Baby Balm

I'm down to my last jar of Baby Balm, so needed to make another batch.
Baby Balm is fairly messy to make as it doesn't have water in it, so no emulsifier, which makes clean up more difficult. The Zinc Oxide seems to go everywhere!

I came up with the Baby Balm formula after reading about the old fashioned Zinc and Castor Oil Balm that people used to make years and years ago to protect babies tender bottoms.

I looked at other creams on the market and could only find balms and creams which contained petrolatum, or petroleum jelly (Vaseline). So many people want to avoid ingredients derived from petroleum, so I decided to create a balm which included an infused oil. Chamomile is the most soothing of the herbs, so I chose to infuse this in olive oil. To provide a barrier which prevents urine from sitting next to the skin, beeswax is my choice of wax. It still allows the skin to breath, unlike petroleum jelly.

Zinc Oxide is a natural mineral from the earth. It has mild antiseptic properties and acts as a physical barrier when applied to the skin. It's often used instead of chemical sunscreens as it absorbs ultraviolet light.

Castor seed oil comes from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant. Castor seeds have been found in Ancient Egyptian tombs dating back to 4000 BC being used mostly to fuel lamps because of the slow burning oil. Herodotus and other ancient Greek travelers have noted the use of castor seed oil for lighting, body ointments, and improving hair growth and texture. Cleopatra is reputed to have used it to brighten the whites of her eyes.

Added natural Vitamin E and Vitamin A make this balm more healing than others on the market. Vitamin E (D-alpha-tocopherol) is an antioxidant with skin moisturising properties.
It is also photoprotectant. In addition, it serves as a preservative for oils. Vitamin E is effective in preventing irritation.
Vitamin A is a keratinization regulator, meaning that it helps to improve the skin's texture, firmness and smoothness. Once absorbed into the skin the retin esters convert to retinoic acid and this provides anti aging benefits. This is why I use it in the Face Lotions and Rosehip Recovery Serum. Surface application of Vitamin A helps prevent skin dryness and scaliness. When combined with Vitamin E its skin regeneration properties are enhanced.

Skinflint Baby Balm contains a blend of essential oils. German chamomile, lavender and sweet orange combine to create a light fragrance that is soothing and has healing properties.
Check the ingredients of commercial balms. It's very unlikely they contain any herbal benefits, essential oils or vitamins.

At only $14 for a long lasting 100g jar, it's excellent value!

Hand & Nail Cream

I have made Hand & Nail Cream today in between a meeting with our local pollie finding out about the Govt's plans for amalgamation of councils and cooking curry for tomorrow night's sports club tea!
(We're not planning on amalgamating, by the way!)

Hand & Nail Cream is formulated with luxury sweet almond oil and light, nourishing rice bran oil. Virgin Shea Butter is added for it's soothing properties, while dimethicone assists with the absorption of the nutrients.

Lillypilly extract is high in Vitamin C, essential for healthy skin and Oat Protein assists with strengthening of the nail bed as well as encouraging collagen production. Added Vitamin E provides antioxidant properties, while d-Panthenol (Vitamin B5) is moisturising and protective.

I've scented this cream with a delicious Frangipani fragrance. As I poured this batch, I thought of those who are sensitive to fragrances, so I made a few without any scent.

If you require an unscented product, please let me know in plenty of time. If I happen to be making that product, I can set aside some unscented bottles or tubes.

Shampoo

I finished the Natural Balance Shampoo today. It's a long process requiring an overnight cooling for the first phase of the method for making this shampoo.

The Natural Balance range is designed for people with oily, thin hair. It has a light balance of conditioning ingredients and a little more of the stronger surfactants to cleanse the hair and scalp. These are balanced with mildness agents of almond glycerides and glyceryl cocoate.

Nettle extract reduces scalp irritation, nourishes the scalp and hair follicles, stimulates circulation and promotes healthy hair growth.
Wheat protein has elastic and binding properties, helping reduce the irritating effect of surfactants. Wheat protein moisturises and conditions skin & hair.
Escentials of Australia

Scented with beautiful blend of essential and fragrant oils, including lemongrass, this shampoo is gentle and effective. It can be used every day and won't strip the hair of it's natural oils. I've also found that my colour lasts much longer since using my own shampoo.
Skinflint shampoos contain only coconut and sugar based surfactants. No sulphates, no SLS or SLES and no parabens.

Those with longer, treated hair may be better using the Pure Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner and only conditioning the ends of the hair if the scalp is oily.

Hair Conditioner

Today I made more Natural Balance Conditioner and Shampoo.
The Natural Balance range is designed for those with oily to normal hair that is fine and short to medium length.
Natural Balance Conditioner contains salicylic acid for it's Beta Hydroxy Acid properties. BHA's exfoliate within the pores of the skin, breaking down dead hair, skin cells and oil build-up.
It also has oat protein which can be absorbed by the hair cuticle and strengthen hair, while d-Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5) is also a hair strengthener. Rosemary Extract has been used over the ages in hair products for it's rejuvenating and anti-oxidant properties.
Scented with pure lemongrass essential oil and added fragrance, this is a wonderfully light conditioner.
Leave on for one minute to allow time for the hair to absorb all the nutrients. You can also do a treatment, especially if your hair is longer or is treated. Apply thickly to hair and cover with a shower cap. Leave on for up to an hour. Rinse well.

Replenish

I made a batch of Replenish today.
This is a great moisturiser for dry, damaged skin, especially if you have a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis.

Ugh, I'm not a photographer! I need to work on my photos...

People with skin conditions need to keep their skin moisturised all the time and it's difficult to find a product which won't irritate, but is emollient enough.
Many go for petroleum based moisturisers such as Vaseline Intensive Care, Melaleuca Renew or even just plain Sorbelene. These are safe and generally won't irritate, but they don't moisturise. Petroleum based products just coat the skin. They are unable to penetrate at all as the molecules are too large.

Moisturisers containing plant based oils and waxes can penetrate the skin and are therefore more able to prevent the skin from drying out too much and becoming even more damaged."Carrier Oils", Les Price

I spent some time researching the different oils, plant & herbal extracts when I created the formula for Replenish. I chose ricebran oil since it is light and non-greasy. The oil has been infused with calendula flowers since calendula is a powerful healing herb. Added to this is Evening Primrose oil which has a high level of gamma linoleic acid. If your skin is deficient in GLA's it can lead to dryness. Super healing allantoin is an extract from comfrey root and is known to help heal and soothe damaged skin. With added urea and aloe, this lotion can be used for everyday application anywhere on the body.
Olive leaf, calendula & golden seal extracts have been proven to be effective in the treatment of skin conditions and are added for the benefits they provide.

I've made this cream even more effective by adding a blend of tea tree and geranium oils. These are antiseptic and soothing and both have been used over the years to treat various skin problems such as dermatitis and eczema."The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils", Julia Lawless

During the testing phase for Replenish I had some great reports from my testers saying how this product had helped keep damaged skin moist and prevented further damage.

Replenish is also a great moisturiser to use after waxing. It soothes reddened and irritated skin and is antiseptic, so helps prevent further irritation.

Please note that Skinflint products cannot treat or cure your eczema. This information is not meant to replace any medical advice you may have received and if there appears to be any infection or you are concerned, it may be best to see your doctor or natural practitioner.

New Product - Reed Diffusers

Skinflint Reed Diffusers are fabulous for giving your home a light fresh fragrance, safely and cleanly. No dangerous oil burners. No need to buy sprays. Just sit your bottle on a bench or shelf and insert the reeds. Turn the reeds regularly at first, then once a week or so after that.

Available in four delicious fragrances:

Cotton Blossom is a Bath & Body Works type fragrance. A sweet and subtle blend of jasmine, violet and gardenia, with a sparkle of lemon zest on a dry down of vanilla. Gives an impression of clean laundry fresh from the clothes line.

Red Tea & Lychee has a subtle nuance of dew fruit and a unique finish that makes your mouth pucker and water at the same time. Mixed with Red Tea (also known as Rooibos), this blend finishes with the white florals of geranium and lily.

Salty Sailor is a crisp ozone type fragrance, with hints of salty sea spray. Smells like the ocean in a bottle. A unisex fragrance suited to bathroom or boys room.

White Tea & Ginger is another Bath & Body Works type. This fragrance has top notes of Bergamot, Lemon Peels and Green Daylilies. Base notes of Ginger, Nutmeg and Warm Musk keep the depth of the fragrance soft and smooth. White floral notes, such as Hyacinth, Freesia and Peony complete the mix. This fragrance is unique in many ways and it is difficult to pick out individual notes, but I'd say it smells like a bunch of fresh flowers and greenery.

The pack comes with the little triangular shaped glass bottle filled with the diffuser oil of your choice, five reeds, a cap and instructions for use. Introductory price is only $18.00 for the set and refills are available for an introductory special of $25. These will refill your bottle twice.

Baby Massage

Baby Massage is a wonderful way for Mum and Dad to connect with their baby as well as being a way of soothing, relaxing and aiding digestion. Here's a few pointers to to consider before you start:

• If you happened to listen to soothing music when pregnant, it's a good idea to play that same music softly in the background.

• Make sure the room is warm and only dimly lit or lit from outside. Keep a rug or towel ready to drape over areas which aren't being massaged.

• Ensure that you are in a comfortable and safe position. Lay baby on a folded doona on the floor or on your lap while you lean your back on a wall for support.

Here's a link to an Australian Parenting Website showing how to massage baby. If you right-click the link, choose "Open in New Tab" or "Open in New Window":

Baby Massage

I found some time to make Baby Massage Oil today. I used a blend of apricot kernel oil, ricebran oil and fractionated coconut oil. To this luxurious blend I added my blend of luxury essential oils: Rose damask, sweet orange, rose geranium & lavender.

The main oil is Apricot Kernel which is rich in essential fatty acids and Vit A, D & E. It's an elegant and luxurious carrier oil with great penetration , while ricebran is credited with being a promoter of collagen formation and is naturally high in vitamin E. Fractionated coconut oil is emollient, softening and protective. Fractionation allows more penetration and makes a much lighter, less greasy oil.



I've packaged it in a lightweight aluminium pump bottle. Since these are quite expensive, I will make refills available in cheaper PET bottles so customers can just refill the aluminium bottle.