Bath & Beauty Recipes

DIY Nail Appliqués

Recently while viewing Julep’s great nail blog I came across this post.  I was floored and I’ll admit a little skeptical that making your own nail decals could be that easy.  So I set out to try it myself!

I used:

• nail polish shades to make your appliqués
• plastic zip bag
• small manicure scissors
• a clear top coat

Steps:

1.  After deciding what colors you want to use, paint heavy blocks onto your plastic zip bag.  Let them dry overnight if not longer.  I actually painted mine at night then did a second coat the following morning.  I found that thicker polish like Julep was easier to work with later after it dried.

2.  When you know the block of polish is dry start at one corner and run your finger down the side to loosen it and starting pulling it up from the bag.  If the polish feels a little sticky you need to wait a little longer.

3.  Cut–punch–and get artsy with your nails!!!

Enjoy!!!  Thank you Julep for the clever idea!

xoxo Heather

Homemade Kissable Lip Balm

It’s only fitting that Valentine’s day is tomorrow that I make a lip balm this month.  This recipe is super easy and will match that blush you love so much.

Ingredients:

• Vaseline (contains minerals and waxes that help protect skin from outside elements, perfect for chapped lips)
• any mineral powder blush (or color of your choosing)

Just mix together and put in a little container.  The more powder you use the more pigmented your balm will be.  Now I told you that was going to be easy!  <3

xoxo Heather

Peppermint Swirl Soap

Small handmade beauty items have become part of my tradition around the holidays.  I wrap them up with a bow and they get tucked into gifts for my family or passed to friends.  I’ve shown you two simple scrub recipes here and here that are great for beginners.  Making soap is a little more tricky and more time invasive.  Most need their own tools separate from what you use for cooking.  I was lucky to have an older double boiler that I was not using that I could donate to melting soap only.  There are small kits at craft stores that carry everything in you would need to get started…in fact that’s how I started too.  This recipe I made a few years back with bright red food dye and it came out great, this time around I wanted to change the coloring up a little so it didn’t look exactly the same.

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Sweet & Spicey Homemade Sugar Scrub Recipe

As part of the Behind the Lash’s revamp I want to include some more personal homemade bath recipes that I tend to make either for someone or just for my own spoiling.  This one I made a couple months back for my girlfriends as a party favor using old 16oz. salsa jars (I go through a ton of salsa).  Below I’ve included the oil but sometimes I give it away sans oil to allow the recipient to add their own spin on the scrub.

Naughty & Nice Scrub

• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup raw sugar
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/2 cup almond oil or olive oil

Mix all the dry ingredients first into a bowl, then add your oil.   Spoon into the jar.  Enjoy!

I simply put a hair band around my jars but you can take it a step further and label it with one of these great labels I found via pinterest.com.

xoxo Heather

Lemon Sugar Body Scrub Recipe

With the beginning of spring I always break out scrubs to polish my skin before any self-tanning.  It insures a flawless application.  This recipe is always my favorite because of the fresh lemon scent.  Also makes a great little gift for Mother’s Day (which is quickly approaching…eek!)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Sugar (I used raw organic cane, if you use white it will come out more yellow)
• 1/2 cup Grapeseed oil (almond or olive would work just as well)
• 1 lemon
• Tbsp Lemon essential oil
• Tbsp Vitamin E oil

Directions:

1.  Mix all oils and sugar together in a large bowl.

2.  Grate the outside of the lemon into your mixture.  Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice from one half into mixture.

3.  Mix again then put into jars.  Enjoy!!

This is a really natural scrub so I wouldn’t keep it in the heat of the shower 24/7.  Over time you might see the oil and sugar separate.  If this happens just mix again and put it in the fridge for a few hours.

xoxo Heather