It melts at body temperature, and is also suitable as a shaving moisturizer, quite the kitchen multi-tasker.

In the hot summer, my small bedside jar of vanilla bean infused coconut oil became quite soft and liquid. This made it easier to apply to legs and arms and backs for warm scented rub downs.

For winter use, small amounts of the solid coconut oil can be melted down in the microwave and poured into small tins for use as a lip balm.

I scented this round with 1 drop of peppermint essential oil per 2 tsp of melted coconut oil. This amount provides a soft level of mint, that is milder than the mint in Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm. I think I shall try doubling the amount of mint next time to aim for that Burt’s mint tingle on my lips.

Adding a 1/4 tsp of cocoa powder to the hot melted 2 tsp of coconut oil, softens the mint aroma, and cushions it with day dreams of sipping hot chocolate. It’s a splendid combination! The resulting balm is colored in the pot, but doesn’t show any traces of color on the skin. Also, as the coconut oil cools, it crystallizes to produce a mottled white snowflake like clouding in the brown cocoa lip balm pots.

As coconut oil is easily seduced to liquid by body temperatures, I would caution one against carrying these tins around in their pockets, unless a secure tight lid is used.

Note- this shouldn’t be carried in your pocket

as it will melt to a liquid. Think of this balm as a bedside treat.

Additional flavors begging to be made with essential oils:
- lavender mint
- lemongrass
- cinnamon
- chocolate lavender (Valentine’s Day!)
- cocoa butter rose (Valentine’s Day!)

As with any body product made containing essential oils, go gentle if you are unfamiliar with a particular scent. You don’t want to accidentally make a body lotion that will sting and burn you.
… or maybe you do? If so, get your experimenting underway to unveil your creation in time for Valentine’s Day play!

links:
Watchmaker Tins of all Sizes, Lee Valley
Adventures in Lip Balm, not martha
How to: Create your own lip balm recipe, Bleu Arts

I’ve been watching our grocery stores play similar tease games with their pints full of large strawberries. I’m just into the swing of great citrus and now my grocery store is trying to tell me its summer? While tempting, reading blogs like tana’s Small Farms has helped remind me to hold on till the real berries hit the markets.

With my supply of local organic frozen strawberries in the freezer, I’m able to tide myself over. Making strawberry facial masks is another great olfactory way to incorporate these great fruits into your day. The combination of eating banana ice cream while waiting for this mask to dry is out of this world!

Strawberry Facial Mask

adapted to be milk free from Janice Cox’s Natural Beauty for All Seasons

In her recipe preamble she states:
[strawberries] make an excellent skin-softening facial mask. A member of the rose family, strawberries contain salicyclic acid, which rids the skin of dead cells, allowing it to absorb moisture more efficiently. Strawberries also have a mild bleaching effect on the skin and help heal blemishes.

For a single facial mask, thaw one whole frozen strawberry in a small cup in the microwave. Frozen strawberries are good to use for this recipe because they let off alot of juice when thawed.

Mash up the slightly warm strawberry to a pulp and stir in 1-2 Tbs of cornstarch to form a smooth paste.

Slather the paste on to your face and neck and allow to dry, 15 – 20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.