Don't have a certain surfactant?
I've made a table detailing all the different surfactants I work with so you can compare their attributes and choose one that works for you!
Why do you no longer recommend high pH cleansers?
Coconut Citrus Cleansing Balm
This creamy orange cleansing balm was born of a recipe request from Sonja. "What I am looking for is a recipe for a BALM that removes facial makeup (not eyes). Hope you can help. LOVE your website - a fab discovery for me. Thank you." A blend of oils is thickened with...
Exfoliating Creamy Cleansing Balm
I’ve had a few requests for a facial cleanser that’s creamy, yet exfoliating, and here’s what I’ve come up with. It’s thick, creamy, scrubby, and sudsy, and smells awesome to boot—an exfoliating creamy cleansing balm! I no longer recommend using alkaline cleansers...
Egyptian Magic Cleansing Balm
After falling madly in love with my gentle cleansing balm, I just had to keep playing with the idea. Sabine mentioned that she liked to wash her face with my DIY Egyptian Magic, and that sounded like the perfect place to start playing. Cleansing balm + Egyptian Magic...
Gentle Facial Cleansing Balm
I am so very thrilled with this gentle facial cleanser, and I think you will be, too. It's thick and creamy, and works into a gentle lather as you massage it into damp skin. It rinses away easily, leaving your face clean and smooth, but not overly dry. And, unlike...
Gentle Yucca & Clay Face Wash
I ordered some powdered yucca root about six months ago, and I've been sitting on it (metaphorically, of course) ever since, wondering what to do with it. You see, yucca is full of natural saponins, meaning it lathers all on its own, just like soapwort and soapnuts....
Japanese Ground Rice & Bee Pollen Face Scrub
The idea for this facial scrub came from a book of Meredith's I perused the last time I was visiting her. The book was called The Japanese Way of Beauty, and included many recipes for face scrubs to be used in silk or muslin bags. The most basic ones were ground rice,...
Super Gentle Homemade Eye Make-Up Remover
I've made a few forays into homemade eye make-up remover. My latest version worked really well, but as it sat on my vanity, the strength of the emulsifying wax slowly increased, and my nice, creamy (but liquid) eye make-up remover gradually turned into something...
Oatmeal, Milk, and Honey Sensitive Skin Facial Scrub
As with my hair, I try not to bother my face by washing it too often (which also, conveniently, means I don't have to bother myself to wash my face—win/win, says I). Most of the time a simple swipe with some toner will do the trick, but sometimes I need a good...
Gentle Clay Facial Scrub
Now that I've been making all kinds of make up, I find myself needing a way to get it off my face. This probably sounds a bit odd, but since I've never really worn make-up before, this is a new problem for me. Now, I know the OCM does a good job, but I've been...
The Oil Cleansing Method (or OCM)
The Oil Cleansing Method has been getting some attention on the internet as of late. A quick Google search turns up thousands of blog entries and forum posts, as well as the official website of the OCM. There's plenty to read about it if you're in the mood. You'll...
