This soothing Aloe Vera face wash is great for sensitive skin with just the right amount of moisturizing for all skin types.

How to make a soothing Aloe Vera face wash using only 3 ingredients!

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Finding a face wash that is not full of a bunch of extras that you have no idea what they are can be difficult.  So many cosmetic products say "natural" but when you flip over the bottle, there are a ton of ingredients you cannot even pronounce, let alone know what they are!  That is not very "natural" to me.  

With life being full of things we have no control over, it is time to start taking back as much control as we can.  Making our own beauty products gives us just that.  You KNOW what you are using and you KNOW that it is all natural without all the “extras” that you will find in store bought products.

Now you can make your own natural aloe vera face wash with just 3 ingredients.  It is fast, easy, and your face will thank you!


About the ingredients:

Castile Soap:  Castile soap is vegetable based soap with no animal bi-products or synthetic ingredients.  It was originally made from olive oil from the Castile region of Spain, hence the name.  Castile soap is non-toxic and extremely biodegradable making it a great product that is safe to use for so many things.

Aloe Vera:  Aloe Vera is a succulent plant that stores water in its leaves.  The inside “gel" of the leaves are very rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.  For this reason aloe Vera is used in many cosmetic products.

Vitamin E:  Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin that contains antioxidants.  These antioxidants can help reduce the effects of free radicals in your body caused by environmental stressors.  This is also true when used topically on your skin.  Vitamin E may also reduce the negative effects of UV damage to your skin, making is a great addition to your face care regimen.

Aloe Vera Face Wash Ingredients & Instructions:

Ingredients:

1 c Unscented Castile Soap

¼ c Aloe Vera Gel

2 t Vitamin E

8 drops each of Lemon & Orange essential oil (optional for scent)

Clean empty bottle to store your face wash

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a medium size bowl with a pour spout

Mix until blended thoroughly

Pour into your clean empty bottle.

Shake well before each use.

Quick Tips

Tip 1:  Because there are no preservatives added to this recipe (that would defeat the purpose, right?) we need to make small batches.  The ingredients can turn after a length of time, so I like to make a batch I can use in a couple weeks.

Tip 2:  A little goes a long way.  You can use a quarter size amount or less and really maximize the total number of washes you get from each batch.


Aloe Vera Face Wash Uses 

I use this aloe vera face wash both morning and evening along with my anti-aging eye serum and anti-aging face cream for a complete face care regimen.

Using the face wash twice a day leaves my skin far more moisturized than when I was using products I bought (even when I spent way too much).  The anti-aging face cream absorbs so quickly into my skin that it is perfect for a mom in a hurry.  I do not have a ton of time to wait for my face moisturizer to absorb so I can apply my makeup (I do not leave the house without my eyebrows and mascara done, sorry just being real here).  The roller ball with eye serum makes for an easy and gentle application to the delicate under eye skin.

The best part is all three recipes are so fast and easy! 

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Learn how to make lotion bars that can go with you anywhere. Perfect for this dry hand weather and a great pick me up.

Learn How to Make Rosemary, Lemon, and Peppermint Lotion Bars

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Learn how to make lotion bars that can go with you anywhere. Perfect for this dry hand weather and a great pick me up.

Lotion bars are a great alternative to carrying around bottles of lotion that can leak in your purse or bag!  I keep a lotion bar in a resealable bag in a pocket of all my bags.  When my hands are feeling dry all I have to do is rub the lotion bar like I was washing my hands and it starts to melt enough to moisturize my hands perfectly.  Not too much, not too little, but just right.

Ingredients & Instructions:

Ingredients

Learn how to make lotion bars that can go with you anywhere. Perfect for this dry hand weather and a great pick me up.

Instructions:

1. Combine shea butter, beeswax, and coconut oil in the double boiler

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2. Set heat to medium and continue stirring until melted completely

3. Add essential oils

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4. Turn off heat

5. Transfer liquid to the measuring cup (optional but much easier to pour into molds)

6. Pour liquid in to silicone molds

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7. Let the liquid cool until solid

8. Remove from silicone mold

9. Store in air tight containers

Tip 1:  You can put the mold in the freezer to cool faster.

Tip 2:  I live in Florida so I store my extra bars in the refrigerator until I am ready to use.

Tip 3:  You can make smaller or larger batches by using less or more of the shea butter, beeswax, and coconut oil.  Just be sure and use equal parts of all 3 and adjust the oils accordingly.

Uses

The lotion bars are perfect for moisturizing dry hands.  They are also great for softening calluses on hard working hands.  You can also use them to treat cracked heel, just rub a generous amount on your heels and feet at night and cover your feet with socks to let the lotion really soak in and soften your feet and heels.

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Learn how to make a small 3 layer hair bow for girls. A great bow to make two of because it looks adorable in pigtails!

Learn How to Make Small 3 Layer Hair Bows for Girls

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Learn how to make a small 3 layer hair bow for girls. A great bow to make two of because it looks adorable in pigtails!Save

Learn how to make a small 3 layer hair bow for girls.  A great bow to make two of because it looks adorable in pigtails!

Three Layer Hair Bow for Girls

Materials:

  • Needle and Tread
  • 1 Fabric covered alligator clip
  • Scissors
  • Lighter
  • Glue gun
  • 2 5-inch ribbon pieces of 3/8 inch ribbon
  • 1 4 ½-inch piece of 3/8 inch ribbon
  • 1 3-inch piece of 3/8 inch ribbon
  • 1 2-inch piece of 3/8 inch ribbon
Learn how to make a small 3 layer hair bow for girls. A great bow to make two of because it looks adorable in pigtails!

Instructions

Fold the 3 inch piece of ribbon in half, length wise and then again width wise and the cut the edge going from the middle of the fold to the end corner of the ribbon.  Your ends will look like the end of an arrow (see figure 1)

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Use the lighter to heat the edges just enough to keep the ribbon from fraying.  We do not want the ribbon to catch fire! Just enough heat to melt the edges a little.

Fold the 5 inch and 4 inch pieces in half to make a crease line that you will use as your guide.  This will make your loops even.

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Put a small drop of glue on each side of the crease and fold your ribbon end to the glue making a double loop ribbon.  Repeat for the other 5-inch and the 4 -inch ribbon.

Now, place the two bigger loop pieces together in an X and then place the third loop ribbon on top of those two length wise so that it is between the narrow part of your X.

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Carefully fold the Bow in half length wise

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Using the needle and thread, run the needle through the middle of the, make two passes. Then tie a knot.  This helps keep the pinch in the middle of the bow

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Next using a hot glue gun place a strip of glue on the 3/8 inch ribbon and wrap it around the pinched part of the bow.

Now we attach or final layer.  Put a small line of glue on the pattern side of the 3-inch piece of ribbon.  Glue it to the bottom of the ribbon perpendicular with the top piece.  Make sure you are centered.

Time to attach the alligator clip.  Using the hot glue gun put a strip of glue on the top of the fabric covered alligator clip and attach to the center of the back of the bow. If you are not making your own fabric covered alligator clip, I like these clips on the right-------------->. https://amzn.to/2M3f6SU

Options

This style of bow has so many options as far as color combinations go.  You can use all different colors, all the same colors, and everywhere in between. 

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Learn how to make this easy Citrus Salt Scrub you can create in minutes. The citrus aroma is a great way to start your day!

How to make an exfoliating citrus salt scrub in minutes!

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Learn how to make this easy Citrus Salt Scrub you can create in minutes. The citrus aroma is a great way to start your day!

No time for the Spa?  Bring the pampering to your home!  This citrus salt scrub recipe can be made in just a few minutes and only requires a few ingredients.  It is the perfect pick me up for your morning.  The citrus aromas will have you ready to wake up and start the day!

Ingredients & Instructions:

Ingredients for Citrus Salt Scrub

Ingredients:

  • 1 to 1 ½ cup Epsom salts
  • ½ cup coconut oil
  • Orange, lemon, and grapefruit essential oils.
  • Air tight container for storage

Instructions:

In a bowl:

  1. Combine Epsom salts and coconut oil
  2. Mix thoroughly
  3. Add 10 drops each of orange, lemon, and grapefruit essential oils
  4. Mix thoroughly
  5. Once thoroughly mixed, put the citrus salt scrub in the container of your choosing.
Learn how to make this easy Citrus Salt Scrub you can create in minutes. The citrus aroma is a great way to start your day!

Quick Tips

Tip 1:  Using more Epsom salts will give it more exfoliating power, but any more than 1 ½ cups and it becomes too dry and abrasive.

Tip 2:  The coconut oil can cause your shower to be slippery.  Make sure you rinse with hot water to dissolve the coconut oil from the shower floor. 

Citrus Salt Scrub Uses

I use the citrus salt scrub in the mornings when I shower because the citrus aroma helps wake me up.  Another benefit is the coconut oil moisturizes my skin enough that I do not need to use lotion. 

Keeping a small jar of citrus salt scrub next to the kitchen sink is a great way to scrub off some of the stubborn odors you can get on your hands while cooking.  Again, the coconut oil will moisturize your hands too, keeping them from drying and cracking.

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WA Spike Bow

Create a Beautiful Easy Spike Bow in Just Minutes

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WA Spike Bow

Easy Spike Bow: Fast, Easy and perfect for beginner bow makers!

Like most of the bow makers out there I started making my own bows because it was getting very expensive to buy all the bows I loved so much.  I started with staple colors and have added accent ribbon to my collection as I come across sales, discount, and clearance ribbon.  Now I can make unique custom bows for any occasion.  

I began my bow making with easy bows, like this spike bow, and got more complex as time went on.  I recommend this route so you do not get frustrated and quit before you start.

Materials:

Materials:

  • Needle and Tread
  • 1 Fabric covered alligator clip
  • Scissors
  • Lighter
  • Glue gun
  • 7 4inch ribbon pieces (7/8-1 inch work best)
  •             *I used 3 pieces of my main print, 2 each of my accent colors)
  • 1 2 inch piece of 3/8 inch ribbon

Instructions:

1. Using and alligator clip for an edge marker, cut all 7 pieces on both ends to make the ends look like the end of an arrow (see photo)

2. Use the lighter to heat the edges just enough to keep the ribbon from fraying.  We do not want the ribbon to catch fire! Just enough heat to melt the edges a little.

3. Pinch the first piece of ribbon in half directly in the center of the ribbon

4. Using the needle and thread, run the needle through the middle of your first piece of ribbon, BUT only until the needle is halfway through (see photo for reference).

5. Repeat step 3 & 4 with each remaining piece of ribbon.

6. When all pieces are on the needle thread the needle through two times and then wrap the remaining thread around until there is just enough to tie a knot.

7. Next using a hot glue gun place a strip of glue on the 3/8 inch ribbon and wrap it over the thread. 

8. Time to attach the alligator clip.  Using the hot glue gun put a strip of glue on the top of the fabric covered alligator clip and attach to the center of the back of the bow. If you are not making your own fabric covered alligator clip I like these clips available on amazon (I like these below):

Option

This easy spike bow has so many options as far as color combintions go.  You can use all different colors, all the same colors, and everywhere in between. 

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Eucalyptus Barth Soak Blog

Easy Eucalyptus Peppermint Bath Soak, Perfect for Cold & Flu Season!!

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Eucalyptus Barth Soak Blog

With Cold & Flu season upon us, many of us are desperate for any type of relief.  I love soaking in a hot bath loaded up with this easy to make peppermint bath soak.  It helps clear my sinuses and relives the body aches and pains that come with the flu.

Enjoy a relaxing bath soak with your own eucalyptus peppermint bath soak. This DIY recipe only takes minutes to make.

Ingredients & Instructions:

Eucalyptus peppermnt bath soak ingredients

Ingredients:

1 cup Epsom salts

½ cup baking soda

Peppermint essential and eucalyptus essential oils

Green Food coloring (optional)

Resealable bag (minimum half gallon)

Instructions:

In resealable bag:

1. Combine Epsom salts and baking soda

2. Mix

3. Add 10 drops of peppermint oil and 10 drops of eucalyptus oil

4. Add a few drops of food coloring (optional)

5. Mix thoroughly

6. Once thoroughly mixed you can put it in the container of you choosing

Tip 1:  Use as much or as little oils as you like.  I My preference is a strong aroma, so I use 10 drops of each, but I would not go any stronger or it will be overwhelming.

Tip 2:  The soak will dry over time and be very difficult to get out of your container.  If not using soon I would store it in a resealable bag for easy remix. 

ucalyptus Bath Soak Pinterest

Uses

The eucalyptus peppermint bath soak can be added to your bath to relieve sinus congestion, aches and pains, or simply to relax and release some of the day to day stress.  The more you add to the tub the stronger the aroma and the better the results. 

I always have a jar waiting by my bath tub because I never know when I am going to need it and I usually do not want to make it when I “need” it.

Now, you can too.

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Peppermint Sugar Scrub Recipe

The Best DIY Peppermint Sugar Scrub Recipe, Just in Time for the Holidays!

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Peppermint Sugar Scrub Recipe

Holiday season is upon us!  The time for family, lights, sharing, caring, and gifts…. ugh gifts!  Every year it seems our list of people we want to give a gift to gets longer and longer. Although it is wonderful to give, it is expensive!  It doesn’t have to be though. 

I am putting together a gift basket of homemade gifts for teachers, therapists, and all my girl friends.  I still get to give them something nice, but at a fraction of the price it would cost me to purchase these products.  One of these gifts is a Peppermint Sugar Scrub and I am sharing my recipe, instructions, and uses for it.  

WA_Pinterest_Template_-_Peppermint_Scrub Recipe

Ingredients & Instructions:

Ingredients:
  • 1 ½ cup of sugar
  • ½ cup coconut oil
  • Peppermint essential oils or Peppermint extract
  • Red Food coloring (optional)
Instructions:

1. Combine sugar and coconut oil

2. Mix thoroughly

3. Add 6-12 drops of peppermint oil or 1 tsp extract

4. Mix thoroughly

5. Add 3 drops of red food coloring

6. Chop to mix until it has a candy cane appearance

Tip 1:  Use as much or as little peppermint as you like.  I prefer a strong peppermint aroma, so I may go a little over the 12 drops.

Tip 2:  Sugar controls the exfoliating properties.  If you like more exfoliating, then add more sugar.  If you like less, then add more oil.  It is all about personal preference.

Uses of the Peppermint Scrub

If you have never used a sugar scrub, then I recommend you make sure to make enough for yourself!  Sugar scrubs are used for exfoliating.  Exfoliating removes stubborn dirt and dry skin and then the coconut oil moisturizes the skin leaving your skin smooth and soft.  You can use the Peppermint Sugar scrub while in the shower to exfoliate your body.

Scrubs by the sink

I leave a jar by my sink and use it to remove grease, grime, and stubborn smells that just won’t go away no matter how many times I wash my hands (I still have two in diapers).

Total cost

Sugar: $.50

Coconut oil: $1.00

Peppermint oil: $.75

Jars: $.50 (10/$5 at Michaels)

Total Cost:$2.75/ jar

Putting it All Together

Once you have finished the scrubs take it one step further by adding a decorative bow to the jar. Learn how to make the holiday loop bow.

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Holiday Loop Bow

Learn How to Make an Easy Holiday Loop Bow

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Holiday Loop Bow

DIY Holiday Loop Bow: Easy, pretty, and perfect for your little girl!

Holiday season is here!  I have two little girls and I love having a bow for every outfit and occasion.  I realized very quickly that finding bows the exact colors or patterns I wanted was impossible, so I began making them myself.  Now I can mix and match to make the perfect bow for any occasion.  The Loop Bow is one of my favorites because it looks fancy, but it is a fairly easy bow to make.

Materials:

Holiday bow materials

Materials

  • Needle and Tread
  • 1 Alligator clip
  • Scissors
  • Lighter
  • Glue gun
  • 5 8-inch ribbon pieces
  • 4 7-inch ribbon pieces
  • 3 6-inch ribbon pieces
  • 1 gem
Holiday Loop Bow Pinterest

Instructions

1. Starting with the 7-inch ribbon pieces by stacking them on top of each other and folding them in half (Note: if the ribbon only has pattern on one side make sure the side you want to see is on the inside of the fold).

2. Use the lighter to heat the edges just enough to keep the ribbon from fraying.  We do not want the ribbon to catch fire! Just enough heat to melt the edges a little.

3. Using the needle and thread, run the needle through the middle of your fold BUT only until the needle is halfway through (see photo for reference).

4. Spread your ribbon pieces apart so they are equal distance from each other.  It should look like an asterisk.

5. Piece by piece fold over the ribbon and run the edge through the needle to make your loops.

6. Once you have all loops attached you need to run serval passes through the center of your bow and then, when it feels like all loops are secure, tie a knot. (Tip: if the needle is har to push through you can use a hard surface to push the needle, but, be gentle or you will break your needle).

7. Repeat steps 1-6 for each layer.

8. Once all your layers are complete it is time to put it all together (this is where you need the hot glue gun).  Put a large drop of glue in the center of your first layer and then place the second layer on top. Press and hold the layers together until the glue has cooled (this only takes about 15 seconds).  Repeat this for each layer ending with a gem (or whatever you chose for your centrepiece) in the middle of the top layer.

9. Finally, Add a strip of glue to the alligator clip (I like these: https://amzn.to/2RhpgVn and attach it to the center of the bottom of the bow.

Bow Options

This style of bow has so many options to make it a perfect bow for whatever the occasion.

You can make them as large or small as you like by the length of the ribbons.  You can make as many layers as you want. 

I don’t recommend going over 9 inches for the first layer as the bow gets too big.  On the flip side 5 inches would be the smallest I would go.

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How to make a Double Happiness Sachet – (Part 2)

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Did you find the Double Happiness embroidery mesmerizing? Although it takes longer time to complete the embroidery, the result of the embroidery, especially with the DMC satin floss, will not let you down. The exceptional sheen that the thread brought cannot be compared with other embroidery floss. The scented sachet I used was bought from a dollar store. You can make your own scented sachet if you have your own. You can also get them from Amazon (MYARO 12 Packs Lavender Scented Sachets). You can make this sachet without hanger so that you can put it in drawer or even put it underneath your pillow to give you a s relaxing good sleep.

You can download the free pattern again ​HERE.

I will show you how to use repetitive pattern for embroidery next week.

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How to make a Double Happiness Sachet – (Part 1)

A dear friend of mine asked me to make her a sachet, specifically requesting for a double happiness embroidery. Double Happiness originally refers to the simultaneous arrival of two happy events, namely “Double Happiness”. When people get married, they always post Double Happiness on the door of the wedding room to express their congratulations. I used the DMC satin floss this time for the Double Happiness. This thread is the shiniest DMC thread available. It glides through fabric and brings an exceptional sheen to any embroidery projects.

I am going to show you how to prepare the material and start the embroidery.

You can download the free pattern here ​HERE.

I will show you how to make a Sachet next time.

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