Making your own extract

Extracts are a great addition to your recipes, not just for your natural cosmetics but also in the kitchen.
There are a couple of ways to make extract, but today I'll share the easy method. 

If you look up recipes for extract on line, you will find very different recipes. It's not an exact science, but I will stick to the recipe I found in a book on natural cosmetic ingredients.

What do we need?
*clear, plain wodka, usually around 40% alcohol, if you can find a stronger one that's good too.
*herbs, this can be anything from vanilla to mint, rosemary or any other herb. Dried or fresh, just make sure the herbs are clean, free of dirt and bugs.
*a clean jar or bottle.

The recipe I found was 1 part herbs and 10 parts liquid. I think this is a pretty good recipe, but if you want to you can add more herbs. Just make sure all of the herbs are covered with liquid and you're still able to shake and or stir the mixture.  Like I said before, it's not an exact science. Feel free to experiment.

Put the herbs in the jar, fill it with the liquid and leave it in there for at least 4 weeks. Regularly shake or stir the mixture to get a good extract.
When it's done, separate the herbs from the liquid. You can use a clean dish towel to clear out the large parts and run it through a coffee filter to get the smaller parts out.
Store it in a clean jar, preferably with colored glass.

How do we use it?
Extracts can be used in many recipes. They're a great addition to face masks, creams, deodorants. Or if you're making vanilla or mint extract you can use it in all sorts of delicious recipes.
Only use a couple of drops in each recipe, remember you're adding  extra liquid to your recipe, this may influence the texture of your creams.
I often use extracts in face masks and most recently in a great sage deodorant, but I'll tell you more about that in my next post.

My shop update

My etsy store is one of my passions in life, next to of course natural cosmetics.

To celebrate the opening of my store there's a 10% discount for costumers.
Use the code TUMBLR10 at the end of your checkout.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunsetSparkles

I hope to sell some stuff, make my costumers happy and buy some new supplies.
And just grow and learn from this experience.

Super easy natural mouthwash

Most mouthwashes contain a lot of chemicals, sometimes even alcohol or another substance that some green product loving people fear: fluoride.  But don't worry, there are lots of green alternatives, like this very easy mouthwash with clove.
Clove has antiseptic properties and clove oil was often used in the history of dentistry.


Depending on the amount of mouthwash you want to make you'll need 1 tablespoon of whole clove buds per cup of water. Of course you'll also need a clean container.

Boil the water, and get a nice jug or pan to put the cloves in. Poor the boiling water on the cloves and let it cool. Separate the cloves from the water and poor the water into the container.
The water might turn slightly brown, and you might think not much has happened. But don't worry, the taste will be quite strong. If you don't like the taste of cloves you can try adding a little cinnamon to the mixture. And just use it as a normal mouthwash. Personally I really like this recipe, it's something very different from most mint based mouthwashes and it makes your mouth feel fresh.

Where to get what part II: Containers, jars etc

This is the second post about where to get supplies to start a green home made beauty routine. Containers, jars and such will be one of the first things you need to get started. You can't make anything if you have nothing to put it in.  The solution can be simple and green.

Most containers for creams, balms and oils can be recycled cosmetics bottles and jars. Use old bottles and jars, wash them, disinfect them and they're ready for a second life. You can ask friends and family to collect bottles for you (and make them something in an old jar as a present in return!) this way you'll have enough material in no time. You can use both plastic and glass, although I prefer glass. It's easier to clean and disinfect. Plastic also tends to hold the smell of the previous product.

Thrift stores will often have a large collection of large glass jars, which can be used to make oils, and pans in case you don't want to prepare your food in the same pan (I can imagine you don't want to use your expensive pans for cosmetic purposes.)

Stores with household items will often sell new glass jars too, pyrex jugs and silicon molds with funs shapes for body butters and measuring equipment (scales, those cute little 1/4,1/2 tablespoon spoons.) You can also find tons of stuff on line, where you'll find stores specialized in supplies for making your own cosmetics.
I'll still advise you to look at thrift stores and collect your own stuff first, simply because it will save you money, it's greener and you don't have to spend a lot of money to get started. If you want to make more things you can always get on line and order stuff there.

Tropical Lip balm

With winter coming up, lip balms are very welcome. This tropical lip balm will soothe your lips and make will take you on a trip to a tropical island.

What do we need?
*1 teaspoon of wax (beeswax,soy,hemp, anything will do)
*1 teaspoon of cocoa butter
*2 teaspoons of coconut oil
*1 teaspoon of avocado oil
*2 clean containers, this can either be old containers or maybe a cute little tin like I've used here

 It's fairly easy. Just put the ingredients into a heat resistant bowl or Pyrex jug. Heat it  bain marie (or in a microwave, but beware of getting burned since the bowl or jug will get very hot!) wait for all the ingredients to be molten into a nice consistent mixture.

Now here's the tricky part, getting it into the container itself. If you have a tin to put it into it will be a lot easier than when you're using a tube shaped container. It helps if your bowl or jug is still a little warm or hot (again, be careful not the get burned! ) so the balm doesn't solidify too much before you poor it into the container. After you get it into the container let it cool until it becomes solid. If you spill some wax you can easily rub it off with some paper towels. I was really surprised at how good that worked!
Enjoy the soft  and soothing texture of this lipbalm. It's best not too put it in your pocket since there's not a lot wax in there it will get too soft.

Where to get what part 1: Asian food store

Like I told in my last post, I'm going to try to write a new blog post every week. I will try to post a lot of new recipes, both easy and maybe a little harder. But if you want to make something you need supplies first. I will write a couple of posts about where you can find different items. If something is available around the corner or at your local mall it won't be such a big step to start making your own things.

2012

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.