Category Archives: Skincare

Lemon Tea Shampoo

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I know, I know… another recipe that isn’t food related! But, since this blog is more about how I love food and all the goods things, I think this is a good fit too. I believe in only eating the best and most delicious food… so it only makes sense that you should treat your entire body with the best ingredients too.

I stopped using commercial shampoo last year because it was affecting my scalp. I was getting red sores and a number of generally unpleasant symptoms. I originally thought it was because my hair had gotten to heavy and long… so I chopped it off. Then I stopped using shampoo, and my scalp stopped bleeding (so gross right?).

Anyway, these days I wash my hair with “shampoo” every few days and just water wash it the other days. The neurotic person in me can’t stop taking a shower and scrubbing myself from head to toe, so instead I take it easy on the soap. This is what I use… I tend to use this little mix twice a week. Remember that less is always better and that you should rinse your hair and scalp thoroughly and with cold water. I’ve found that the blast of cold water I drench my hair in at the end of my shower helps keep the shine and my scalp from flaking or otherwise misbehaving on me.

Lemon Tea Shampoo (pulled from all over the web)

  • 1 cup of tea
  • juice of 1/2 lemon (about 1 tablespoon)
  • 1/4 cup of castile soap (I used Dr. Bronners’ mint)
  • 1 teaspoon of jojoba oil
  1. In a squeeze bottle, combine all the ingredients and gently swirl to combine.
  2. When using in the shower, shake the ingredients together and apply a small amount evenly over your hair. Rinse thoroughly and finish with cold water.
  3. If you find that this shampoo is a bit strong for you, dilute with water.

 

🙂 I hope you enjoy this alternative to commercial shampoo… what hair secrets do you have??

Moisturizing Solid Body Lotion Bars

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Happy Belated Thanksgiving, my friends! I’ve been away from you all for far too long! I haven’t been cooking much, so I don’t have a lot to share with you… I’m working on a few new recipes and ideas so I’ll share those in the coming weeks. But for now, I’ll share something I made recently.

I have terribly dry skin, and after celebrating my (gulp) birthday recently, I’ve decided that it is time to solve this. A dermatologist once told me that I would “age poorly” because of my dry skin… and since I’ve been liberally applying whatever expensive cream that says anything about anti-aging.

My sister and I were in Korea recently where the air is just SO SO SO brutally dry. We were literally drowning our skin in creams and oils without any effect. I bought a serum from Lush that seemed to help, but the scent was simply too much for me. After returning to the States, I promptly decided that I needed a lotion bar. The kind that melts into your skin and gives you that gorgeous glowy skin. I did a little research, but each of the recipes called for coconut oil (which I discovered, after slathering it on my face, that I’m allergic to it. My poor face was so red and blotchy). Some call for large volumes of beeswax, which my local store does not sell. I’m impatient and waiting for an online order seemed like torture… especially with my poor skin flaking off.

I bought the things I could find, and after feeling the densities and textures, I came up with a recipe that works for me. You’ll notice that it’s a bit grainy because of the different densities of oils and butters settling as it cools. However, once you let it melt in between your palms, it becomes a smooth and easy to smooth over your skin.

Kaprise’s Moisturizing Solid Body Lotion Bars

  • 1 teaspoon of beeswax (I had a little bar from the market, so I shaved a little bit into my mixture, but I imagine it would be just fine without.)
  • 1/2 cup of 100% cocoa butter
  • 1/2 cup of 100% shea butter
  • 1 tablespoon of 100% sweet almond oil
  • 1 tablespoon of 100% avocado oil
  • 1 tablespoon of 100% apricot oil
  1. In a double boiler (or a bowl over a pan of boiling water), add the cocoa butter and beeswax. Gently stir until translucent and melted.
  2. Add shea butter and stir until melted evenly
  3. Add the oils and stir until homogenous
  4. Pour into mold and allow to cool. I poured mine into parchment paper cupcake liners in a tin. I covered the top with some parchment paper so dust wouldn’t settle into my bars as they cooled.
  5. Store at room temp or in the fridge until ready to use. Melt a small piece between your palms before smoothing over skin.
  6. This is extremely moisturizing, so I recommend rubbing it in after a shower and putting cotton pjs on…. and then probably going straight to bed.

I hope this helps those of you who have really dry skin too! I’ve been very happy with how much more vital my skin has been looking.