Refined Shea Butter - Back In Stock!

After a lengthy wait, our Refined Shea Butter has arrived back in stock!

Our Shea Butter Refined White has been naturally filtered and deodorized producing a product that is ready to use for any cosmetic or toiletry application. This butter is white in color with no odor and a firm texture.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Recipe: Exfoliating Foot Masque

Put a spring in your step with this exfoliating foot masque! Pumice powder exfoliates while bentonite clay, parsley powder and essential oils keep foot odor at bay.

You will need:

4 oz Bentonite Clay
4 oz Pumice Powder
1 oz Parsley Powder
4 oz Vegetable Glycerin
10 ml (2 tsp) Enzyme Blend, Tincture (Organic)
2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) Orange, Sweet Essential Oil
1.25 ml (1/4 tsp) Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil
2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) Germaben II (Preservative)

Phase 1: Combine dry ingredients in a sterile glass or stainless mixing bowl until well-blended. Set aside.

Phase 2: In a separate sterile glass or stainless mixing bowl, combine glycerin, enzyme blend, essential oils & preservative. Mix thoroughly to combine before adding to dry ingredients.

Phase 3: Package in an airtight jar or bottle.

To Use: Massage exfoliating masque into feet, paying special attention to rough areas. For additional benefits, leave masque on feet, wrap in plastic and allow to sit for up to 20 minutes before rinsing. Follow with a balm or butter to seal in moisture.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Spring Fragrance Ideas

Having trouble choosing fragrances themed towards Spring? The following list will give you a starting point, but you can always create a blend of your own to make your products unique!

Aloe Vera
Awapuhi Seaberry
Baby Bee Buttermilk type
Bamboo & Green Tea
Bazooka Bubble Gum
Butt Naked
Buttercream
China Rain type
Chocolate
Citrus
Clean Cotton
Coconut
Cool Citrus Basil
Cucumber Melon
Daisy Garden
Fig & Melon
Gardenia
Geranium (Rose)
Ginger Lime
Graceful
Grapefruit
Green Apple
Green Tea
Hawaiian White Ginger
Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle Vine
Hyacinth
Jasmine
Lavender
Lavender Fields
Lavender Rose
Lavender Sage
Lavender Vanilla
Lemon Verbena
Lemon Zest
Lick Me All Over
Linden Blossom
Living Osmanthus
Orange Blossom
Orange Satsuma
Orchard Peach
Pear & Redwood
Peony
Pink Peppercorn
Plumeria
Pomegranate Flower
Pure Seduction*
Rain
Romantic Rose
Rose Bouquet
Strawberry Rose
Sweet Pea
Taratahi Lilac
Tea Leaf & Jasmine
Tobacco Flower
Vanilla Rose
White Musk
White Tea & Ginger
Yuzu

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Recipe: Foot Powder

Whether you are out on the town or running a marathon, sweaty feet put a damper on your plans as well as your comfort level! This recipe incorporates clay to keep you dry, baking soda to help deodorize and essential oils to neutralize odors. We use this blend directly on our feet or even sprinkle in shoes that need a little "odor control". Use a powder shaker for more controlled application!

You will need:

4 oz Kaolin Clay
4 oz Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
4 oz Tapioca Starch
2 oz Black Walnut Oil, Infusion
2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) Tea Tree Essential Oil
1.25 ml (1/4 tsp) Rosemary Essential Oil
1.25 ml (1/4 tsp) Lavender, Bulgarian Essential Oil
Powder Shakers

Phase 1: Place tapioca starch in a blender reserved for formulating (it is helpful if your blender has a top with a removable plug in the center). Cap your blender and with blades on, pour black walnut oil infusion and essential oil through center of lid and mix until thoroughly combined. The tapioca starch should still be powder-like in appearance and may look slightly lumpy. If it looks like a paste or has the consistency of tiny balls, you have used too much oil. (It is imperative that you weigh your ingredients for your recipe to turn out successfully.) Pour tapioca starch/oil blend into a sterile glass or stainless steel bowl and set aside.

Phase 2: Combine Kaolin Clay and Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) until blended and lowly add tapioca starch/oil/essential oil blend taking care to thoroughly combine the ingredients. We suggest wearing a mask and working in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling dust particles.

Phase 3: You may wish to dump he entire mixture back into your blender to fully incorporate the ingredients before packaging in powder shakers.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Recipe: Botanical Bath Bombs - Day 2

If you missed Day 1 of this Tutorial, you can pick it up here: Recipe: Botanical Bath Bombs - Day 1

There are many bath & body companies out there selling the same or similar products, so it's important to make your product stand out. Bath Bombs or Fizzies are a very simple product to make from very basic ingredients that can really be customized to fit any product line.

Today, we are going to focus on botanical embellishments that can really make your product "POP" and draw your end-user to buy them. But first, we need a suitable mold!

Molds: We used empty plastic Christmas ornaments than can be located online or in many craft stores. These are quite large and make a really nice, heavy bath bomb. We make ours in halves, so the consumer can use it split between two baths or toss all of it into one "mega" bath. You can use any type of mold or method that you prefer. We have found that harder plastic molds yield a more compact end product, whereas silicone type molds usually perform poorly. We have used clean, repurposed food containers, dixie cups and the like as "recycled" molds. You can also use "meatballer" utensils available at food supply stores although we have had little luck with them.

Continued From Yesterday:

Phase 5 (Prepare Your Mold): In the bottom of each "half" of the ornament, we placed approximately 1/2 tsp of dried botanicals. You can get creative here and use single botanicals or a blend, it doesn't matter. Don't use much more than 1/2 tsp or it will affect the integrity of your final product. Pack the sodium bicarbonate/citric acid mixture on top of the botanicals and press firmly to compact the mixture as much as possible. Keep adding the mixture and compacting it until your mold is filled. (Note: We discovered that if we mix botanicals directly into the baking soda/citric acid, the "bombs" often fall apart when unmolding.)

Phase 6: You may wish for your bomb to sit for a few minutes to half an hour before you unmold. We unmold fairly quickly after molding for a few reasons:

• Unmolding within a few minutes gives you an idea of whether or not your "bomb" will hold without crumbling. If it is really crumbly or falls apart when unmolding, your mixture could be too dry. If you catch it early enough, you can mix it again with a little more witch hazel and try molding again without losing a batch.
• Unmolding before the "bomb" dries completely will save you the hassle of having to break your mold to get the darn thing out of there!
• Unmolding early allows you to reuse your molds in the same batch if you are short on molds.

Note: Humidity is the enemy of many bath bomb formulators. For this reason, it is not recommended to formulate on days with high humidity. You may want to run a dehumidifier while making these or allow them to set in a room with a dehumidifier running if it is very humid where you are crafting.

Phase 7: Allow your finished product to sit for at least 24 hours before handling or packaging for sale. They can be shrink wrapped, bagged, boxed, sold in jars or tubes.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Sale: Essential Oils & Essential Oil Blends

Recipe: Botanical Bath Bombs - Day 1

You will need:

16 oz Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
8 oz Citric Acid
Witch Hazel (in a Spray Bottle)

Colorant (We used Liquid FD&C Yellow #6)
Fragrance (We used Yuzu Fragrance Oil)
Botanicals, Dried (We used Calendula Flowers & Hibiscus Flowers)

Phase 1: Combine citric acid and sodium bicarbonate in a stainless steel or glass mixing bowl. Wear a mask and work in a well-ventilated area as airborne particles will affect respiration. We use gloved hands to gently mix ingredients.

Phase 2: Add your colorants and fragrance to your preference. Dry pigments, dyes & micas can be used, however stick with water-soluble colorants and use a light hand as the color will intensify when added to water and could stain if over-colored (Pigments and some herbal powders/clays will tend to float in the bath water and leave a ring. These are better-off avoided).

We used our Liquid FD&C Yellow #6. The water content of the dye can set off your fizz, so drop a few drops into a gloved hand and sort of "smear" it into the dry ingredients to minimize fizzing until you reach the intenisty you prefer. Blend thoroughly to ensure your fragrance & color are mixed throughout the dry ingredients.

Phase 3: Using a spray bottle of witch hazel, spritz your dry ingredients several times and then mix with gloved hands. Spritz again, then mix again. And spritz again, and mix again. And again. And again. You get the picture! This is the patience-trying portion of the recipe. You will continue to spritz and mix until the mixture resembles the consistancy of wet sand and holds together when squeezed into a ball. DO NOT OVER SPRITZ as this will set off a chain reaction where your ingredients will fizz. Once it starts, you can't stop it and the batch will be ruined.

Phase 4: When your mixture begins to hold together, you will begin packing it into prepared molds.

Tomorrow, we will discuss embellishments that will help you make unique and original Bath Bombs like the "Big Box Beauty" stores! Stay Tuned.....

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Recipe: Botanical Salt Glow

You will need:

8 oz Dendritic Salt
0.50 oz Orange Powder
0.50 oz Lemon Powder
0.25 oz Rose Hip Powder
4 oz Almond Oil, Sweet
10 ml (2 tsp) Enzyme Blend, Tincture (Organic)
2.5 oz Polysorbate 20
5ml (1 tsp) Citrus Fragrance Oil
5 ml (1 tsp) Germaben IIE (Preservative)

Phase 1: Combine all dry ingredients in a glass or stainless steel mixing bowl until thoroughly blended. Set aside.

Phase 2: In a separate glass mixing bowl, combine enzyme blend with polysorbate 20 until blended. Add almond oil, preservative and fragrance oil to mixture and continue stirring to combine.

Phase 3: Combine Phase 1 & Phase 2 and mix thoroughly until all dry ingredients are wet. Spoon into jars and seal.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Natural Botanical Lotion - In Stock!

Our New Natural Botanical Lotion is now in stock!

This 99.8% Natural base contains a unique blend of naturally therapeutic botanical oils rich in gamma-linolenic acids (GLA) making it light and creamy without leaving a greasy after-feel. The botanical oils & butters selected for this base create a lightweight but extremely effective moisturizer that is appropriate for use from head to toe.

• Avocado Oil: Used in cosmetics where it is valued for its regenerative and moisturizing properties, avocado oil is high in monounsaturated fats and Vitamin E. Avocado oil is one of few vegetable oils not derived from seeds; it is pressed from the fleshy pulp surrounding the avocado pit.
  
• Borage Oil: Used in products formulated for certain skin conditions such as dermatitis, Borage oil has one of the highest amounts of gamma-linolenic acid (omega-6) of the seed oils.
• Evening Primrose Oil: The mature seeds of Evening Primrose contain approximately 7-10% gamma-linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid. GLA helps moisturize the skin and protect it from environmental oxidative damage.
• Grapeseed Oil: Superb moisturizing qualities with satiny finish. High linolenic and fatty acid content plus vitamins, minerals, protein and GLA.
• Jojoba Oil: Unlike common vegetable oils, jojoba oil is chemically very similar to human sebum. Because it is actually a liquid wax, Jojoba oil seals in moisture.
  
• Rose Hip Oil: Rose hip oil is a pressed seed oil. It is unique among vegetable oils in containing retinol (Vitamin A), and is also high in vitamin C. Rose hip seed oil is high in the essential fatty acids - linoleic acid or omega-6, and linolenic acid or omega-3.
  
• Shea Butter: Moisturizes and alleviates minor skin ailments and acts as a barrier on the skin by keeping moisture in and the elements out.

This base is free of parabens, alcohols, petroleum products, color & scent (although fragrance and color can readily be added if needed).

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Recipe: Botanical Bath Crystals

You will need:

8 oz Dead Sea Salt- Coarse
8 oz Dead Sea Salt - Fine
2 oz Dendritic Salt
1 oz Botanicals, Dried (We used Calendula Petals, Rose Petals, Hibiscus Flowers & Lavender Buds)
5 ml (1 tsp) Daisy Garden Fragrance Oil (optional)

Phase 1: Combine coarse and fine grain dead sea salts in a sterile stainless steel or glass bowl and set aside.

Phase 2: In a small glass mixing bowl, combine dendritic salt & fragrance oil until blended. The mixture should be dry. If it is damp (or wet) add more dendritic salt until it is a dry, free-flowing mixture. Add fragrance/dendritic salt blend to the salt in Phase 1 and mix thoroughly.

Phase 3: In a separate mixing bowl, sift through your botanicals. You may need to break apart your blossoms or remove stems. Once you are satisfied with the blend of botanicals and have broken them down into manageable pieces, add to the salt mixture from Phase 2.

Phase 4: Using gloved hands, toss the salt and botanicals together gently to incorporate. When you are satisfied that they are blended thoroughly, package in airtight containers.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

New Tools/Accessories

The following new tools/accessories have been added to our online catalog:

Dispensing Brush, Black & Silver, with Clear Overcap - 5 grams


Mini White Plastic Scoop - .15cc/.15ml


Mini White Plastic Scoop - 1cc/1ml


Paddle Style Perfume Tester Strip

Natural Botanical Lotion

Weather on the East Coast wreaks havoc on sensitive skin! I've spent most of my adult life searching for the perfect moisturizer that meets the needs of my fickle, easily-stressed, sensitive skin only to come up empty handed every time. Sensitive skin, however, has met its match with our new Natural Botanical Lotion!

Our Natural Botanical Lotion contains superior botanicals that meet the highest standards of cultivation, farming, harvesting and processing. This unscented base is gentle enough to use on the entire body to nourish, moisturize and restore supple skin.

Naturally rich in essential fatty acids, this product is packed with vital omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, including Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA). These omega fatty acids promote beautiful, healthy skin and support other processes essential to overall health.

Arriving the week of February 16th!

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Sale: 10lb Dead Sea Salt

For a very limited time, all 10lb Dead Sea Salts are 25% off regular price. This sale includes both Bulk and Custom Scented varieties and ends at midnight Eastern time Thursday, February 19, 2009!

Dead Sea Salt - Coarse Grain

Dead Sea Salt - Fine Grain

Dead Sea Salt - Medium Grain

CUSTOM - Dead Sea Salt (10 lbs)

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Recipe: Bumps & Bruises Balm

As a runner, I have a tendency to fall and bump into things on a regular basis. Call me a klutz, but I maintain that things just get in my way! This balm paves the way for happier, bruise-free shins! The healing properties of arnica are well documented in helping to reduce inflammation and increasing blood flow to damaged tissue.

You will need:

4 oz Almond, Sweet Oil
4oz Arnica Oil
1 oz Beeswax Pastilles - White, Unrefined
4 oz Witch Hazel Distillate
1.25 ml (1/4 tsp) Borax Powder
5 ml (1 tsp) Germaben IIE (Preservative)
5 ml (1 tsp) Lavender, Bulgarian Essential Oil

Phase 1: Combine the almond oil and beeswax in a double boiler and heat gently until the beeswax has completely melted. Set Aside.

Phase 2: In a separate container, carefully combine the water and borax powder and heat until very hot, but not boiling.

Phase 3: Add arnica oil to Phase 1 and pour the entire mixture into a deep glass container with high walls (alternately you could use a blender reserved for formulating) and begin stirring slowly with an immersion (stick) blender.

Phase 4: While still mixing the oil phase, slowly add the water solution and mix on high until a medium thickness cream has formed. Allow to cool slightly before adding preservative. If you are using fragrance, it can be added at this time.

Phase 4: Pour cooled lotion into a sterilized container and allow to cool completely before applying your closure.

Note: I store this balm in the refrigerator, although the preservative allows you to store it wherever you like. When chilled, the cooling effect of the witch hazel is even more pronounced and soothing on bumps and bruises!

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Recipe: Firming Facial Serum

You will need:

2 oz Olive Squalane
2 oz Passion Fruit Oil (Cold Pressed)
1 ml Linden Blossom Natural Fragrance Oil

5 ml (1 tsp) Seaweed Tincture, Organic
1.25 ml (1/4 tsp) Caffeine Powder
5 ml (1 tsp) Polysorbate 20

Phase 1 (Oil Phase): In a sterile glass or stainless steel container, combine olive squalane, passion fruit oil and natural fragrance oil until well blended. Set aside.

Phase 2 (Water Phase): In a small sterile glass or stainless container, dissolve the caffeine powder into the seaweed tincture. When all particles are thoroughly dissolved, add polysorbate 20 and continue to blend until combined.

Phase 3: Pour water phase into oil phase and mix thoroughly to incorporate. Bottle and label before use.

FYI: Do not exceed the maximum recommended usage level for caffeine as irritation can occur at higher usage levels. More is not better in this instance.

Note: Some skin types are sensitive to the iodine that naturally occurs in seaweed. If you experience any sensitivity or adverse reactions or have a known allergy to seaweed or iodine, discontinue use immediately. Always perform a patch test when using new products.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Recipe: Sensitive Skin Wash

Some of us were born with really sensitive skin and some of us have attained this "honor" by age, weather, environment or numerous other factors. The following recipe contains no scent or color which can be irritating to sensitive skin and utilizes Oat Straw, which has been used topically for several hundred years for its soothing and anti-itch properties.

You will need:

8 oz Organic Liquid Castille Soap
5 ml (1 tsp) Oat Straw Tincture, Organic
2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) Polysorbate 20

Phase 1: In a glass mixing utensil, combine Oat Straw Tincture and Polysorbate 20 until combined. Polysorbate 20 is a coconut derived emulsifier which will assist in combining the tincture with the liquid soap. You may leave out this ingredient, but will likely need to shake your soap at each use to recombine.

Phase 2: Pour Oat Straw Tincture/Polysorbate mixture into a bottle containing the Liquid Castile Soap. Cap and shake vigorously to combine.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Recipe: Cuts & Scrapes Salve

Like any household, we run the gamut of skin irritations, cat scratches, paper cuts, acne and more! In a pinch, we even apply this salve to our temples when traveling to help relax when we can't carry straight Lavender Essential Oil. The healing properties of the Calendula plant help in reducing inflammation and soothing irritated tissue.

You will need:
1.5 oz Shea Butter, Unrefined (Virgin)
2 oz Calendula Oil, Infusion (Organic)
0.75 oz Beeswax Pastilles
10-20 drops Lavender, Bulgarian Essential Oil

Phase 1: In a double boiler over low heat, melt shea butter and beeswax until liquified. Remove from heat.

Phase 2: Add Calendula infusion to the melted shea butter/wax mixture and stir thoroughly to incorporate. Lastly, add the lavender essential oil and stir well until blended throughout.

Phase 3: Pour into containers and allow to cool until hardened before capping.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Mineral Makeup...Coming Soon!

The results of our poll indicate that you love mineral makeup! Over the next few weeks we will be bringing in raw materials, packaging and accessories so that you can easily create your very own mineral makeup line!

Additionally, we will be creating mineral makeup kits which will contain ingredients, containers and instructions in how to get started in this very lucrative industry. If you've never tried your hand at color cosmetics, you'll be shocked by how easy it is to blend your own foundation, blushes, eye-shadows and more!

We are still in the testing phases of this launch, but anticipate that raw materials will begin arriving within the next two weeks. We will be uploading them to the site as they arrive and will notify you here as well when the kits become available!

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Sale: 5lb Body Scrubs!

You loved it so much, we brought it back!

For a very limited time, all 5lb Body Scrubs are 25% off regular price. This sale includes both Bulk and Custom Scented varieties and ends at midnight Eastern time Thursday, February 12, 2009!

Bulk Dead Sea Salt Scrub

Bulk Sugar Scrub

Cocoa Scrub (Natural Scent)

Coffee Salt Scrub

CUSTOM Cocoa Scrub - (05 lbs)

CUSTOM Dead Sea Salt Scrub - (05 lbs)

CUSTOM Sugar Scrub - (05 lbs)

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Recipe: Enzymatic Facial Wash

You will need:

8 oz Botanical Facial Cleanser
5 ml (1 tsp) Enzyme Blend, Tincture (Organic)

Combine ingredients in a capped bottle and shake well to blend.

If you would like to add fragrance, use an essential oil of your choice at less than 0.5% (approx 1.25ml or 1/8-1/4 tsp). Fragrance oils have a tendency to irritate sensitive facial skin.

To Use: Wet face. Dispense a nickel sized portion of cleanser into clean hands and rub to start a light lather. Apply to facial skin, taking care to avoid the eyes and lips. Use finger tips in a circular motion to debride akin of contaminants. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. Pat dry and apply moisturizer. This product may tingle slightly. You may find it useful to use a microfiber cloth.

Note: Those with fair and/or sensitive skin may find this formula to be irritating. If you have fair/sensitive skin, you may need to cut the amount of tincture in half or substitute Oat Straw Tincture in its place. If irritation occurs, discontinue use immediately. Avoid eye area as fruit enzymes may cause stinging.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Tinctures, Infusions & Extracts

The following extracts, tinctures & infusions have recently been added to our site:

Arnica Oil, Infusion (Organic)

Black Walnut Oil (Infusion)

Calendula Oil, Infusion (Organic)

Calendula, Tincture (Organic)

Enzyme Blend, Tincture (Organic)

Japanese Green Tea Extract

Oat Straw, Tincture (Organic)

Seaweed, Tincture (Organic)

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Recipe: Cocoa-Banana Massage Bar

Make sure your partner gets the "massage" this Valentine's Day with a sweet smelling massage bar to help things along! If you don't have a soap mold, use a silicone baking tray, push up or lip balm tube or even a recycled container like a plastic yogurt cup. Because we used flavor fragrance, this recipe is safe for lips too!

You will need:

4 oz Cocoa Butter (Natural)
2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) Banana Flavor Fragrance Oil

Melt Cocoa Butter in a double boiler over low heat until liquid. Remove from heat and add flavor fragrance oil. Pour into molds or containers and allow to harden before capping.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBobySupply.com