Monday, September 22, 2014

Skin Purifying Activated Charcoal & Sugar Scrubbing Cubes

Fresh-Picked Beauty's body scrubbing cubes made with activated charcoal, clay and sugar.
I have a super fun recipe for you today! My Skin Purifying Activated Charcoal & Sugar Scrubbing Cubes work in the shower on warm damp skin to purify, exfoliate, cleanse and moisturize.  They are made with six simple ingredients.  Lets get started making a batch.......

You will need one 3.5 ounce handcrafted bar of soap.  I bought the one in the photo for just $2.50 and it is the variety that has some activated charcoal in it.  I bought it at my local PCC market. The photo below shows the ingredients in the bar of soap.

As you can see in the ingredient list, there is some really good stuff going on in this soap.  If you make your own soap (LUCKY YOU!!) use what you have on hand.  I have always wanted to take a soap making class and start making some from scratch!! It is on my list of things to do.

You will need 1/4 cup of coconut oil.

You need ten capsules of natural activated charcoal.  There is some in the soap, but I like to add extra.  You can just break the capsules open into a small container.

You can wear gloves if you don't want your fingers to become black from the charcoal powder.

You need one tablespoon of Mountain Rose Herbs Fullers Earth Clay.

You need 30 drops of a purifying essential oil or blend.  I like the blend in the photo above. It contains lemon essential oil, lemongrass essential oil and eucalyptus essential oil.  It smells AMAZING!!!

Finally, you need one cup of sugar. This sweet ingredient supplies the exfoliation.

One of these super large silicon ice cube trays will come in handy too.  You can get a total of 24 shower cubes when you fill these up 2/3 of the way with the mixture.  You simply cut each large cube into four small cubes. An ice cube tray will work just fine too.

You need to grate your soap bar into a large glass measuring cup.

The soap shavings will be nice and fluffy.

Add the coconut oil into the glass measuring cup with the soap shavings.

Place the measuring cup into a pot with a few inches of simmering water.  Allow the oil and soap shavings to melt together. Stir frequently.

Add in the activated charcoal powder and stir well.

Your mixture should be melted and glossy black.

Stir in the clay. Remove the glass measuring cup from the simmering water bath. Careful it will be hot!


Stir in the essential oil.


Quickly stir in the granulated sugar. Mix well.

Press an equal amount into each cavity of the mold. Press it down firmly.

Place the mold into the fridge for about 4 hours to firm up and harden.

Remove the large cubes from the mold and onto a cutting board.

Carefully cut each large cube into four smaller cubes. Each cube is enough for one full-body (not the face) exfoliating shower treatment.

Store your cubes in an air-tight container with a tight fitting lid.  To use: moisten your body in a warm shower.  Turn off the water and start gently massaging one cube over your body, focusing on dry areas, in circular motions. Continue massaging the sugar and soap over your body until the sugar has dissolved over your skin.  Rinse away with warm water.  **Your shower surfaces may be slippery, so be careful.

his information is for educational purposes only, it is not intended to treat, cure, prevent or, diagnose any disease or condition. Nor is it intended to prescribe in any way. This information is for educational purposes only and may not be complete, nor may its data be accurate. As with all herbs,  Do not take internally unless working with a qualified and expert practitioner. Keep away from children.  I am an affiliate with Mountain Rose Herbs,please review my disclosure page for details.. Avoid use  unless discussed with your physician. This information is for educational purposes only.  This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease. Green Blessings!!!
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Monday, September 8, 2014

Fresh-Picked Beauty's Version of Aqua Marina Face & Body Cleanser

Fresh-Picked Beauty's Version of Aqua Marina Face & Body Cleanser

I developed this recipe based on the very popular LUSH Aqua Marina mineral-rich seaweed and calamine face and body cleanser.  I took their published list of ingredients and got busy whipping up a batch of my own cleanser and I really like how my version turned out. 

The first ingredient you need is Irish Moss flakes.  The botanical name is Chondrus crispus and is a dried seaweed that grows in tidal pools along the northern Atlantic.  It is a traditional herbal remedy in Ireland.  I used it in the recipe because it is loaded with antioxidants and has a very soothing effect on the skin and softens dry sensitive skin.  You can buy Irish Moss from Mountain Rose Herbs. 

Place 1 heaping teaspoon of Irish Moss in a small bowl and add 3 tablespoons of boiling water over the top. Stir well and allow to sit for at least one hour or until a thick gel forms. 

After about an hour or so, the Irish Moss will absorb all the water and a thick soothing gel will appear.  


To the Irish Moss gel, add in 1 teaspoon of Mountain Rose Herbs Vegetable Glycerine.  This is the perfect ingredient to use to help your skin retain moisture and it helps to pull oxygen into the skin.  It also has a very cooling effect on the skin which is perfect if your skin is inflamed or sensitive. 


Add in 3 tablespoons of Calamine Lotion.  This is a skin protectant that works wonders for soothing and protecting sensitive  and inflamed skin.  

The ingredients in the calamine lotion are pretty simple.  It contains calamine, zinc oxide, bentonite magma, calcium hydroxide, glycerin, and purified water. 

Add in 1 tablespoon of Mountain Rose Herbs Aloe Vera Gel. We all know how awesome Aloe Vera Gel is for the skin.  It can soothe burns, bites, and another skin maladies.  You can purchase it HERE. 

Your mixture should look something like this (photo above).  You will need to blend it all together and I find that a stick blender works great.  You can also run it through your food processor or blender if you like. Blend it until the Irish Moss and the other ingredients are a smooth liquid. 

To the blended mixture, add in 2/3 cup of Mountain Rose Herbs White Kaolin Cosmetic Clay.  Mix until a thick paste forms. I like this clay because it is gentle and very light.  It helps absorb oils and dirt from the skin while gently purifying it. 

Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of Mountain Rose Herbs Fine Sea Salt over the mixture and blend well. 

Stir in 20 drops of Sweet Orange Essential Oil and 5 drops of Patchouli Essential Oil. Mix well to combine. I love the uplifting aroma of the sweet orange oil and it has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties to help your skin.  The patchouli essential oil is also anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and acts as a skin deodorant.  It blends really well with the sweet orange essential oil.  

Scrape the sides down and form the mixture into a small ball. (this mixture looks gray because of the lighting in my kitchen, but it is actually a pale pink color). 

You will need one sheet of Japanese Nori which can be found online or at your local Asian market. 

Fold the nori sheet in half and place the mixture on one end.  Roll up!!! (the lighting makes the mixture look gray, but it is actually pale pink). 

Store the product in an air-tight container and keep it in the fridge. Use within two weeks. To use: moisten your body in the shower and turn off the water.  Scoop out about a tablespoon sized amount and place in the palm of your hand.  Add a tiny bit of water and rub into a smooth paste.  Massage it over your body and face. Turn the warm shower water back on and rinse away.  You can also apply to your face and leave it on for five minutes for a soothing mask.  

Purveyors of fine herbal products
This information is for educational purposes only, it is not intended to treat, cure, prevent or, diagnose any disease or condition. Nor is it intended to prescribe in any way. This information is for educational purposes only and may not be complete, nor may its data be accurate. As with all herbs, do not take internally unless working with a qualified and expert practitioner. Keep away from children.  I am an affiliate with Mountain Rose Herbs, please review my disclosure page for details. Shannon Buck and Fresh-Picked Beauty strongly recommend that you do not rely solely on the information presented on this website and that you always read labels, warnings, and directions before using or consuming any type product. Anything you find on this website still needs more research to establish the potential effectiveness and safety of any ingredient and/or suggestion.  Before you consider using anything you find on this website, you need to consult with a medical professional to help you weigh the pros and cons of using natural ingredients.  You also need to review all the available safety data for each ingredient before you use it.  Herbs and natural ingredients have been used successfully for many years, but as a precaution, I suggest that you consult a naturopathic doctor, licensed herbalist, or holistic health practitioner who is qualified to guide you in the safe use of herbs and natural ingredients. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. I am not in any way Affiliated with Lush  in any way nor do I know their actual recipe for any of their products, I am simply using a list of ingredients and creating my own version.  
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