Adventures With The Sage

Collect needed items for the Winter Survival Sugar Scrub:

Recipe:

Weigh your sugar and fill the jar of your choice with the sugar. I prefer to weigh the sugar and then place in a plastic bag to combine to prevent brown sugar clumps. Once the jar has the mixed sugar, cap and set aside. You are finished with the jar until you decorate.

Set the bottle of your choice on the scale and weigh each liquid ingredient into the bottle. After all the liquid ingredients have been weighed, cap the bottle with a non-dispensing cap. Now the bottle of liquids is ready!

Directions to include with your scrub gift.

Shake bottle of liquid ingredients until completely mixed. Pour half of the bottle into the jar and gently stir with a spoon. Empty the rest of the bottle into the jar and finish stirring. Now the scrub is ready to use! Stir before each use for optimal exfoliation. Use once a week for best results.

You could also include a washcloth or a bath poof, an after shower cream, and a lip balm.

Enjoy!

Don’t forget to submit your blog or video posts to win the MMS Perfumer’s Kit. Remember, this kit is worth $280! Submissions are due by January 1st for posts during December.

Finished scrub on my fingers.

Finished jar of salt and bottle ready for labels and then gift giving.

How I put together the scrub gift set:

Collect needed supplies.

Weigh the white sugar.

Let me tell you where my inspiration came from. I was looking online to find a suitable gift idea for a friend who only bakes occasionally, but always enjoys home baked goods. A large tin filled with my own baked goods? That might work, but it is a short lifetime gift and may not be consumed in time. Then I read about mixes in a jar. You simply add the ingredients in layers to the jar, decorate and then give with directions for use. This is when I had my little light bulb pop into action over my head! Why can’t I make a scrub that I layer the dry ingredients in a jar and mix the liquids in a bottle?

What are the advantages to this little gift? My friends can mix their own scrub, and I don’t have to worry about a scrub leaking in transit for those friends I ship Christmas packages. I don’t create the mess of trying to pour the scrub into jars, which is a big bonus in my eyes!

Today, I’ll show you how I made the Spa-erific Salt Scrub and tomorrow we will make the Winter Survival Sugar Scrub.

Collect needed items for the Spa-erific Salt Scrub:

Recipe:

Weigh your salt and fill the jar of your choice with the salt. Once the jar has the salt, cap and set aside. You are finished with the jar until you decorate.

Set the bottle of your choice on the scale and weigh each liquid ingredient into the bottle. After all the liquid ingredients have been weighed, cap the bottle with a non-dispensing cap. Now the bottle of liquids is ready!

Directions to include with your scrub gift.

Shake bottle of liquid ingredients until completely mixed. Pour half of the bottle into the jar and gently stir with a spoon. Empty the rest of the bottle into the jar and finish stirring. Now the scrub is ready to use! Stir before each use for optimal exfoliation. Use once a week for best results.

You could also include a washcloth or a bath poof, an after shower cream, and a lip balm.

Enjoy!

Don’t forget to submit your blog or video posts to win the MMS Perfumer’s Kit. Remember, this kit is worth $280! Submissions are due by January 1st for posts during December.

Finished scrub on my finger.

Finished jar of salt and bottle ready for labels and then gift giving.

How I put together the scrub gift set:

Collect needed items.

Weigh salt into the jar.

Weigh liquids into the bottle.

This follows the same recipe as the Pink Layered Bath Salts I made on January 29, 2009.

Collect needed supplies:
Salt of your choice (I’m using Epsom Salt)
Bath Salt Tubes (I’m using the Bath Salt Tubes with Chrome Caps)
Purple Raspberry Color in dropper bottle from the January 12, 2009 post
Large Plastic Bags (gallon zipper style work well)
3 sheets of 8.5″ by 11″ paper (I’m just using plain copier paper)
Tape
Fragrance or Essential Oil of your choice (I’m using Peppermint Essential Oil)
Transfer Pipettes
Scale
Measuring Spoon (Tablespoon size)

Each bath salt tube will hold about 4 oz of Epsom Salt. I am making 50 tubes, so I will need 200 ounces or 12.5 pounds of Epsom Salt. I have divided this amount by two because we are trying to make red and white striped bath salts. This mean each bag will contain 12 – 1/4 cups, 6.25 pounds, or 100 ounces of salt. Each amount of salt will be scented and colored on its own.

Prepare both bags of salt and then set one aside while coloring and scenting the first bag. Add 15 drops of Purple Raspberry Color and 16.5 mL of Peppermint Essential Oil. Zip the bag closed and knead well. Repeat adding color until you have reached the desired color of red. I used 70 drops of color. Set the bag aside while mixing the second bag. Open the second bag of salt and add 16.5 mL of Peppermint Essential Oil. Zip the bag closed and knead well. Once both bags of Epsom Salts have been mixed thoroughly, set aside while you prepare your filling tubes.

To get a continuous swirl around the tube, I needed to find a way to do that without making a complicated mess. At first, I tried making two long thin paper funnel tubes. It worked, but not as well as I desired. I couldn’t control an even flow of salt from both funnels and it made patches of color. This method wasn’t giving me the desired swirl. In frustration, I tried to use two drinking straws and I discovered those didn’t work well either! Then I realized that the straw idea was almost to the point I wanted, I just needed the “straws” to be on a larger scale! I grabbed another paper and rolled it into a long tube approximately 3/4 inch in diameter. I had to tape the paper so the tube didn’t spring open. I made a second tube and stuffed both paper tubes into the bath salt tube. I tried again, this time I made a beautiful swirl!

After you have created two paper tubes, you will need to create a paper funnel that will fit the tubes. Now you can stick the paper tubes into the bath salt tube and add 3 rounded tablespoons of salt to each tube. Twist the bath salt tube as you lift the paper tubes and this will create swirls of color. This looks so complicated, but it is actually very easy. Don’t forget to tap the tube on the counter to settle the salt. If you are shipping these, you can stuff a cotton ball in the top to help prevent shifting of the salt in transit. Cap the tube.

Once all the tubes are filled, label, tag, shrink wrap or tie ribbon around the tube. Now you can give away this bath salt alone or pair it with a peppermint foot cream. Yummy!

Don’t forget to submit your blog or video posts to win the MMS Perfumer’s Kit. Remember, this kit is worth $280! Submissions are due by January 1st for posts during December.

Collect needed items:

Recipe:

Weigh all ingredients and place into the bowl of the food processor. Pulse until thoroughly mixed. You may have to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to mix all ingredients together. The scrub should look like a soft serve cookies ‘n cream ice cream with lots of cookie crumbs! Once the scrub has reached this stage, it is ready to be placed into containers. Fill your containers and cap.

Now you have a yummy looking scrub for any vanilla addict! Who knows, you might even convert someone to loving vanilla!

Don’t want to use Vanilla Hazelnut Fragrance Oil? Let you imagination fly away with different fragrances that blend well with vanilla since you will have some scent from the ground vanilla beans. Some ideas I came up with were Tangerine Essential Oil, Grapefruit Essential Oil, Coconut Fragrance Oil, Raspberry Fragrance Oil, Soothing Chamomile Fragrance Oil, and that is just the tip of the iceberg!

Don’t forget to submit your blog or video posts to win the MMS Perfumer’s Kit. Remember, this kit is worth $280! Submissions are due by January 1st for posts during December.

Before I continue with the recipe, what is a meringue? A meringue is a dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar. The majority of meringues are flavored with vanilla, almond, or coconut. Meringues are made in several different ways, depending on their final use, whether it is used in a main dish or a dessert.

Collect needed supplies:
Oil of your choice (I’m using Colorless Jojoba)
Extra Thick Shower Gel
Sugar
Fragrance Oil of your choice (I’m using Tahitian Vanilla Fragrance Oil)
Transfer Pipettes
Scale
Mixing Bowl
Mixing Spoon
Hand Mixer
Containers for the final product

Recipe in Percentages:
10% Colorless Jojoba
20% Extra Thick Shower Gel
70% sugar
Tahitian Vanilla Fragrance Oil, at preferred fragrance percentage.
Lemon Yellow Color, a few drops to color

Recipe in grams (Makes 200 grams or 7 ounces):
20 grams Colorless Jojoba
40 grams Extra Thick Shower Gel
140 grams sugar
1 mL Tahitian Vanilla Fragrance Oil
2 drops Lemon Yellow Color

Weigh the Colorless Jojoba and Extra Thick Shower Gel into a mixing bowl that can fit the beaters of the hand mixer. Beat the Colorless Jojoba and Extra Thick Shower Gel until you have a white foamy cream. Add the Tahitian Vanilla Fragrance Oil and Lemon Yellow Color and fold into the cream. Once everything in the bowl is completely mixed, stir in the sugar. After the sugar has been incorporated, fill your final product containers.

Allow to sit for 4 hours for the separation to occur. Once the separation has occurred, the scrub is ready to give away.

Instructions for use:
Open jar and gently mix layers together. Once layers have been mixed, apply to damp skin and scrub in a circular motion. Rinse off with warm water. Daily use is not recommended.

Enjoy!

Submit your photos and text for the guest written Embedded Melt & Pour Soap Challenge! Submissions will be accepted through October 18th at blog@thesage.com. The submissions will be released October 19th through October 23rd. Each guest writer will receive a $25 gift certificate.

Don’t forget to submit your blog or video posts to win the MMS Perfumer’s Kit. Remember, this kit is worth $280! Wow!

I chose Comfrey Leaves Extract and Horsetail Grass Extract for different results I wanted in the finished product. Comfrey Leaves Extract is great for moisturizing and nourishing hair as well as aiding the prevention of split ends. Horsetail Grass Extract is great for nourishing hair, aiding the prevention of split ends, and encouraging hair growth.

This split ends prevention serum is light-weight and feels great on your hair!

Collect needed supplies:
Cyclomethicone
Dimethicone
Conditioning Emulsifier
Wheat Protein
Horsetail Grass Extract
Comfrey Leave Extract
Water
Liquid Germall Plus
Scale
Transfer Pipettes
Beaker or Mixing Bowl
Immersion Blender
Microwave
Spoons
Containers for the finished product (I used the 2 oz PET Boston Round Bottle, Size 20 and the Treatment Pump Top Closure, Size 20.)
Fragrance Oil or Essential Oil if desired

Recipe in Percentages:
10% Cyclomethicone
8% Dimethicone
8% Conditioning Emulsifier Wax
67.5% Water
2% Wheat Protein
2% Horsetail Extract
2% Comfrey Leaves Extract
0.5% Liquid Germall Plus

Recipe in grams for 100 gram test batch:
10 grams Cyclomethicone
8 grams Dimethicone
8 grams Conditioning Emulsifier Wax
67.5 grams Water
2 grams Wheat Protein
2 grams Horsetail Extract
2 grams Comfrey Leaves Extract
0.5 grams Liquid Germall Plus

Weigh the Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Conditioning Emulsifier and water into the beaker and microwave in short bursts until the Conditioning Emulsifier can be completely melted and all the ingredients in the beaker can be blended together. At this point, the mixture looks like a clear hair gel. Stir the mixture occasionally and allow to cool until the temperature drops below 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the extracts, Wheat Protein, and Liquid Germall Plus and mix together. Pour into desired containers and allow to cool before using. The mixture will now be white in appearance.

Application Directions:

Wash hair normally and then towel dry hair. Pump the needed amount of serum onto your palms and lightly apply to all of your hair. Do not rinse. Style as usual.

Enjoy!

Submit your photos and text for the guest written Embedded Melt & Pour Soap Challenge! Submissions will be accepted through October 18th at blog@thesage.com. The submissions will be released October 19th through October 23rd. Each guest writer will receive a $25 gift certificate.

Collect needed supplies:

Brown Sugar
Oat Flour (I made this one myself in the food processor)
Liquid Glycerin
Colorless Jojoba Oil or Golden Jojoba Oil (I’m using Colorless Jojoba Oil)
Liquid Soap Base
Body Milk Base
Mokalata Fragrance Oil
Scale
2 Mixing Bowls or Heavy Zipper Style Bags
Jars for storing your finished product in
Transfer Pipettes

Recipe:

200 grams Brown Sugar
10 grams Oat Flour
2 grams Liquid Glycerin
21 grams Jojoba Oil
10 grams Liquid Soap Base
20 grams Body Milk Base
0.5 grams Mokalata Fragrance Oil

Use a blender or food processor to make the oat flour.

Weigh the Brown Sugar and Oat Flour into the mixing bowl or bag and mix until all lumps have been removed. Set aside. Weigh all liquid ingredients into the other bowl or bag. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the liquid ingredients and stir until completely blended. Now you can fill your containers with the scrub.

I want to use this scrub right now!

Submit your photos and text for the guest written Embedded Melt & Pour Soap Challenge! Submissions will be accepted through October 18th at blog@thesage.com. The submissions will be released October 19th through October 23rd. Each guest writer will receive a $25 gift certificate.

Collect needed items:
1 batch of Okara
Rose Hydrosol
Honey
Chamomile Extract
Heavy Duty Paper Towel or Hand Towel
Scale
Container for mixing
Spoons

Recipe:
1 batch of Okara (My batch weighed 5.1 ounces after removing excess water)
0.20 ounces Rose Hydrosol
3.66 ounces Honey
0.12 ounces Chamomile Extract

After making Soy Milk, strain the Soy Milk and then place the okara onto the heavy duty paper or hand towel. Wrap the towel around the okara and gently twist to assist the draining of excess water. Place the barely damp okara into the mixing container and add the Rose Hydrosol, Honey and Chamomile Extract. Stir until all ingredients are incorporated. Once all ingredients are mixed, this mask now ready to use.

You can also use this mask as a body mask. Simply apply the mask and allow to sit for several minutes before washing off with cool water.

Enjoy!

I sat down and made a list of products that would help me achieve the desired effect of clean hands! I decided to start with the Glycerin Scrub Base and the Fine Pumice. I made a small test batch and realized that there wasn’t enough texture to help scrub my hands. I decided to add Fine Dead Sea Salt to the batch and see if that worked. Once I had mixed in the salt, I found the coarse scrubbing texture to be just right, but I wanted more help removing grease from my hands. That was when I remembered the conversation I had had with Tina about the properties of clay that can be useful for helping to remove impurities from the skin, like oil. After that thought, I had to find my Red Morocco Clay to add to the scrub. I added the clay, but because the pumice and salt had already been added, the clay did not mix well into the scrub. I set that test batch aside and started over again.

This time I added the Red Morocco Clay to the Glycerin Scrub Base and stirred before I added any other ingredients. Once the clay had been stirred in completely, I added the Fine Pumice and Fine Dead Sea Salt. This time the scrub was just what I wanted!

Collect needed supplies:
Glycerin Scrub Base
Fine Pumice
Fine Dead Sea Salt
Red Morocco Clay (or clay of your choice)
Fragrance or Essential Oil of your choice (I’m using Eastern Amber Fragrance Oil)
Transfer Pipettes
Measuring spoons
Container for mixing
Scale
Mixing spoon
Containers and caps of your choice

Recipe: (In grams)
150 grams Glycerin Scrub Base
4 grams Red Morocco Clay
50 grams Fine Pumice
50 grams Fine Dead Sea Salt
1 gram Eastern Amber Fragrance Oil
Makes 255 grams

Recipe: (In ounces)
5.30 ounces Glycerin Scrub Base
0.15 ounces Red Morocco Clay
1.75 ounces Fine Pumice
1.75 ounces Fine Dead Sea Salt
0.05 ounces Eastern Amber Fragrance Oil
Makes 9 ounces

Weigh the Glycerin Scrub Base and clay into your container for mixing and blend thoroughly until there are no more clumps of clay. Once the clay has been incorporated into the scrub base, add the pumice and salt to the mixture. Stir until there are no more pockets of dry ingredients. Add the Eastern Amber Fragrance Oil and stir.

After all ingredients are completely mixed, fill the containers of your choice. This is a great scrub to put in the Grand Oval Bottles, especially if it for the grease monkey with really dirty paws! (Pun intended.)

Enjoy this scrub!