DIY Natural Deodorant Stick - Part II

I wrote recently about my newest project - the natural deodorant stick.You can read that first part here in a past blog post. Now that the hubby has been using it for awhile I can announce the results. He loves it! He has been using it for a few weeks now and says that it is working great - no stinging or irritation whatsoever. No stinking either!

I scoured around searching for recipes, and finally pieced one together with the things I had on hand. Now I just happen to always have coconut oil and beeswax on hand these days. If you don't, you can always get it at most arts and craft stores (Michael's or Hobby Lobby, etc.). Here are the ingredients I used:

1/2 cup organic coconut oil
1 1/2 Tbsp beeswax
1/3 cup of baking soda
1/3 cup of cornstarch
1/3 cup of pure zinc oxide*
Essential Oils

Here is how I made it:

Melted the beeswax and coconut oil (double broiler method - not microwave) together. When fully melted I removed from heat. I then added in about 15 drops of essential oils. You can use any oils you like. I used Rosemary and Chamomile because I didn't want a "feminine" smell for my hubby! If you would like to research the types of oils that are BEST for deodorants, click here and you will find that information.

After adding in the oils, I quickly added in my powders (zinc, baking soda, and cornstarch). I mixed it together well - but quickly as this does begin setting up very fast. I then poured it into my deodorant tube and capped it. I popped it right into the fridge to allow it to really set up. After about an hour it was good to go. The hubby started using it that very night and is still using it with good results.

Notes:

1. If I make this for myself I will definitely use other oils. I really like the smell of what I made for the hubby. But I am sort of addicted to Patchouli and Sandalwood oils myself!
2. Next time I make this I will up the coconut oil by a few tablespoons. The end result was a very dry stick. I didn't especially like that and would want a little more "rub" or "melt" in mine. The hubby wasn't bothered by this at all.
3. This does produce a white stick. So if you have an issue with rubbing something white under your arms, this may not be the product for you (think tank tops ladies). I'll research CLEAR recipes next.
4. I use beeswax pellets because they are easier to measure and melt. 
5. Clean up your items quickly! This stuff hardens a bit because of the oils and beeswax and can be difficult to clean up without some really hot water. I wouldn't put the bowls into the dishwasher with other dishes as it could leave that film elsewhere.
6. *Lastly, you do not have to include zinc oxide in your mixture. I had it on hand from making my sunblock lotion bars. Upon researching I found that this was a great ingredient for deodorant sticks. However, many recipes I found only used cornstarch and baking soda. If you leave out the zinc, just make sure you up the amounts of the other powders so that your total is ONE cup.

If you make some DIY deodorant, let me know how it works for you!

Blessings,

~~Kymber

Vaseline - Don't use it!

I have never given any thought to Vaseline or what it actually is. Recently I came across an article on the Dr. Oz website that discussed why we should not use this product - especially on our lips. I am NOT a chemist, so please do your own research. But all my research says that petroleum jelly is a by-product from the oil drilling process. Many in the medical/chemistry fields have stated that putting this on our lips is like swallowing gasoline or diesel fuel. Yuk! I really had no idea what this stuff was.

There are people out there who just love Vaseline. I personally am not a big fan because it's a bit too thick and greasy for me. But I have used it as a skin protector on many occasions. I have some at the house right now that I've used on the baby's rashes in the past. I shall throw it away and never use it again!

But then, what can we use in its place. Many products - especially lip balms and glosses - are made with petroleum jelly. I don't use it in the lip balm that I make, but many people do. However, after scouring the internet I have found that many people are simply mixing up their own alternative to real petroleum jelly. You only need two ingredients. Beeswax and olive oil (OR coconut oil). Now it's kind of funny because when I found these recipes I realized I'd been making this all along! (More on that later.)

Use about 1/8 cup of beeswax and melt that with about 1/2 cup of oil. I use coconut oil but many online users are doing this with olive oil with good results. Melt it slowly in a small pan or double broiler. Pour it into a small jar. You could use a small baby food jar for this project. Let it cool overnight! Be patient ~ although that is always the hard part of these products. Do not put it into the fridge to try and quicken the process as you do not want the oil to really harden. The next day you'll have your DIY jelly and can use it as you would Vaseline.

EXTRA: As I said earlier, I've been using this already and hadn't thought about it being a replacement for Vaseline. My version though had essential oils in it. I bought a pure essential oil blend called "Breath Easier". I mixed that into my oil/beeswax mixture after removing it from the heat. Once mixed and cooled, this version is used as a DIY Vapor Rub! I've been using it for a few months now on Kendall when she is stuffy with good results. I'm guessing that you could add other essential oils to this mixture if you wanted a bit of fragrance. Remember though - you'll put this on your skin so use pure essential oils and NEVER use "fragrance oil".

Alternative - Also if you wanted to use some of this for your lips you could also change it up. You could use any oils that are okay for you lips (approved as flavorings and food additives) such as orange oil or spearmint oil. You could also use something you might have on hand - flavorings and colorings used in baking. After you remove it from the heat, add a few drops of a food coloring used for candy or frosting, and/or flavoring oils in that same style.

Either way, this DIY alternative to real petroleum jelly is a must have!

Blessings~~

Kymber

DIY Natural Deodorant Stick - Part One

This post is Part One of my deodorant project. Recently my husband complained that his stick of deodorant was making his pits burn and sting. He has had this complaint a few other times in the past. I keep changing the brand but it always seems to end up this way. On a whim I decided to do some online research about making my own. After spending way too much time online looking into it, I finally tweaked several different recipes. I believed that I had come up with a recipe that would work for me. (BTW, this means that I had all the ingredients on hand!) I will post that recipe in Part Two of this blog once I evaluate how the product actually works.

I set to making this new product one evening while the baby was sleeping. During the process, I had one major issue. Everyone said the easiest thing to use was old, leftover deodorant tubes. I found 4 of them lying around the house. It was pretty easy to clean them out for reuse so I thought this would work perfectly. I was wrong - which if you know me well, you know this is rare! There are apparently tubes that you can refill and others that you cannot. None of the research I had done told me this! Some of these tubes do not have a solid bottom. They have holes at the bottom which allows the mixture to just pour right on through. Believe it or not I didn't even notice these holes until I had already poured the mixture into the tubes! It was a big mess.

Luckily I had one additional round tube that I wasn't planning to actually use. It was not the same shape so I figured I would save it for a bar I plan to make for feet. (More on that one later!) I realized that it did indeed have a solid bottom so I ended up using it for my deodorant. Luckily I was able to save enough of it to make one full sized stick.

I put the stick into the fridge to let it set up overnight. When I opened it later, it did actually look and feel just like a stick of deodorant! I was quite pleased. However I'm unsure how well it will actually work. When applying it, this stick is very white. This would not work for anyone who needs a clear deodorant - think tank tops, ladies! But still, I figured it would be fine for the Hubster who wouldn't dream of wearing a tank top. I did try it myself over the weekend. It goes on very dry. I am used to a wetter product. However, that won't really be an issue - just something to get used to.

All said and done it was an easy project - with the exception of finding the right "tubes" to refill. However, they do sell these online new and empty. They were a bit more than I wanted to pay so if I continue with this project I'll have to put a little more thought into the container. We are going to try the deodorant for a week and see how we like it. I've been told that it is NOT the same thing we are used to buying in the stores. First off what we buy is actual antiperspirant and not simple deodorant. There is apparently a HUGE difference in those two terms. Antiperspirants use a chemical/medicinal ingredient like aluminum salts that actually clogs/blocks the pores. (No wonder this stuff makes the pits hurt!) Deodorants simply neutralize the smell of sweat and create an antiseptic barrier against bacteria.

Well, I'll add Part Two in the very near future so that you'll know whether or not this project was a success. I will also add the recipe to that post.

PS: I did end up with some of this mixture left over. This was primarily because I did not have any other tubes that were refillable. I did NOT throw it away. In fact, I USED it for something else. I added more beeswax and coconut oil to the already mixed mixture. I then poured this into a soap mold and let it set up. I've been using this on the baby's bottom to treat her diaper rash with pretty good results. I'll try to remember to add another post with recipes for that!

Blessings~~

Kymber

Laundry Powder - Updated

I have been using my DIY laundry detergent so long, that I've forgotten what it is like to heft those big containers off the store shelves! I sure don't miss those days. I've tweaked the recipe some since I started making it. This week a friend asked me for my recipe and I realized I didn't actually have it written down. The one I was using wasn't updated with all my 'tweaking'.

Here is how I'm currently making laundry detergent powder:

3 bars laundry soap (Zote or Fels Naptha)
1 box Borax (76 oz.)
1 box Washing Soda (55 oz)
1 box Baking Soda (16 oz.)
2 containers of Oxygen Cleanser (Like OxiClean - or any generic brand) (2 lbs. - use more or less)
1 container of Epson Salt (about 2 lbs)

You'll need a large container to make this recipe. I mix mine into a clean 5-gallon bucket with a lid. Mix all ingredients together well with the exception of the bars of soap. You'll need to grate the soap with a hand grater or a chopper. I have an extra mini-chopper that I use for my laundry soap. I put chunks of the soap into it and go between chop and grind a few times. Once you have it grated into small pieces, mix it into your laundry detergent well.  You may need to scoop your hands in up to the elbows to get this well mixed in a bucket. If you have a mixing tool that attaches to a hand drill, that works well too. Or if you're really strong you could pick the bucket up and shake/roll it around until everything is well mixed.

Once this is done you are ready to use your new detergent! I scoop some out into a small container that I leave out in my laundry room. I only go to the bucket when my small container gets empty. One idea is that you can save the container of OxiClean and use it to store the detergent in for use.

IMPORTANT:
Use 2-3 tablespoons per load.  I use the little scoops out of baby formula or coffee - and use 2 small scoops in each load. Do not overuse it! Just a little is all you need. If you have an HE washer, put this powder into the washing machine tub first, then add your clothes. If you don't, you can add it first or on top of the clothes. This works in all water temperatures!

Note: The old recipe called for Fabric Crystals. Those are still available and you can use them in this recipe in place of the Epson Salt. However if you want to make your own you can do so. I like the smell of this laundry detergent as it is so I haven't been adding any oils to my Epson Salts. Read below if you want to mix your own.

DIY Laundry Fabric Crystals: Pour 2 lbs. Epson Salt into a large container. Add in 20 drops (more or less depending on how strong a scent you like). Mix well. Use this in the recipe above or just add to the washer with the detergent as you would store-bought Fabric Crystals. If you happen to have hard water, this is an excellent way to soften clothes and water at the same time!

There you have it folks! My updated method of making DIY Laundry Powder! Enjoy!

Kymber

Different KINDS of hard lotion bars

My previous post on lotion bars had the simple recipe. The original post is here for those who need the original recipe. I have since been playing around with this to make other types of hard lotion bars. Here are my latest projects.

Vapor Rub - Decongestant
I ordered an essential oil blend called Breathe Easier from Eden's Garden. I added this oil and an additional 2 tablespoons of coconut oil to the original recipe. Breathe Easier blends together Eucalyptus, Lemon, Peppermint and Rosemary oils. This blend can be used as a decongestant. The lotion bars made with this oil blend make a type of DIY "vapor rub". It is easy to use because you just rub the bar over the skin to apply. You can also run the bar between your hands and then apply to the skin. The smell is not as strong as the vapor rubs you purchase at the store. But I really love the fresh smell and think it will work great when a vapor rub is needed. I like the lotion bar much better than the rubs that come in little jars and are the consistency of petroleum jelly. If you make this, you could always add more or less oil. I added 10-15 drops of the oil blend to my original recipe. I poured this mix into a small jar/pot with a lid, and the rest into a small soap mold. Also, I had a little left over! I poured that into these little molds I got at the Dollar Tree that are actually ice cube trays in cute designs. I plan to use these small ones in my oil burner whenever I need a decongestant in the room.

Lip Balm
I ordered some small plastic pots/containers with lids for this project. They are easy to find at Amazon. Using the original lotion bar recipe, I added in 5-10 drops of vanilla oil. I poured the mixture into the small pots and let them cool. This lip balm is all natural and has not taste. The smell is very light. However, you could skip the oil if you want unscented balm. These small pots worked out perfectly for the lip balm. I think it would be a great idea to do this with peppermint oil. Next time that is what I will use!

Bug Repellant Bars
Again, I simply tweaked the original recipe a bit to make bug repellant bars. I added 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. This is simply to make the lotion bar melt quicker on the skin. Playing around with the original recipe I found that it depends on how much lotion you want on your skin. More coconut oil means more lotion on the skin. However it also makes the bar melt faster. For these bars I also ordered from Plant Therapy. This company makes an essential oil blend called Bug-Off. It contains a mixture of Citronella, Eucalyptus, Catnip, Cedarwood, Lemongrass, Lavender, Litsea Cubeba, Tea Tree and Patchouli. This oil blend can be used in lotions and sprays, or can be put into a diffuser or oil burner to keep bugs away. I found it easier to purchase the oil blends, rather than buying each oil individually. You could do that if you wanted to have all these oils on hand. I poured this mix into large soap molds to make the bars. I had a bit left over so again I poured it into the small ice tray molds. These small ones will be good to keep lying around.

My next project? I have purchased pure Zinc Oxide which I will use to make SUNBLOCK lotion bars! I probably need to make these pretty soon as summer will be here before I know it. I'll post on those after I make them to ensure that they turn out well.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. I hope you enjoy making your own natural lotion bars.

Blessings,

Kymber 

All Natural Lotion Bars - Success!

I've been wanting to make lotion bars for about a year. I finally got around to it this week. My first attempt at a very SIMPLE recipe was successful. There are literally millions (okay, hundreds) of recipes out there if you care to search around. I wanted to start with something simple. I wanted to make something all natural as well. If you're not familiar with lotion bars, you SHOULD be! This is a hardened lotion that warms in your hands and melts so that you can rub it into your skin. They look sort of like a bar of soap. (I use a one-cup recipe. However, you can make as much or as little with this recipe. Just use one-part of oil and one-part of wax.)

Here is my simple recipe:

One cup organic coconut oil
One cup natural beeswax
Essential oil (only if you want a scented lotion)
Soap molds or silicone muffin tins*

*I've heard you can also pour this into empty Altoids tins if you want to carry it that way.


Instructions:

If you have a real double boiler, you can use it. I do not have one and have never used one. I used a pan filled 1/4 full of water, and a glass bowl on top of it as a "make shift" double boiler. It's best if you can grate or chop the beeswax. (Better yet, if you can find it in pellets, or already chopped, buy that! This stuff is a little difficult to chop up.) Let the water come to a boil, and then turn it down some. You don't really need it fully boiling to melt the wax and you do NOT want the water to get into the wax.

Put the beeswax into the bowl above the water. As it begins to melt, stir a bit. Once beeswax is about 1/2 way melted, add in the coconut oil. Allow it to melt together stirring only a few times. When it is melted into a complete liquid, add in your essential oils, if desired. I used 10 drops of lavender oil, and 10 drops of vanilla oil. (Note: You can use any essential oils that you personally like. You can add more or less depending on how strong of a scent that you want. But start small - too much really is too much.)

Immediately pour the mixture into your molds or muffin cups. (I used a silicone muffin pan for mine.) Now, here is the HARD part! Walk away! You'll be tempted to touch it and smell it and use it! Do not touch it until it is fully hardened. It needs about 2-3 hours to set up completely, or you can pop it into the freezer to hurry it along. I just let mine sit there for hours. Once it is set up, these bars just pop right out of the molds.

How to USE lotion bars:
These bars are lotion and not soap. They are not to be used with water or in the shower. Simply hold the bar in your hands. The heat of your hands will begin to slightly melt the outer portion of the lotion bar. Then rub the bar between your hands a bit. Next you can simply rub the lotion onto your skin. It's that simple!

You can use this anywhere you would normally use a moisturizing lotion or oil. I also use this as a lip balm. Next time I will pour a small amount into a very small tin or container JUST to use as lip balm. Also, I've wrapped mine in plastic for storage and carrying. Coconut oil melts at 76-80 degrees so you DO NOT want to take these out in any real heat or set them out in the sun. Store in a cool, dry place....or for some extra refreshment, pop them into the fridge and use them cold!