With the year ending it's a great time to look back at the past year. 2012 was the year I started more serious blogging, finished my first year of school, discovered a lot of great new things and met some really cool and beautiful people. A lot of changes and new things happened, and I hope 2013 will be a year with changes that will last, although I'm always open for new stuff.
In the new year I hope to write at least one blog post a week, maybe with more DIYs, more about where to get supplies for home made cosmetics and of course a lot of cool new recipes.
I hope 2013 will bring you lots of happiness, love and everything else you wish for.
zondag 30 december 2012
zaterdag 22 december 2012
No-buy challenges
No-buy challenges are a great way to become more conscious of your spending behavior, will boost your creativity and will save you money. I decided that from now on I will start 2 no-buy challenges.
1. A 3 month no-buy challenge for clothing.
2. A 1 month no-buy challenge for anything else.
It's kind of hard to predict what I might need for school and I can't postpone those expenses, so that's the only exception. I still have a lot of supplies and tons of clothes so it shouldn't be a problem. I chose to go with shorter periods of time because it's easier to accomplish. After the challenges end I will tell you more about my experiences, and I will probably prolong the challenges if I can.
1. A 3 month no-buy challenge for clothing.
2. A 1 month no-buy challenge for anything else.
It's kind of hard to predict what I might need for school and I can't postpone those expenses, so that's the only exception. I still have a lot of supplies and tons of clothes so it shouldn't be a problem. I chose to go with shorter periods of time because it's easier to accomplish. After the challenges end I will tell you more about my experiences, and I will probably prolong the challenges if I can.
vrijdag 14 december 2012
Make your own rose water
I've been wanting to make my own rose water for a while and now I finally had the time.
It's pretty cool to make and fairly easy.
It's pretty cool to make and fairly easy.
donderdag 13 december 2012
My etsy store
It's not really DIY or natural cosmetics related, but I would like to take a minute to promote my etsy store
It's mostly hand made unique jewelry. In the future I would like to add more jewelry, maybe some silver stuff too and some customized t-shirts and so fort. So if you're curious just click the link and take a look.
It's mostly hand made unique jewelry. In the future I would like to add more jewelry, maybe some silver stuff too and some customized t-shirts and so fort. So if you're curious just click the link and take a look.
vrijdag 16 november 2012
Make your own Lavender oil.
Making your own oils is super easy, it's cheap and natural! There are tons of different things you can do with, but this time I chose for one of my favorites: Lavender oil.
What do we need?
50 gr of dried lavender.
500 ml of sunflower or olive oil
a big clean glass jar
a nice sunny and warm spot
Put the dried lavender into the clean glass jar. (find more info on keeping things clean and hygienic here)
Poor the oil over the lavender, this isn't exact science, you might need a little more or less than the 500 ml, just make sure the buds are covered in oil.
Now place the jar in a warm and sunny place. Preferably on a window sil or something (if there's a heater nearby that's even more perfect) Keep it there for about 4 weeks, and stir the mixture every day.
After those 4 weeks you take some cheese cloth or a fine strainer to separate the flowers from the oil and you will have some very very nice smelling lavender oil. Lavender is great for your skin and the smell is calming. I really really enjoyed making this, if you want to try making your own oil I highly recommend it. The smell is just so amazing. You will not regret it.
What do we need?
50 gr of dried lavender.
500 ml of sunflower or olive oil
a big clean glass jar
a nice sunny and warm spot
Put the dried lavender into the clean glass jar. (find more info on keeping things clean and hygienic here)
Poor the oil over the lavender, this isn't exact science, you might need a little more or less than the 500 ml, just make sure the buds are covered in oil.
Now place the jar in a warm and sunny place. Preferably on a window sil or something (if there's a heater nearby that's even more perfect) Keep it there for about 4 weeks, and stir the mixture every day.
After those 4 weeks you take some cheese cloth or a fine strainer to separate the flowers from the oil and you will have some very very nice smelling lavender oil. Lavender is great for your skin and the smell is calming. I really really enjoyed making this, if you want to try making your own oil I highly recommend it. The smell is just so amazing. You will not regret it.
dinsdag 25 september 2012
Super easy bath salt DIY
Whenever I make something, I try to keep it as natural as possible, cheap and easy.
This week I decided to try something I'd never made before; bath salt.
This week I decided to try something I'd never made before; bath salt.
vrijdag 7 september 2012
Sea Salt Scrub
Sea salt scrubs are a classic in the world of beauty and cosmetics. It's super easy to make yourself, 100% natural.
zaterdag 18 augustus 2012
Supermarket Spa Special
Creating
your own spa experience at home, using only natural products found in your
local supermarket. Yes, it can be done.
It’s easy, it’s cheap and you might already have some of these products
at home. So grab a cart and follow me!
zaterdag 14 juli 2012
Make your own perfume
 |
| perfume by NurNurIch on dA |
donderdag 28 juni 2012
DIY: Galaxy print t-shirt
I love galaxy print, but items with this print are usually pretty expensive. Luckily there's an easy method to make your own galaxy print and save some money.
What do we need?
*shirt, dress or any other type of clothing
*spray bottle
*bleach
*fabric paint
Fill the spray bottle with bleach and water, I used a 50/50 ratio. Spray the mixture onto your shirt and let it dry, this is important because if you just spray a whole bunch of the mixture on there you might not get the result you want. Once dry, you can see what the mixture has done so far and you can spray some more on the areas you want to be lighter. You can also use a brush to splash some of the mixture directly onto the shirt to get bigger blobs.
Once dry, it's time to use the fabric paint. Mix a little fabric paint with some water and just splash it on there to get small splashes on your shirt, little white stars. The less water you use the whiter the and clearer the splashes will be. You can also paint some stars directly on there with just fabric paint. You can use the standard white, but also a small amount of other colors, like dark blue or yellow. Continue the process until you're happy with the result. Let the paint dry, fixate it and enjoy wearing your tee.
These are the two tees I made. As you can see the bleach can have a different effect depending on the color of your shirt. I got some white bleach marks on my dark blue shirt, and some red shades on my black shirt.
Feel free to experiment and have fun with it!
What do we need?
*shirt, dress or any other type of clothing
*spray bottle
*bleach
*fabric paint
Fill the spray bottle with bleach and water, I used a 50/50 ratio. Spray the mixture onto your shirt and let it dry, this is important because if you just spray a whole bunch of the mixture on there you might not get the result you want. Once dry, you can see what the mixture has done so far and you can spray some more on the areas you want to be lighter. You can also use a brush to splash some of the mixture directly onto the shirt to get bigger blobs.
Once dry, it's time to use the fabric paint. Mix a little fabric paint with some water and just splash it on there to get small splashes on your shirt, little white stars. The less water you use the whiter the and clearer the splashes will be. You can also paint some stars directly on there with just fabric paint. You can use the standard white, but also a small amount of other colors, like dark blue or yellow. Continue the process until you're happy with the result. Let the paint dry, fixate it and enjoy wearing your tee.
These are the two tees I made. As you can see the bleach can have a different effect depending on the color of your shirt. I got some white bleach marks on my dark blue shirt, and some red shades on my black shirt.
Feel free to experiment and have fun with it!
zondag 24 juni 2012
Hot oil hair treatment.
I made this recipe 2 or 3 months ago, and I was surprised to find out I hadn't written a blog post about it!
This hair treatment/mask is a great way to give your hair a much needed boost and make it shiny and soft.
What do we need?
*15 gr of calendula oil
*15 gr of chamomile oil
*15 gr of wheat germ oil
*5 drops of lavender essential oil
*5 drops of rosemary essential oil
Mix all the ingredients together in a bottle and let it rest for a couple of days before using it. Yep, it's that easy.
So how do we use this?
We need
* oil treatment
* towel
* glass or ceramic boil to heat the oil
Take about 6 tablespoons (more or less, it all depends on how thick/long your hair is) and heat the oil using a double boiler. Don't get it too hot, just nice and warm to the point where you can still handle it without burning yourself. Heating the oil will help your hair absorb the oils and increase the treatment's effectiveness.
Distribute the oil onto your hair and wrap a warm and wet towel around your head. Leave the treatment in for at least 30 minutes and then rinse and shampoo your hair. Let it dry and enjoy softer hair!
This hair treatment/mask is a great way to give your hair a much needed boost and make it shiny and soft.
What do we need?
*15 gr of calendula oil
*15 gr of chamomile oil
*15 gr of wheat germ oil
*5 drops of lavender essential oil
*5 drops of rosemary essential oil
Mix all the ingredients together in a bottle and let it rest for a couple of days before using it. Yep, it's that easy.
So how do we use this?
We need
* oil treatment
* towel
* glass or ceramic boil to heat the oil
Take about 6 tablespoons (more or less, it all depends on how thick/long your hair is) and heat the oil using a double boiler. Don't get it too hot, just nice and warm to the point where you can still handle it without burning yourself. Heating the oil will help your hair absorb the oils and increase the treatment's effectiveness.
Distribute the oil onto your hair and wrap a warm and wet towel around your head. Leave the treatment in for at least 30 minutes and then rinse and shampoo your hair. Let it dry and enjoy softer hair!
maandag 18 juni 2012
DIY: Aztec print shirt
First of all, what is Aztec print? Some examples here to the right.
Click below to view the shirt and the tutorial.
vrijdag 8 juni 2012
What's in there anyway?
Have you ever wondered what's in your favorite store bought beauty products?
The front of packaging might say all these wonderful things about being green, but usually that's just a lot of empty promises. Or you might find "regular" products that turn out to be quite green! Knowing what's in my bottle without having to go through all these difficult names on the label was one of the reasons for me to start making my own products. But sometimes there are things you can't make yourself, or don't want to make.
Even if you're able to find a list of ingredients, they have all these weird names and you probably have no idea what they all mean, and neither do I. But don't worry, help is on it's way!
with Skin Deep's cosmetic database you can check both products and single ingredients for it's safety. I went through every single product I own to check for it's safety (and since most of the products weren't listed I had to go through every single ingredient.) It might take a while but I felt a lot more relaxed afterwards.
Nowadays most manufactures have their product's ingredient list on line so you can check before buying/testing, so you won't end up being disappointed.
Skin Deep Cosmetic Database
More on EWG and Skin Deep Cosmetic Database
Hopefully this will help you make a conscious decision on buying cosmetic products :)
The front of packaging might say all these wonderful things about being green, but usually that's just a lot of empty promises. Or you might find "regular" products that turn out to be quite green! Knowing what's in my bottle without having to go through all these difficult names on the label was one of the reasons for me to start making my own products. But sometimes there are things you can't make yourself, or don't want to make.
Even if you're able to find a list of ingredients, they have all these weird names and you probably have no idea what they all mean, and neither do I. But don't worry, help is on it's way!
with Skin Deep's cosmetic database you can check both products and single ingredients for it's safety. I went through every single product I own to check for it's safety (and since most of the products weren't listed I had to go through every single ingredient.) It might take a while but I felt a lot more relaxed afterwards.
Nowadays most manufactures have their product's ingredient list on line so you can check before buying/testing, so you won't end up being disappointed.
Skin Deep Cosmetic Database
More on EWG and Skin Deep Cosmetic Database
Hopefully this will help you make a conscious decision on buying cosmetic products :)
zondag 3 juni 2012
Keep it Clean!
Natural cosmetics won't last an eternity. But don't worry, there are some tips and tricks you apply to prolong shelf life.
production
When you're making your own recipes it's important to work in a clean environment with clean tools. Using clean bowls, spoons and containers is a first step in keeping your products fresh for a longer period. You can disinfect bottles and such with alcohol, or my favorite method, boiling water. Leave your tools in the boiling water for a few minutes, or poor some boiling water in your bowls and jars.
WARNING: this method does not work on plastic, and make sure your glass bottles can stand boiling water, if they can't stand hot water they can pop, and you'll have glass all over the place.
when using products
If possible, use your hands as little as possible. Try using spatulas, spoons or bottles with a pump. If you are using your hands, wash them before applying creams and stuff.
storage
Store your products in a cool and dark environment, or at least a place with a pretty stable temperature, free from direct sunlight. When using soaps and scrub bars, let them dry before storing them in a container. This will prevent them from breaking and will prevent mold growth.
also, creating smaller batches means you are more likely to use up all your products before they have a chance to go bad.
follow your nose, trust your eyes
Even if you follow all these tips, stuff can go bad sometimes. Ingredients can vary in quality so maybe this time you just were a bit unlucky. If something smells different than normal or has a weird texture don't use it. If you have doubts, check again in a couple of days and if it still looks/smells weird throw it out.
I hope these tips and tricks will help you enjoy your products for a longer period of time :)
production
When you're making your own recipes it's important to work in a clean environment with clean tools. Using clean bowls, spoons and containers is a first step in keeping your products fresh for a longer period. You can disinfect bottles and such with alcohol, or my favorite method, boiling water. Leave your tools in the boiling water for a few minutes, or poor some boiling water in your bowls and jars.
WARNING: this method does not work on plastic, and make sure your glass bottles can stand boiling water, if they can't stand hot water they can pop, and you'll have glass all over the place.
when using products
If possible, use your hands as little as possible. Try using spatulas, spoons or bottles with a pump. If you are using your hands, wash them before applying creams and stuff.
storage
Store your products in a cool and dark environment, or at least a place with a pretty stable temperature, free from direct sunlight. When using soaps and scrub bars, let them dry before storing them in a container. This will prevent them from breaking and will prevent mold growth.
also, creating smaller batches means you are more likely to use up all your products before they have a chance to go bad.
follow your nose, trust your eyes
Even if you follow all these tips, stuff can go bad sometimes. Ingredients can vary in quality so maybe this time you just were a bit unlucky. If something smells different than normal or has a weird texture don't use it. If you have doubts, check again in a couple of days and if it still looks/smells weird throw it out.
I hope these tips and tricks will help you enjoy your products for a longer period of time :)
dinsdag 15 mei 2012
Almond Scrub Bar
Scrubs come in many forms. Salt, sugar, sisal gloves. This recipe uses almonds for scrubbing and all the good things in cocoa butter and shea butter.
donderdag 10 mei 2012
zaterdag 5 mei 2012
Lavender Toner
A quick and easy recipe for a lavender toner. Lavender has a calming scent and has anti bacterial properties. It's also effective for acne prone skin, and I just love the smell.
Ingredients
125 ml of water or rose water
lavender buds
one teaspoon of vegetable glycerine
2 drops of lavender essential oil
1 drop of tea tree essential oil
2 drops of sweet orange essential oil
Heat the water or rose water, but don't let it boil. Fill an empty tea
bad or tea infuser with the lavender buds and place it in the water for
about 15-20 min. Let the water cool down and add the vegetable glycerin
and essential oils. You can store the toner a bottle or a spray
bottle.
In this case the mixture turned out a bit purple/pink. I've also seen lavender tea turn greenish, I think it might have to do with the water's temperature.
Ingredients
125 ml of water or rose water
lavender buds
one teaspoon of vegetable glycerine
2 drops of lavender essential oil
1 drop of tea tree essential oil
2 drops of sweet orange essential oil
In this case the mixture turned out a bit purple/pink. I've also seen lavender tea turn greenish, I think it might have to do with the water's temperature.
donderdag 26 april 2012
Sugar & Oatmeal Facial Peeling
This facial peeling/scrub is super easy and cheap, and a 100% natural.
sounds almost too good to be true right?
sounds almost too good to be true right?
zaterdag 7 april 2012
Sugar Lip Scurb
Being a big fan of Lush products I was checking their website, looking at their lip scrubs. I heard a lot of great stuff about them, but as I was checking the ingredients I thought to myself "I'm not going to pay over 9 euro's for some sugar and jojoba oil, with added color and flavor!" So I decided to make some of my own. It's 100% natural and super easy :)
woensdag 28 maart 2012
Dip dye/Ombre jacket
The description of my blog says "steffi's interests" so I thought it was time to share something else than recipes.
I have fallen absolutely in love with ombre and dip dye. For now my hair's a bit too short for that, so I'll have to stick with clothing for now.
Click to see what I did to this magical white jacket
I have fallen absolutely in love with ombre and dip dye. For now my hair's a bit too short for that, so I'll have to stick with clothing for now.
zaterdag 17 maart 2012
Body Butter Bar
Butter bars are cute and very easy to make. With silicone molds in all shapes and sizes you can create a variety of bars. Spoil yourself or make them a personal gift!
zaterdag 3 maart 2012
Body Lotion
Body lotion, for some it's necessary to keep their skin in good condition, for others it's a product they use from time to time as something extra, to pamper your skin.
This recipe I made is great for oily skin like mine, but with some simple tricks you can make it suitable for normal or dry skin.
for this bottle of about 250 ml I used
*100 gr of rose water
*100 gr of oil: 30 gr calendula, 50 gr sweet almond oil and 20 gr wheat germ oil.
*I used lysolecithine for my emulsifier, it's great stuff, can be used hot and cool, doesn't leave a film and just work with about anything, and makes your skin absorb stuff better. It looks like a red syrup, but in the end it doesn't really add too much color to your cream
*10 drops of essential eucalyptus oil
*10 drops of essential orange oil
Note: citrus can make your skin more sensitive to light.
*1,5 teaspoon of bee wax (or any other wax if you want to go full vegan)
Heat the oil and let the bee wax melt in there, heat the water to about the same temperature. I added the emulsifier to the oil too. Mix it all together, poor it in the bottle and just shake it for a minute or 2. Then add the essential oils, and shake it a bit more. Let it cool and enjoy!
As you can see it's a pretty liquid body lotion, it spread out really easy. If you want you can add a thickening agent to make it a little more solid, I think it all depends on your personal preferences, there are thickening agents out there that also make the cream a little more caring. It's just a basic body lotion I tried to show here, you can add extracts or butters if you like, it's all up to your personal preferences. Just experiment, get to know your own skin and enjoy the journey.
This recipe I made is great for oily skin like mine, but with some simple tricks you can make it suitable for normal or dry skin.
for this bottle of about 250 ml I used *100 gr of rose water
*100 gr of oil: 30 gr calendula, 50 gr sweet almond oil and 20 gr wheat germ oil.
*I used lysolecithine for my emulsifier, it's great stuff, can be used hot and cool, doesn't leave a film and just work with about anything, and makes your skin absorb stuff better. It looks like a red syrup, but in the end it doesn't really add too much color to your cream
*10 drops of essential eucalyptus oil
*10 drops of essential orange oil
Note: citrus can make your skin more sensitive to light.
*1,5 teaspoon of bee wax (or any other wax if you want to go full vegan)
Heat the oil and let the bee wax melt in there, heat the water to about the same temperature. I added the emulsifier to the oil too. Mix it all together, poor it in the bottle and just shake it for a minute or 2. Then add the essential oils, and shake it a bit more. Let it cool and enjoy!
As you can see it's a pretty liquid body lotion, it spread out really easy. If you want you can add a thickening agent to make it a little more solid, I think it all depends on your personal preferences, there are thickening agents out there that also make the cream a little more caring. It's just a basic body lotion I tried to show here, you can add extracts or butters if you like, it's all up to your personal preferences. Just experiment, get to know your own skin and enjoy the journey.
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