I adore clay in my soap, so I thought I’d try a bar with lots of the stuff. The general rule of thumb I’ve been following is one tablespoon per 500g/pound of oils so I decided to take that up by about 10x and I’m loving the results.
In honour of Robbie Burn’s day, I’m sharing this recipe for a Scottish Rose Salve today (“O my Luve is like a red, red rose”). It was inspired by a recipe request from Jade, who wrote “I love this [rosebud] lip salve. I’ve been using it for 9 years and it’s a staple. However, it used to be $5 a tin and now it’s $8… I guess I’m not looking for a complete dupe because if there is a way to have the salve still give my lips the awesome shine without all that petrolatum that would be ideal.” As a fellow rose lover, how could I resist?
I am utterly smitten with this Cold Snap Cleansing Balm. I’ve already emptied two tins of it. It’s perfectly soft and smooth, and leaves my skin delightfully clean without drying it out. A wee bit of menthol gives it a perfect wee tingle that’s perfect for first thing in the morning, and the scent is beautifully fresh and just a wee bit floral. I love it.
There’s been a line that reads “fir and cypress body lotion with sweet undertones (vanilla, floral?)” in my long list of project ideas for quite some time. It’s been there for long enough that I’m not entirely certain where the idea came from. Perhaps I tried a hand soap at a restaurant that bragged about fir and cypress on the label. Maybe I just love fir trees and vanilla. Perhaps Siri sneakily added it to the list (she is surprisingly insightful at times). Anyhow, with chilly winter days and Christmastime upon us, a light, hydrating lotion that smells of fir and vanilla sounded like just the thing, and so off the list and into the kitchen that idea went.
I am quite smitten with this glossy, fragrant London Fog Lip Balm. Inspired by the lovely latte made with Earl Grey tea, steamed milk, and vanilla syrup, it conjures up memories of misty days wandering cobblestone lined streets with a woolen jacket and a chunky scarf. Perhaps you’re wearing a pair of knee-high boots and carrying a worn leather bag carrying a favourite book and a stamped postcard in need of a postbox. There’s a café in the square up ahead where you’ll warm up with a London Fog and do some people watching from a booth in the corner. There’s something just lovely about misty cities.
After falling madly in love with my Everyday French Green Clay Bar I decided I needed more of them. Clay bars are downright fantastic for daily light clay use and they’re far more travel friendly than a baggie of mysterious looking powder (especially if you’re flying). This Pink Rose Clay Bar version features two gentle clays and some other goodies to create a pretty pink bar just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Make it Up: The Essential Guide to DIY Makeup and Skin Care is now available at booksellers all over the world!