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Homemade soap recipes, natural skin care recipes, DIY beauty, craft projects and homemade gift ideas. A creative lifestyle blog for makers.
Breathe in soothing steam to help clear your stuffy nose and ease your sinus pain, cough and headache symptoms naturally. Learn how to make sinus relief shower steamers with essential oils as a natural remedy for cold and flu season. Plus discover the best essential oils for sinus congestion along with their benefits when used to create DIY cold and flu shower melts. Cold and Flu Relief Shower Steamers These peppermint and eucalyptus shower bombs are practically guaranteed to provide quick and lasting relief for sinus pressure and congestion. This popular DIY is just as effective as over-the-counter sprays and decongestants to help clear nasal passages and restore normal breathing. I chose a blend of eucalyptus and peppermint to make these cold and flu shower bombs. Not only do these essential oils smell wonderful together, but they are also ideal for helping to soothe cold symptoms such a nasal congestion and sinus pressure. However, you can also use your own blend of essential oils for sinus congestion to make these. So, be sure to check out my list of the best essential oils for sinus congestion included within this post. Ready to stock your medicine cabinet for cold and flu season? Discover the benefits of the ingredients in these DIY shower melts for colds and congestion, where to buy the ingredients, and how to make shower steamers at home as an easy way to soothe and alleviate symptoms. What Are Shower Steamers? Shower steamers are like a bath bomb for the shower. They are made with similar ingredients, though skin nourishing ingredients are excluded, as you don’t soak in this type of bath product. These ingredients may include citric acid, baking soda, cream of tartar or Epsom salt and essential oils. Similarly, when shower tablets are activated in water, they dissolve. As they dissolve, the aromatherapy shower steamers release essential oils. The essential oils then turn your shower into a large diffuser because of the steam. This essentially creates a mini spa in your own bathroom. One difference between bath bombs and shower steamers, however, is that these relaxing shower steamers with essential oils aren’t diluted in a carrier oil. They also contain higher concentrations of essential oil than are considered skin safe. Due to this, you should not use these aromatherapy shower tablets as a bath bomb in your tub, even though they are similar recipes. Shower steamer tablets are an easy way to enjoy aromatherapy in your shower! Whether you need to relax and unwind, want a morning pick me up, or need cold and flu symptom relief, shower bombs are a quick and easy alternative that you can make at home. Similar to how to make bath bombs, this aromatherapeutic product may be made with the similar ingredients such as citric acid and baking soda. However, you don’t need citric acid to recreate this recipe! Instead, I made my sinus relief shower steamers using baking soda and Epsom salt. While this prevents the product from activating like bath bombs which foam and bubble in the tub, it still allows them to slowly dissolve in the shower when they are ready to use. After all, you don’t need a lot of flair and bubbles for this application as it’s not at all like a bubble bath. In fact, soaking in these would be relatively uncomfortable as it uses a higher concentration of essential oils for sinus relief than recommended for a DIY bath soak, such as this detox bath soak recipe. Beginner DIY-ers can make this natural cold and flu remedy — even if you’ve never made bath bombs or shower melts before. You don’t need many ingredients to recreate this recipe. Therefore, it’s a great project for beginners who are just getting started making their own essential oil recipes and products. Are Shower Steamers the Same as Bath Bombs? While shower steamers are similar to bath bombs and may contain like ingredients, they are not the same. Bath bombs contain ingredients that not only fizz and foam, but that also nourish and moisturizing skin. Instead, shower steamers are like a bath bomb for the shower. The skin nourishing ingredients are excluded, as you don’t soak in this type of bath product. The ingredients used to make shower melts may include citric acid, baking soda, cream of tartar or Epsom salt and essential oils. Similar to bath bombs, when shower tablets are activated in water, they dissolve. As they dissolve, the aromatherapy shower steamers release essential oils. The essential oils then turn your shower into a large diffuser because of the steam. This essentially creates an at home spa in your own bathroom. A major difference between bath bombs and shower steamers, however, is that essential oil shower steamers aren’t diluted in a carrier oil. They also contain higher concentrations of essential oils than are considered skin safe. Due to this, you should not use these aromatherapy shower tablets as a bath bomb in your tub, even though the recipes may seem alike. Best Essential Oils for Sinus Congestion and Cold Symptoms While I used a blend of eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils to make these shower melts for cold and flu, you aren’t limited to these. Here are some other essential oils you can use to make cold and flu bombs: Eucalyptus: Eucalyptus essential oil is a powerful decongestant able to loosen phlegm, ease sinus pressure and clear both chest and sinus congestion. In turn, the soothing and cooling properties also help to alleviate coughing. It may also help relieve symptoms caused by bronchitis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For conditions such as hay fever or allergic rhinitis, eucalyptus can reduce symptoms when inhaled. Rosemary: Rosemary essential oil is both a decongestant and anti-inflammatory. It works in similar manner as peppermint. However, it is less potent than peppermint. Peppermint: Like rosemary and eucalyptus, peppermint essential oil provides relief for sore throats, cough and congestion as well as allergy symptoms. Lavender: While lavender essential oil isn’t one to help with congestion, what […]
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These peppermint cocoa bombs are the perfect treat for the holidays and wintertime! The easy hot chocolate bombs recipe is made with peppermint-flavored candy melts, hot cocoa mix, mini marshmallows, and crushed peppermint candy for the ultimate festive flavor. Peppermint Hot Chocolate Bombs After sharing adorable corgi hot chocolate bombs and cute mini chocolate bombs, I’m back with another tasty recipe: peppermint cocoa bombs! Although we usually associate peppermint hot chocolate with Christmas time, I love this flavor combo year-round. And let me tell you, these peppermint hot cocoa bombs are so good! They have just the right amount of peppermint flavor and chocolate aroma. And staying in tune with the candy cane theme, we’ll be using peppermint candy melts for the chocolate shells and peppermint candy as decorations. Get ready to curl up to a warm cup of hot chocolate loaded with candy cane flavor on a cold winter’s day. Made in about 30-minutes, this hot chocolate bomb recipe with marshmallows is quick, easy and fun to make. This recipe guides you on how to create a hollow peppermint ball that you can fill with your favorite store-bought or homemade hot chocolate mixture. Kids and adults both love watching this delicious holiday treat melt revealing the delicious, hot chocolate drink nestled inside. What Is A Hot Cocoa Bomb? Hot cocoa bombs have been going strong for a while now. In case you’ve never heard of them, let me explain what they are what makes them so much fun. A hot cocoa bomb is a hollow sphere made of chocolate stuffed with hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, and sweets. To enjoy them, you add hot milk into a mug and drop in a hot cocoa bomb. The warmth of the milk melts the chocolate shell and releases the delicious filling. It’s so much fun to watch and drink! Ingredients My peppermint hot cocoa bombs are not only gorgeous but so delicious! To make the recipe, you’ll need only a handful of easy-to-find ingredients. Here’s your shopping list! Peppermint candy melts: These white candy melts taste peppermint flavored and are adorned with tiny red specks. They make this treat look extra festive and infuse your hot chocolate with a delicious candy cane aroma. Hot cocoa mix dissolves in the warm milk and adds a rich chocolate note. Use your favorite store-bought hot cocoa mix, or try my quick hot chocolate mix recipe that I’m sharing further down in this post. Peppermint candies: We’ll be stuffing and decorating the hot chocolate bombs with crushed peppermint candy. The red and white pieces add festive cheer and really bring out the peppermint flavor. I used candy canes, but you could also try starlight mints or other peppermint candies. Mini marshmallows make these white chocolate bombs super cozy. I filled my hot cocoa bombs with white marshmallows. Of course, colorful marshmallows would be nice as well. Equipment Before starting with the hot cocoa bomb recipe, assemble the following tools and supplies: Semi-Sphere Silicone Mold: This supply is crucial to creating these peppermint hot cocoa bombs. I strongly recommend using silicone bomb molds because the material is flexible and makes it easy to unmold the chocolate spheres. Spoon to spread the chocolate throughout the mold. Alternately, a pastry brush also works and may be easier depending on your comfort level. Ziplock bag for decorating. Large ceramic platter to hold the chocolate bombs during the assembling process. Small frying pan to heat the edges of the chocolate shells. Microwave-safe bowl: This is necessary to melt the peppermint candy melts in the microwave. However, you may also use a double boiler or melting pot. Small bowl: Use a small bowl to contain the crushed peppermints until ready to use. How to Make Peppermint Cocoa Bombs Making hot chocolate bombs involves quite a few steps, but it’s easy, I promise. Let’s go over the process step-by-step. Prep work 1. To get started, set the plate in the freezer. Then crush the peppermint candies. TIP: I typically place the candy inside a large Ziploc bag then go over it with a rolling pin. However, if you have a food processor, it will make the process faster and easier. I recommend using the finer pieces of peppermint on the inside of the hot cocoa balls. While the larger chunks may be used to decorate the tops. Make the chocolate spheres 2. Melt candy according to package directions using your preferred method. (See the FAQ sections for more information on melting techniques.) 3. Add a spoonful of melted candy to each of the mold cavities. Then use a spoon to spread the peppermint candy inside the mold. Make sure to coat the entire cavity so it covers the entire interior, including the sides. (Alternately you may also use a pastry brush to assist with this step.) TIP: As this recipe makes six peppermint hot cocoa bombs, you need to coat twelve cavities from two molds. You can make these all at once. Or make and freeze half and then repeat the process if you only have one mold. 4. Transfer the leftover melted candy to a Ziplock baggie and set aside. You’ll use the remainder of the candy to decorate the chocolate balls after they’ve been pieced together. 5. Now set the candy-filled molds in the freezer for 5 minutes. Once all of the candy is solid, you are ready to fill the candy shells with hot chocolate mix and seal the two sides together. Assemble the cocoa bombs 6. To assemble the peppermint cocoa bombs, heat a small frying pan on the stovetop over low-medium heat. 7. Then, remove both the plate and candy-filled molds from the freezer. TIP: The cold plate will help prevent the candy from melting as you work. 8. Gently remove the candy semi-spheres from the mold. You need to be careful with removal as you need them to stay in one whole piece. Then place each candy shell upside down onto the chilled plate. 9. Grab one […]
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Nothing complements fall and winter better than cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and brown sugar. Create your own whipped pumpkin spice sugar scrub with this easy recipe. This exfoliating DIY sugar scrub is perfect for the season when cold weather hits. It smells lovely and is an ideal way to exfoliate and moisturize skin on a budget. Or make these as a simple, yet thoughtful gift idea. DIY Whipped Pumpkin Spice Sugar Scrub If sweater weather has you dreaming of pumpkin spice lattes, then this skincare DIY is a must! Not only is the scent amazing, but it’s also wonderful if you need a little self-care. An ideal way to both exfoliate and moisturize skin, this DIY pumpkin spice body scrub is affordable and easy to whip up in your kitchen. Made with a combination of coconut oil and warm, cozy spices whipped to perfection, there’s no better way to care for skin. Whether you need creative and frugal gift ideas, or are looking to replace those expensive store bought products, this exfoliating scrub is tops! Not only is this beauty product a fab addition to your skin care routine, these homemade body scrubs also make great DIY gifts for the holiday season. Keep reading to learn how to make your own whipped pumpkin spice sugar scrub. The Benefits of Sugar Scrubs There are a number of key benefits to using a pumpkin pie spice sugar scrub in your beauty routine. Following are the natural advantages of using homemade body scrubs for skin: A homemade sugar scrub for the body sloughs off the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin. This helps you get better looking skin right away and keeps your skin looking and feeling good. Exfoliating also helps your moisturizers and lotions penetrate deeper into your skin for more benefits. The exfoliating action of homemade body scrubs helps to smooth and brighten skin, giving it an even skin tone and texture. Exfoliating with a sugar scrub for body care cleans out your pores. This makes them appear smaller, and it helps remove dirt and toxins for better looking skin. This in turn may also help to prevent ingrown hairs. If you’re prone to body acne, using this product can remove dirt and debris that can clog pores and lead to blemishes. The oil in this exfoliating scrub helps moisturize and nourish your skin. As this skincare product is scented, you’ll enjoy the aromatherapy benefits of pumpkin spice. Supplies for Making a Pumpkin Pie Sugar Scrub These are supplies you’ll need to recreate this easy recipe for a whipped sugar scrub scented with pumpkin pie spice: Medium mixing bowl: You will need a medium to large size mixing bowl to combine and whip the ingredients called for in this recipe for making an exfoliating pumpkin pie scrub. Measuring cups and spoons: A one cup measuring cup and 3/4 teaspoon measuring spoon are necessary to measure out the cup coconut oil and the pumpkin pie spices called for in this easy DIY. Hand mixer: An electric hand mixer makes it quick and easy to blend the ingredients together. It’s also used to whip the sugar scrub to give it it’s fluffy texture. Alternately, you can also use a stand mixer to make this whipped body scrub. While you can use to a whisk to mix the ingredient initially, you will need an electric beater to actually whip the scrub. Container: You’ll need an airtight container to store the completed body scrub. I like to use a 16 oz. low profile jar. However, you may use any container of your choice. Spoon or spatula: If desired, you can use a spoon or spatula to stir the spices into the sugar. A utensil is also helpful for filling the container with the pumpkin spice sugar scrub. DIY Pumpkin Spice Sugar Scrub Ingredients Following are the ingredients necessary to make a pumpkin spice sugar scrub recipe for DIY holiday gifts or a rejuvenating spa day at home: Coconut oil: I used regular coconut oil for this skin care formulation. This carrier oil is a semi-solid at room temperature. If your coconut oil does not stay solid at room temperature, then you will not be able to make this recipe without some modifications. In this instance, I recommend that you swap out the coconut oil with shea butter, or make an emulsified sugar scrub. This ingredient serves as the base for the scrub and provides skin moisturizing properties. Sugar: Regular, granulated white sugar works best for this recipe. You can also use fine, caster sugar in its place for sensitive skin or facial applications. However, as this product contains regular coconut oil and a fragrance oil, I do not recommend that this product be used as a face scrub. Alternately, brown sugar is also a suitable alternative if you’d like to make a brown sugar scrub scented like pumpkin pie. This ingredient is used to exfoliate skin. Pumpkin pie spice: Just for fun, I added some spices to the sugar before mixing the formulation. This lends to the warmth of the scrub and complements the aroma of the fragrance oil. The pumpkin pie spice also helps exfoliate skin. (If you don’t have this spice blend on hand, you can learn how to make pumpkin pie spice here with spices you may already have in your cupboard.) Pumpkin fragrance oil: There are a number of fragrance oils that you can use to make this pumpkin spice sugar scrub. Choose from great fragrances like pumpkin pecan waffles, pumpkin caramel latte, pumpkin apple, pumpkin spice or homemade pumpkin pie! I used a pumpkin pie fragrance to scent my recipe. However, you can also choose an aroma from this spice scent blend. Or try pumpkin spice essential oil at up to 2% of the formulation. (Learn how to make pumpkin spice essential oil here.) Variations and Substitutions This whipped pumpkin sugar scrub was formulated to be as easy to make as possible. However, you can mix things […]
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Learn how to affordably decorate your home using custom canvas prints. If you’re on a budget, decorating can be outside of reach. However, you can create gorgeous, gallery quality artwork for cheaper than you may think. Discover how to use popular images and designs, as well as your own photos, to decorate your walls without breaking the bank. Or create them to give as unique gifts throughout the year. Personalized Canvas Prints Take your space from ordinary to extraordinary! Personalized canvas prints are a wonderful way to liven up any room’s decor. They are also a fantastic gift to give. Aside from being a great gift, they are very durable and can last a really long time. There’s no better gift than a classic piece of art for your home. If you’ve never ordered art for wall decor before, it may seem a bit daunting. Fortunately, it’s much easier than you may think. So, whether you’re buying custom canvas prints as a unique gift for family and friends, or to decorate your own space, you can do so within your budget without sacrificing quality. Affordable Custom Wall Art Let’s face it. Not all of can afford to have original artwork in our homes. Even at the Sidewalk Art show my city hosts each year, original paintings typically start at around $300. The price only goes up from there. Fortunately, you can create the perfect customized canvas prints for your living space as an affordable alternative. I found that I was able to create and order personalized art online for significantly cheaper without sacrificing the integrity of the space. You can choose from pre-designed artwork or upload your own drawings or photographs. Whichever option you choose, your art will printed onto quality canvas, then framed so it’s ready for display in your home. Whether you’re looking for a solution for the empty space above your headboard or TV, or need a unique piece to help style your buffet, budget-friendly canvas prints are ideal. But, where do you find them? And, how do you style canvas wall art in your home? Continue reading, for an easy answer to both of these questions! Decorating with Custom Canvas Prints from Photowall If you’re looking for new art for your walls, but aren’t sure where to get started, then I highly recommend Photowall. Photowall provides custom canvas print services for both individuals and business with impeccable taste. I recently used this company to create custom art for my own walls. Specifically, I was looking for artwork for two spots on my wall that seemed incredibly bare — over my headboard in the bedroom and over the buffet in my living room/dining area. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted when I started. Fortunately, Photowall made it easy to find the perfect artwork for both spaces and offered highly competitive prices! That I could search by color and category as well as find inspiration on their site, made the process much easier. Photowall allows you to create custom wallpaper murals, posters and canvas prints. They have thousands of beautiful designs to choose from, including works from popular artists. You also have the option of uploading your own artwork or photographs. I did both. With custom canvas prints starting under $50, I couldn’t believe how inexpensive it was to order large works of art to decorate my walls. I ordered the largest size they had, and spent around $100 each. Benefits of Ordering Through Photowall As I was browsing through all of the categories and design options on Photowall — and entertaining various print sizes — I realized that this company provides a number of wonderful benefits. From helping you select the best piece of art to their uncomplicated return policy, I was sold from start to finish. These are some of the perks you’ll enjoy when shopping for personalized art through Photowall: You can search by color. I found a gorgeous floral print to go over my bed. The muted colors were a perfect match with my existing theme as I was able to search by the color scheme. I was also able to find a print that matched the original paintings in my dining area by searching for specific color combinations. If you aren’t sure what design or color you’re after, you can search for art by theme. Whether it’s a woodland forest or modern abstract art, you can pick your favorite motif and browse to your heart’s content for that ideal look. You can even order your favorite art reproductions from famous artists throughout time for the perfect customized canvas print! Custom photo canvas prints are a breeze to create. Simply upload a high quality photograph and it is meticulously printed onto canvas. I ordered a print from my son’s wedding for one of my canvas prints and was absolutely delighted. The detail was immaculate and the quality well exceeded my expectations. This with ordered the largest print size they have! Photowall offers seriously affordable pricing. Of course comparing original art to prints isn’t quite the same. But even compared to prints of the same size I might pick up at TJ Maxx, I paid considerably less. Plus, there was the added bonus of being able to use any art, photograph or design I wanted. When they say custom, they mean it! Not only can you use your artwork or a design they’ve provided, you can crop the art however you like and choose the size of the print. Choose prints that are tall, skinny or square up to 40″ in dimension either vertically or horizontally. The frame construction for the artwork is solidly made and comes pre-assembled. The corners are square and nothing is offset or crooked. Additionally, they are made with an FSC-certified wooden frame. Each print comes with saw tooth hangers attached. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about how you’re going to hang your custom artwork. Just be sure you indicate how the piece will go on the wall […]
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Celebrate spooky season with this creative collection of fun Halloween treats and desserts recipes. Savory or sweet, these ideas for kids and adults can’t be beat! Spooky Halloween Party Treats Halloween is a fun time of year to entertain neighbors and schoolmates, family and friends. If you’re seeking frighteningly fun treats for your party guests or trick-or-treaters, then you’ve come to the right place! Whether you’re in love with ghosts and goblins or witches and mummies, there’s no shortage of your favorite characters in this delightful collection of festive holiday ideas and mouth watering recipes. There’s no better way to celebrate the spookiest month of the year than with hauntingly good treats. I caught up with my favorite food bloggers to get their best halloween recipes, from holiday charcuterie to baked goods to savory snacks. Keep reading to discover the most creative Halloween treats for your autumn celebrations or Halloween party this year. Savory and Sweet Halloween Treat Recipes When you think of Halloween treats, most of us think of something sweet. However, not all goodies need to sinfully sugary, however. These recipes provide the perfect combo of both savory and sweet to satisfy all your party guests. Candy Corn Pretzel Bites A pretzel, a Hershey’s kiss, and candy corn — so easy, but these make ahead bite-sized sweet and salty Candy Corn Pretzel Bites are super addicting! The perfect easy Halloween treat from Bunsen Burner Bakery! Monster Munch Party Mix Chex Mix is always a popular party favorite. This take on this timeless snack combines salty Chex cereal, Bugles and pretzel sticks with Halloween candy corn, candy eyes and Reese’s Pieces for a sweet and savory way to fill your belly. Learn how to make your own Monster Munch here. Hocus Pocus Popcorn This Hocus Pocus Popcorn from Simplistically Living is a glorious recipe to serve up at any Halloween party! This fun treat is extremely easy to make and requires just 4 ingredients. Not only is it the perfect blend of salty and sweet, but it’s also kid-friendly. Frankenstein Finger Pretzel Halloween Treats A mix of salty pretzel rods and either chocolate or candy wafers, these fun finger foods are literally just that! Everyone will be amazed by these realistic — and tasty! — pretzel treats for Halloween. Adorned with slice almond fingernails and candy eyeballs, this crunchy party food can also be bagged for trick-or-treaters. Fun Halloween Cookies and Sweets From soft cookies to brownies and other tasty sweets, these party treats make a captivating addition to any party table where fun Halloween treats are in order! Halloween Oreo Balls If you need an easy, no-bake dessert for the holiday, these 5-ingredient Halloween Oreo balls are the perfect fall treat for your party! Discover how to make these seasonal, bite-size pumpkin Oreo balls to impress and delight your party guests, friends and family on this spooky October holiday. Ghost Sandwich Cookies These ghost sandwich cookies are shaped like little ghosts for the cutest Halloween treats! They have a layer of rich, black cocoa buttercream sandwiched between two ghost shaped sugar cookies. Then they are covered in white chocolate. If you’re looking for the perfect, ghastly cookie for your tricksters, these are sure to be the star of any Halloween party dessert table! Peanut Butter Cups Spider Cookies These easy, spider cookies make an adorable dessert for a cookie charcuterie board or after school snacks. Made using your favorite peanut butter cookies recipe, these are effortlessly decorated with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, candy eyes, and some chocolate drizzle to resemble spiders. Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies Another delightful Halloween dessert, these pumpkin cheesecake brownies are quick and easy to make. These delish pumpkin brownies make a perfect fall snack with a rich chocolate flavor, a creamy pumpkin cheesecake layer and a pecan streusel topping. These semi-homemade Halloween treats start with a box of brownie mix, so they are easy to make. Soft Pumpkin Halloween Sugar Cookies These soft Halloween sugar cookies are perfect for shaping into cuteness for any season. However, these pumpkin designs are especially adorable! Make this frosted dessert to share with neighbors or a school party. Package them inside treat bags for party favors or add some color to your dessert board. Made with real cream cheese, these cookies are sure to be snatched up as fast as you can make them. Mummy Pops Similar to cake pops, these mummy pops are made using brownie box mix for a tasty way to entertain your guests. Made with dark chocolate brownies and cream cheese dipped in white chocolate, kids and adults alike will love this wonderfully blended concoction. Witch Hat Cookies Crayons & Cravings has a wonderful recipe for making witch hat cookies. These tasty and creative Halloween party treats are made with homemade chocolate cookies, buttercream frosting, and Hershey Kisses. Halloween Cupcakes and Dessert Recipes A party without cupcakes? Never! If you love sweets, you’ll find that these hauntingly delicious, dessert recipes take the cake. Slime Cupcakes You definitely want to check out this fun and easy slime cupcakes recipe! This easy Halloween treat is filled with homemade edible slime on the inside similar to that of a cream-filled, Halloween snack cake. So, it’s both a creative and tasty way to scare up some fun with an unexpected surprise for all your party guests. Cauldron Cake Recipe Bewitching and beguiling, this recipe for cauldron cake from The Gracious pantry is irresistible and perfect for you Halloween sweet tooth! A delightful treat from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, this Halloween dessert tastes just like a chocolate chip cake. Halloween Witch Cupcakes These Halloween witch cupcakes from Preppy Kitchen will knock your guests’ socks off! Spooky faces are piped with buttercream while the witches’ hats are made with a candy-filled ice cream cone filled to the brim. Everything is SO good, that you’ll enjoy the moist, richly spiced pumpkin cupcakes as much as the cupcake toppers! Hocus Pocus Cupcakes Inspired by Disney and the movie of the […]
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Need an easy, no-bake dessert for the holidays? These 5-ingredient pumpkin Oreo balls are the perfect fall treat for Halloween, Thanksgiving and everything in between! Read on to discover how to make these seasonal, bite-size Oreo cookie truffles to impress and delight your party guests, friends and family this autumn. Pumpkin Oreo Truffles These pumpkin-shaped Oreo balls are one of the simplest Halloween treats you make for autumn. Kids love these tasty no-bake desserts for Halloween as much as the adults. Not only are they delicious, they’re also visually appealing. If you’re ready to dive into some bite sized fun, these Halloween Oreo balls are the perfect creation! Whether you need an after school snack or something special for a party tray or dessert charcuterie, these cookie truffles can’t be beat. Best of all, they only require about 20-minutes to actively make. Plus, I’ve also included printable gift tags in case you need a last minute DIY gift. What are Oreo Pumpkin Cookie Balls? Pumpkin Oreo balls combine classic ingredients to create a delicious fall dessert that’s a cross between a cookie and a candy truffle confection. This easy, pumpkin shaped treat blends crumbled Oreo cookies with cream cheese to create tasty truffle-like sweets. They are then dipped in melted, orange candy wafers for a chocolate coating that resembles our favorite winter squash. Finally, they are decorated with pretzel stems and M&M candies — so they appear as delectable as they taste. Similar to my easy no bake Oreo truffles with cream cheese, these Oreo cookie truffles are ideal for entertaining. Whether you need an autumn dessert, Halloween treat or a homemade food gift for the holidays, you can’t go wrong with this amazing party food idea. Of course, there are a number of ways to recreate this amazing autumn cookie treat — both in flavor and appearance. So, be sure to check out the variations I’ve provided for this recipe if you’d like to mix things up. Seasonal No Bake Fall Party Treats Taste aside, one of my favorite things about this dessert is that there’s no baking required. Which means, you can keep your oven free for other things. Not only will there be fewer dishes to wash, but it’s always a win when you can cook a holiday dinner and make your favorite fall party treats at the same time. As if you need any other reasons to try out these no bake pumpkin balls, I figured I’d share why making this recipe is a win: These no bake desserts are ideal for a festive autumn treat. And what’s better than not having to turn on your oven? Not only is there no baking required, but this dessert is incredibly easy to make. It requires just a few, basic ingredients and you only need 20-minutes to make them, not including the time they’re in the freezer. In fact, these pumpkin Oreo cookies balls are so simple that the kids can join in the fun and help. There’s not a single occasion they aren’t suited for. You can make these for after school fall snacks, a dessert charcuterie board for autumn entertaining, or as colorful cookie treats for Halloween and Thanksgiving desserts. Desserts that look pretty don’t always have the flavor that you would expect. Fortunately, these are everything you’re hoping for and they taste absolutely delicious! (Because who doesn’t love Oreo cookies?) These party treats also make wonderful homemade holiday food gifts for the season. However, as they do need to stay refrigerated, be sure to include a note when gifting. I’ve included free printable gift labels for this party dessert. Therefore, whether you’re giving these as party favors or gifting them to friends and family, they’re effortless to package and decorate. Pumpkin Oreo Dessert Variations I’ve created the easiest version of these pumpkin Oreo desserts possible. However, that means there’s room to make this dessert unique to you! If you’re looking for variations on this autumn treat, then be sure to consider some of these other amazing possibilities: I used regular Oreo cookies for this no bake dessert. However, you don’t have to pick the chocolate ones! You can also substitute them with Nabisco Golden Oreos or a seasonal favorite such as Pumpkin Spice Oreos when they are released. Use different colored candy chocolate to decorate these Oreo pumpkin cookie balls. You can use them to add additional details to the pumpkin for a more authentic look. Or color them something other than orange to create cream cheese truffles that resemble spiders, witches or ghosts. Decorate your desserts with piped icing or other candies and nuts. Insert a lollipop stick into each Oreo ball before freezing and prior to dipping in the melted candy. You can then make pumpkin cake pops! Create Halloween cakesicles or snack cakes by mixing half of the crushed Oreo mixture with baked box cake mix. Simply blend freshly baked cake together with the half the Oreos and cream cheese in a stand mixer. Then shape and freeze in the same way I did with these pumpkin cakesicles. Just keep in mind you may need additional chocolate or candy melts for coating. Mix in a small amount of your favorite liqueur to amp up the flavor of these fabulous sweets. Banana, passion fruit, pineapple, cassis and creme de cacao liqueur all compliment the flavor of chocolate Oreos beautifully. Alternately, you may also add a small amount of vanilla extract. Make these reminiscent of your favorite homemade pumpkin pie and give these goodies a pumpkin flavor. To make pumpkin spice Oreo truffles, mix in 3/4 teaspoon each of fresh or canned pumpkin puree (or pumpkin butter) and pumpkin pie spice. Swap out the cream cheese in this cookie dessert with frosting, Marshmallow fluff or even peanut butter. Doing so will allow you to store these truffles at room temperature rather than in the refrigerator. Give these delightful treats a PSL twist that’s reminiscent of a pumpkin spice latte by adding 3/4 teaspoon pumpkin […]
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Learn how to make Halloween hot dogs that look like mummies. Baked inside homemade gluten free, cheesy garlic bread, this recipe makes a delicious, family friendly dinner idea for fall. Try this easy, low carb recipe for your next meal. Or make them for this year’s Halloween party as a spooky and fun appetizer for the holiday. Halloween Mummy Hot Dogs Scare up some fun this October with creatively, creepy holiday meal. In this savory Halloween recipe, hot dogs are wrapped in warm homemade, cheesy garlic bread. Unlike other versions of this spooky food idea, I don’t use store bought, refrigerated crescent rolls. Instead, I created a tasty, gluten free version that I baked from scratch. This homemade flourless dough is perfect if you’re watching carbs. But it’s also ideal if you have gluten allergies or sensitivities. If you’re ready to enjoy a flavorful party snack or seasonal fall dinner, these cheesy garlic bread, mummy hot dogs are a wonderful option! They’re ideal for a potluck party, family celebration or holiday event as they’re easy to make and travel well. What Are Mummified Hot Dogs? A mummy hot dog is essentially a bread roll that is shaped like a mummy and filled with meat. It’s quite similar to those old school pigs in a blanket or crescent roll pigs. These halloweenies hot dogs are typically served at Halloween parties. However, they also make a great autumn dinner. This spooky food is the fun way to get kids to eat — no matter how picky they may be. Keep reading to learn how to make mummy hot dogs for your kids (and kids at heart) for this festive October holiday. Mummy Dogs Ingredients Halloween hot dogs are a great way to celebrate the holiday and delight guests of all ages. Here are the ingredients you will need to recreate this kid-friendly recipe: Mozzarella cheese: Unlike other recipes for Halloween mummy dogs, this version combines cheese with the bread dough to create cheesy bread with garlic that is reminiscent of pizza crust. Just be sure to check that there’s no added gluten or fillers in the cheese you buy. Almond flour: As these Halloween hot dogs are made with flourless dough, almond flour is used in lieu of regular wheat flour. This ingredient also helps to keep this dinner idea and party appetizer low in carbs. So, it’s suitable for those following a keto diet. Cream cheese: Rather than using butter and milk, cream cheese is combined with the mozzarella and other ingredients used to make the bread dough. Baking powder: This ingredient is used to leaven the bread, increasing the volume and texture. It also produces carbon dioxide when baked. This in turn helps quick breads, such as biscuits and cornbread, rise. Xanthan gum: Because this Halloween hot dog recipe is made with almond flour rather than regular wheat flour, xanthan gum is incorporated into the dough to provide elasticity and stickiness that you wouldn’t get otherwise. In addition, it helps to hold in moisture and act as a binding agent for the gluten-free flour. Like baking soda, it also gives baked goods structure. Large egg: Eggs are ideal for gluten free baking as they replace many of the functions that gluten provides. This includes enhancing the texture, binding the dough, and improving the texture. They are also rich in protein making them perfect for keto and low carb recipes. Spices: Sea salt, onion powder, and garlic powder are used to season the bread dough for these Halloween hot dogs. In combination with the cheese, they create a delicious cheesy garlic bread to wrap around the beef franks instead of using hot dog buns. Not only is this a more flavorful alternative to traditional buns, but by creating your own dough from scratch it allows you to shape it around the meat to mimic the appearance of a mummy. (If you’re interested in buying quality spices in bulk to stretch your budget further, I highly recommend Mountain Rose Herbs.) Bun length hot dogs: Any gluten free bun length hot dogs will work for this party food. I prefer all beef franks, however, you pick your favorite brand. Optional Ingredients If you’d like to take this tasty dish to the next level, you can also include these additional ingredients: Candy Eyes: If you really want to make these mummy hot dogs extra scaretastic, then you can add candy eyeballs to each one. Simply place two dots of ketchup, mayonnaise or mustard onto each Halloween hot dog. Then place a candy eye onto each dot. Condiments or Dipping sauce: This meal is delicious plain. However, you can also spice things up a bit by serving it with your favorite dipping sauce or condiments. Which Hot Dogs are Gluten-Free? Obviously, if you’re opting for a gluten free recipe, then you want to ensure that the hot dogs for this Halloween recipe are also free of gluten. Following are brands that sell gluten free hot dogs: Simple Truth Gluten Free Grass Fed Uncured Beef Hot Dogs Hebrew National Beef Franks Nathan’s Gluten-Free Famous Bun Length Skinless Beef Franks Simple Truth Uncured Turkey Hot Dogs Applegate Natural Uncured Beef Hot Dogs Oscar Mayer Natural Angus Beef Uncured Franks Bar-S Franks Hot Dogs Farmer John Wieners Substitutions and Variations There are a few substitutions and variations you can make this low carb, gluten free recipe. Whether you need to reduce prep time or want to play around with the flavors, these tips and tricks will help you achieve the perfect Halloween hot dogs! Save on Prep Time with a Prepared Dough It’s completely understandable if time is of the essence. Busy families are often overwhelmed. Therefore, cooking a special Halloween dinner can seem like a lot. As you’re making the cheesy crescent roll dough for this recipe from scratch, the combined prep and baking time takes around 45 minutes. However, you can cheat a bit to save time and still create a tasty gluten free meal […]
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A delicious, sweet, and fun Halloween dessert for kids and adults of all ages. You can make ghost cupcakes at home using your favorite box cupcake mix, lollipops and fondant. Don’t have time to bake? You can also used pre-baked cupcakes for this delectable, fall treat as well. This adorable Halloween party idea is easier to make than you may imagine; and a delight to both create and devour. Easy Halloween Party Treats Kids love to get their hands messy when it comes to creating ghoulish treats for Halloween. Fortunately, this easy recipe is perfect if the kids want to get involved. There are steps suited for just about any age. So, everyone in the family can help make these cute Halloween treats for your upcoming party or afterschool snacks. Plus, if you prefer a more hands on approach to parties, this is a great activity for guests. Simply provide pre-baked cupcakes and an assembly line of the ingredients you need to decorate these Halloween treats. Then host a Halloween cupcake decorating party where each party guest can decorate their own dessert. Keep reading to learn how to decorate your cupcakes for Halloween with this ghostly, cupcake decorating idea. Halloween Ghost Cupcake Ingredients This recipe for ghost cupcakes is designed for decorating Halloween cupcakes to look like ghosts. You will start with either pre-made cupcakes. Or you may bake your own fresh, using boxed cake mix. After which, you’ll add festive holiday icing. Finally floating ghosts are placed into the center of the Halloween snack cakes for the perfect party treat. Here’s what you’ll need to complete this spooktacular, autumn-themed dessert: Cupcakes: You will either need white or chocolate cupcake mix or pre-baked white or chocolate cupcakes. You may also choose another flavor based on your personal preference. The cupcakes are decorated after baking to resemble ghosts or ghouls. If using box cake mix to make your own cake, you’ll also need the ingredients listed on the back of the box, including the eggs and vegetable oil. Buttercream Frosting: I used vanilla and chocolate buttercream frosting to decorate these delicious, holiday treats. Otherwise the fondant ghosties will peek through bare cake. In addition, frosting is also used to add details, such as the eyes and mouth, to the cupcake ghosts. Sprinkles: While optional, sprinkles make everything better! I love using multi-colored, candy sprinkles in fun Halloween shapes for this recipe. You can explore Halloween sprinkle mixes here. Or consider these adorable, pressed sugar ghosts. Lollipops: You’ll need lollipops to make the ghost cupcake decorations. I used Dum Dums® lollipops for their round shape and small size. However, you can also use another brand of lollipops at your discretion. Blow Pops would also work for this application. White Fondant: White colored fondant is necessary to create the ghost shapes. The fondant will be rolled out onto a flat surface, then cut into a circle before placing over top of the lollipops. When draped over the candy, the fondant resembles floating ghosts. Powdered Sugar: To assist with rolling out and cutting the fondant, powdered sugar is placed onto the working surface to prevent the fondant from sticking. Kitchen Equipment and Tools In addition to the ingredients necessary to decorate these cupcakes for Halloween, you’ll also need some basic kitchen equipment. If you are using pre-baked cupcakes, then not all of the tools listed below are necessary. However, they are listed in case you want to bake your snack cakes either from scratch or using a box mix. These are the tools necessary to create and decorate these holiday desserts: Large Bowl: To make the cupcakes that you’ll be decorating with the fondant ghosts, you’ll need a large bowl to mix the box cupcake mix. Electric Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer: A mixer is necessary to mix the ingredients for the cupcakes. Cupcake Pan: You’ll use a cupcake or muffin pan to bake the cupcakes. Paper Liners or Muffin Cups: Festive paper liners or muffin cups get filled with cupcake batter to make this holiday Halloween dessert. Silicone Mat: I recommend you use a silicone baking mat or other non-stick surface to roll out the fondant you’ll be using to create the ghost cupcake toppers. Piping Bag with Large Round Tip: I used a piping bag and decorating tip to decorate the tops of the cakes with icing. However, if desired, you can also use a knife to apply the frosting. Small Circle Cookie Cutter: A small cookie cutter is used to cut out the fondant. If you don’t have a small cookie or biscuit cutter on hand, you may also use a drinking glass. Rolling Pin: A rolling pin will simplify the process of rolling the fondant out flat, so that it may be cut into shapes. This rolling pin and pastry mat set is perfect for this cake decorating project. However, you may also use the side of a drinking glass in a pinch. How to Decorate Ghost Cupcakes You’re going to love decorating your Halloween cupcakes with these adorable cupcake ghost toppers! These fondant decorated cupcakes look professional and are easy to customize, just like my pumpkin cakesicles. Here’s how to make ghost cupcakes for your upcoming Halloween party. Bake White or Chocolate Cupcakes If you aren’t starting with plain, store bought cupcakes, you’ll first need to bake the cupcakes. I used white cupcake mix. However, you can also use chocolate or another flavor, if desired. 1. Follow the directions on the back of the box for baking. 2. Then allow the cupcakes to cool completely. Pipe Frosting onto the Desserts 3. Fill a piping bag with vanilla buttercream frosting. 4. Using a large frosting tip, frost each individually, by creating a smooth, flat swirl on each cupcake with the icing. Add Sprinkles and Lollipops 5. Add the sprinkles to the icing immediately after application. If you love sprinkles, you can also add them to a bowl and dip the iced cakes into the decorations. 6. Next, place an […]
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These colorful pumpkin cakesicles are the fall desserts of dreams. They’re quick to make and even quicker to devour. Perfect for your Halloween parties or autumn gatherings, these Halloween popsicle cake pops are made using chocolate box cake mix for a delicious, seasonal fall treat. Halloween Pumpkin Cake Popsicles Fall is all about the crisp, cool weather and falling leaves; those cozy sweaters and corduroy. But most of all, autumn brings pumpkins to mind. These festive pumpkin cake pops with candy coating are an easy, bite size dessert that both kids and adults will enjoy! If you need easy ideas for your upcoming Halloween party, or simply a fun after school snack for the kids this autumn, these pumpkin cakesicles are both a cute and delicious treat. As they’re made using box cake mix, it means fewer ingredients you need to buy. So, it’s also an affordable option when you want to create home baked goods without breaking the bank. What Are Cakesicles? Cakesicles are basically a pumped up version of cake pops. They’re made pretty much the same way. However, the shape is much larger. Instead of small, round cake balls that can be eaten in a single bite, these dessert cakes are more the size of Hostess Ho Ho’s. They are made using a small popsicle mold, rather than a spherical one. If you’re looking for a whimsical dessert that’s not only fun, but filling, this solution is ideal. Just like their other cake counterparts, these Halloween dessert cakes can be decorated in a variety of ways. While I decorated my miniature, single serving cakes to look like pumpkins, you can also decorate these with chocolate drizzle and sprinkles for a festive alternative. Or use other colors of candy to make them look like mummy cakesicles or even a ghoul or goblin. Spelled as cakesicles and not cakesickles, this upgraded dessert recipe is sure to delight trick-or-treaters, party goers and everyone in between. Ingredients for Pumpkin Cake Pops This fall dessert is made using box cake mix for the actual cake pops. It is then decorated using colored orange and green candy melts to give these treats the appearance of pumpkins. In addition to the cake mix and candy melts, these are the ingredients you will need to make these Halloween jack-o-lantern cake popsicles. Box Cake Mix: This recipe for Halloween pumpkin cakesicles uses box cake mix. I used a box of Duncan Hines Chocolate Cake Mix to make mini chocolate cakes on a stick. Eggs: In order to make the cake as directed on the back of the box, you will need eggs to the ingredients. Eggs add structure, texture and flavor when used in baking. They will also help to create a moist cake that’s ideal for these Halloween treats. Vegetable Oil: I recommend that you use a neutral vegetable oil to recreate this autumn dessert. A neutral oil is one that has little or no flavor. You can use regular vegetable oil. Or substitute it with canola, sunflower, peanut or grapeseed oil. However, it is necessary for a moist cake. It also helps to bind the mix so it holds its form and you don’t end up with a crumbling cake. Water: Water is also used to create the cake batter and is called for in the directions on the back of the cake mix box. Wilton Candy Melts: Green and orange candy melts are used to decorate these popsicle cake pops. It can either be dunked or poured over the baked cakes once they’ve been baked and frozen to make them look like Halloween pumpkins. As you’re using pre-colored candy melts, you won’t need to add food coloring. Frosting (optional): Sometimes the baked cake doesn’t bind as it should or it dry after baking. If this is the case, you can add frosting to the cake mixture before placing it into the popsicle mold. Chocolate (optional): If desired, you can use melted dark chocolate or white chocolate to add additional details to these holiday desserts such as a jack-o-lantern face or decorative leaves. You can also add ribs, or indented ridges, down the length of the pumpkins. Or simply add a drizzle of melted chocolate. Tools and Equipment In order to bake and decorate these Halloween treats, you’ll need some basic kitchen tools and equipment. Here’s what you’ll need to get started. Stand Mixer with Paddle Hook: If you’ve had your eye on purchasing a KitchenAid stand mixer, this is the perfect project for it! You’ll use a mixer to bind the baked cake to create these pumpkin shaped cakesicles. However, if you don’t own one and it’s outside of your budget, put it on your holiday wishlist! In the meantime, you can also use a handheld mixer instead. Toothpicks: These make handle tools when decorating your Halloween cakes. They’re used to add small design elements to the melted candy. If you don’t wish to purchase toothpicks, you can also use the prong of a fork instead. Parchment Paper: As you’re working with melted candy, parchment paper comes in handy. It’s used to prevent the melted candy or chocolate coating from sticking to your working surface. Ice Cream Scoop: You will need a small ice cream scoop to fill the molds used to make these Halloween cake pops. Alternately, you can use a large spoon if necessary. Cakesicle Mold: You will need several silicone cakesicle molds for this recipe. As it yields about 24 cake popsicles, you can either make this dessert in batches or all at once depending on the number of molds available to you. This mold creates popsicle shaped cakes rather than cake balls. Popsicle Sticks: No popsicle is complete without the stick! I used standard, wood popsicle sticks for these delicious treats as they are both inexpensive and convenient. They’ll also hold the weight better than paper lollipop sticks due to the size. Bowls: You’ll need a large bowl to blend the cake mixture prior to baking and in […]
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Need a natural home fragrance to invoke the cozy warmth of fall? Explore this collection of fall essential oil diffuser blends along with other natural ways to scent your home this autumn. Fall Diffuser Blends to Naturally Scent Your Home There’s nothing better when the air cools and the leaves start to fall than the aromatherapy benefits of pumpkin spice. However, let’s not forget apple cider, salted caramel and all the other wonderful autumn aromas that invoke a warm and cozy feeling. If you’re seeking healthy ways to scent your home, then you’re going to love these ideas on how to make your house smell good naturally. Free from synthetic fragrances, these natural home fragrance ideas provide a multitude of ways to enjoy your favorite fall scents without worry. This post includes a number of fall essential oil blends that can be used either in an essential oil diffuser. Or use these blends to create fragrant autumn wax melts, reed diffuser oil and candles. In addition to this collection of fall essential oil diffuser blends, I’ve also rounded up a collection of the best ways to fragrance your home for the season. Keep reading to explore these natural ideas to make your home smell like fall. What Essential Oils are Good for Fall? In theory, there are not right or wrong oils to use when creating aroma blends for autumn. However, you will notice a common theme between various recipes. That’s because many of oils used to create fall fragrances contain similar oils meant to invoke feelings of warmth. Others are reminiscent of your favorite fall foods or baked goods. While the remaining scents generally remind us of the great outdoors — falling leaves and woodland adventures. If you’re looking to make autumn aromas that reflect on the season, then here are some popular oils you’ll want to stock up on. Warm and Spicy Aromas Choose these oils for warm, spicy blends: Cassia, cinnamon, cardamom, clove, black pepper, ginger and nutmeg. Fall Bakery Scents For blends like fresh baked apple pie and other dominant flavor profiles for the season, keep these oils on hand: orange or wild orange, mandarin, tangerine, citrus oils and vanilla. Cozy Woodland Blends To invoke memories of raking leaves, hayrides and forest hikes, try these notes: arborvitae, copaiba, cedarwood, cypress, frankincense, juniper berry, and sandalwood. Fall Essential Oil Diffuser Blends Using an essential oil diffuser is an easy way to fragrance your home for fall using natural ingredients. And, because there’s no flame, it’s a safer alternative than burning candles. Here are my favorite fall essential oil blends you can recreate to use in your essential oil diffuser for sweater weather. Autumnal Bouquet Essential Oil Diffuser Blend 5 parts clove bud essential oil / 10 drops clove bud 3 parts sweet orange essential oil / 6 drops orange 2 parts allspice essential oil / 4 drops allspice Chai Tea Latte Essential Oil Diffuser Blend 3 parts cardamom essential oil / 9 drops cardamom 2 parts cinnamon leaf essential oil / 6 drops cinnamon leaf 2 parts vanilla absolute / 6 drops vanilla absolute 1 part ginger essential oil / 3 drops ginger Pumpkin Spice Fall Essential Oil Blend 4 parts cinnamon leaf essential oil / 8 drops cinnamon leaf (or bark) 4 parts ginger essential oil / 8 drops ginger oil 4 parts nutmeg essential oil / 8 drops nutmeg 3 parts clove bud essential oil / 6 drops clove 1 part cardamom essential oil / 2 drops cardamom Pumpkin Pie Spice Variation 3 parts cinnamon bark essential oil / 6 drops cinnamon bark 3 parts ginger root essential oil / 6 drops ginger 3 parts nutmeg essential oil / 6 drops nutmeg 2 parts clove bud essential oil / 4 drops clove bud 1 part orange essential oil / 2 drops orange Fresh Baked Gingerbread Essential Oil Blend 4 parts ginger essential oil / 8 drops ginger 2 parts cinnamon leaf essential oil / 4 drops cinnamon 2 parts clove bud essential oil / 4 drops clove 1 part vanilla absolute / 2 drop vanilla Earth & Spice Autumn Essential Oil Blend 8 parts cedarwood essential oil / 8 drops cedarwood 4 parts lavender essential oil / 4 drops lavender 3 parts ho wood essential oil / 3 drops ho wood 3 parts nutmeg essential oil / 3 drops nutmeg 2 parts patchouli essential oil / 2 drops patchouli Patchouli Lovers Fall Essential Oil Blend 10 parts patchouli essential oil / 10 drops patchouli 4 parts lemon essential oil / 4 drops lemon 3 parts nutmeg essential oil / 3 drops nutmeg 3 parts black pepper essential oil / 3 drops black pepper Mulled Cider Essential Oil Diffuser Blend 4 parts sweet orange essential oil / 12 drops sweet orange 2 parts cinnamon leaf essential oil / 6 drops cinnamon 1 part ginger essential oil / 3 drops ginger 1 part anise seed essential oil / 3 drops anise Cozy Relaxation Diffuser Blend 1 part marjoram / 6 drops marjoram 1 part cedarwood / 6 drops cedarwood 1 part lavender / 6 drops lavender Frankincense Fall Essential Oil Blend 10 parts frankincense essential oil / 10 drops frankincense 5 parts clove bud essential oil / 5 drops clove bud 3 parts ho wood essential oil / 3 drops ho wood 1 part peppermint essential oil / 1 drop peppermint 1 part spearmint essential oil / 1 drop spearmint Autumn Colors Essential Oil Blend 1 part fir needle essential oil / 4 drops fir needle 1 part frankincense essential oil / 4 drops frankincense 1 part patchouli essential oil / 4 drops patchouli 1 part sweet orange essential oil / 4 drops sweet orange Fall Garden Wreath Essential Oil Blend 2 parts fir needle essential oil / 6 drops fir needle 2 parts rosemary essential oil / 6 drops rosemary oil 2 parts eucalyptus essential oil / 6 drops eucalyptus 1 part lavender essential oil / 3 drops lavender 1 part peppermint essential oil / 3 drops peppermint Fresh Baked Apple Pie Blend 4 parts cinnamon bark essential oil / 8 drops cinnamon bark 2 parts bergamot essential oil / 4 drops bergamot 2 parts grapefruit essential oil / 4 drops grapefruit 2 parts lemongrass essential oil / […]
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Savor the scents of the season with these unique ways to enjoy pumpkin spice this fall! Made with blend of cozy spices, pumpkin pie spice offers the best aromatherapy benefits for autumn. Both warming and stimulating, this fall fragrance also invokes many of our favorite memories from throughout our lives. This article explores noteworthy ideas for incorporating this amazing scent into your everyday life for its aromatherapeutic benefits. Pumpkin Spice: A Fall Favorite Fragrance Like many of you, I enjoy when pumpkin spice season rolls around. Fall has long been my favorite time of year. Warm and cozy clothes, turtlenecks and lace up boots. That crisp, cool autumn air. And course, the seasonal flavors of warm apple cider and pumpkin pie spice. I will one hundred percent take the time to savor an iced pumpkin spice latte in August before things cool down. Or bake a homemade pumpkin pie from scratch once my local grocer is stocked with pumpkins. Fortunately, food isn’t the only way to enjoy pumpkin spice. This post explores unique ways to enjoy this warm, fragrant scent throughout the season. From pumpkin spice soaps and autumn bath bombs to spicy fall perfumes and homemade wax melts, these ideas for basking in this fall fragrance are sure to keep your spirits high until the Christmas holiday rolls around. Ways to Enjoy Pumpkin Spice Aromatherapy Benefits There are so many way to enjoy pumpkin spice when cool weather rolls around. I’m all about indulging in home baked pumpkin bread, cozy pumpkin oatmeal, pumpkin butter and pumpkin cheesecake brownies. I also enjoy making fresh, healthy dinner ideas like vegetarian pumpkin chili and roasted pumpkin soup with coconut milk. However, if you need ideas to prevent your waistline from taking on those extra calories, try using a pumpkin spice essential oil blend or fragrance for aromatherapy instead! Whether you’re scenting your home with this intoxicating blend or taking to the shower with bath and body products, these ideas are a wonderful way to enjoy your favorite fall scent. Ideas for Using Pumpkin Spice in Skin Care for Aromatherapy Bath and body products are an easy, yet delightful way, to experience the aromatherapy benefits of this fall favorite scent. You simply can’t beat the aromatherapy benefits of this majestic, fall spice blend when it’s incorporated into your everyday skin care routine. Here are just a few of my favorite ideas for enjoying pumpkin spice scented skin care products this fall. Pumpkin Spice Scented Soaps Slather on your favorite fall scent in the shower with one of these delightfully scented, fall soaps! Not only can you make your own DIY pumpkin spice soap at home, but you can also buy artisan soaps with this warm and cozy fragrance. Here are few of my favorite pumpkin spice soaps for fall. Pumpkin Pie Fall Hand Soap (pictured above) from Sudsy Soap Works: This cold process soap contains coconut milk for a creamy, luxurious soap bar. Scented with a mouth-watering pumpkin spice blend, this pumpkin pie soap also resembles a homemade pumpkin pie slice. (To make your own coconut milk soap recipe with pumpkin, check out this hot process pumpkin soap recipe.) Oh My Gourd Pumpkin Soap from Botany Barn Canada: If you live for pumpkin spice lattes and autumn scents, then this is the soap for you! Oh My Gourd soap is a cold process soap made with real pumpkin puree and organic pumpkin seed oil which is scented with a pumpkin pie fragrance blends of cinnamon and vanilla. Vegan Pumpkin Spice Soap from Wandering Oak Soap: This vegan artisan soap is another delightful way to enjoy pumpkin spice as we head into autumn. With notes of cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg, this fall cold process soap is formulating with skin nourishing shea butter to keep skin hydrated. Each bar is adorned with an adorable, hand painted pumpkin hand and a dash of biodegradable glitter. Pumpkin Pie Spice Soap from Aubrey E Soaps: If melt and pour soap is your jam, then you don’t want to miss out on these mini pie shaped, glycerin soaps. This homemade fall soap features a cute little pie crust filled with a smidge of real cinnamon and delicious pumpkin filling. It’s then topped off with a dollop of whipped soap cream! (You can also learn how to make pumpkin pie soap here.) Pumpkin Spice Whipped Soap from K Life Creations: For those of you who love creamy whipped soaps, this foaming body butter is sure to delight! Scented with that spicy autumn fragrance you’ve come to love, this homemade body cleanser is like the perfect combination of your favorite moisturizer and body wash. Pumpkin Spice Moisturizers Another wonderful way to bask in fragrant pumpkin spice this fall is to slather on a whipped body butter! These homemade body butters and lotions aren’t only a great way to enjoy the aromatherapy benefits of pumpkin spice, but they’re also ideal for keeping skin moisturized throughout the season. Following are wonderful ways to enjoy the scent of pumpkin pie spice in a body moisturizer. Pumpkin Spice Hand & Body Cream (pictured above) from Truly Charming Soapery: Slather on this fall moisturizer for its drool worthy fragrance and skin care benefits! The cozy blend of delicious warm pumpkin sprinkled with cinnamon, clove and a splash of sweet maple will make your mouth water. While the inclusion shea butter and aloe combined with its aromatherapy benefits truly make this moisturizing hand cream a must for fall skin care. Pumpkin Horchata Whipped Body Butter from Healing Beauty Co: I absolutely love the flavor of horchata. Combined with pumpkin and you have a win! What better way to enjoy pumpkin spice than with this unique blend? Give this whipped body butter a try for a fragrant way to nurture skin this autumn. Spiced Pumpkin Body Lotion from Body Bee Well: Make all your pumpkin spice latte dreams come true with this fragrant fall skin moisturizer. Formulated to renew and balance skin, this amazing anti-aging body lotion with pumpkin seed […]
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From skin care and soap to candles and room sprays, there are so many ways to use pumpkin spice essential oil. This post instructs you on how to make a pumpkin spice essential oil blend. I also provide some great uses for this amazing fall fragrance. If you’re ready to dive head first into autumn, then bookmark this page for cozy autumn recipes and DIY ideas to try throughout the season. Enjoy a Cozy, Classic Fall Fragrance at Home No fragrance marks the arrival of autumn more than that of pumpkin spice. This warm, spicy and fragrant fall scent is highly anticipated with each passing year. Whether you’re grabbing a steaming, hot or iced pumpkin spice latte from your favorite coffee shop, scenting your home with pumpkin scented candles or rooms spray, or slathering on autumn scented soaps and lotions, this scent blend evokes warm and cozy memories we simply can’t resist. Created from a blend of essential oils that smell like pumpkin pie spice, this scent blend may just make your mouth water with delight! After all, it’s often used as a fall flavor when cooking or baking your favorite homemade pumpkin pie from scratch. What Essential Oils are Used to Make a Pumpkin Spice Blend? Pumpkin pie spice is made using a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice and ginger. Therefore, to create a similar fragrance, many of the same essential oils are use to make a pumpkin spice scent. There are five basic essential oils used to create a pumpkin spice essential oil blend. They are as follows: Cinnamon leaf essential oil: You want to make sure to choose cinnamon LEAF essential oil when making a pumpkin spice blend for skin care applications. Cinnamon bark, which is often use for diffuser blends and potpourri is NOT skin safe. Considered a middle note when learning how to make natural fragrances, this oil has a sweet, spicy and earthy, and earthy aroma that’s well suited for aromatherapy and DIY perfumes. Ginger essential oil: This steam distilled essential oil is a dry, warm and spicy middle note. Often used in energizing essential oil blends, this oil and also has grounding qualities. If you prefer a less rooty aroma, try swapping this oil with fresh ginger essential oil instead. Unlike the scent of traditional ginger oil made from the dried root, this oil is made using fresh ginger root. As a result, fresh ginger is a top to middle note that not only blends well with clove, but with citrus essential oils as well. As this pumpkin spice essential oil blend is comprised of entirely middle notes, you may want to swap out the ginger oil with fresh ginger for a more nuanced natural scent blend. Nutmeg essential oil: Like the other essential oils used to make a pumpkin spice blend, nutmeg is also a middle note essential oil. It’s also warm and spicy. Therefore its aromatherapeutic properties help to evoke that cozy feeling we get when using this blend either in an essential oil diffuser, aromatherapy sprays and even bath and body recipes. Clove bud oil: Another steam distilled essential oil, this oil is derived from the flower buds of a native Indonesian evergreen tree. Not only does this scent add warmth to essential oil perfume and diffuser blends, but it’s also commonly used in other body care formulations for its aromatherapy benefits. These include emotional balance, clarity and stimulation. Its fragrance both rich and spicy with slightly sweet, dry fruity notes. Cardamom essential oil: A favorite herb found in chai tea and latte recipes, the essential oil possesses an earthy, fresh aroma derived from green cardamom pods. Another warming essential oil, this middle note blends beautifully in formulations for making massage oils, soaps and other skin care products made with pumpkin spice. Considerations When Making Pumpkin Spice Essential Oil Following I share a basic recipe for making a pumpkin spice essential oil blend. Before you create your own, however, there are a few considerations to keep in mind depending on how you choose to use this autumn inspired essential oil. Incorporating Top and Base Notes into the Blend It is important to note that this pumpkin spice essential oil blend is comprised wholly of middle note essential oils. Middle note oils are typically considered the heart of a fragrance blend, whether you’re making blends for products are learning how to make essential oil perfumes. Therefore, this combination works well when creating a fall essential oil blend. However, a really great essential oil blend contains all three essential oils notes — top, middle and base. Top notes typically make up 10%-30% of the recipe. While the middle notes comprise 30% to 50% of the total blend. Whereas the base notes generally consist of 15%-30% of the essential oils used to create the final fragrance. While it’s true that the natural fragrance of middle note essential oils last longer than top note essential oils, adding a top note to your pumpkin spice essential oil blend can create a more nuanced scent. In addition, you may also want to add a fixative to the blends you create. Using a fixative, or base note, in your essential oil blends also creates longer lasting scents. Base note essential oils are the foundation of most essential oil blends These essential oils tend to have dense, heavy and strong aromas that support your overall perfume formulation. Deep and tenacious, these essential oils are also generally considered fixatives. You learn more about the role of essential oil fixatives and how fixatives are used in perfume and other natural scent blends to make fragrances last longer here. You can then make the decision whether or not to experiment with top and base notes when making your own pumpkin spice essential oil blend when exploring ways to use it. Pumpkin Spice Essential Oil Safety Many of the essential oils blended together to create a pumpkin pie spice scent can cause skin sensitivity. Due to this, they have a […]
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Liven up your holiday decor or just get creative with this collection of easy DIY Halloween crafts and ideas for adults. From ways to decorate for Halloween to fall skin care, these fun projects are an ideal way to celebrate spooky season and everything autumn has to offer. Fall is finally on the way. The leaves are turning and the nights are just a bit cooler than before. Suddenly, everyone seems to be clamoring to take hike up their favorite mountain destinations. If you’re like me, you can’t wait for summer to end and autumn to make its grand entrance Autumn has long been my favorite season. Turtlenecks and pumpkin spice top my list. But more than that, I absolutely love Halloween! It’s such an inspiring holiday — one where you get to play dress up and decorate like a wild child. Halloween Crafts for Adults If you enjoy this magical holiday as much as I do, then you’re going to love these ideas for Halloween crafts. Created with adults in mind, these easy DIY Halloween ideas are sure to inspire. Get started on your next project today with these easy crafts you can make for Halloween! While many of these DIY holiday ideas cater to adults, kids and especially teens can also jump in to lend a hand for most of these projects. Whether you’re seeking upcycled Halloween projects, DIY Halloween decor, or spooky themed bath and body recipes, these crafts are sure to delight! Keep reading to explore all of my favorite Halloween crafts for adults. And don’t forget to tag your creations with #soapdelishowoff on Instagram so I can see what you’ve been up to! Easy Decor Ideas for Halloween Crafts If you want to decorate your home for Halloween, then try this collection of easy crafts! These affordable ideas are a fun to freshen up your space for fall and add a bit of Halloween flair. DIY Pumpkin Decor for Halloween This DIY pumpkin decor is a great way to decorate your home for Halloween on a budget. It’s perfect for a minimalist or farmhouse style decor when you need fall decor on a budget. Whether you keep this project basic or add additional elements to express your personal style, this easy Dollar Tree craft is a great way to decorate with pumpkins for the holiday. Halloween Skull Wreath Wreaths are always a great adult craft to make for Halloween! This Dollar Tree DIY Halloween wreath offers a beautiful take on a normally macabre element and utilizes Dollar Tree Halloween supplies to save you money. Make your own DIY skull wreath for Halloween with this step-by-step tutorial to decorate your front door. Or create these handmade Halloween wreaths to sell on Etsy or at craft shows. Alternately, you can explore more ideas for Halloween wreaths here. Painted Halloween Pumpkin Crafts for Adults Rather than fuss with the mess of carving Jack O’ Lanterns that don’t last past Halloween, make DIY painted pumpkins instead! I hosted a pumpkin paint night for me and my friends for this Halloween craft for adults. I thought everyone came up with some really fantastic ideas for painting their pumpkins. And not only are these painted pumpkins perfect for Halloween decorations, but they can also be brought indoors for a seasonal fall table centerpiece. Be sure to visit the post to see all the amazing Halloween pumpkin ideas! Also, be sure to check out these other no carve pumpkin decorating ideas for Halloween. These ideas make excellent Halloween crafts if you need inspiration for decorative pumpkins you can make yourself. Family Halloween Craft Idea for Spooky Halloween Decor If you’re a long time fan of American Horror Story, then you remember the intro to the series that features embalmed body parts inside glass jars. This Halloween clay craft project takes that idea and runs with it! Discover how to make unique and spooky Halloween decorations for your home all while inspiring your household’s creativity. Explore the steps to recreate this fun Halloween family craft today! Or invite over your grown up friends for a Halloween adult craft night. Halloween Wreath Crafts Pumpkin wreaths are always a great idea for Halloween crafts for adults! Not only can you make these Halloween wreaths to decorate your own space for this festive fall holiday, but you can also make them to sell for extra cash. This modern hoop wreath, pictured above, is quick and easy craft you can make for your DIY Halloween decorations. Display this DIY farmhouse fall wreath on your front door or inside your entry way for a stylish way to decorate for the holiday. Other pumpkin wreaths you can craft for Halloween include this easy Dollar Tree pumpkin wreath. Or make these cute buffalo check pumpkins for your Halloween table centerpiece. Upcycled Adult DIY Halloween Projects While most of us recycle, sometimes we end up with more waste than we like. If you’re ready to take on some eco-friendly crafts for Halloween, give these easy, adult craft projects a try! DIY Halloween Luminary I’ve since switched to using eco-friendly laundry detergent sheets from Grove to help reduce plastic waste in my home. However, if you’re still using laundry detergent pods, hang onto those pod buckets! These plastic containers can easily be upcycled for Halloween crafts. My DIY Halloween luminaries are a fun way to decorate your home with sugar skulls and other images for Halloween. Discover how to make a Halloween luminary craft with this easy DIY for adults. Halloween Apothecary Jars Need creative decorating ideas for you next Halloween party? These printable poison apothecary labels are an easy way to liven up your Halloween decor! They can be used on upcycled jars and bottles to save money. Or buy unique containers to make extra spooky Halloween decorations for your home. Give this easy DIY Halloween craft for adults a try to decorate those small spaces, corners, bookshelves and cupboards in your home. Upcycled Halloween Decor Create spooky outdoor upcycled […]
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This simple DIY project turns basic melt and pour soap into luxurious homemade massage soap bars that smell like your favorite morning brew. Made using a suspension melt and pour soap base, my simple, easy-to-follow directions teach you how to whip up your own custom batch of scented massage bars at home. The resulting skin care product massages and hydrates skin. While added coffee grounds provide gentle exfoliation. Make this easy homemade coffee soap for a spa day at home everyday! Or create them to give as beautiful DIY gifts for natural skin care. DIY Massage Soap Bars Make these DIY soap massage bars with coffee for a spa day experience at home! These massaging soaps are naturally scented with coffee absolute for an authentic coffee scent. They also contain real coffee grounds for gentle exfoliation to help you achieve naturally glowing skin. These homemade soap massage bars are easy to make. Like hand milled soap and rebatch soap, these massaging soap bars are a great soap project for beginners. As they are formulated using a glycerin soap base, they can be created quickly and are ready for use the same day. This makes them an excellent choice for an everyday adult craft or even a DIY for a ladies’ craft night. The final bars also make great gifts for friends and family. Or recreate this recipe for an at home spa day! Why Use Bar Soap? I love using bar soap to cleanse my skin. Not only does it last longer than body wash, but there’s also no excess plastic waste from the containers needed to bottle body wash and liquid soap. While both liquid soap and bar soaps may have similar ingredients — true soap is comprised of fats and an alkali that go through saponification to become soap — bar soap is a greener, more eco-friendly option. It’s also why I formulated and use a solid dish soap recipe rather than bottled dishwashing liquid. Soap bars, like my massaging bar soap recipe with coffee, are also easier to make than liquid soap or body wash. Especially if you are just learning how to make soap. Like my other easy, melt and pour soap recipes for beginners, this DIY bath and beauty project uses a mold to create unique shapes. In this instance, I used a silicone massage soap mold. Being able to create soap shapes is unique to bar soaps. As you can’t form a DIY massage bar using a liquid soap or body wash. In addition to being able to customize the shape, color and ingredients in my soap massage bar recipe, you don’t need any additional tools to enjoy its skin care benefits in your shower or bath. You can skip the loofah and save a washcloth! So, there’s less to wash and no bath poofs to replace as they become worn. Homemade Massage Soap Benefits There are a number of benefits you’ll enjoy when you make my massage soap recipe for use. They include the following: These soap bars cleanse skin like other types of soap to remove dirt and grime. They remove oils and bacteria that can clog pores and lead to breakouts. The unique massaging shape helps to stimulate skin circulation. When massaged onto skin, these melt and pour soap bars work to relieve muscle tension and knots. So, they’re ideal after exercising or a stressful day at the office. Some women find soap massage bars beneficial at relieving pain caused by menstrual cramps. Coffee Skin Benefits While coffee essential oil is not technically an essential oil, it’s often referred to as such. In addition to the benefits of using a massage bar on skin, the coffee absolute used to formulate this DIY massage soap also has natural skin benefits. When used for massage, coffee absolute provides the following benefits for skin: Due to its antioxidants, coffee absolute (also sometimes referred to as an essential oil) is anti-aging and photoprotective. Therefore, it may help reduce the visible signs of aging. Coffee absolute is a topical analgesic. This makes it useful for those who suffer from arthritis or joint pain and an ideal ingredient for massage therapy as it assists with pain relief. As an anti-inflammatory, this absolute helps to increase blood flow and reduce inflammation. In turn this helps with pain and can also promote healing. Coffee absolute contains caffeic acid. This naturally occurring acid has antimicrobial properties that help protect the skin against germs and may help to prevent acne. (Learn more about the benefits of caffeic acid in this post on how to make coffee scrubs.) Coffee Massage Soap Bar Blends If you’d like to scent these homemade soap massage bars with a more complex coffee fragrance, try one of these natural blends: Vanilla Latte: 18 drops coffee absolute + 18 drops vanilla absolute + 6 drops cinnamon leaf essential oil Peppermint Mocha: 15 drops cocoa absolute + 15 drops coffee absolute + 10 drops vanilla absolute + 5 drops Oregon peppermint essential oil Cardamom & Orange Coffee: 12 drops cardamom + 12 drops sweet orange + 8 drops coffee absolute + 8 drops vanilla absolute Peppermint Coffee: 16 drops Oregon peppermint essential oil + 16 drops coffee absolute + 8 drops vanilla absolute Psst. These essential oil blend recipes also work beautifully when making my chocolate body butter. So, don’t be afraid to splurge on your favorites. I promise, there are tons of ways to put them to good use! Soap Massage Bar Ingredients Learning how to make massage bar soaps is incredibly easy! You just need the right ingredients to get started. Here are the materials you’ll need to make your own massaging melt and pour soap bars at home: Soap Base: A suspension melt and pour soap base is crucial to this recipe if you want the coffee grounds to remain evenly distributed throughout the soap bars. Without it, the exfoliating coffee grounds will sink to the bottom. You can find Stephenson clear suspension soap base at Candle Science if your usual soap making supplier doesn’t carry it. Colorants: I used several shades of mica powder to color my soap […]
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Facial serums with hyaluronic acid are a wonderful way to naturally care for your skin. This recipe for green tea hyaluronic serum is not only easy to make, but it’s also an affordable way to get started making your own DIY beauty products. There are many skin care benefits associated with hyaluronic acid and green tea. This article explores the advantages of incorporating this beauty treatment into your daily routine to fight aging and promote youthful looking skin. I also teach you how to make your own green tea skin care products at home. Green Tea Facial Serum with Hyaluronic Acid Making skin care products can be both fun and rewarding. On the flip side, there are some challenges. One challenge I experienced the first time I learned how to make hyaluronic acid serum was the shelf life. As this is a water-based product, without a preservative, it does need to be refrigerated to extend the shelf life. However, this does considerably shorten the amount of time in which the product needs to be used. And to be fair, most of us aren’t familiar or comfortable working with preservatives. Formulating skin care products that require preservatives isn’t something you simply learn overnight. Not only do you need to know the right preservative to use for the products you create, but they often need to be used at exact percentages and/or temperatures to retain their effectiveness. Final testing for that effectiveness also needs to be established. If you’re making natural beauty products for your own personal use, it’s likely you won’t have the desire to spend the extra time and money to ensure it’s done correctly. That’s why I love this green tea hyaluronic serum recipe from Brambleberry so much! This green tea facial serum comes complete as a kit. It uses a hyaluronic acid serum base that you also purchase separately for creating your own custom skin care products. Unlike a powder base that you mix yourself, however, this base already has a preservative included. So, there’s no need to worry about those extra steps to ensure that the final product is safe to use. What’s Inside the Green Tea Serum Skin Care Kit This DIY skin care kit from Brambleberry comes with everything you need to get started to make hyaluronic acid serum at home! However, if desired, you can also purchase the ingredients and supplies needed for this project separately to create your own custom formulation. Here’s what’s inside this green tea beauty serum kit: Water soluble green tea extract Aloe vera concentrate Hyaluronic acid serum base Frosted glass bottles with droppers Graduated transfer pipettes Instructions Sticker label sheet As this kit contains both the ingredients and most of the tools you need to make this project, you really don’t need much more! You will need a measuring cup or container with a pour spout. I also recommend that you use a small funnel to avoid spills when pouring this green tea serum into the frosted glass bottles. You’ll also need scissors to cut out the sticker labels. The price for this DIY beauty kit is extremely reasonable. The kit makes four bottles of green tea hyaluronic acid serum. So you have enough for yourself with extras to gift to friends and family. It even includes free shipping to the lower contiguous 48 states. So, for about $11.25 a bottle, you get to enjoy the experience of making a new craft. Plus, you save money over purchasing pre-made solutions in which formulations typically cost $20 and up. What Is Hyaluronic Acid? Hyaluronic acid is also called hyaluronan or a hyaluronate. It is an anionic, nonsulfated glycosaminoglycan that is present in connective tissue in the body and found in eyes, skin and joints. Historically described as a goo molecule prior to the 1970s, this slippery substance is naturally produced by the body coating the cells of articular cartilage. In addition, it also lubricates the muscular connective tissues. As a major component of skin, hyaluronan is involved in the repair of skin tissue. Hyaluronic acid is often taken as supplement to restore its loss. As both UV exposure and age can reduce the production of hyaluronan in the body. This compound may be taken orally or applied topically to skin. It is also sometimes injected or inhaled depending on what condition is being treated. Medically, it may be used to treat osteoarthritis of the knees and in products that treat dry eye for the purpose of creating artificial tears. It is sometimes inhaled to treat asthma or breathing issues. However, it is most commonly used for skin care applications. While it is an ingredient found in fillers that are injected into skin, it’s also used as an ingredient in a number of topically applied beauty products to plump skin and restore hydration. Hyaluronic Serum Benefits Hyaluronic acid is commonly used as an ingredient in a number of skin care applications to address aging or dry skin as well as for medical applications. Here are the benefits of using a hyaluronic serum: As it plays a key role in tissue regeneration, inflammation response, and angiogenesis, hyaluronic acid may help promote healing of chronic wounds, burns and ulcers. While its effects may be limited and more research is needed, they do illustrate that hyaluronic acid is effective at reducing pain cause by ulcers. Because hyaluronic acid plays such an important role when it comes to our epidermis, or the outer layer of skin, it assists with healing skin. Its antioxidant properties help protect skin from outside elements such as solar radiation. When combined with retinoids, a form of vitamin A, it also increases hydration of skin tissue. Serums made with hyaluronic acid hydrates skin so it looks plump and more youthful. By keeping skin hydrated, you’re less likely to experience dry skin. It can also minimize the appearance of wrinkles. Its low molecular weight mean it’s easily absorbed by skin. This allows it to lock in moisture and slow down the […]
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Discover a plethora a deliciously scented chocolate soap recipes. Plus, learn about the benefits of chocolate when used in skin care applications to cleanse skin as part of your daily routine. DIY Chocolate Soap Bathing is a necessary task to keep our bodies clean. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t indulge a little. Get some extra enjoyment out of your daily skin care routine with chocolate soap! Whether you’re a fan of body wash or bar soap, these chocolate skin care recipes are a sure fire way to cleanse, condition and hydrate skin. If you’re ready to make your own homemade chocolate skin care products at home, you’ve come to the right place. Following we will explore not only benefits of using chocolate to make soap, but also various homemade soap recipes for making both melt and pour chocolate soap and cold process chocolate soap. I also share a fun chocolate body wash recipe that can be made either using a liquid soap or body wash base! Chocolate Soap Benefits While all chocolate provides skin care benefits, dark chocolate is the best option to use for soap making. This is because fewer ingredients, like sugar or milk, are used to dilute the chocolate. Dark chocolate is not only rich in antioxidants that support wellness, but it also contains bioactive compounds that are great for your skin. Following are the benefits that chocolate provides when used to create products for cosmetic applications: Dark chocolate contains flavanols that studies show can protect against sun damage. In addition, these bioactive compounds may also improve blood flow to the skin and increase skin hydration and density when used regularly. This tasty ingredient has anti-aging properties when used in skin care thanks to the antioxidants polyphenols, flavanols, and catechins. It helps lighten dark spots and pigmentation. And, as it may increase collagen, it can also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Chocolate may promote healthy cell growth thanks to skin nourishing minerals such as copper, iron, and zinc. The naturally occurring minerals and other compounds found in dark chocolate also promote healing, so wounds and acne recover faster. The magnesium found in chocolate helps promote healthy sleep and may reduce stress. Flavonols are wonderful for skin inflammation. These compounds reduce body inflammation making chocolate a wonderful skin care ingredient for dry and eczema prone skin. How to Make Chocolate Soap Now that you’re aware of the benefits of using chocolate to create soap, you’re likely as excited as I was to get start soaping! Learning how to make soap using chocolate as ingredient isn’t difficult. There are lots of different ways to make chocolate soap. Not only are there different methods of soap making: cold process, melt and pour and hand milled or rebatched soap, but there are also different forms of chocolate you can use to complete your projects. Before we jump directly into my chocolate soap recipes, let us first explore the methods and ingredients used to make chocolate soap at home. Soap Making Methods The most common methods used to make any homemade soap are cold process soap making, melt and pour soap making and rebatching soap. Hand Milled (Rebatch) Soap Making Making hand milled soap is an easy way to learn how to make soap for beginners. Hand milled soaps are created by rebatching unscented (or leftover) soaps on the stovetop or in an oven. This is done to add scent and color, conditioning skin care ingredients or to salvage a botched cold process soap batch. Typically one makes hand milled soap by grating an existing soap bar, then mixing it will milk or water. Once the soap melts, other ingredients can be added to customize the fragrance, color or other properties of the soap. The process for rebatching soap is easier than making soap completely from scratch in which you combine lye and soap making fats. It’s also a safer process for anyone who has pets or small children in the home. If you’d like more information on this process, you can learn how to make hand milled soap here. Cold Process Soap Making Cold process soap making, also sometimes referred to as cold press soap or lye soap, is the process used to make true soap. True soap is defined by the ingredients used and the chemical process that turns those ingredients into real soap. To make cold process soap you need a fat and an alkali. The fats are generally carrier oils and body butters but may also include other ingredients with a fat content, such as milk. While the alkali necessary to make soap is lye. You can use either sodium hydroxide to make soap bars or potassium hydroxide to create liquid soap. You can find a full overview of this process and learn how to make cold process soap here. Melt and Pour Soap Making While lye is necessary to make true soap, you can work around this by buying a pre-made melt and pour soap base. There are lots of way to create unique homemade soaps without lye by using a glycerin soap base. This method of making soap simply involved cutting down a soap base and melting it. Additional ingredients are then added to the base for things like scent, color or exfoliation. The soap is then molded. Once it hardens, it’s removed from the mold as a brand new bar of soap! If you’ve never made melt and pour soap before, it’s a wonderful experience that everyone in the family will enjoy. You can learn how to make melt and pour soap through the book, Homemade Melt & Pour Soaps, by Jan Berry. (Check out a review of this book here.) Or check out this easy glycerin soap tutorial. Chocolate Soap Ingredients There are several types of chocolate that you may use to make soap. Melted bar chocolate, cocoa butter, cocoa absolute and cocoa powder. The easiest forms to use are the absolute (most often used for fragrance,) cocoa butter and cocoa powder. Therefore, these are the three ingredients I cover. Cocoa Butter Cocoa butter is common […]
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