Enchantment Learning & Living Blog

Welcome to Enchantment Learning & Living, the inspirational space where I write about the simple pleasures, radical self-care, and everyday magic that make life delicious.

Pumpkin Face Mask

October 19, 2014

Tis the season of pumpkin everything. Pumpkin lattes. Pumpkin pies. Pumpkin pancakes and stews. Even pumpkin colored clothes are par for the course during the autumn season. So why not put pumpkin on your face?

You might think that I'm taking all this pumpkin love to an uncomfortable level by applying it to my cheeks, but this face mask works wonders on your skin! The pumpkin is full of vitamins A, C and E, magnesium, potassium, and iron--all good for your complexion. The addition of honey is antibacterial and moisturizing. The whole milk, also packed with important vitamins and minerals, acts as a gentle exfoliate and moisturizer.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp organic pumpkin puree

1 tbsp honey

1 tbsp whole milk

Combine ingredients and apply to clean face. Let sit for 20 minutes and remove with warm water. Enjoy the glow of your skin afterward!

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Cinnamon Sugar Body Scrub

October 17, 2014

Cinnamon is one of my favorite spices because it is the perfect balance of earthy, fiery, and sweet. This time of year cinnamon can really shine when paired with apples and cinnamon, making it that much more enjoyable.

Another great way to enjoy this spice is with my cinnamon sugar body scrub, especially during the changing season when our skin needs a little extra TLC. The anti-inflammatory proprieties of cinnamon soothe while the sugar removes dead skin and the oil hydrates. Plus, it makes your bathroom all cinnamony, like baked goods fresh from the oven!

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup olive or coconut oil
10 drops of cinnamon essential oils

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl until combined. Then add oils and stir until fully incorporated. Store in a mason jar. Enjoy!

Sexy Tiger Mama Stretch Mark Cream Recipe

September 30, 2014

Stretch marks. Those beautiful tiger stripes that tell everyone you brought life into this world. I think there is nothing more beautiful than these stripes of honor. That said, a little stretch mark cream on rubbed onto a mama-to-be's belly as the baby grows nourishes the skin and fades stretch marks. Rubbing your belly with this also, according to my pregnant sister, becomes enjoyable mother-baby time (and yes, sometimes mother-baby-father time).

I adapted my recipe from Wellness Mama, swapping out some oils with vitamin E oil and adding beeswax to help lock in the healing moisture as you rub that perfect baby belly. This is also great for skin in general, especially if you have scars. I tested this concoction on myself before whipping up a batch for my sister and found that one of my scars (from a run-in with a jellyfish--another story, for another time) actually began to fade under the repeated application of this cream.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Shea butter

1/3 cup coconut butter

1 tablespoon vitamin E oil

1 tablespoon beeswax

Place the saucepan on low heat and fill halfway with water. Then place the clean tin can in the center of the saucepan. Put the beeswax in the tin can and let melt on low, about 5-7 minutes.

Slowly add other oils one at a time into tin can with beeswax and melt on low until fully combined. The new oils may cause the contents of the tin to solidify for a little bit, but just keep itti on low heat and it will eventually mix and melt. Remove from heat and pour into mason jar. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.

Lavender Foot Scrub

July 31, 2014

So yesterday I talked about the importance of giving your feet a little extra TLC, especially after moving or doing other activities that keep you on your feet all day (teachers, I'm talking to you!). In that blog, I extolled the virtues of my Honey Eucalyptus Foot Soak, a perfect way to sooth and refresh your tootsies. Today I offer you another such treat in the form of a foot scrub. Like my foot soak that can be turned into a full-on bath, this foot scrub can also be used as a regular body scrub, but it is especially nice on the soles of your feet. The rough texture of the sea salt smooths away dead skin while the lavender is a natural relaxant and anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial.

I use less olive oil in this recipe than I would in a body scrub because you want more grit than moisture for a foot scrub. Since the soles of your feet are tougher than the rest of your skin, the extra grit offers more exfoliation. If you want to use this as a body scrub, just add another 1/4 cup olive oil to soften it. Ready for the big kicker? You can also use this as a foot soak! So why not double the recipe and use half to soak your feet and the other to scrub them clean?

Ingredients:

1 cup sea salt

1/4 cup olive oil

10 drops lavender essential oil

2 tablespoons dried lavender buds (optional)

Combine ingredients in a bowl and transfer to a mason jar to store. To use, wash feet thoroughly. Generously apply the scrub to feet and work it across your skin with your hands, spending more time on rougher areas. Rinse when complete and moisturize feet. Makes about 1 cup. Enjoy!

Honey Eucalyptus Foot Soak

July 30, 2014

The only thing better than a long hot bath after moving and unpacking (or helping someone else do it) is a long hot foot soak! After all, you've been on your feet all day (and night) and sometimes it's nice to slip into jammies, chill on the newly moved-in couch, and dip your feet into a basin filled with Epsom salts and other restorative ingredients. Your only task then is to not move for a little while, which should be no problem after a day of running around.

For this recipe, I use Epsom salts which help sooth tired muscles thanks to all the magnesium and other minerals in it. I also add honey which smooths and softens skin while reducing any inflammation. The little bit of olive oil moisturizes your feet while the eucalyptus oil energizes them and relieves sore muscles. Its crisp scent also soothes the spirit. The only special equipment you need is a big tub or basin to soak your feet. The best time to use this is at the end of the day after you've unpacked your last box. Get cleaned up, slip into your favorite PJs, brew a cup of tea, and sit back to enjoy your foot bath! Of course, it goes without saying that you can easily turn this into a for-real bath--simply pour these ingredients into your bath tub and enjoy.

Ingredients:

1 cup organic honey

1 cup Epsom salts

10 drops eucalyptus essential oils

1 tablespoon olive oil

4-8 cups hot water (depending on how big your basin is)

Combine all ingredients into your tub except the water. Then fill your container with hot water from your bathtub. Make sure to test the water first for desired temperature first. Do not to overfill the tub--the water level will rise once you put your feet in it. Soak for at least 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Mojito Body Scrub

June 9, 2014

Nothing says summer like a nice, tall mojito--the mint and citrus cool you down after a day in the sun like nothing else. Just the smell of mint and citrus evokes fantasies of sipping this perfect drink poolside while sunning myself! But all the sunbathing leaves us with another important part of summer: self-care, especially for the skin. I concocted this scrub in honor of both these things (self-care and mojitos), so my skin feels tingly fresh and ready for a day at the beach--or more realistically, my patio. Use this with my mojito body butter and you've got a recipe for perfect skin all summer long!

Ingredients:

2 cups Epsom or sea salts or sugar (I used whatever I have on hand)

Mojito body scrub freshly packaged in a green mason jar--makes a great gift!

1 cup olive oil

20+ drops peppermint essential oil

20+ drops lemon essential oil

Mix ingredients in a bowl and transfer to a mason jar or other airtight container. You can add more of the essential oils to get a more pungent smell. Store in a cool, dry place for up to a month. To use, scrub liberally over body after soaping down. Avoid face. Rinse.

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational collection of musings touching on life’s simple pleasures, everyday enchantments, and delectable recipes that will guarantee to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe here.

Want even more inspiration to make your dream life a reality? Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Thanks for following!

Mojito Body Butter

June 8, 2014

Recently, I ran out of my stash of homemade body butter and made do for a few weeks with store-bought lotion--what a waste! My skin was dryer than dry and lost that luscious softness that can only be achieved with my own body butters. Even when I switched to plain old coconut oil in favor of the lotion, my skin felt greasy more than hydrated. So it was with great relief when I finished school that I could set aside an afternoon for making this moisturizer. Then, feeling the summer spirit, I decided to whip up a stash of mojito body butter, which would pair well with my mojito body scrub. I adapted my recipe from the book Organic Body Care Recipes--an amazing trove of great DIY self-care treats. After a week back using my butter, my skin feels minty fresh and supple!

While making your own body butter might seem complicated or like it takes a lot of steps, it's really pretty easy. The trick is to go slow; the hardest part (really not that hard), is waiting for the beeswax to melt. I like to melt it separately from my other ingredients because it takes the longest to melt. Once melted, you can slowly add other ingredients. Don't be alarmed if the beeswax seems to harden with the introduction of oils--just add the oils a little at a time, and it will slowly melt down again.

Special Tools:

Clean tin can

Old saucepan

Ingredients from left to right: essential oils, coconut oil, olive oil, distilled water, and beeswax.

Blender

Spatula

Ingredients:

3/4 cup olive oil

1/3 cup coconut oil

4 tablespoons beeswax, roughly chopped into small pieces

1 cup distilled water

30 drops peppermint oil

30 drops lemon oil

Tin can in sauce pan with some beeswax in it.  I prefer to use an old saucepan that I don't cook with anymore--I use it strictly for beauty treats. — Tin can in sauce pan with some beeswax in it. I prefer to use an old saucepan that I don't cook with anymore--I use it strictly for beauty treats.

1. Place the saucepan on low heat and fill halfway with water. Then place the clean tin can in the center of the saucepan. Put the beeswax in the tin can and let melt slowly. When beeswax is melted, remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature (but not to solidify) about 5-10 minutes.

2. While beeswax is cooling, mix together olive oil and coconut oil in a small bowl. Heat for two minutes in microwave and let cool about 5 minutes.

3. Heat the distilled water (still in a microwave safe measuring cup) for two minutes in the microwave and let cool about five minutes.

Pouring the last of the melted beeswax into the blender while it mixes ingredients on medium speed.

4. Blend your ingredients in a blender. First add half of the oil mixture and begin to mix it on medium. Once the oils begin to thicken, add half the water, then half the beeswax. Blend for another 10-15 seconds or until first half of your ingredient are blended and being to thicken. Using a spatula, scrape down the sides of the blender and then begin blending on medium again. Add remaining ingredients (oils, water, beeswax) one at a time until fully incorporated together. Scrape down the sides one last time and blend for another 10-15 seconds. The mixture should be thick.

5. Turn off blender and add essential oils, stirring them in manually with your spatula, then blend completely on medium for another 10 seconds.

Freshly jarred homemade body butter, cooling.

6. Pour body butter into containers (I use mason jars) and let cool for at least half an hour before capping. If you find your water separating from your oils, don't worry, that's normal. It just means that the water temp and the oil temp weren't the same when you blended them. I've noticed the more I make this recipe (or variations of it!), the less that happens, so just keep practicing. Store in a cool, dry place for up to one month or in the fridge for six months--that is the advice the book I adapted the recipe from gave. Personally, I have stored this body butter in my bathroom sink for a couple months and it has been fine sans fridge.

7. To use, apply after bathing or showering. Use only a little at a time--a little goes a long way!

On Wild Hair

May 15, 2014

It simply can't control itself.

Twice a year you get a stylist to tame it--snip snip with scissors, woosh woosh with the blow dryer and rounded brush to iron out those kinks and curls into smooth perfection. For a few days, you have movie hair.

But it's not your real hair. More like a wig or an outfit that isn't really you but one you sometimes put on anyway, just in case it is--and know full well it never will be. Like that prim sleek office dress that holds you too close.

No, your hair is a riot of half-formed curls and twisty waves that never quite commit to being corkscrew ringlets or soft waves. It simply wants to have both and so colonizes your head with thick, wild waves going it whatever direction they want to.

It abhors barrettes and hairspray, too many hair clips and hair straighteners. It rebels against too much product and not enough down time. Even when you coax it into a sophisticated up-do for work, you know it only temporarily subdues itself for those hours between teaching and grading and then, once home, practically pushes the pins out of its sultry coils.

It will not let you be anything but you. And when you look at it first thing in the morning--a twisted riot of auburn curls half-smashed from hugging the pillows all night--you realize that this is you. You are your loud curls that don't like to be contained, your thick hair that is more comfortable naked than tamed into politeness with those pomades you never really know how to use.

You are bare feet and uncombed curls. Wild thoughts and wild hair.

Hydrating Hair Mask

April 17, 2014

When I got home today, I was preparing for my yoga practice when I noticed how dry my hair was looking. After wearing my hair down--something I haven't done in a long time (I might have slept past my alarm clock today...), I realized how parched it looked and brittle it felt while trying to flip it into a sloppy bun.

I have long hair. Really long hair. And thick hair. Really thick hair. It doesn't take much to dry it out--especially during a dry, windy spring like we've just come out of. The trick to keeping my locks shiny, moisturized, and healthy is my honey and olive oil hair mask, which I promptly slathered all over my scalp post yoga. Both the honey and oil moisturize and nourish your hair.

You may need to play around with the quantity of the ingredients depending on your hair type. If you tend to have oily hair, put little to no oil in the mix (the honey adds moisture to your hair on its own). If you have damaged or super dry hair, you made need a little more oil. In either case, start with a little bit of this mask and then add more of either ingredient as needed--or opt for less oil the next time around. I've also swapped out the olive oil for coconut oil--bliss!

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon organic olive oil (or coconut oil) optional

4 tablespoons organic honey

Mix ingredients in a microwave safe bowl. Heat in microwave for 15 seconds or until warm (but not too hot!). Gently massage mask into wet hair, using a plastic comb (makes for easy cleaning) to distribute mask over hair evenly. Put more of the mask on the dry parts, like frizzy ends. Wrap your hair into a bun and let sit for 30-40 minutes--it's probably a good idea to do this hair treatment when you want to linger in the bubble bath. When done, rinse hair with your normal shampoo and conditioner routine and enjoy softer hair!

On Cooking an Onion

April 7, 2014

Ah yes, dinner.

You don't know what you feel like and, at the end of the day, are incapable of making any real decisions. But you know, just as well, that you must eat. So you turn to a kitchen ritual so old you don't remember who you learned it from--your mother, most likely, or perhaps your Florentine sister teaching you yet another Italian custom. In any case, you know what must be done.

You need to cook an onion.

This onion is your culinary oracle. Once gently simmering in your pan it will divine the future of your kitchen table, wake up your palate and reveal that which you most desire--for tonight.

So you deftly move through you conjuring ritual with the ease of someone who has done it often. You pull a sweet onion from your cupboard and lovingly chop it up on your cutting board. You heat up oil and slide your offering into the pan--a gift to the culinary gods.

There is nothing left to do but let that humble kitchen staple begin to caramelize and wait for that moment of inspiration. You feel the pungent scent of these bulbs drift through your home, conjuring up memories of comforting meals like rich soups and ratatouille and roasted root vegetables. But it is dhal you finally settle on--yes dhal, cooked to perfection only once the onions are added to the lentils, along with garlic and cumin. Yes, dhal.

The oracle has spoken.

On Drinking A Glass of Wine on My Patio

March 31, 2014

The day is at an end. You have turned your teacher clothes over for yoga pants and a comfy top. Your hair is loose around you. Your bare feet enjoy the feel of the earth kissing their naked pads. All thoughts of school are fading quickly under the magic of the evening's cool air, the soft cooing of doves, and the chilled glass of white wine in your hand.

You sip from your glass, savoring the dry flavors of grapefruit and basil. The cool liquid rolls over your tongue and down your throat, just as the sun sets a little lower in the sky. You know you should probably turn your attention to the news soon but for now your relish the simple quiet after a day of noise and bustle.

The city itself seems to be winding down for the night, relinquishing its fast pace for calmer hours as if it were a person, undoing its neck-tie before unlocking the front door. You take another sip of wine, relishing how the herbaceous flavor warms your belly and loosens your limbs. For a moment, you are nothing more than you--a quiet soul, enjoying a quiet night.

You take another sip and close your eyes; underneath the mellow birdsong, you hear the gentle murmur of traffic as people head home, looking forward to a hot meal and a couple of hours doing nothing. Nothing--nothing more than gazing out at the world from the humble perch of your patio, mind blissfully focused on nothing in particular, nothing but the gentle grace of a day coming to a close.

Apple Cider Vinegar Detox Bubble Bath

March 27, 2014

Apple cider vinegar, like baking soda, is one of those all-purpose miracle kitchen staples, good for everything from salad dressings to facial toners. For it to really work, though, you need to make sure that you buy only the raw organic kind, like Bragg, because of the natural minerals, vitamins, and enzymes in it. Apple cider not only reduces inflammation in the body and draws out toxins, but also soothes and moisturizes the skin. It is likewise the all natural secret to brighter, clearer skin--it has long been purported to cure acne and fade sunspots. What most people don't know about apple cider vinegar is that it also absorbs and neutralizes odor, making it one of the best forms natural deodorant, right up there with baking soda.

...which is my long way of saying that it makes a great detox bath--bubbles optional (but really, what bath is complete without bubbles?). If you are worried about smelling like you spent the day in a pickle jar post-bath, don't be! The vinegar smell doesn't stick to you like most people think. You can always add some essential oils to your bath to balance out the vinegary smell as well.

Ingredients:

1 cup apple cider vinegar

essential oils of your choice (optional)

favorite bubble bath (optional)

Simply add one cup of apple cider vinegar to your bath, along with your essential oils and bubbles if desired. Plant to soak for at least half an hour to get maximum benefits. Enjoy!

Honey Face Mask

February 22, 2014

I woke up this morning feeling like a simple home-spa day. It was a full week, and happily so, finished off by an all-day conference downtown yesterday. Now that I've got all sorts of professional inspiration to bring into next week, it's time to unwind and recharge. So after my yoga, a bubble bath is in order, followed by an afternoon of reading and tea drinking and yes, napping.

But before we get to the naps, I've got plans to enjoy a simple honey face mask during my spa hours. This is literally the easiest face mask on the planet--and so good for you! Antioxidant-rich honey is soothing and moisturizing for dry skin and does a great job of adding a natural glow to your face. It is also antibacterial, making it great for fighting acne and unclogging pores. Best of all, honey is gentle so it won't irritate sensitive skin. You can even add a little cinnamon to your honey to get even more antibacterial benefits, but be careful as cinnamon can irritate sensitive skin.

Ingredients:

1-2 tablespoons organic honey

A pinch of cinnamon (optional)

Apply honey liberally to clean face and let sit for 20-30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and moisturize.

On Camel Pose

February 10, 2014

You take a deep breath and stretch your body upward even as you kneel, shins planted firmly into the ground, the top of your feet glued to the floor. Your hands are anchors pressed soundly into your lower back.

Each slow sip of breath helps you reach higher into the sky until you must bend. Your spine curves in a backward swan dive; your chest is open, more open than you've dared let it be all day. It is as if the backward movement peels back the layers of your day like fragile onion skins from your body. Slowly your hands fall from your back to cup your heels, grounding you so you can fly. Your arms have become wings that lift you from your day.

You can feel your heart beating through your rib cage, light seeping through the slats of your chest bones. The well of emotion tumbles out of you, starting first in your belly, then traveling up your spine, and pouring out of your heart; it is a song you had forgotten you could sing. Your throat tightens then opens, ready to receive this luminous gift--the breath, the song, the slow dance--of camel pose, releasing all that has been buried in your soul, covered in a layer of dust, to be purged through your open chest, a ball of cleansing light.

On Cooking Dinner

January 27, 2014

The news plays softly in the background, the day's events unfolding one after another in a smooth narrative stream. A glass of wine sits on the counter next to your cutting board and pile of vegetables. Thin medallions of sausage cook on the stove, perfuming the air with their rich, spicy aroma. The dhal, made up of sweet onions and cooked-down lentils, simmers on the stove, adding to the tantalizing aroma.

As you wash and slice your green beans into inch-long slivers, you let the last of the day roll off you, the last little coil of tension that your yoga loosened, if not released. You sip your glass of wine; the dry kiss of the white nectar rolls across your tongue in a burst of crisp citrus and honeysuckle. Next, you tackle the ripe cherry tomatoes which burst under your knife, spilling their wet seeds all over the cutting board. You pull a jar of olives from your refrigerator, deciding they would be a nice addition to your stir fry. You scoop a small handful out and cut them in half, popping a salty jewel into your mouth as you finish chopping.

As world events turn over to national coverage, you pile the vegetables in with your sausage, letting the flavors meld. They mix in the pan while you finish your glass of wine and the news. It is time, then, to pour the steaming stir fry over the dhal. You serve yourself in a big shallow bowl, grateful for this plateful of nourishment, this edible gift.

Easy Peasy Baking Soda Face Scrub

January 23, 2014

First I will say that baking soda is the miracle kitchen staple, good for baking, house cleaning...and beautifying. Truth be told, I'm obsessed with baking soda because of how good it is for you--a cheap, natural, healthy product you can put in almost anything to make it better.

Which brings me to my love of a good face scrub. The skin on your face is more fragile than the rest of your body, so you need something that will scrub away the dead skin and other bad stuff without irritating it. This is something I take to heart, since my skin is super sensitive--so sensitive in fact that even gentle organic products can irritate it, making it feel like it's burning or drying it out. But I do like to give my face a little extra TLC, so after some experimentation, I've found that baking soda is a perfect primary ingredient for an easy, gentle face scrub. I then use olive oil as the wet ingredient (although you could use just water or another lighter oil) because it hydrates the skin. A drop or two of clove oil gives the scrub antibacterial qualities--but be careful not to overdo the clove oil, as it can irritate your skin. I recommend using the scrub no more than once or twice a week, so you don't strip your skin of good-for-you-oils. And of course, all ingredients are organic.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup baking soda

1/2 cup olive oil

1-2 drops clove oil (optional)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and transfer to a mason jar to store. Makes a little over 1/2 cup. Enjoy!

Keepin' it Fresh Homemade Deodorant

January 14, 2014

Keepin' the B.O. at bay is not the most glamorous of subjects, but there's nothing like solid underarm protection to make you feel like a lady (or gent).

While mainstream deodorant can promise extra strength protection against sweat and B.O., it does this with the use of harmful ingredients--check out Dying to Look Good for more info on the scary details. This leaves us with a safer, but often less effective option: all natural deodorant found at your local co-op or hippy grocery store. Safe? Yes. But if you're active like me all day, it does little to keep you feeling fresh as a daisy. Worse still, some "natural" products even contain harmful ingredients as well.

So I went in search of another option: DIY deodorant. It sounds crazy, but it totally works! Not only are the ingredients cheap household staples for the most part, but the final product works better than anything I've tried before. The recipe I have here has been adapted from ones by Wellness Mama and Crunchy Betty. The baking soda absorbs odor and, I've found, actually makes you sweat less over time. The coconut oil is anti-bacterial, while the arrowroot absorbs moisture. If you use essential oils, opt for tea tree oil or lavender oil, both of which are antibacterial. Always go for organic ingredients because they are gentler on your skin.

Ingredients:

1/4 c baking soda

1/4 c arrowroot powder

1/4 c coconut oil

3-5 drops essential oils (optional)

Mix dry ingredients together in a small bowl then slowly work in room temp coconut oil until all ingredients are combined. Then stir in essential oils if desired. Store in a small mason jar. Makes about 1/2 cup. Enjoy!

Thank Goodness It Ain't Maybelline Homemade Mascara

January 7, 2014

Seriously. There's some scary stuff in regular mascara, and if you don't believe me just read what The Naked Label has to say about it! Even some organic mascaras sneak in harmful preservatives.

So what's a mascara lovin' lady (or guy) to do? Simple: make your own. I know it sounds like one of those crazy hippy projects--and it is--but not only do you end up with a product as good as any store bought makeup (and safer to boot), but it also costs you a fraction of what quality organic mascara does. I would typically spend $15-$20 for a good mascara. The cost of making one tube of your own is about $1-$2, maybe $4 tops if you splurge and buy your own $2 mascara tube online instead of recycling your old ones.

The only potential downside to DIY mascara is that it's not out and out waterproof--you need synthetic stuff for that. However, I find that if you add more beeswax, you get a product that is less likely to smudge under duress (rain, Lifetime Original movies, cute puppies--anything that brings on the waterworks).

So here is my recipe for homemade mascara, which I adapted from Thank Your Body, Ditch the Wheat, and Wellness Mama. Ingredients can be found at your local health food store or herb store.

Ingredients:

2 tsp coconut oil

1/2-1/3 tsp grated beeswax

1 tsp activated charcoal (or 2-3 capsules)

Melt beeswax on low heat. I do this by placing the wax in a clean tin can. This tin can then goes in a saucepan with about one inch of water in it (see photo). Once the beeswax is melted, mix the coconut oil into the tin can and let it melt and combine with the beeswax. Once the ingredients are in liquid form, gently stir in the activated charcoal. Remove from heat and carefully pour liquid into your clean mascara tube. I do this by pouring the cooling mixture into a plastic bag that has a corner cut out of it. Place the open corner of the bag inside the mascara tube and slowly push the liquid into the tube (see Thank Your Body above for pictures of this). Allow to cool before using.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Body Scrub

December 17, 2013

There is nothing more delicious than peppermint hot chocolate on a cold winter day. Oh, wait. Yeah, there s: my peppermint hot chocolate body scrub. It has all the feelings of sweet indulgence without the calories or sugar overload.

It also makes a great gift that is enjoyed by the recipient after the last holiday candy cane is gone and is super easy for you to make during the flurry of winter preparation.

So here is the recipe to make for your loved ones--and yourself:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

5-10 drops peppermint essential oil

Add all ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined. To gift this, simply put the scrub in a mason jar and wrap the jar in a festive ribbon.