(soy, paraffin, you name it).

I don't buy any of the above items any more and I'm floored at how much money I
save (especially on sugar scrubs, since I use them almost daily).

Yeah, it costs a little to get started and to buy basics like pure shea butter,
mango butter, etc., but it's way cheaper than buying any manufacturer's WAY too
high priced equivalents.

Dana in DE

Dana, did you take a class to learn how to do these things? Found directions
on the web? Where do you buy your supplies? I'd love to learn to make my own
shower gels. For those, do you start with a pre-mixed soapy solution and then
add your own fragrances? -- Beckie

Sophie, I'm with you...the sugar scrubs from scratch sound wonderful. I
made the mistake of picking up a container at Target and got goo all over my
hand. I smelled like an oily melon/cucumber for the rest of my shopping
trip. Oh, and the cart does too.
"Sophie" <Sophie@fakeaddress.com> wrote in message
news:vlc9ht8qvnmr39@corp.supernews.com...

"Daphodil" <rnapp@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:Z3q5b.32885$hf1.14914@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
Well I bought one (sunflower vanilla or something) and used it in the
shower, then almost fell. Had to warn my husband to be careful in there -
lol. I didn't know it would be this sugar and oil, separate *thing*. Very
weird.

1. I currently cheat with my shower gels - I buy shower gel base and add to
it. I buy it for about $15 a gallon and add fragrance oils and whatever else
sounds nice (silk protein, milk powder, honey powder, etc.)

You can make them from scratch, but the pure amount of ingredients involved can
get expensive and the ability to completely ruin it is
high. (and everyone has a different idea of how to make the perfect shower gel
so it gets very confusing).

2. For a great sugar scrub that isn't oily but is very moisturizing I do this:
(please realize that you don't have to do this recipe exactly; you can add more
butters, different butters, more oils, less sugar - it's a personal preference
thing)

4 ounces shea butter
4 ounces mango butter
1 ounce cocoa butter (ultra refined)
(I occasionally use aloe butter, almond butter or other unique butters)

Put in VERY CLEAN microwave safe glass bowl and heat just til melted. Beat
with a mixer til it starts to thicken then add in shea butter oil, jojoba oil,
sweet almond oil (any good oils basically).

I add about twice as much oil as I do butters. You can add more after you've
added the sugar if you think it's too thick.

Once the oils and butters are all blended together, I add about 1/2% phenopip
(preservative that's great for sugar scrubs) although you don't have to use a
preservative if you use the scrub quickly and make sure all utensils are super
clean. I usually add in milk powder, liquid silk proteins and occasionally
honey powder.

I also add in 1 ounce of my shower gel base for cohesion.

Now, add in your fragrance oil (body safe of course). I love either Oatmeal,
Milk and Honey oil, or Coconut Cream Pie. This isn't something I measure, but
I'd say start at about 1 ounce, stir well and sniff.

Now you're ready to add the sugar. I use Turbinado (brown) sugar. White sugar
doesn't work as well.

I add in enough brown sugar that it's a very thick mixture (maybe 2 lbs?), then
scoop into clean 8 ounce jars.

Waalaa! A wonderful homemade sugar scrub! You can add in any oils that you
like (I like shea butter oil and sweet almond oil, which are good for itchy,
dry skin).

This sugar scrub will give you a very thick scoopable mixture with no
separation of sugar and oil. It also won't pour out, even if you hold it upside
down. It will sometimes make the shower slippery, but usually just standing in
the shower rinses it all down the drain.

I found all of my information online - from messageboards, support groups and
suppliers who have instructions on their websites.

A great place to get many oils and butters is:

http://www.essentialwholesale.com/sh...sp?id=27&cat=F
ixed+Oils

I buy mine from a variety of places because many of my candle suppliers also
sell bath & body products.

I highly recommend buying the liquid silk product if you make any homemade
products. It's pricey but does make a difference in how the end product feels.

Dana in DE

Oooooh! Thank you for this! My friend is turning 40 next month and I'd
love to make her some special potions. You rock

"Hateithere" <hateithere@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030903151928.18258.00000341@mb-m13.aol.com...

x-no-archive: yes

MoonFancy wrote:
My daughter and I have made candles, glycerine-based soaps, shower gel,
body lotion, body butter, body oil and sugar scrub (soap-based, not
oil-based). For newbies, it's easier to work with fragrances versus
essential oils. The best is buying 1 lb. of pure shea butter for around
$8.00 -- melt or soften and mix with body lotion base -- a little shea
butter goes a along way. When packaging up your goodies, avoid tin
containers for anything that's apt to get wet and leave a rust stain.
And make sure you have a few tools -- funnels, wisks, bowls with pour
spouts... I bought supplies from the first link below (it also has
recipes), haven't tried the second. In all, it's really fun and you will
never spend $20+ on a few ounces of frou frou body lotion with
shea-butter again! You can even make personalized labels. We gave a gift
basket to my daughter's high school counsellor with names like "Kids Be
Gone" shower gel, etc.
-sk

www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/default.aspx

www.northcoastcandle.com/wholbatandbo.html