DIY Aromatic Cedar Wood Soap Dish/Keeper

My husband and I have really been enjoying making our own soap this last year.

With all the love and care that we put into our soap, we felt that the bars were being wasted in the shower with not fully drying off. So after some research we wanted to make some soap dishes for in the shower and by the sink. We choose aromatic cedar wood to make the dishes out of. 

The benefits of cedar wood as soap keepers is that cedar contains several natural antimicrobial properties and it resists moisture while drying quickly. A soap dish with drainage is essential in keeping your handmade soaps dry and long lasting. In addition is smells amazing!!!!

We wanted the soap dishes to hold a standard size soap bar. I came up with two different sizes I like for two types of locations. The first I sized to fit in the shower (4.5 in by 3 in by 1 in) and the second for next to a sink for hand washing (4.5 in by 3.5 in by 1 in). See diagram below.

Also you can see in the diagram me trying to decided what type of cut I wanted on the top of the dish, whether length wise or width wise. In the final we choose the width cuts not only for looks but for ease of cutting that many grooves. 

The Process

We started out by cutting to size a long board of cedar to 4.5 inches. To cut the grooves we used table saw and cut each at 3/4 in for the entire length of the wood and then cut with midersaw at 3 in increments. We then went back to the table saw and cut two grooves 1 in from both edges. Note: when cutting the grooves we made sure that the blade went half way through the piece of wood, about 0.5 in. This way there is small holes in the dish for drainage.

Once all the cutting was done I then went and sanded all edges and surfaces to create a smooth surface. I recruited my little helper.

We tried out the dishes for a couple of days. We loved the smell, the look, and the quick drying features of the soap dish. But soon discovered the soap would stick to the dish making it hard to take off and use. 

After some research we decided to coat the top and sides in a beeswax cream. Especially sense we have an abundance of beeswax from our beehives.

The recipe

2 tablespoons beeswax

6 tablespoons olive oil 

Melt beeswax in glass jar in a pot of boiling water. Once melted add olive oil. Remelt both together and then remove from water and allow to cool and harden. 

I then took the harden wax and rubbed with rag on the top and side of the dish. I wanted the grooves and bottom to remain un waxed to allow the cedar wood properties to still manifest itself. Allow to dry before use.  

It really brought out the color of the wood.

Left bottom unfinished. 

Rose and Oil Sugar Body Scrub

Was looking for something fun to do with my sisters when I was visiting in Oregon in November. This is what we came up with with the things that we had on hand. Found the idea here. WE LOVED this scrub!!! We used in the shower as a body and face scrub, left our bodies feeling healthy and smooth.

Rose Sugar Scrub 

Ingredients:
12 Rose Petals (we got ours on our mother rose bush)
1/4 cup Oil (almond, coconut, or olive oil, we used olive oil)
1 1/2 cups Sugar
10 drops Essential oils (optional, we used lavender and geranium Doterra oils)

Directions:
Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend till fluffy.

We did not have a food processor at my parents. First we tried a blender (did not work) and next we did it by hand. Cut the rose petals in small pieces and mix in everything else.  

Collecting the Rose Petals 

Cutting the Rose Petals 

Adding the other ingredients.

Blender did not work. We mixed by hand. 

We made a double batch. Three of us girls.

DIY Natural Foundation - Treat Your Skin Right

I am really excited but this new skin care foundation. I have battled with acne all of my young adult and adult life. I have used large amount of foundation during this time to cover it up, which in reality make it worse and clogging more pores.

I enjoyed clear skin once in my adult life when I went on the prescription drug, Accutane. I finally had the clear skin I always wanted but at a price. There is the list of the $price$; having to be on birth control (my body hates it, make me moody, I bleed daily for months, breast soreness, etc.), excessive dry skin (chap lips constantly, very painful hemorrhoids, and dryness in the female region), COST (visits to dermatologist, lotion, hemorrhoid cream, feminine hygiene products, and buying the drug itself) time (three months of taking Accutane, doctor visit, and taking care of side effects), and then after about a year of having clear skin my acne came back. 

After not having to wear foundation for about a year, I came to loving having a make-up free face and saving money. When my acne came back I did not feel this great need to wear makeup to cover it up as i did before (I did and still occasionally wear foundation and other makeup when I feel like it, but it is not that often. The most is once a week.) I made this about 2 weeks ago and I have not wore it every day (still not in habit of putting on foundation), but I want too because everytime I wear it my skin feels so loved. 

I am not saying this foundation powder will clear up acne, but it will do a lot of good for the skin. Whenever I wear it my skin feels amazing, so I feel amazing. ANOTHER PLUS IS THAT IT IS THE SAME INGREDIENTS USED TO MAKE HOMEMADE DRY SHAMPOO! 

My sources for this recipe came from the following sites; MommyPotamus and Thank Your Body.

Homemade Foundation Powder

I created link for each of the ingredients to sites that share the benefits of that ingredient for the skin. 

Ingredients:

For the base:
Arrowroot Powder

Add one or a combination of:
Cocoa Powder, all skin tones
Ground Cinnamon, warm skin tones

Bentonite clay for cool skin tones

French green clay, minimizes redness

Add one or a combination of (optional):

Jojoba

Almond Oil

Lavender Essential Oil

Frankincense Essential Oil

Melaleuca Essential Oil

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

Geranium Essential Oil

My Doterra Esstentail oil site is http://www.mydoterra.com/rachellewman/

The Recipe combo that I used (BASIC)

2 tablespoons Arrowroot Powder

2 tablespoons Cocoa Powder

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

3-5 drops LavenderEssential Oil

3-5 drops Geranium Essential Oil

Directions:

Step 1: Blend 1 tablespoon cocoa powder and one tablespoon arrowroot, then check color intensity against your skin. Add additional arrowroot if a lighter color is desired, additional cocoa if a darker color is desired.

Step 2 (optional): To add warm tones to your powder foundation: Mix in 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Add additional cinnamon in 1/4 teaspoon increments until the desired hue is reached.

Step 3 (optional) : To add cool tones to your powder foundation: Mix in 1 teaspoon bentonite clay. Add additional clay in 1/2 teaspoon increments until the desired hue is reached.

Step 4 (optional): To reduce reddish undertones: Mix in 1 teaspoon French green clay. Add additional clay in 1/4  teaspoon increments, testing as you go.

Step 5 (optional): Add essential oils. Stir till combined.

Step 6 (optional): If you want more of a “compact” foundation, add some jojoba/olive/almond oil to the mixture and press down into a compact. (Start with 5 drops and keep adding until it reaches your desired texture)
Step 7: To apply use a brush. Make sure to tap off excess before swiping face.