Specializing in Hydrotherapy Scented Bath Salts Made With Mineral Rich Salt from Utah's Great Salt Lake.

 

 

      Beauty may be only skin deep, but it's also as close as your kitchen pantry.
      Homemade beauty concoctions have likely been around since the first cave women rubbed mastodon blubber on their skin to keep it from chapping. Oh, sure, today's stores are full of fabulous cosmetics and treatments. But a gift of lip balm, body scrub or bath salts that's been thoughtfully prepared holds a certain cachet.
      The idea of spa-style gifts from the kitchen has inspired a few local classes. A "Chocolate Spa Body Care" class at the Utah Chocolate Show Nov. 18 attracted about 40 women — and one brave man. Angel Shannon of KODJ led the group through the hands-on experience of making lip gloss with vaseline and chocolate chips, and a brown sugar-cocoa body scrub. They also made effervescent "bath bombs," a formula with baking soda and citric acid that fizzes when dropped in bath water.
      "After the body scrub sits awhile, it turns into a really rich aroma, almost like pumpkin pie," Shannon told the class. "I'd keep it next to the kitchen sink and use it after doing the dishes, so you have soft, lovely hands."
      Shannon, who appears on ABC4's "Good Things Utah," a local TV show, said she found ideas on the Internet and then worked with them (and tried them out on her daughter) to come up with her recipes.
      Christine Jensen and Teresa Hunsaker of the Utah State University Extension in Weber County taught a couple of "Lotions & Potions" classes earlier this year, where participants made hand lotions, lip balms and bath salts.
      "Most are easy to make, use ingredients relatively easy to find and cost less than the commercial version," said Hunsaker.
      Some of the concoctions may require a trip outside the grocery store. Citric acid can be bought in powdered form at some pharmacies and stores that sell candymaking supplies. It sells for about $4 per pound at the Orson H. Gygi store at 3500 S. 300 West.
      Epsom salt, or magnesium sulfate, is often used in bath potions because it's thought to flush toxins from the body and ease muscle aches, according to the Epsom Salt Council. Look for it in grocery or drugstores where you'd find aspirin or Ace bandages, or in the laxative section (when taken internally, magnesium sulfate is a natural laxative).
      Witch hazel is an astringent liquid made from the leaves and bark of the witch hazel shrub. It's been around since the early 1800s and is used to soothe minor skin irritations or insect bites. You'll find it in drugstores.
      Oils, such as peppermint and cinnamon, can be found at candymaking supply stores or some pharmacies.
      Decorative jars for bath scrubs and salts can be found at craft or dollar stores. Tiny white plastic jars are ideal for lip gloss. They cost 13 cents each (with lid) at Industrial Container & Supply, 1865 S. 4490 West. The store also sells 16-ounce white plastic jars with lids for 63 cents, which could hold body scrubs. Then use your own creativity to label them.
      Body scrubs are used to exfoliate (lift off dead skin cells), increase the circulation and moisturize. So they usually contain some type of abrasive material (sugar, salt, oatmeal) and some type of oil. Because oils can go rancid over time, you may want to advise recipients to use the body scrubs soon or refrigerate them. Many beauty guides caution not to rub the mixture too hard into your skin, as it can be too abrasive and cause damage. The recipes below aren't recommended for use on the face, because facial skin is usually more delicate.

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      ACHES & ITCHES BATH SALTS

      1/2 cup baking soda
      1/2 cup dry milk powder
      1 cup Epsom salt
      1 cup sea salt

      Mix all ingredients in a large zip-style plastic bag or decorative jar. To use, throw a handful into your bath water.

—Christine Jensen and Teresa Hunsaker, Weber County USU Extension

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      LEMON SUGAR BODY SCRUB

      1/2 cup granulated sugar
      10 drops lemon oil, or half a lemon, freshly squeezed
      1 cup olive oil (or jojoba or almond oil)

      Mix all ingredients together. Apply to body by massaging in a circular motion, then shower off. Makes 1 full body treatment.

      —Christine Jensen and Teresa Hunsaker, Weber County USU Extension

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      BATH BOMBS

      "Bath Bombs" use citric acid and baking soda — when the two are combined with water, they have a fizzy chemical reaction, like Alka-Seltzer.
      1 cup baking soda
      1/2 cup cornstarch
      1/2 cup citric acid
      1/8 cup Epsom salt (optional)
      Essential oil (such as cinnamon or peppermint) or dried herbs (such as basil or rosemary)
      Witch hazel in a spray bottle

      Sift all dry ingredients in a glass bowl. Add essential oils (about 10-20 drops per recipe). Spray 3 times with witch hazel and mix well. Keep spraying the mix until it clumps together when you squeeze it in your hands, but make sure it is not wet, or the mixture will start foaming.
      Add dried herbs if using them. Press firmly into molds (ice cube trays or plastic shapes). Or roll into balls with your hands and let sit one minute. Wrap in waxed paper or foil. Let dry 24-48 hours. Don't let the bath bombs get wet until you use them, or they will begin foaming.

—Angel Shannon

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      CHOCOLATE LIP GLOSS

      2 teaspoons petroleum jelly
      1/8 teaspoon honey
      5 chocolate chips (milk chocolate for a light color; semisweet for a dark color)
      1/8 teaspoon shortening

      Mix all ingredients in a microwave-safe container. Microwave, uncovered, on high power for 20 seconds. Stir. Repeat until chips are fully melted. Pour into a small jar and freeze 15 minutes or until solid. Then apply it on your lips. Makes about 1 tablespoon of gloss.

—Angel Shannon

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      CHOCOLATE BROWN SUGAR BODY SCRUB

      1 1/2 cups brown sugar
      1/2 cup olive oil
      1 tablespoon cocoa powder
      1/4 teaspoon almond extract

      Pour brown sugar into a bowl and pack down. Pour olive oil slowly into bowl and mix until scrub has a wet-sand consistency. Blend in cocoa powder. Add almond extract and mix well. Scoop into a jar. Makes about 1 1/2 cups scrub.

      To use: Gently massage onto body to exfoliate and moisturize skin. Not for facial use.

      —Angel Shannon

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      COUNTRY MILK BATH

      1 cup dry powdered milk
      1 cup Epsom salt or sea salt
      1/2 cup baking soda
      1/4 cup crystallized citric acid
      20 drops scented oil

      In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and transfer to a decorative jar. Feel free to play with different combinations of scented oil to come up with your "signature" fragrance. To use, add about a half cup to your bath water.

      —Christine Jensen and Teresa Hunsaker, Weber County USU Extension

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