)
      -Witch Hazel Oil
      -100% pure aloe vera would also work
      -Emuo Oil

      More on Emuo oil (which can be found online):
      Emu oil is one of the best and most promising eczema home remedies you can find, because it has many potent natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that are perfect for eczema symptoms. The oil is soothing and will not clog your pores, and it provides fast relief for inflammation, itching, cracked and burning skin.

      Reply
    • Tessa Domestic Diva April 16, 2012 at 4:46 pm

      this was SO much fun to make! So creamy you want to taste it! I used coconutoil instead of veg glycerin, and I used half emu oil, and half of another soothing baby oil we had on hand (a mixture of several healing oils and essential oils too). i am not sure I want to share it with anyone!!

      Reply
  • Mary April 7, 2012 at 2:01 pm

    This is something that I really have to try. It sounds wonderfully soothing and from what you have said it’s very effective. This is my first visit to your site, but after spending some time browsing through your earlier posts I can tell you it will not be my last. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary

    Reply
    • Amber April 7, 2012 at 3:56 pm

      Thanks Mary!

      Let me know if you try it. It’s super fun to make your own lotions. Fun to give as gifts too!

      Reply
  • Adrienne @ Whole New Mom April 7, 2012 at 6:28 pm

    I can’t wait to try this. I have the hardest time w/ dry lips. I’ve been using straight shea and a mix, but I’ve been meaning to make my own. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Amber April 7, 2012 at 6:34 pm

      Hi Adrienne,

      It’s quite lovely as a lip balm! Hope you enjoy it. It’s really working wonders for our skin.

      Hugs

      Reply
  • Emily September 10, 2012 at 9:05 pm

    Thanks so much for this AWESOME recipe! I stumbled upon your site looking for a recipe for homemade body spray (love that one too!) and just finished making two batches of the lotion. My 4 year old daughter helped me put it together and we slathered her up before her nap. What fun to make lotion together! She has mild eczema patches which appear every winter and are so hard to get rid of (as does my 2 year old). Just last week I started to notice those patches coming back. :( I’m anxious to see the effects of this lotion. I have been looking for a more natural lotion that doesn’t cost a fortune and I’ve found a yummy one! Thanks for your post and your blog! :)

    Reply
  • Amber September 10, 2012 at 10:51 pm

    Hi Emily,

    Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a message. I appreciate feedback from readers. :-)

    I hope the lotion works for you! Everyone responds differently. It works well on my son and husband (especially on my husband’s cracked, bleeding hands). Throughout the year I change up the lotions. In my latest batch I used avocado oil. I find that with eczema, lotion rotation is very important.

    Thanks again, Emily. So nice to hear from you, and I hope this lotion works well for your family. I feel that cocoa butter is incredibly healing and does a great job soothing dry, irritated skin.

    Be Well,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • Emily September 12, 2012 at 8:22 pm

    Amber,
    It is fabulous! We love it! My 2 and 4 year olds’ skin was SO soft and those red patches disappeared after 1 application, which has never happened before! Usually I begin treating them with lotion (I’ve tried tons) and the eczema gets worse before I can get it under control (sometimes it’s months before I get it under control). Just a quick question – I’ve got some lumps, which it looks like might be normal based upon your photos. :) Is there any way to make the lotion more smooth so you don’t get any clumps? I tried gently warming the cocoa butter b/c I think it’s the culprit, but I’m not sure that helped all that much. Thanks again for your blog and this recipe! Love it!

    Reply
    • Michelle July 4, 2015 at 5:52 pm

      Combine and melt the butters completely in a double boiler, then cool in the fridge for about 30 minutes to an hour and then whip with an electric mixer. I suggest you also look up how to make your own lotions and body butters containing distilled water and emulsyfing wax. It’s much smoother and not greasy as pure butters and oils can be. I make all of my own and sell them at craft shows.

      Reply
      • Amber July 8, 2015 at 5:22 pm

        Sweet! Thanks Michelle. I will try that. I don’t mind the consistency of my lotions. They aren’t too oily for me and soak into my skin nicely. But I can see how others might like this option. Thanks again. :-)

        Reply
  • Amber September 13, 2012 at 4:37 am

    Hi Emily,

    Thank you so much for checking in and sharing your experience with the lotion. So wonderful that is working for your children. Hooray!

    So, about the lumps…

    I’ve found a way to get most the lumps out (the lumps are the cocoa butter). Before hand I shave the coconut butter with a knife. I shave it and shave it until it’s very fine. The next thing I do is when everything is mixed in the food processor, I let it run for a while. The friction creates a little warmth (but nothing hot) – just warm enough to melt everything together nicely. If I have any lumps in the lotion, they are very, very small.

    I hope this helps. Give it a go with your next batch and let me know if you can melt some of the lumps out.

    Thanks again for checking in. It warms my heart that your little ones are benefiting from the lotion.

    Be Well,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • Anonymous April 3, 2013 at 4:13 am

    This sounds wonderful…my 5 year old has eczema and i have been searching for a good recipe to try on her. if i were to add colloidal oatmeal to this recipe, how much do you recommend? thank you so much for sharing.. :) Emily

    Reply
    • Amber April 4, 2013 at 3:38 pm

      Hi There Emily,

      I would add about 1 teaspoon to start and see if it helps with the itching. Add in a little more if it’s not helping. You will need to dump everything in a food processor again to mix in the oatmeal if you need to add more. And be careful not to add too much, as it will have a drying affect, and negate the anti-itching. Hope this helps. Thanks and good luck!

      Reply
  • Yoges April 16, 2014 at 8:45 pm

    Hi there Amber

    It has been lovely reading your blog and I admire how much you have turned things around on your own with such beautiful homemade remedies.Wish I was as great as you at such things! I have a question regarding your cocoa and shea body butter for dry and eczema skin. Will it not be oily and if one wears such food on one’s skin will it not stain and dirty all clothes and things one comes into contact with?

    Thank you loads!!!
    Yoges

    Reply
    • Amber April 16, 2014 at 10:02 pm

      Thanks so much. Yes, it’s oily when it first goes on, but it soaks into the skin rather quickly. With anything, just be sure you are not exposing sensitive fabrics to the lotion. I use it everyday on my face and body and it has never destroyed any of my clothing. Let me know if you have any more questions. Thanks.

      Reply
    • Michelle July 4, 2015 at 5:59 pm

      Look up recipes using emulsyfing wax, stearic acid, and distilled water in addition to your oils and butters to make your own lotions and creams. This way they are not greasy.

      Reply
      • Amber July 8, 2015 at 5:19 pm

        Great suggestions. I will have to look into the steric acid…and the wax.

        Reply
  • Cocoa Butter for Body Care | Xu Wellness Center August 5, 2014 at 9:25 am

    […] and enjoy working on projects, you can even make your own cocoa butter lotion! Check out this blog post on how to do just that by Amber from The Tasty […]

    Reply
  • Cindy Stinson November 27, 2014 at 3:33 am

    My 11 yr old son got a horrible rash under both his arms and at times spread down his sides. They’ve prescribed different creams and powders with no luck. I took him to a dermatologist hoping for some help because the dr’s said he can’t wear deodorant while he has the rash which is a problem for him at school because little boys run & play & Sweat which causes odor and kids can be really mean. He’s had it for almost 5 months but sometimes it’ll be getting better (driving him crazy itching lol) and then for no reason it’ll go back really red with little blisters. I’ve started making our laundry detergent and I’m wanting to try making his soap and some type of lotion/cream hoping I can figure out a way to help my little boy. Do u think Shea butter wld be the best choice to help with rashes & skin irritation. I wld appreciate any advice that may help my son. Thanks for your time & sorry so long.

    Reply
    • Amber June 24, 2015 at 8:25 pm

      Hi Cindy. Thanks for sharing. I wish I had medical advice to offer, unfortunately, I cannot advise on what would be best. If this was my son, I would locate a homeopathic doctor in your area and have him seen. I say this because traditional Western medicine is going to prescribe you a pill or harsh cream and not get to the root of the problem. I believe in my heart of hearts that there is always a root…always a cause. We just have to be super detectives. Often an alternative doctor will look at the whole person and the environment to find the root cause. It’s a process of elimination. I hope this helps! Good luck to you and your son!

      Reply

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Sunday, February 19, 2012

Homemade Coconut Shea Butter Lotion: for dry sky and eczema

After I made my first batch of lotion, I’ve been experimenting with different ingredients for different aliments.  For example, using colloidal oatmeal as an anti-itch relief.  It’s super fun and easy to make your own lotion.  It takes just a few minutes to mix the ingredients together and there you have it.  Today I’m sharing another variation for the dry/eczema prone skin.  I keep everything raw when making lotion.  I never heat the ingredients, which I feel is very important.  This batch includes shea butter as the base, with coconut oil, calendula oil, jojoba oil and a dash of eucalyptus (for its healing properties and fragrance).  Raw shea butter has a very interesting smell, almost smokey, and in the many batches I’ve purchased (on amazon) they have all varied in color and smell.  This is to be expected.  So have fun and experiment with essential oils!
Ingredients
-4.5 ounces organic, raw, unrefined shea butter
-1/4 cup raw, organic coconut oil
-3 tablespoons jojoba oil
-1 tablespoon calendula oil
-3/4 teaspoon eucalyptus oil*
How To
1.  Mix ingredients in bowl, initially by hand, then with electric mixer.
2.  Fill small glass jars and use within 2 months.
3.  Final product can be stored at room temperature during use, as it has great self life!  Store remaining unused shea butter in the refrigerator, or you could also store leftover lotion in the fridge if you won’t be using it right away (it will keep for months in the fridge).  This stuff is resilient and you’re good either way, no matter where you keep it.
Notes
*Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a powerful anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory essential oil that can help control eczema flare-ups.  Eucalyptus oil works by stimulating blood circulation and has a calming and cooling effect on irritated skin.  And like echinacea, eucalyptus also stimulates your immune function.  Before applying eucalyptus oil (or any essential oil) to the skin, the oil should be diluted in a carrier oil (i.e. sweet almond oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, etc.) to avoid further irritation and burning.  Eucalyptus can be applied throughout the day as needed for itch relief.  Eucalyptus is also great for treating a baby eczema rash.
*
Use hand mixer OR food processor.  Both work well.  I tend to use a hand mixer with soft ingredients.  When I make lotion with cocoa butter, I always use a food processor.  It’s difficult to incorporate cocoa butter with a hand mixer.  Something else that’s important to consider is that the heat from the friction (from running the food processor a while) will help melt the small chunks of cocoa butter and incorporate all the ingredients nicely.
Additional Homemade Lotions from The Tasty Alternative
*
Shared on: Healthy Second Wednesday 
Posted by Amber at 8:23 pm

Labels: beauty, eczema, Holistic healing, homemade remedies, how to.

32 Comments

  • Vicky February 20, 2012 at 12:20 am

    If we could buy these ingredients easily and a bit cheaper in the UK I’d be whipping up a batch today! Sounds amazing!

    Reply
  • Amber February 21, 2012 at 2:05 am

    Hi There Vicki,

    I’ve also heard this from a few other readers. Too bad things are so expensive for you in the UK. I can imagine this is very frustrating!!

    Be Well,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • Laura February 21, 2012 at 6:16 am

    Ahh Amber this lotion sounds heavenly! My hands get dry this time of year in the Rocky Mountains and this lotion sounds perfect for them. I love the combination of coconut and shea butter you used.

    Reply
    • Amber April 14, 2012 at 4:44 pm

      Thanks Laura!

      Reply
  • Tracy March 16, 2012 at 4:46 pm

    Does the finished lotion need to be refrigerated? Or can it stay in my bathroom?

    Reply
  • Amber March 16, 2012 at 4:57 pm

    Hi Tracy,

    Great question!

    This can stay out at room temp for weeks, perhaps months. It has a great shelf life. We keep a jar in my son’s room, one in our bedroom, some in my bag, and a jar in the kitchen.

    Be Well,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • Tracy March 16, 2012 at 5:30 pm

    Awesome! Thanks for such an awesome recipe! I have been using straight coconut oil on my skin, but wanted something more true to an actual lotion with the great benefits of coconut oil. I will be ordering some shea butter online soon! Any particular brand or site you recommend?

    Reply
  • Amber March 16, 2012 at 5:46 pm

    Hi Tracy,

    For sure, I ordered mine from Amazon. It’s a great price and goes a long way! You’ll get a TON of lotion. If you’re making just a little bit, purchase the smallest quantity you can. But this link will get you started and you can browse through different options.

    Have fun and play around with the ingredients. You might want to add in more shea, or more coconut, etc. Either way, this combination of ingredients is very healing and really helps my son’s skin!

    link: http://www.amazon.com/100%25-Organic-West-African-Butter/dp/B0009JQFF6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1331919531&sr=8-7

    Let me know how it goes for you.

    P.S. I just bought some raw cocoa butter (from amazon), oh my, it smells soooo good. I’m making some lotion with this next. Recipe coming soon! :-)

    Reply
  • T. D. Mayers April 14, 2012 at 10:59 am

    I’m not a mixtress…yet, I guess. I’d usually see others mixing shea with just an EO. But never with coconut oil. The benefits for the skin are definitely increased. Great recipe. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Amber April 14, 2012 at 4:44 pm

      My pleasure!

      Reply
  • Anonymous June 30, 2012 at 7:14 pm

    It it oily on the skin? Does it absorb quickly?

    Reply
    • Amber June 30, 2012 at 7:49 pm

      Hello anonymous,

      Good question. I can tell you that this doesn’t stay oily. It does eventually soak in the skin. I would not use it as a facial lotion, however. :-)

      Reply
  • Amber July 23, 2012 at 5:01 am

    A reader left me a comment on this post, and it came through my email, but it’s not showing up here? So here is the question:

    Hi Amber,
    Thanx for your wonderful recipe. One question.., should the lotion be stored in glass containers only?? If yes, why? –Anu

    My Answer:

    Good question, Anu. I firmly believe that glass containers are the best for oily and high fat ingredients (such as coconut oil and shea butter). Fats and oils leach out toxins in plastic, and you just don’t want to take the risk. This lotion can last months and months (very long shelf life) so I really recommend storing in a glass container. I use old glass bottles from the store (from previous lotions) or ask friends if they have any around. You can also find little glass lotion containers at most stores. Thanks, –Amber

    Reply
  • Anonymous July 23, 2012 at 6:58 pm

    Hi Amber,

    I saw this recipe and will try it tonight! I have eczema as well and have become more conscious of what I put on my skin. I’m crossing my fingers that this recipe will work for me! Have you ever experimented with Neem? I’ve done a little research and it seems that neem may be very beneficial for people with eczema. I might try adding a few drops of neem oil into your recipe and see how it works. Thanks for sharing this!

    Reply
  • Amber July 23, 2012 at 7:23 pm

    Hello Anonymous,

    Thanks for your note.

    I just want to add a few things about healing and eczema. First, not every lotion is going to work and overtime they seem to sort of lose their benefit. I recommend making different lotions throughout the year and finding which ingredients(s) work the best (overall). It’s trial and error. For my husband, currently, the best combo for his eczema is shea butter, cocoa butter, vegetable glycerine, and coconut oil. I mix all three of these together and it heals the cracked, bleeding skin. It’s still red, but it’s getting better.

    In addition, and this is very important, I recommend modifying any diet with eczema. Food is a big trigger, so lotions aren’t going to work as well if skin is always contending with the aggravating affects of food. lastly, add in fish oils and other healing supplements to the diet.

    I truly believe a holistic approach to eating and remedies can dramatically improve eczema. It’s been 3 years, but for the FIRST time my son’s eczema is in remission! We never gave up on the diet, the supplements and lotions.

    Good luck to you on your healing journey.

    P.S. We’ve never tried Neem, but I certainly recommend this oil! Very healing and I’ve heard great things.

    Reply
    • Anonymous July 23, 2012 at 7:45 pm

      Hi Amber,

      Thank you for the response! I was actually just looking through your recipes. I’ve been trying to adjust my diet but it’s been harder than I thought. I think your recipes will give me a great selection to choose from and help with my attempt at a healthier diet.

      I’m so glad to hear that your son’s eczema is doing better! That’s really great. I hope the trend continues!

      Thanks again, reading your blog has been very inspiring!

      Reply
  • Amber July 27, 2012 at 5:31 am

    Thank you so much. It’s nice to see the inflammation finally under control.

    And thank you for your kind words.

    Good luck on your healing journey. Check back and let me know how you’re doing!

    Reply
  • Krista October 10, 2012 at 1:22 pm

    Thanks for posting this recipe. I’m hoping it will help my dry, peeling fingertips this winter. Question for you: I just made a batch of this for the first time and it is runny, not thick like the lotion looks in your pictures. Any ideas as to why, or how to get it to thicken? I tried putting it in the refrigerator but it just solidified and was hard to get out of the jar.

    Reply
  • Ramona November 29, 2012 at 4:00 pm

    Hi! I look forward to trying this recipe for winter/dry skin season. I made something similar as a diaper cream for my baby (only difference is it included corn starch and no calendula or eucalyptus oil) I am wondering why it must be used within 2 months. I have been using the same batch on my 5 month old baby since she was born…I am only now running out.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Amber November 30, 2012 at 1:12 am

      Hi Ramona,

      Sounds great! Oh I’m sure this lasts forever. I use mine up in about 2 months, so I can’t speak for how it holds up after that. As a rule I only recommend what I experience, rather than assuming. So great to hear yours has lasted so long! Thanks for sharing. I’n sure this is helpful for others. :-)

      Reply
  • Ramona November 29, 2012 at 4:27 pm

    Also! Can I add 2 tsp. Of colloidal oatmeal to this recipe for the anti-itch healing factor?

    Reply
    • Amber November 30, 2012 at 1:15 am

      Hi Ramona,

      In my experience, too much is drying, so start by mixing just a small amount with another batch of the lotion (start with like 1 teaspoon). I believe very little is in the store bought variety and it seems to really help with the itching. I made a batch once with too much of the oatmeal and it was not very beneficial. You just need a touch of it in there for the anti-itch factor. Let me know how it works out and what ratios you found helpful. :-)

      Thanks and have a great rest of your week.

      Reply
  • Jessica December 6, 2012 at 3:54 am

    Thanks so much for sharing your journey! I’ve read that putting handmade creams for eczema in jars that you put your hand into and apply to the skin and then put back into the container isn’t good as it reintroduces bacteria. Have you heard this? I’d like to try this recipe, but I’m wondering if it would be too thick to try with a pump in order to not be putting your hand into the cream.

    Reply
    • Amber December 25, 2012 at 11:57 pm

      Hi Jessica,

      Oh wow – I have never heard of this. I suggest to wash hands well before dipping into the jar if you’re worried about introducing bacteria. I’ve been making lotions for years and never encountered any bacterial problems. And yes, far too thick to add into a pump. The lotion turns very solid in cool temps. Good luck and let me know what you end up doing. Thanks.

      Reply
  • 100wui June 2, 2013 at 6:47 am

    Hi, thanks for sharing tips on making eczema friendly creams.
    I am about to start making some for my son and myself.
    I am planning to use unrefined coconut oil, jojoba oil according to the recipe.
    But I am wondering if I could add in evening primrose oil, almond oil, grape seed oil, vitamin E as well in same recipe… Or do you think it is too much oil….
    let me know. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Amber June 2, 2013 at 2:30 pm

      Hi There,

      I would stick with the almond oil, primrose, and vit. E. I don’t think it hurts to add in more oils, especially if they are beneficial. This will be mighty oily, so it’s good you have the shea butter as a base. Come on back and let us know how it all worked out for you.

      Thanks.

      Reply
    • 100wui August 5, 2013 at 8:58 am

      Hi Amber,

      I just tried it out with jojoba oil, coconut oil and sweet allmond oil. I stay in hot climate country. Maybe I added a bit too much coconut oil… It seems to be in liquid form. Do I need to put it in the fridge to make it solid?

      Reply
  • 100wui August 6, 2013 at 3:01 am

    Hi Amber,

    It solidifies itself overnight. Problem solved. Thanks.

    Reply
  • laurel August 31, 2014 at 4:58 am

    Hi,my baby doesn’t have eczema but I was thinking of using shea butter as her cream as I hear it’s good for the skin,what is your take on that?thanks

    Reply
  • Sind February 5, 2015 at 10:41 am

    Dear Amber,
    I have checked out your blogs/website and I simply love it. Thanks for the wonderful ideas/recipes.
    I have also been using Shea butter/coconut oil mix as moisturizer (by rubbing them both on my palms) for my 4 month old on his body except face. On face I am just applying Shea butter(rub it in my hands and apply). However I noticed that his skin is turning darker than his face. His face is very light but the rest of the body is darker than his face. I am using Organic Virgin coconut oil and Organic unrefined shea butter.

    Please advise if you have heard/come across any such case. Let me know if this is normal and DS can outgrow it soon.

    Reply
  • Sind February 5, 2015 at 10:58 am

    One more question. I am planning on adopting the above recipe. Is it ok if i skip the calendula oil?

    Reply
    • Amber June 24, 2015 at 7:31 pm

      Yes of course. Add in any oil of your choosing. :-)

      Reply

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Saturday, December 3, 2011

The Skin Deep Cosmetic Database

Ever feel curious about what’s in your lotion, shampoo, lipstick, foot scrub, toothpaste, eye shadow, dish soap, gel?  
I sure do.

A few years ago I came across the greatest website on the planet for the curious, health-conscience mind.  If you’re not sure about an ingredient but really want to know what it is, research results, and how toxic it is (on a scale from 1 – 10) well then look no further.  

The website is
The Skin Deep Cosmetic Database
Start here to get to know the site and how to use it.
Also a good read: the myth about cosmetic safety

This site is SO user friendly, by the way.  You simply type in the ingredient (or just copy and paste from the internet) and you will instantly receive valuale information on its level of toxicity. 
An essential element in any holistic healing routine or holistic lifestyle is knowing exactly what you are putting on your skin and exactly what you are bringing into your home.  This is also so very important for children’s products.  Say NO to chemicals in your products, polluting our bodies and earth.  
Have peace of mind and take control with knowledge. 

Posted by Amber at 4:50 am

Labels: beauty, Holistic healing.

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Friday, October 21, 2011

Homemade Jojoba Shea Butter Lotion: for dry skin and eczema

When my son Ethan was 5 months old he developed eczema all over his body.  It wasn’t entirely a surprise.  My husband develops terrible eczema on his hands during the summer/winter months.  So when it started showing up on Ethan it was all about holistic healing and comfort…and time.   
 
I started with food. I was nursing Ethan so I would systematically cut out foods from my diet that I suspected might be aggravating his skin.  Food didn’t seem to change his skin much.  Already 100% dairy free, sugar free, soy free, etc, I cut out eggs for a while.  I also experimented with wheat and nuts.  We noticed that during the cold months his skin was dry and susceptible and during the hot months his skin was dry and susceptible.  I would say that staying on a allergy free diet helped his skin from becoming worse than it already was, and allowed time and other natural remedies to work and heal the inflammation. 
 
Our pediatrician, like most pediatricians, suggested the steroid cream.  Scott never had much success with this sort of cream and he also didn’t particularly like the ingredients – very intense stuff.  So we both knew this just wasn’t an option…or for us a very last resort option.  For the most part Ethan was smiley, happy and easy going.  He appeared comfortable.  He wasn’t distressed or preoccupied with itching his skin.  So that being said, we continued with holistic/homeopathic remedies including:
 
1.  Keeping his nails trimmed 
2.  Always covering the weepy patches of skin, but also allowing the skin time to breathe now and then
3.  Dressing in only 100% cotton or organic cotton clothes
4.  Gentle soap (like Dr. Bronner’s) to wash his clothes
5.  We did not bathe him every night
6.  During baths I would often put chamomile tea in with his bath water (steap about 8 cups of water with 8 tablespoons loose chamomile flowers )
7.  Moisturize, moisturize and moisturize!  We kept his skin very lubricated, especially during the winter months.
Side note: I’m not kidding when I tell you we used just about every organic, natural cream on the market.  We found these at our local Coop and I also found products on-line from small organic companies (this is a great blog for such a purpose).  I was very picky about what I put on his skin, obviously.  We did not use lotions filled with preservatives, parabens, SLS, phthalates, glycols, petroleum, artificial fragrances, PEGS, PGG, MEA, TEA, DEA, etc…the list goes on and on…and so the list of what you can use gets smaller and smaller.
 
I didn’t think about making my own lotion at the time.  I wish I had because we all know those organic creams are EXPENSIVE!  
In time his eczema decreased, starting with his face.  By his first birthday his face looked great.  Next his arms improved to zero areas of inflammation much like his face, his back and stomach followed.  His legs improved greatly but this is still the area of concern.
 
Last summer I purchased my last store-bought cream/oil.  I was determined to make my own dry skin/eczema remedy and found three ingredients that target inflammation 
(and ingredients I frequently saw in the store-bought brands):
1.  Jojoba Oil
2.  Chamomile Flowers
3.  Organic Raw Shea Butter
So here is what I did…
 
1: Purchased 16 oz. of raw, organic shea butter ($10).
2: Purchased 8 oz. of organic jojoba oil 
(from bulk at our Coop – $5)
 
3: Purchased 1/2 cup dried chamomile flowers 
(from bulk at our Coop – $1.50)
 
4: Infused jojoba with chamomile for 2 weeks
5: Strained through cheese cloth and TADA…chamomile infused jojoba oil! 
6: Raw shea butter is super hard so I placed it in a glass bowl and let it sit in the sun for a few hours to soften.  Worked great.  Above picture is a few hand stirs with a spoon after the sun bath
 
7: I added the strained oil to the shea butter and whipped with a hand mixer until well incorporated
Notes:
1.  This lotion is oily.  Take caution when applying it around fabric you love, as oil may transfer
2.  It soaks into skin after a bit and should be noted it’s much less oily than just applying straight oil
2.  This would be a terrific hand treatment at night with cotton gloves
3.  Apply immediately after shower/bath to affected areas
4.  This mixture of ingredients has a fantastic shelf life
5.  Experiment with other healing herbs/oil 
 
Here are some pictures of Ethan’s skin.  I never took any of his body because it was usually covered.  I look back at these and smile ear to ear.  He was such a chubby little thing! To give you an idea, he weighed 17 lbs. at 4 months old! And I’m not kidding when I tell you he was a happy little thing too – always a smile on that red little face.  Mommy kept him very comfortable!
Overall, his legs were the worst.  He had many patches of skin that were weepy, he also had these patches on his arms.  Keeping these patches covered prevented itching and aided in healing.
And, here he is in 2010:
This face looks so much better.  His cheeks healed with time, as did his arms, back and stomach.  We are happy about declining the steroid cream.  This this was a personal choice and every parent should decide what will be best for their child and what they are comfortable administering.  I would say he outgrew the worst of it. Keeping him on an allergy-free diet is very important despite the little change we noticed in his symptoms early on.  He is currently dairy free, gluten free, sugar free, soy free, chocolate free and nightshade free.  And we keep that skin super-duper moisturized with our awesome new lotion.  


Still a very smiley little guy!!  

See HERE for a list of all my homemade lotions 
Posted by Amber at 10:48 pm

Labels: beauty, eczema, Holistic healing, homemade remedies, how to.

26 Comments

  • Tessa October 27, 2011 at 3:41 am

    My son too has struggled with eczema…and I have figured out several of the triggers. One thing I learned from a holistic nutritionist, after his eczema started getting better around 9 months is that babies are born with very porous intestines to allow the to digest the large protein found in breastmilk. At around 8 or 9 months, as their bodies ready for weaning, the gut begins to close those gaps, thus making them less reactive to everything. It is such a long and arduous journey as a mommy trying to figure it all though, isn’t it!!?? I am happy your son is doing better!

    [email protected]

    Reply
  • Amber October 27, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    Hi There Tessa~

    Thank you for this holistic wisdom! I love that you have a holistic healer. How wonderful. That makes total sense about the intestines because his face was very clear at 1 year, with flare-ups here and there – weather and food induced of course.

    This month I noticed that oranges really aggravated his skin.

    speaking of food and eczema, my husband had some chocolate last week (he’s a total chocoholic, but has toned it down drastically over these past few months). Anyway, he had just a little bit of dark chocolate and his hands were a mess in the morning. He was so surprised to see this connection loud and clear. Amazing how food can have such a tangible affect on our bodies.

    Thanks again for your comment. It’s comforting to know others have gone through similar issues with their children.

    Be Well,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • Tessa October 28, 2011 at 8:14 pm

    Of course! We are STILL dealing with it! We had a major reaction yesterday, poor little guy was screeching and writhing in pain from what looked like 2nd degree burns on his bum. The only new food was a bit of egg in some grain-free mini muffins we made, he had one! hopefully we can figure out how to truly heal his little gut so he can tolerate more foods, because as of now, it is a very frustrating journey. To make it worse, lots of people look at you like you have two heads when you mention food sensitivities or try to explain why your child won’t be having those Goldfish crackers or that cupcake with the rest of the class!

    Reply
  • Amber October 30, 2011 at 4:54 am

    Hi There Tessa~

    Oh, I hear you with the goldfish crackers! And it is hard to explain why you are saying no. With Ethan though, people take one look at his legs and they can see his condition and why I have him on an allergy free diet. It’s definitely a struggle and difficult for parents. One never wants to see their child suffering! You just want to make it all go away.

    Ethan’s legs look terrible, not like they did when he was an infant, but they are very red, blotchy and look sunburned (mostly on he back). It’s curious why the inflammation is isolated to his legs? I do see a huge connection with eggs. Luckily he doesn’t seem distressed by the flare up.

    Good luck to you on this healing journey. Stayed tuned. I will be posting about holistic healing for eczema very soon.

    Be Well,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • Anonymous November 16, 2011 at 8:02 pm

    This is great! I felt so sad looking at his little red face as all three of my kids had that same little red face (and red bodies) when they were small. My other two seem to have outgrown it, my littest still struggles. We have discovered gluten and sugar are triggers for her but even then it’s not perfect. Waiting until after the holidays to make any more major dietary changes since it’s at least manageable. We always took eczema as just this “thing” that happened and you medicate it. I look at things very differently now and I see it as definite sign of what is going on in the body so we are doing good probiotics, healthy fats, etc. to help as well. Anyhow, my husband also has eczema and I’ll definitely be making this cream for both! Thanks!
    P.S. I have two kids with food allergies and I hear you about the treats in class. Makes things very difficult all around, and it always amazes me that in a day where there’s so much more talk about food allergies, people still seem to glaze over and look at you like you’re crazy or a mean mom for depriving your kid!

    Reply
  • Amber November 16, 2011 at 10:30 pm

    Hello There A,

    Thank you so much for your comment.
    First, I could not agree more with you about the perceived judgement from others. I’m constantly saying “no” to foods people hand my 2 year old son. But then I quickly pull out a healthy homemade treat and all is good, but you can’t help but feel bad (and judged). Sometimes I show people Ethan’s legs and share that foods trigger inflammation/eczema and we take it very seriously, and thank you for understanding. Birthday parties are hard right now, as I’m sure you can empathize.

    I have to say, this cream is great! But please stay tuned. As we speak I am making a new lotion that includes these original ingredients and two new healing properties: coconut oil and colloidal oatmeal. I should have this up by next week.

    Good for you for including probiotics. I started Ethan on fish oils a while back and I believe it has really helped! Ah, there is so much to think about. You just take it day by day and keep experimenting. Good luck on your healing journey. I appreciate your attitude about starting a diet change when it feels right…and perhaps more likely to work. The Holidays can be very tricky.

    Thanks again for sharing your story!

    Be Well,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • Wendi and Matt December 11, 2011 at 9:31 pm

    I just found your site. Love it!!!
    If I don’t have jojoba I can use olive oil right?? I’m thinking yes but want to make sure :)

    Reply
  • Amber December 12, 2011 at 1:06 am

    Hello There Wendi and Matt~

    Thanks!!

    Absolutely. Any oil you can find or have on hand that’s good for problem skin will work great.

    I also recommend coconut oil or calendula if you can’t find jojoba. :-)

    Happy Holidays.

    Be Well,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • itchylittleworld December 30, 2011 at 8:22 pm

    Hi Amber –

    So glad you found my site and now I’m happy to have found yours! Our stories sound really similar. I wound up making my own eczema salve as well, but had terrible trouble with it ruining all my son’s clothes and he also developed an allergy to it over time. Thankfully he is free of eczema, most days, because we identified food allergies as his triggers, as well as heat. I’m happy to see that you have found relief for your son as well!

    Have a great holiday!

    Reply
  • Kristina May 17, 2012 at 6:31 pm

    My son looks almost identical to your son (his main eczema problem is face and right behind one knee) I too only use handmade lotions (chamomile is a fav of ours too) and they work so much better than any of the conventional stuff. Your son’s face gives me hope as my little guy’s face is still very red and itchy. Glad he’s better!! :)

    Reply
    • Amber May 17, 2012 at 8:18 pm

      Hi Kristina,

      I’m so sorry to hear about your son’s eczema. Us mommies need to stick together and exchange ideas and resources! I do hope your son’s skin improves over time.

      My son turned three on Tuesday, and while his legs are still covered with dry skin that flares up from time to time, I’m convinced a healthy, allergy-free diet, homemade lotions, healthy fats, fish oils, probiotics, and time have all helped his skin from getting worse. But I just can’t compete with seasonal allergies. They really spark his skin flares.

      You have a great rest of your week Kristina.

      Be Well,
      –Amber

      Reply
  • Teri Magaruh June 21, 2012 at 12:44 am

    Hi Amber,
    Thank you so much for this information. My son is 25 and still has problems with eczema. He is currently living on his own and really broken out and itchy (especially his legs and feet). So which of these creams you have listed, is the most effective? Currently I have on hand and ready to use: shea butter, cocoa butter, almond oil, jojoba oil, apricot oil,calendula oil and avocado oil. Should I order the eucalyptus as well? Thanks! Teri

    Reply
    • Amber June 21, 2012 at 3:17 am

      Hi Teri,

      Thanks for your email. I’m sorry your son suffers from this skin condition!! My husband (who is 36) still gets eczema flares on his hands (and really bad)! My lotions really help, better than anything from the store.

      So, it sounds like you have some great stuff on hand there. Here are a few combinations:

      -shea butter
      -cocoa butter
      -calendula oil
      -jojoba oil

      -shea butter
      -almond oil
      -avocado oil

      -cocoa butter
      -apricot oil
      -calendula oil

      -shea butter
      -cocoa butter
      -avocado oil

      (get some coconut oil if you can…another great healing oil for eczema).

      The combinations are really endless. For each lotion I try and stick with two oils and one or two base creams for each batch (and so in your case those would be the shea and cocoa).

      The thing about thesevlotions are they all help my son, but I found that rotating the lotions works best. So, when I run out of one, I make a new one with different ingredients. I’ve heard this from other mothers too. Their child will get sort of desensitized to one. I think this is pretty typical with skin.

      And no, the eucalyptus is not necessary. I used it for a bit of scent, but found that it was also okay, beneficial even, for eczema (in small diluted amounts.

      Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Glad to help anyway I can :-)

      Be Well,
      –Amber

      Reply
  • vini August 8, 2012 at 6:19 am

    Hi Please try using 100% pure unrefined coconut oil
    It heals skin like magic.
    Hope it helps :)
    What an adorable little boy

    Vinitha

    Reply
  • Amber August 8, 2012 at 6:42 am

    Hi Vini,

    Thank you!

    I do use raw organic unrefined coconut oil in one of my lotions that works really well for my son and husband.
    You can see the recipe here:
    https://thetastyalternative.com/2012/02/homemade-coconut-shea-butter-lotion-for.html

    Reply
  • Edna November 25, 2012 at 6:35 am

    Thanks for telling the recipe! Going to do that for myself.
    The moisturisers on the market usually contain petroleum and those organic ones are so ex.
    Do more of this!!!! Haha

    Reply
  • Tanya Otero November 30, 2012 at 11:35 pm

    I have been searching for homemade lotion recipes specifically for eczema on hands. I found many for toddlers but not for adults, and wasn’t sure if the severity or type of eczema was different. Thank you for mentioning your husband’s hand eczema, it sounds exactly like what I have. The tips on diet are very true, I’ve cut out dairy and noticed that new flare ups have completely stopped. I have found sweets to also be a trigger.
    A homeopath recommended I take Omega 3 and 6 oils, as a deficiency in those essential fatty acids apparently can also be a cause. Just a suggestion for anyone who is searching for anything other than a steroid cream that will prevent eczema, rather than act as a temporary fix.

    Reply
    • Amber December 3, 2012 at 5:44 am

      Hello Tanya,

      Thank you so much for stopping by and for your insights. They are much appreciated. :-)

      Sugar really does trigger my husband’s eczema, but I think weather is the worst. When we are in dry climates his hands will become red and cracked within a few hours (for example, when we drive to the mountains to go snowboarding).

      I do believe citrus triggers my son’s eczema. I’ve been giving him fish oils and this seems to help his skin during the dry winter months.

      It’s all so individual. Crazy! We do what we can to try and figure out the triggers (foods, stress, weather, etc).

      Good luck on your healing journey. And thanks again for stopping by.

      Be Well,
      –Amber

      Reply
  • Anonymous February 20, 2013 at 6:26 pm

    My little 5 month old daughter has severe to moderate eczema. For someone who ate healthy, organic whole foods, I am @ my wits ends trying to figure this out. The hubs does have chronic eczema.so I am really worried. I dont know what it feels like, but my daughter went from being the perfect baby to screaming and itching right around 4 months when I went back to work.
    I have been so stressed about her condition and feel awful putting steroidal creams on her which just subsides the condition. It does not cure it. It treats the symptoms in other words not the cause.
    My older son had no such condition so this was a surprise.
    thank you Amber for the posts, I have been reading and am going to trying holistic approach to this.

    Mom to R&R

    Reply
    • Amber March 5, 2013 at 11:39 pm

      I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter. I remember when my son’s skin flared around that time.

      I’m no expert when it comes to eczema, but I can tell you that my son’s is nearly GONE. But it did take time, and he will be 4 in May. He’s been on a gluten, dairy, cane/refined sugar free, soy free diet all his life. When he was old enough, I started introducing probiotics and fish oils. I also feel it helped to nurse him as long as possible to help colonize his gut and digestive system (so I nursed him for 2 years and followed the same diet as mentioned above). Homemade creams have been such a great defense. Also look into lanolin. It’s such a great barrier and will prevent water from drying out those nearly weepy patches (my son had a TON of pus and weepy patches all over). If the itch is out of control, grind up some oatmeal into a powder and add a few tablespoons to warm bath water. This may help the itching a bit, and always follow up with lotion right out of the bath. There are so many thing to think about, and when they are young it’s a little more difficult. Comfort measures are most important at the 5 month age. I’m glad you are looking into more of the cause, rather than just masking symptoms. And I’m glad these posts are helpful for you. You’re not alone. Good luck to you and your baby’s healing.

      Be Well,
      –Amber

      Reply
  • Anonymous March 7, 2013 at 6:44 pm

    I know this is random but can you post a link to where you bought your carafe? I love it!

    Thank you :)

    Tricia

    Reply
    • Amber March 7, 2013 at 7:07 pm

      Not random at all. I found it at Ross Department store in the kitchen section. :-)

      Reply
  • M. Inez March 21, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    Hi there. I just stumbled upon your blog while searching for body butter recipes. I’ve recently started making my own after about a year of paying $15 each for 8 oz of body butter. My great niece and a few people at my church suffer from eczema. I will definitely be making this for my niece and sharing the recipe with others. Thanks so much for sharing your journey.

    Reply
  • Anonymous May 16, 2013 at 3:32 pm

    THANK YOU!

    My daughter is almost 8 and really struggles with eczema… not on her face, but pretty much everywhere else. Like your son, the heat/extreme dry cold/seasonal allergies really get her going.

    We were keeping Eucerin in business and slathering her with cream twice and day, and I started suspecting that it was causing issues of its own. I’ve switched her to all natural emollients over the past 3 weeks or so and even though she’s still a mess, the oils/butters we’ve used are a relief to her. The eucerin would cause a round of itching/burning despite how well it moisturizes and we were just going backwards. Not so with almond oil/cocoa butter.

    I’m just really tired of steroids and immunosuppressants and chemicals/preservatives! I can’t help but worry about the long term consequences.

    I’m going to get brave and take it a step further upon finding your site, and try to make a batch of body butter tonight. Thanks!

    Reply
  • Anonymous May 17, 2013 at 1:38 pm

    Hi Amber!
    I’m the anonymous from yesterday, just wanted to report back that I followed through and made my food processor super oily last night and gave it a try. I feel like I’ve finally got it right… The cocoa butter and almond oil were both working well for her, but oily on their own. Thanks to your suggestions I think we’ve found a mixture that’ll really do some good. Can’t wait to see how she feels/looks in a few weeks. She rode her bike outside in the heat for 3 hours last night, and then came in for a shower… normally she’d be a MESS after that. But we covered her in her new homemade cream and she looked amazing at bedtime.
    I used 4 oz. cocoa butter, 7 oz. shea butter, and about 5 T. sweet almond oil. Good, good stuff!
    Thanks.

    Reply
  • jmneuge May 24, 2013 at 5:00 pm

    Your recipes for lotions and sprays are awesome! I stumbled upon your website while looking for a simple trellis for my bean plants. Thanks for sharing all your amazing ideas!

    One tip I can share to your readers in return, for dry skin I swear by lanolin! We live in Utah where it is very dry year round, but especially in the winter. Before bed I slather my kids up in lanolin, especially their cheeks, and their skin looks great in the morning. This helped a lot when they were babies and their skin was irritated from drool and spit up. But be careful lanolin definitely will stain fabrics.

    Cheers!

    Judith

    Reply

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