by Marie | Sep 10, 2018 | Bar Soap, Very Crunchy
I had so much fun creating these sunny, speckled bars. The idea was to create a swirl using texture—as opposed to colour—to differentiate the swirl from the rest of the soap. When I set out to make these bars it had been positively ages since I’d made soap. Who else gets sucked into those strange inertia loops where you haven’t done something in a long time, so you keep not doing it, and then BAM… it’s been months? That’s me and… so many things. Anyhow—as I brought the lye water and fats to trace and starting working with the batter I wondered why it had been so long. Soap making is far too fun to fall victim to the do-nothing inertia loop!
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by Marie | Sep 6, 2018 | Masks, Very Crunchy
Today’s project is inspired by a face mask I spotted on Instagram that rings it at about $100/100mL. It definitely had some good ingredients in it, but nothing that should make it that sort of wince-worthy expensive. My version blends two different clays with some herbs, honey, and some other good stuff for an easy to make face mask that you can personalize every single time you use it. And it’s definitely not $100 😄
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by Marie | Aug 27, 2018 | Body Butter, Very Crunchy
I’ve been playing with lots of more complex DIYs lately, and I was itching to get back to something a bit simpler. Something made with wonderful plant-sourced oils and butters that are accented with essential oils. The sort of thing that isn’t intimidating, and really lets some of my favourite ingredients shine. That’s how we ended up here! This simple, rich Lavender Patchouli Body Butter combines a few lovely ingredients in carefully crafted amounts to create something indulgently creamy and moisturizing from some stuff you probably already have.
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by Marie | Apr 5, 2018 | Body Butter, Formula Botanica, Very Crunchy
In theory, sandal season is on its way. I say “in theory” because right now the concept of spring seems more like a sad, mocking joke rather than the (supposedly) current season. It hasn’t been warmer than -10°C at 7am for weeks. Our highs are 10–20°C colder than is typical for this time of year. It’s still snowing nearly every day. Insert choice language expressing frustration and exasperation here. Hrmph. Anywho—in a showing of faith in the sun eventually remembering what’s up, I have whipped up this simple-yet-decadent foot butter, using just a handful of natural ingredients. It’s soft, silky, and rich without being too greasy. This Eucalyptus Mint Foot Butter leaves skin with a satiny finish and a touch of minty freshness. Lovely!
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by Marie | Jul 20, 2017 | Lip Balm, Very Crunchy
The consistency I look for in a lip balm is almost entirely dictated by how my lips are feeling. If I’m feeling extra parched and lizard-like I’ll reach for something sticky (like this or this) that has the power to stubbornly cling to my lips and really lock in moisture. If I’m feeling pretty good, a lighter, slicker lip balm is much more up my alley. Given it’s the middle of summer (how did that happen so fast?!) right now, I’m in the mood for something smooth and a touch glossy, and that’s exactly what this Chamomile Citrus Vegan Lip Balm is.
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by Marie | Apr 27, 2017 | Face, Recipes with Videos, Very Crunchy
Have you ever stumbled across a for-sale skin care project that was so simple, yet so expensive, that it made you downright mad? That was my initial reaction to the product that inspired this DIY. $70 for mostly clay, some salt, some inexpensive herbs, and some spices I have in my kitchen. $70!?! And that’s US dollars, too, so that’s nearly $95 Canadian with the exchange rate these days, and… what!? Anyhow, I guess I like to channel my rage into making things (who is surprised?), so I did. I made myself a bunch of Cleansing Mud Mousse for a whole lot less than $95, and now you can, too.
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