what's been cooking + a mini prize

Do you remember a while back I had a little bit of a melt down about all the chemicals they put in cosmetics and beauty products? Well I ordered a bunch of stuff from Mountain Rose Herbs, determined to make my own chemical-free products. Here is what arrived in the post:

 

And here is what I made with it:

Or at least some of it, because thankfully there is a ton left. I love this stuff. Honestly when it arrived I thought oh crap, here we go again. I've gone and bought a load of things that I don't know what to do with. But after some extensive reading of Organic Body Care Recipes by and a chocolate muffin. I rolled up my sleeves and got cooking.

First off the bat were geranium bath melts. So yummy they look like you could eat them and actually most of the ingredients are edible. One of the nice things about Mountain Rose Herb products is that they are food grade as well as organic. It feels good that something you use in the bath is not dangerous if swallowed because the kids sometimes inexplicably get thirsty in the bath.

Next up was this orange scented body butter which Andy almost ate (off the the electric whisk I was using to make it fluffy)....he thought it was butter cream. Like I said, nice to have a safety factor round your kids.

By then I was on a roll, so I made some lavender and rose face wash, some black tea hair rinse and some basic hair conditioner.

I finished the session with some oatmeal and chamomile bath bags and some lavender salt scrub.

Everything was so simple to make and is lovely to use and I am reminded how many basic kitchen staples have other uses. Salt, sugar, olive oil, oatmeal, baking soda, tea....all of these things I had in my kitchen cupboard. (One thing I didn't have, that mercifully MRH has a plethora of, is containers.)

I know there must be lots of other common household tips out there, so if you have a favorite I'd love to hear about it. 

So now to the mini prize: what you'll get is basically a sample size of everything I made in a cute reusable pouch.

orange body butter::lavender and rose face wash::basic hair conditioner::lavender salt scrub::geranium bath melts::oatmeal and chamomile bath bag. (I'll also include a list of all the ingredients I used in case anyone has any sensitivities.)

 

For all those who are not particulalry interested in natural beauty products, this little draw is especailly for you. I was a non-beleiver and I am ready to attempt my first conversion with this prize. So come on you shea-butter heathens, this one is for you!!

All you need to do is leave a comment.

I'll be back on Monday to announce the winner. Have a great weekend.

Comments

[Tonya]

Wow, I am super impressed. I love the idea of homemade skin care products, but its unlikely I'd ever get around to doing it. Good on you! It all looks wonderful!

[kate]

that looks like fun! i've been on the hunt for all natural stuff with ingredients i can pronounce. i should just make my own, too.

[julia]

So cute...and darn right ambitious. Make me a believer!

[Nada]

i have been daydreaming about trying to make my own product, but still haven't gotten around to it...

[judy]

everything looks so nice! i am very impressed...

[Rachel]

I'd love to try what you made.

[joy]

I wish I had some of the energy right now that you do!!
you are so creative!!

you are so generous!!!
thanks for the give away!!!

[Angela]

I have a ton of supplies at home that I've never used. Lye, soap tray, everything. I dumped a ton of cash, and have never used it.

This stuff looks beautiful. BTW, what do you use for labels, I really like the little fox ones.

[Mel H]

wow! I would love to try! mmm... body butter.....

[Davy]

Those look great! I totally agree that they look good enough to eat. I'd love to try them out -- I've always been a bit curious about making my own products like that.

[Gemma]

Love it! This is something I always dither about, I'd love to do it but I'm not sure that my house could hold any more project gear!

[kayla_d]

You're so sweet to do a giveaway of these--I was just thinking you should sell your natural concoctions!

[Liane]

Everything looks so yummy! I like your labels. :)

[Pink Sky]

Wow!!! I'm really impressed that you made all these yourself (they do sound delicious!) And then the gorgeous packaging just puts it over the edge.

I've been wanting to try my hand at making some of these too. Thank you for the book recommendation!

[Julie]

Very cool -- I would love to enter the draw. I tried making some things a few years ago, but it wasn't easy to find organic, natural ingredients and some of the scents I chose left me disappointed (as I believe they were artificial). I'd love to try this again sometime though and would love to hear more on your blog about how you made these!

[pasha plum]

Yep, I am not a believer but I am willing to try!

[Lil' d]

I'm very impressed. My daughter's skin is even more sensitive to products than mine - now I think I'm going to have to look into whether home made things would be less likely to cause a reaction.

[francesca]

wow, your ambition is inspiring!
and your labels are adorable.

many thanks for the link to recipezaar - a great find.

[Leigh Anne]

Wow! You've been busy. I'll have to take a look at all of the recipes you used to make them!

[lera]

I make soap and I love it. Recently I ventured into a lavendar vapor rub and a peppermint/eucalyptus rub (aka Vick's vapor rub). Super easy and useful.

[amanda]

I'd love to win some of your handmade samples. I am interested in natural stuff but I don't think I'm ready for the initial investment yet. Hope this gets me going!

[Anita]

Great idea - thank you for sharing!

[the pesky bombolino]

Wow, I REALLY want to win this prize! I'm keeping my fingers permanently crossed til Monday!

[Vicki]

Everything looks (and I bet smells) fantastic. I made potpourri wit my mom a few years ago and the coffee chocolate (for a coffee addict friend)was so strong that it set off my mom's smoke alarm!!! The sleep herbs were nice though. Once I am on my feet...come on over and make some sleep herb sachets. I think I have all of the ingredients.

[Beth]

You are amazing! I have super-sensitive skin so I am wondering if some all natural goodies would help!

[Irene]

Oh my. I swear if I don't win this, I will have to make my own. You are so industrious! (I almost hope I don't win so I can go buy my own load of stuff...)

[mikawendy]

Wow, what a neat collection of yummies! I don't have many homemade bath products, but I do like to make my own primitive bath salts using sprigs of lavender in a jar of kosher salt. I usually use jelly jars for this because they're not too tiny but are still small enough to fit in the bathroom cabinet.

The other thing we do is cut up our used/worn/stained cotton tee shirts and use them as dust/cleaning rags.

[Mary Ellen]

Your finished products look yummy. Wish I could get a whiff of them!

[katrina grace craig]

i just started dipping my toe in the naturals world, with baking soda shampoo and apple cider rinse. so far so good, but i am completely intimidated about making all the other things. you've given me confidence and a desire to smell fresh oranges :)

[Cathy Pascoe]

Wow - what a fabulous stash of body indulgence and a great give-away. I've made bath bombs before now, and have always wanted to make soap. I'm off to check out the website now!
Cathy XX

[Anna]

A contest, YAHOO!

[Anna]

A drawing, YAHOO!

[Anna]

oop, sorry, I posted twice (now three times).

[Daphne]

Well now -- very tempting, especially with such a beautiful case. How could I resist?

[rirral]

still no toothpaste? looks great you clever bean x

[erin]

ok...i'll bite.

[Trudy McLauchlan]

Love the look of the products you've made. Would love to receive your gorgeous give-away!!
Trudy

[caren]

please please please please please!!! (don't i have great manners when i beg?) i LOVE that kind of stuff... what a great idea that you buy the kit and can mix up your own products. i might have to look into getting one of those kits myself!

[amisha]

what a fun assortment! i have really been wanting to try making other body care stuff other than soap... the bath melts look so decadent, and that body butter! yum. xo

[margaret]

What a cool giveaway! Thanks for all the inspiration you provide.

[jodie]

Oh, that orange body butter looks wonderful!

[SewingDervish]

Oh to have the ambition to craft my own toiletries. I usually let others hand craft them.

[Amy]

All of those things look amazing! I have been doing a homemade olive oil and sugar scrub for years (with occasional some mashed grapefruit to exfoliate)--but your stuff looks way more fun and yummy!

[melissa Davis]

I too am trying to convert to all natural body products. I also found Lush products, handmade from organic fruits and vegetables and high quality essential oils. They make solid shampoos and conditioners to cut down on packaging waste and that makes it easier to eliminate harsh chemicals used as preservatives. You can order products online at www.lush.com.

[Andrea]

I'd love to give it a sample. They look amazing.

[Cassi]

I know I'm too late for the giveaway but I am so impressed with all your creations! My only experience is making lip balm and a few face toners :)

[Amy]

Too late, but it all looks sooooo lovely!

[sarah]

Oh no! It looks like I found your blog too late! Those things look delicious!