New Soaper Shout-Out to Violet from Arizona: Oatmeal Milk and Honey soap

New soaper Violet D. from sunny Arizona is a natural. This gal tackled a milk, honey, beeswax, oatmeal,  pencil line soap recipe as the second soap she's ever made, and it turned out fabulous. Wow. 

 Quite an accomplishment!

Topped with organic calendula leaves, this bar is solid moisturizing goodness for your skin.

Her milk of choice was goats milk; rich in vitamins, particularly Vitamin A which is necessary to maintain healthy skin, along with minerals, and Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) that gently exfoliate and remove dead dry skin cells revealing healthy skin cells.

Oatmeal lends a gentle cleansing, soothing touch to the skin.

Honey being a natural humectant draws moisture to the skin, it is healing, and moisturizing.

 You do not need a lot of honey per soap loaf, I use 1-2 TBL per 3 LB loaf, warmed and added at trace.

Keep in mind that honey will darken your soap some. The bottom layer in Violet's soap is colored only by the honey and oils, no fragrance was added to this layer. The top layer had a lovely essential oil and fragrance oil blend that contained vanilla. Vanilla will always darken your soap.  

Nutrient rich beeswax is completely non toxic and non allergenic. Known for its healing properties and natural emolliency, (softens the skin), as it locks in moisture and protects skin from environmental factors. It is a great natural ingredient to add to your soaps. 

I recommend using beeswax at a 5% ratio or below in your homemade soaps.

Enriched with shea butter, which is a great luxury oil to use in soap as it has such a high skin moisturizing, conditioning level without clogging your pores. Shea butter is known to help even out skin tone, acts as a great healer and is safe for baby, elderly and sensitive skin.

I recommend using shea butter at a  5% ratio. Some soapers suggest between 2-5%.

In 40 oz total oil wt. recipe, that would mean 2 oz. of shea butter.

The pencil line is cinnamon.

The color, scent, ingredients and overall look of this bar is wonderful. It has a warm, all natural, rustic appeal that will leave your skin soft and moisturized, not stripped of its natural oils.

Good job Violet, thanks for sharing !

How to make a Strawberry Facial Mask

Strawberry face masks are easy, inexpensive and highly effective natural skin care for your face.
Updated: 2/16/16

RECIPE:  

2-3 strawberries

1 TBL warmed honey

1 TBL yogurt 

This fresh strawberry mask contains a super-packed hydrating, nourishing punch for your skin. 

The honey is a natural humectant, which means it draws moisture to the skin, hydrating and softening   it.  As well as providing nutrition, and anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant properties.

Strawberries are a natural alpha-hydroxy-acid (AHA) and rich in salicylic acid which sloughs off the dead, dry skin cells revealing healthy cells, as it tightens up pores and brightens your skin. 

It is high in anti-oxidants as well ... think anti-aging!

It's salicylic acid is known to help clear acne and reduce oil, naturally.

Yogurt plays a calming roll in this recipe. Nourishing, healing, soothing.

It's lactic acid is a gentle exfoliater, helping to rid the skin of dead cells clogging pores.

Spread facial on your face with a soft cosmetic brush or your fingers. A nice thin layer will do.
It makes a lovely pink face mask! Leave on 5-10 minutes, until relatively dry. Rinse off.
NOTE:  I like to blend mine in a "Bullet" type small blender as it makes it foamier, and easier to apply and stay on the skin. Or, just mash with a fork.
For educational purposes only, not intended to treat, cure or diagnose....!

Enjoy !   Anna
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This post shared with Mind Body and Sole's Wildcrafting Wednesday
and their 169th addition !