My earliest memories of crafting were with my Gram. She very patiently taught me how to crochet when I was just ten years old. I was able to spend a lot of time with her as I was growing up and it was so nice to have this skill in common with her. We would often sit and talk while crocheting together. Because of her influence, I am inspired to create every day. I often look at things and try to figure out how I can make them. The reasons are varied. Sometimes it is due to my budget—okay, a lot of times it is due to my budget, but I really do enjoy making things and I would rather spend a little money learning and mastering a new skill than spend a lot of money on a consumable item. Basically, that means I have a lot of hobbies; I am an intermediate crocheter, knitter, sewist, and upcycler, and I also enjoy creating new recipes for spa and bath products. I have more flexibility and creative control in my purchasing decisions because of these skills. Plus, I love to give gifts, and that can be expensive.
On any given day, I am juggling trying to be healthier, save money, recycle more, reduce waste, and reduce chemicals. Since I have started making my own products, I have discovered that all these initiatives are very closely related. Whatever your reason for being here, welcome! I am here to show you the methods I use to make some of the products I have introduced into my family’s daily life and we use regularly. The beauty is that you can use them as is, or you can adapt them to your preferences for scent or texture.
You do not have to be crafty to use this book. All you need are basic cooking skills and a few simple ingredients, and you will be on your way to making small batches of spa and bath products that contain no chemicals or harmful ingredients. In the following pages, you will find more than a hundred simple recipes, using natural products, to help you break free from commercial products. Please start slowly and find your comfort zone. There are many things that you can do to adopt a healthier beauty routine and healthier lifestyle.
Always work in a clean space. Wear rubber gloves to minimize bacteria while you are experimenting and making your spa and beauty products. Sterilize jars and containers to help preserve your products. Avoid dipping fingers into containers or leaving the lids off. This could introduce bacteria or microbes that could contaminate your products. If you must use your fingers, please make sure that they are clean, or use small scoopers or popsicle sticks.
These formulations are so easy to make; just keep in mind that these recipes are for small batches. They generally do not contain any preservatives, so they have a relatively short shelf life. Most of these recipes are intended to be made and used immediately, or close to it. Please note special recommendations for storing, such as “store in a cool dry/dark place” or “store in the fridge.” If a recipe contains only oils, then a preservative is not normally needed. If a recipe contains water, you could use grapefruit seed extract as a preservative. It is also worth mentioning that these products work best when they are combined with a healthy diet and exercise program.
