Today’s formulation is a bit of a formulation love song—an ode, if you will. A loving ballad to beautiful, fruit berry oils. A syllable-free sonnet to anti-inflammatory, barrier-boosting, antioxidant-rich oils that smell wonderfully of fresh air and make me think of cool summer mornings… and also sorbet. Let’s dive into the first verse 🎶
Lip gloss is one of the first things I ever made (this post from late 2011 is nearly a decade old, wowza), with my first batches pre-dating Humblebee & Me! I’ve experimented with many different ways to get that characteristic soft creamy, glossy consistency, and today I’m sharing another one 😄 Deep green blackberry seed oil stars in this luxurious gloss, with a small amount of colourant to give it a blackberry-hued tint. I’ve shared two variations of this formulation, each featuring a different thickener, leaving you to choose your version based on what you can get. One thickener creates a more glossy end product, while the other makes for a creamier gloss. I swatch both versions in the full video tutorial so you can see how they differ!
This Bi-Phase Hyaluronic Acid Hair Serum is part leave-in hair conditioner, part hair serum. It features hydrating and luxurious hyaluronic acid, volume-boosting hydrolyzed rice protein, and ultra-light Neossance® Hemisqualane—I am loving working a few pumps through my hair from about the ears down. My ends are pretty dry these days as I am well overdue for a trim, but this serum perks it right up! And, since it’s a bi-phase serum it’s incredibly simple to make while still getting the benefit of both oil and water-soluble ingredients. Let’s dive in!
Today we’re mixing up a sudsy and fresh Aloe Mint Hand Wash, made with peppermint essential oil and a lovely gentle surfactant blend. I’m loving the combination of crisp & cool peppermint essential oil, soothing aloe vera, and moisturizing vegetable glycerin as warmer weather sets in! It’s easy to make, easy to make in big batches, and you can switch up the essential oil for different versions. Let’s get sudsy!
This decadent Macadamia Vanilla Emulsified Body Butter is lovely; it is rich and indulgent without being heavy or greasy. It smells softly nutty with a warm vanilla base note, and it’s scoopy and soft like a decadent custard. If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably be tempted to give it a taste… just to see… even though you know better 😂 If you love The Body Shop’s body butters, you’ll adore this mouthwatering formulation. Yum!
This all-natural Skin Brightening Toner Mist formulation is part hydrating toner and part serum, featuring some fantastic soothing, moisturizing, barrier-boosting, and brightening ingredients. It’s quite simple to make, with just a wee bit of heating, and you can easily customize the scent by using your favourite hydrosol to create a uniquely yours skin treat. I’m really enjoying it as the middle step of my skincare routine, sandwiched between cleansing and creams, and I hope you do, too!
Make it Up: The Essential Guide to DIY Makeup and Skin Care is now available at booksellers all over the world!