Multipurpose Baby Cream

I did it!  After a couple of experimental rounds I have finally created my own baby cream recipe!  This cream can be used as a diaper cream, dry spot/eczema treatment and/or all over moisturizer!  It's pretty thick, so how you use it would be up to you and your specific needs.  I do have to brag...little M has been using it for about a week now, plus a different variation for about two weeks before that, and (no kidding) no eczema patches are present on his skin!  His case isn't sever by any means, but he seriously has "normal" smooth and even baby skin all over since using this!

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

1 tbsp beeswax

1 tbsp coca butter

2 tbsp shea butter

2 tbsp water

1/2 tbsp grapefruit seed extract

2 tbsp sweet almond oil

1 tbsp jojoba oil

2 tbsp vegetable glycerine

1/8 tsp vitamin E oil

1/2 tsp calendula oil (in olive oil base)

Directions:

In a double boiler, melt together the first three ingredients.  In a second double boiler, melt together the second set of ingredients.  I don't have a double boiler, so I use 2 pots with boiling water inside and place large glass bowls over them.  It's not fancy, but it works for me!  Once each is fully melted/incorporated, pour each into one cool mixing bowl. Stir.   Add last 2 ingredients.  Continue stirring until cooled.  This step is important, as you want to make sure your liquids and solids fully combine and end up in a creamy consistency.  

It's seriously that easy!  The hardest part is finding all of the ingredients.  The startup cost seems high, but in time this will pay for itself compared to buying natural creams for my guy.  I actually like it for myself too!  It's a great intensive moisturizer for dry winter weather.  I have sensitive skin and have to stay moisturized, or else I end up itchy all over.  This even makes a great lip moisturizer...it even tasted sweet!  It smells delicious, too!  Like a subtle white chocolate and honey.  I've been experimenting with adding essential oils, but haven't yet been completely satisfied.  I guess that's my next step!

Waiting...

I love the fact that we live in a time where any little obscure thing I want is available, usually for a reasonable price, at the click of a button.  I have been particularly grateful since I have started to make my own household and body care products.  I can't imagine how much time it would take to locate some of these ingredients!  On top of that, I'm fairly confident that it would be much more expensive in stores.  The downside is the wait...I am not the most patient person when I am excited about something.  I placed an order on Tuesday from a new find of mine, Lucky Vitamin.  (This place has a great selection and awesome prices!)  Every day I'm checking my mailbox, even though I know my order was just shipped on Saturday.  But I'm so excited!  I'm planning to make bath bombs with G for his and little M's Valentines.  (An amazing pinterest idea!)  And I'm also planning to make a jasmine vanilla shea butter body lotion to give to my mom and the boys' teachers as V-Day gifts.  I will be posting the recipe, if all goes according to plan.  :)  Now I just have to wait for these last couple of ingredients... 

Pediped Giveaway

This is my first time posting about a giveaway that's being offered on another blog, but I am so very excited about this one that I had to!  The Bragging Mommy is giving away a pair of Pediped baby/kids shoes!  This company sounds so fantastic and has so many adorable choices!  I've entered giveaways for these before, but never been lucky enough to win.  I haven't ever had a pair for my boys, but I have read enough reviews to feel pretty confident that they are great shoes!  I'd be especially excited to try them for little M, as he's still not the most secure walker.  Their shoes are tailored to different developmental stages from infants to (approx) age 7, so either of my boys could still wear their cute designs!

Natural Lotion!

This past week I made my first attempt at creating a homemade lotion, specifically targeted at little M's eczema.  This time of year is hard on it, and he needs something great to keep him soft and itch-free.  I have tried lots of OTC eczema formulas with less than satisfying results.  I've had the most success with this formula from Burt's Bees and a not-yet-released sample of a new cream by My True Nature.  But nothing has ever been quite good enough for my guy.  So after tons of research I ordered several ingredients to start experimenting with my own eczema relief lotion.  Call me a control freak, but there's just something great about actually having the ability to know exactly what is in a product that's going on his skin!
I'm not 100% satisfied with my first attempt, but I believe we're on the right track!  Here's what I used:

1/2 oz beeswax

1 tbsp shea butter

2 tbsp cocoa butter

1 tbsp sweet almond oil

1 tbsp vegetable glycerin

I simply melted it all together using a double boiler setup, then poured it into a repurposed baby food jar.  I allowed it to cool and found that the oil seperated back out from the wax and butters, so I needed to give it a good stir.  It was great that night, but became too solid by the next night.  After a few days I decided to add a couple more liquid ingredients and see if I could soften it up a bit.  I added:

1 tsp sweet almond oil

1 tsp glycerin

1 tsp jojoba oil

You'd think I would learn from round 1, but no.  Again I allowed it to cool and the oil separated out.  I mixed it all up and was rewarded with a slightly creamier result.  It's pretty firm after a night, but softer than before.  Can I tell you that it smells absolutely delicious?!  The wax I purchased had a distinct honey fragrance, and my cocoa butter smells like white chocolate.  It even tastes sweet!  (I used a little as a lip balm, just as an experiment!)

I still have a lot to learn, but I am quite happy with my first round of lotion-making!

Hello Again!

It's been a while since I've been able to post.  After a round of stomach flu for big G, hand foot & mouth for little M, basketball season for my coach hubby and a broken elbow for myself, I am finally returning to my version of normal.  While the past month + has been a whirlwind, I have found some time to try a couple of natural recipes!  I created dishwasher detergent from the recipe I had previously posted.  I think it does a pretty good job of cleaning, but we do get some really hard lumps that can be a challenge to break up.  I've also found that it does leave a small residue on the dishes...nothing a little vinegar in the rinse cycle can't fix!  Overall I am happy with my economical and environmentally friendly dishwasher detergent!