DIY Recipes

DIY - GLOW BUTTER June 21 2015, 0 Comments

This amazing butter nourishes the driest skin, gives it an instant glow and prolongs your tan. It can be used before sun exposure and to bring some extra glow to your Summer skin. 
It does not replace sunscreen for prolonged exposure. 



INGREDIENTS
Tucuma Butter - 2 oz.
Buriti Oil - 0.5 oz.
Cupuacu Butter - 1.5 oz.
Mica Pigment bronze or brown - as much as you want, depending on how dark you want to go.
optional - Vitamin E (for longer shelf life) - 8 drops

Melt Tucuma and Cupuacu using a double boiler, when melted add Buriti oil. Put in fridge, when it starts to solidify add the other ingredients mixing well to form a smooth even colored paste.
Transfer to your container and let it finish cooling down either in room temperature or fridge.
It may stain light fabrics. 


Table Products/Properties. May 28 2015, 0 Comments

This table is quite simplified but it helps on the first steps of working and using exotic butters and oils!


LEG SCRUB May 12 2015, 0 Comments

There are many ways to make scrubs, and thousands of "ready to use" on the market. A scrub is a great way to get rid of dead skin cells, therefore helping with uneven, bumpy, flaky or dry skin. Scrubbing is also a great way to massage your legs, helping the circulation which helps with cellulite, tired legs and even spider veins. 

For a made at home body scrub I like to keep it simple: oil + sugar. 

For the oil you can actually use even kitchen oil, but the experience won't be the same as if you splurge a bit. A lot of people use coconut oil, it works well. But my favorite is Passion Fruit Oil. 

3 Reasons Passion Fruit is my favorite for scrubs:

  1. It has a nice fruity scent without being overpowering.

  2. It spreads out nicely, and it is just oily enough for a good few minutes of scrubbing.

  3. It is light enough to be kept on your skin, no soap, just rinse off the sugar.

Mix 1 part oil for 2 parts sugar. I usually just mix what I am using that same day, but you can make a jar and keep it in a cool, dark place, or the fridge, a good cold scrub during the hot Summer days feels heavenly! 

Shave first if you need, if your skin gets too thin or sensitive after shaving then wait one day.

You need to sit in order to do a good scrub, I usually sit on my little deck outside, if you have a bathtub put a towel on the edge and sit your cute behind down, for a shower bring a little stool. But a stand up, rushed scrubbing is no good!!!

Put a little bit of the sugar on your hands and work your legs up and down with both hands, use some pressure, don't overdo it to the point of getting raw skin, but massage your legs like you mean it!

I usually get all tingly after my scrubbing sessions, it is the circulation being worked.

Do the same for your arms, butt, and shoulders. Be a bit more delicate on chest and neck area. If you are lucky enough to have someone handy to help you with your back do it!

You can find my Passion Oil, or like we call it in Brazil: "Maracuja Oil" HERE.

 

 


Ojon Oil - Caiaue Oil - How to use it! April 23 2015, 2 Comments

Ojon Oil comes from a palm tree that grows naturally from the Caribbean to the north of Brazil, in the Amazon Rainforest. Ojon is a trademark name and got famous by the popular hair product line by the same name, this oil has many names like Caiue, Americanoil and Dende-Bravo in Brazil, and Batana in Honduras. 

 

It is a heavy oil, rich in unsaturated fatty acids, best used for chemically treated, damaged or dry hair. It can be added to your shampoo, conditioner and masks, can be used pure as a hot treatment (do not overdo it, 3 times a week should be plenty, then down to once a week) and after washing to protect against the heat abuse of styling. It should be used before the beach or pool, just wet your hair, apply a little bit of the oil mostly at the ends, and then braid it, wetting your hair before the ocean and pool prevents it from "drinking up" salty or chlorine water. 

In Brazil, where girls are still straightning their hair like crazy, some hair salons offer an Ojon Mask after the procedure or even mix the oil with the chemicals (which some specialists say will prevent damage but will also prevent the chemicals to work at full potential.)

SHOP!


HARDENING AGENTS April 08 2015, 0 Comments

A "hardening agent" is that one (or more) ingredient you use in your recipe to make your lotion bars and lip products solid.

Remember to always adjust your formulas if switching from Beeswax to a vegan recipe. The higher the melting point the less you need to add.

Ucuuba and Japanese Wax are not hard enough to be the only hardening agents for lotion bars and tube lip products, but they work just fine for balms, salves and scrubs.


SUMMERTIME BUTTER BAR March 14 2015, 0 Comments

SUMMER is FINALLY almost here!!!

This Butter Bar is full of beta-carotene and has healing, moisturizing and calming properties. Perfect for before and after the sun. Apply to tanned legs to show them off in your Summer outfits. Leave it in the fridge for an extra relief when you do too much sun.

"Lotion Bar"  or, a "Butter Bar", is a mix of your favorite butters and oils made harder (higher melting point) by a wax.

The end result is a solid bar that you apply on your skin much like a surfer puts wax on her board

Advantages of a Lotion Bar: no liquid oil mess, no having to melt butter in your hands before applying, super easy to apply, added advantages of Beeswax, fun to make!

Disadvantages of a Lotion Bar: it will melt under high heat making a HUGE mess if you don't have it in a container, if you do, then it will be impossible to get it out of container without melting it again, the beeswax may feel a little heavy on your skin, finding the perfect recipe may be a bit like making a cake without proper measure of ingredients.

Yep, I am still in favor.

 Butter Bar for summer

You will need:

  • Medium sized pan

  • Very clean glass jar with lid.

  • Waxed paper cups for molds (I use the 5 oz. cups).

  • A clean rag or kitchen towel.

Ingredients (for Two just under 3 oz. bars or TWO 1.25 oz. bars, I like making mine smaller)

  • Bacuri Butter 1.5 oz.

  • Murumuru Butter 1.5 oz.

  • Buriti Oil 1 oz. 

  • Beeswax (organic raw is my favorite) 1 oz.

How to Make:
Melt wax first, after it is all melted add butters and then after the mix is liquid add oil, check if the oil have hardened the wax, if it does melt for a bit longer, if not take out of the heat.

JAR WILL BE HOT! Dry the jar well so o water gets in your bar and pour melted contents into your mold. Bars should be hard in no time, if you live in a hot place pop them in the fridge for a few minutes.

You will need a little container to take them around, if you are using them at home, you can keep them in the cup, keep one in the bathroom and one in the fridge.


DO NOT LET IT MELT IN YOUR CAR OR PURSE, BIG MESS!

 


FACIAL BUTTER BAR FOR HYPER-PIGMENTATION January 28 2015, 0 Comments

A "Lotion Bar"  or, a "Butter Bar", is a mix of your favorite butters and oils made harder (higher melting point) by a wax.

The end result is a solid bar that you apply on your skin much like a surfer puts wax on her board

Advantages of a Lotion Bar: no liquid oil mess, no having to melt butter in your hands before applying, super easy to apply, added advantages of Beeswax, fun to make!

Disadvantages of a Lotion Bar: it will melt under high heat making a HUGE mess if you don't have it in a container, if you do, then it will be impossible to get it out of container without melting it again, the beeswax may feel a little heavy on your skin, finding the perfect recipe may be a bit like making a cake without proper measure of ingredients.

Yep, I am still in favor.

Most Butter Bars are for body, but seeing that:

1. I have the perfect oils and butters.
2. Winter skin needs all the help and protective layers it can get.
3. Ocean, waves, tracking, hot showers, wind, sun, working out, Jeep rides also get our faces dry, peeling and in desperate need of a heavier help.
4. I am lazy and love how easy it is to use a butter bar.
5. Beeswax and Candelilla Wax (for vegan recipes, we will talk about it later) have a low comedogenic point, actually helping with skin conditions.
I decided to make a series of recipes for FACIAL BUTTER BARS!


They will be a little softer than the Body Butter Bars, you will need to be a bit more careful with them, also I like to make them small, easier to apply to every spot on your face or just where needed.

This is Recipe 2!

See Recipe 1: FACIAL BUTTER BAR FOR SKIN CONDITIONS

 

FACIAL BUTTER BAR FOR HYPERPIGMENTATION


You will need:
Medium sized pan
Very clean glass jar with lid.
Waxed paper cups for molds (for small bars I use the 3 oz. cups they sell for rinsing after brushing your teeth, you can re-use them, be mindful of our environment).
A clean rag or kitchen towel.

Ingredients (for THREE just under 1 oz. bars or TWO 1.25 oz. bars, I like making mine smaller)
Tucuma 1.25 oz.
Pracaxi 0.75 oz.
Beeswax (organic raw is my favorite) 0.5 oz.

How to Make:
Melt wax first, after it is all melted add butters and then after the mix is liquid add oil, check if the oil have hardened the wax, if it does melt for a bit longer, if not take out of the heat.

JAR WILL BE HOT! Dry the jar well so o water gets in your bar and pour melted contents into your mold. Bars should be hard in no time, if you live in a hot place pop them in the fridge for a few minutes.
I hope you enjoy it!

You will need a little container to take them around, if you are using them at home, you can keep them in the cup, keep one by the bed, one in the bathroom and one in the fridge.


IF YOU LIVE IN A SUPER HOT PLACE OR SUPER COLD PLACE RE-THINK WAX QUANTITY!
DO NOT LET IT MELT IN YOUR CAR OR PURSE, BIG MESS!

 


FACIAL BUTTER BAR FOR SKIN CONDITIONS January 28 2015, 0 Comments

A "Lotion Bar"  or, a "Butter Bar", is a mix of your favorite butters and oils made harder (higher melting point) by a wax.

The end result is a solid bar that you apply on your skin much like a surfer puts wax on her board

Advantages of a Lotion Bar: no liquid oil mess, no having to melt butter in your hands before applying, super easy to apply, added advantages of Beeswax, fun to make!

Disadvantages of a Lotion Bar: it will melt under high heat making a HUGE mess if you don't have it in a container, if you do, then it will be impossible to get it out of container without melting it again, the beeswax may feel a little heavy on your skin, finding the perfect recipe may be a bit like making a cake without proper measure of ingredients.


Yep, I am still in favor.

Most Butter Bars are for body, but seeing that:

1. I have the perfect oils and butters.
2. Winter skin needs all the help and protective layers it can get.
3. Ocean, waves, tracking, hot showers, wind, sun, working out, Jeep rides also get our faces dry, peeling and in desperate need of a heavier help.
4. I am lazy and love how easy it is to use a butter bar.
5. Beeswax and Candelilla Wax (for vegan recipes, we will talk about it later) have a low comedogenic point, actually helping with skin conditions.
I decided to make a series of recipes for FACIAL BUTTER BARS!


They will be a little softer than the Body Butter Bars, you will need to be a bit more careful with them, also I like to make them small, easier to apply to every spot on your face or just where needed.


FACIAL BUTTER BAR FOR SKIN CONDITIONS


You will need:
Medium sized pan
Very clean glass jar with lid.
Waxed paper cups for molds (for small bars I use the 3 oz. cups they sell for rinsing after brushing your teeth, you can re-use them, be mindful of our environment).
A clean rag or kitchen towel.

Ingredients (for THREE just under 1 oz. bars or TWO 1.25 oz. bars, I like making mine smaller)
Murumuru 1 oz.
Ucuuba 0.25 oz.
Andiroba 0.5 oz.
Pracaxi 0.25 oz.
Beeswax (yellow raw is my favorite) 0.5 oz.

How to Make:
Melt wax first, after it is all melted add butters and then after the mix is liquid add oil, check if the oil have hardened the wax, if it does melt for a bit longer, if not take out of the heat.
JAR WILL BE HOT! Dry the jar well so o water gets in your bar and pour melted contents into your mold. Bars should be hard in no time, if you live in a hot place pop them in the fridge for a few minutes.


You will need a little container to take them around, if you are using them at home, you can keep them in the cup, keep one by the bed, one in the bathroom and one in the fridge.


IF YOU LIVE IN A SUPER HOT PLACE OR SUPER COLD PLACE RE-THINK WAX QUANTITY!
DO NOT LET IT MELT IN YOUR CAR OR PURSE, BIG MESS!


Next recipe will be FACIAL BUTTER BAR FOR HYPERPIGMENTATION.


MARACUJA OIL MAKEUP REMOVER September 28 2014, 0 Comments


DIY Make Up Remover is the easiest thing to make, you can also use it to clean your make up brushes.

Passion Fruit is a very light oil with vitamins A and C and relaxing properties, great for eye area and massages.

You will need:

  • 1 cup distilled/filtered water

  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons baby shampoo (no tears, you may have to adjust the quantity depending on the shampoo you choose)

  • 2 Tablespoons Passion Fruit Oil

Just heat the water in the microwave mix it all in a little bottle and use with a cotton ball or pad, NEVER, EVER use TP or paper towel on your face. After all the make up is gone rinse your face with warm water and go ahead with your skin care routine. 

The Passion Fruit oil you have left can be used on your eye, body and air.

 


DIY GIFT - 2 COLOR BUTTER BAR September 27 2014, 2 Comments

Ready to impress your friends with made with lots of love and goodness gifts? Stuff they will never find in stores?

Gifts that will made their skin gorgeous with ingredients that help protect the Amazon and help buy "Natal" gifts for rainforest kids?

Here is the recipe for a great one!

Butter or Lotion Bars are a great way of carrying your favorite butter around and super easy to apply.

They are basically your favorite butters and oils hardened by waxes. Unrefined Beeswax is my favorite but if you want a vegan bar you can also use Candelilla wax *, in which case you need to tweak the recipe a little, since this wax is a bit harder than Beeswax.

YOU WILL NEED:

TWO CLEAN and DRY glass jars (we are going to use a makeshift double boiler) with lids.

9 oz. cups, I like the waxed paper best but the styrofoam will work.

Wax paper. 

DARK BAR:

2 oz. beeswax (cut in smaller pieces to facilitate melting)

2 oz. Tucuma Butter

2 oz. Buriti Butter

0.5 oz. Buriti Oil

0.5 oz Andiroba Oil

Essential oil (you can skip the essential oils as the natural scent of the butters is nice and fades quickly, you can also use the same oil for both sides or different oils, which is fun, make sure you choose oils that go well together).

LIGHT BAR:

2 oz. beeswax (cut in smaller pieces to facilitate melting)

2 oz. Cupuacu Butter

2 oz. Murumuru Butter

0.5 oz. Pracaxi Oil

0.5 oz Brazil Nut Oil

Essential oil (you can skip the essential oils as the natural scent of the butters is nice and fades quickly, you can also use the same oil for both sides or different oils, which is fun, make sure you choose oils that go well together).

  Making them is super easy!

Put all your ingredients for the LIGHT BAR (minus the essential oil) in a glass jar, 

Pour about 4 inches of water into a medium sized saucepan and place on a burner over medium heat. Place the glass jar into the pan with the water. Make sure that no water gets in it, as this WILL ruin the lotion bars.

Let the water get to a simmer and swirl the the jar 4-5 minutes until all ingredients are melted, add your essential oil and swirl the jar again. Pour immediately in the cups, pour 1/2" for smaller bars to 3/4" for larger lotion bars.

Put the cups in the fridge on a flat surface.

Start melting the ingredients for the DARK BAR (again, add the essential oils when all the rest is melted) make sure to use a different jar. Repeat the process. 

While you are melting it, take the cups from the fridge, it must be very solid by now, these bars solidify fast.

Pour 1/2" to 3/4"" on top of the light bar and put immediately in fridge. Make sure you have enough mix for every cup.

After 30 minutes you are ready to take them out of the molds, turn the cups upside down on wax paper. They should look like this:

There are many ways to gift wrap these bars, I use wax paper first, cut it in squares and wrap the bars.

Then you can use tin cans, a plain kraft paper around it, little muslin bags, hand made labels. Get creative and make the perfect complement for your 100% natural, 100% active ingredients, sustainable and fair traded, hand poured lotion bar!

EXAMPLES:

     

 Good luck and I hope you have fun making these!

 * wax derived from the leaves of the small Candelilla shrub native to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States 

 You can find the butters and oils here:

Rainforest Chica Butters and Oils

 

I bought my wax on this shop on ETSY, quality was good, fas shipping they have their own bees.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BasicBeeswax

 

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