October 2021 Homemade Lotions and Soaps

-


This year I've decided to sell soaps and lotions. I've been making soaps and lotions for 10 years for family and friends. Many times I've been told that they work better than anything else they've tried, and those who have received them have offered to buy them. With a large family, selling lotions or soaps isn't something I have had time for until now. 

Making lotions from herbs is one of my favorite things to do. We used homegrown elderberry flowers and lavender flowers to make these lotions. The happy moments in the garden with my children, feeling the sunshine, watering the plants, and gently picking the flowers- the peaceful energy of all of those moments is part of these lotions. Humming bees, families of shy quail, and colorful bluebirds are part of moments in the garden too, it is wonderful to see God's creations. The deer get a few nibbles in as they gracefully meander on their daily route around the garden fence. The lavender and elderberry flowers seem to know that they are loved, that they are being shared and they grow more abundantly. Creating these lotions in my kitchen, with thankfulness for the plants and their gifts, and sharing them is something I thoroughly enjoy. 
Beautiful elder flowers

Elder flowers are wonderful for the skin, they are high in anti-oxidants, which means they fight the effects of sun and age. They are also high in vitamins A, B, C and E, all important to protect the skin and to help it regrow. Their natural anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties means they help to control acne. 

Can you spot the bee visiting the elder flowers?
Lavender is famous for its soothing and calming properties. Lavender helps reduce inflammation and irritation, helping with eczema or redness. It is naturally anti-bacterial, which is helpful for reducing acne. We added hemp seed oil to the lotion, which is marvelous for moisturizing and protecting the skin. Hemp seed oil also reduces inflammation, redness, and irritation because it is high in Omega 6 and Omega 3 oils. It is one of my favorite oils for lotions, it has a luxurious feel to it. These lotions are great for everyday use, a little goes a long way because of how well these lotions work.


These 8 oz lotion bottles are $12. They were made in October of 2021 and will stay fresh for one year, up to one and a half year, depending on the temperature at which they are stored. Refrigeration is not necessary, but it will make them last a little longer.

Medicinal Lotions

Cayenne n' Coffee Lotion

Challenges often lead us to try new things. For me, varicose veins is something I have struggled with during and after pregnancies, and when I am on my feet for long hours. I made a lotion that supports circulation in the legs, and it has worked amazingly well in reducing the pain and swelling. Herbs are smart, they work where they are needed, sometimes in unexpected ways. Cayenne is a great herb for increasing circulation but also helps stop bleeding. Coffee helps to tighten and tone the veins and skin. Horse chestnut is well known for helping with varicose veins. White oak bark is something new I added this year to this lotion. The wonderful tissue toning benefits of white oak bark supports healthy vein structure. This lotion works best when it is put on in the morning, but it works well any time of day. Keep away from eyes and face because of the cayenne. This smells like coffee. A 4 oz bottle of this lotion for $10.

Nerve Calm Lotion

Again, it was a challenge that led me to this lotion. Nerve damage in one of my children, and restless legs are not well addressed in traditional medicine. Our friend and chiropractor, Kyle Christensen, suggested making an herb-infused oil with two herb blends that support the nerves. Nerve Calm Formula helps muscles to relax, relieving tension and muscle spasms. It has valerian, lobelia, passionflower, hops, black cohosh, blue cohosh, skullcap, and wild yam. Nerve Repair Formula stimulates the healing and repair of damaged nerves. It has skullcap, oat seed, celery, St. John's wort, lavender, and coffee beans. These herb blends were infused in organic extra virgin olive oil and made into this lotion. When I have given this to friends with chronic conditions that affect their nerves, they have told me how soothing and calming this lotion is. It smells lightly of celery seeds and herbs, no fragrance was added.  A 4 oz bottle of lotion is $10. 



Soap

I was introduced to homemade soap by a friend who gave me a couple bars when one of my children had a problem with their skin. It was incredibly helpful, and we've been hooked on homemade soap ever since. I love it when my kids ask to use homemade soap over store-bought soap. To me, it is magical to watch soap's ingredients transform to become a soothing, bubbly, creamy bar of soap. This spring my 12-year-old daughter helped me make this soap. It is made with olive oil, coconut oil, and palm oil. She chose a vanilla scent, with ground oatmeal that is a gentle exfoliator. We have loved using it. My daughter also helped package the soap. We added a couple dried lavender flower sprigs from our garden, they grew for you to enjoy. Gently press them between your fingers and enjoy the relaxing aroma. You can put them in a tissue or clean sock enjoy the calming effects of lavender by your pillow. A bar of soap is $5. As of now, I have 45 bars of oatmeal soap available. 



To buy the lotions or soap, contact me at leslieslotions@gmail.com and let me know what you would like. I expect that they will sell out quickly.

I would love to answer any questions and receive feedback. If you have any fragrances or herb-infused oils you would like to see in the lotions or soaps, let me know and I will consider them. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this! God bless you!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Roses- Herbs for Beginners

-
Image
Roses captivate us with their sweet smell when they're in bloom. Their fragrance is calming, grounding, and helps us remember the beautiful things in life.  Identification Wild roses have 5 petals in a cup like shape. The petals themselves are the shape of hearts- a clue that they are good for the heart- both physical and emotional. The leaves are oval shaped and serrated (zig zag edge around the leaf). Their leaves are compound (form in groups of leaves), and have 3 to 9 leaflets. Their thorns tell us that they are protective, they are protecting something special. In plants, thorns protect very special gifts. Roses need bees for pollination, and for the fruit and seeds to form.  People have bred roses for their beauty, fragrance, and fruit for thousands of years, all over the world. Cultivated roses often have more than 5 petals. Sometimes roses are bred to not have thorns or rose hips. People who grow roses are called "rosarians." The most fragrant roses are the most m...
Read more

Comfrey- Herbs for Beginners

-
Image
Comfrey Comfrey is an amazing plant that offers great medicine and it helps other plants to grow. Comfrey is soothing and cooling, and it helps with hot, dry, painful conditions. It has been used for centuries in wound care, as food for people and animals, as medicine, and as a garden fertilizer. If you look at comfrey leaves, they have little hairs on them that are scratchy, uncomfortable, and irritating. God put clues in plants to remind us of what they’re good for. This is called the Law of Signatures. Comfrey’s hairy, scratchy leaves remind us that it helps heal things that feel scratchy, uncomfortable, and irritated. Comfrey’s wide, luscious, dark green leaves with leaf lines that look like cells remind us that it wants to help everything grow!  Here are other examples of plants with built-in reminders of what they can help with.   Carrots are high in Vitamin A which is good for the eyes. Walnuts have healthy oils which are needed for our brain and nerves to work w...
Read more

Dandelions- Herbs for Beginners

-
Image
I asked my children what plant they wanted to study next. Decidedly they said, “Dandelions!!!” As I have studied dandelions, I think children and dandelions may be kindred spirits. They are often overlooked, but they are joyful and full of hope. They renew life. They grow without asking permission! They pack a lot of life and energy into a small size. They are a beautiful gift from God.  Last year we were at the cemetery on Memorial Day to visit my father-in-law’s grave. My mother-in-law put many beautiful flowers around his grave. My children looked around and noticed many graves without flowers, some of them over a hundred years old. They asked why so many graves had no flowers. We told them that maybe the people who knew them had died or moved away. They began picking dandelions and putting them on the forgotten graves. They were so happy running around the cemetery putting dandelions on the grave markers. Thinking of others makes you happy, but also one of the gifts of dandelio...
Read more