If you have ever dreamed of living in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, or figure the best superpower ever would be the ability to eat as much chocolate as possible without it having any calories, I think this lip balm is for you. Decadent, super-fragrant cocoa butter is paired with golden liquid nutty goodness macadamia nut oil to create a lip treat that is easily confused for dessert. Yum.
This Silky Camellia Hair Serum is a wonderful combination of a leave-in hair conditioner and an oil serum. It helps reduce frizz, add shine, prevent breakage, and even provides a touch of heat protection along with making your hair smell pretty. A drop or two is more than enough to smooth down fly-aways and perk up dry-looking ends. I’ve designed it to be customizable on a use-by-use basis, so if you happen to need a more potent or more dilute product at any given time, you’ve got it! Its also easy to make and I’ve provided a big list of substitutions and alternatives at the end of the recipe so you can tweak it to use what you’ve got on hand 🙂
I dreamt up this cleanser for my friend and super-awesome yoga instructor Danny. He’s pretty much the sole reason I’ve been able to start running again, so when he mentioned he’d be interested in trying some of the things I make, I was on it (I definitely prefer to thank people with personalized DIY concoctions instead of a bottle of wine or flowers wherever possible). I was immediately drawn to the idea of a coniferous-y cleanser, and though I made this Forest Facial Cleanser over a month ago, it seems fitting to share it while I’m relaxing in the middle of a forest in Manitoba.
Plantain (Plantago major—not the banana-like fruit!) is one of my favourite herbs, but not for the reasons you might think. I like it because I see it everywhere, growing in alleys and public parks, and I just think it’s a fun thing to see something so useful thriving everywhere. It’s like the sparrow of herbs! It’s also sort of fun to point it out to people as most people just think of it as a nameless weed. Today we’re turning that backyard weed into a really neat Plantain Chamomile Ointment—it’s got a great vaseline-y/ointmenty consistency and is great for summer scrapes and bug bites.
I’ve been experimenting recently with lighter lotions that are suitable for pump bottles and summery weather, and I am loving the results of these experiments. My first experiment was my Lemon Chiffon Body and Hand Lotion, and I was honestly surprised by just how much I loved it. You guys loved, it, too—Thais commented “This is my favorite lotion like… ever! It sinks in beautifully, doesn’t feel sticky and the smell… omg, I can’t stop sniffing my hands and arms. About your make a 2nd batch. Thanks Marie!!!” So, consider this Ginger Silk Summer Lotion experiment 2.0. And guys… swoon. Holy goodness moly WOWZA, I am utterly smitten with this incredibly lightweight, unbelievably silky, ginger-scented lotion, and I’m so excited to share it with you! 😍
This silky smooth, light-as-a-feather solid facial serum is really neat. It has all the satiny, lightweight loveliness of a liquid serum, but it’s easier to transport (no leaks!), and application is even easier thanks to the elimination of the dropper bottle. Lightweight, super-glidy cetyl alcohol transforms olive and evening primrose oils into an oh-so-cool solid facial serum, and I may be a dweeb, but I think this is super exciting.
Make it Up: The Essential Guide to DIY Makeup and Skin Care is now available at booksellers all over the world!