Piri Piri Chili Balm

This is a balm with piri piri chili - created specifically for the purpose of testing whether or not it can relieve pain. Capsaicin (the active ingredient in chilis) is showing some impressive pain-relieving results in scientific tests, and that was enough to get me curious about trying out if it were possible to create a soothing balm using chili-infused oil as one of the ingredients.

Piri piri chili is one of many chilis I am working with at the moment, and the scoville units in the LisaLise lab have been off the charts high, but I’m getting a bit ahead of myself.

If you want to read the initial feedback from my tester group using this balm, please visit the main blog right here.

Sun Powered Oil Infusion

This is a peek at the windowsill in my lab where a few oil infusions are underway. Even though there are several oil infusion methods that will all produce successful results, I tend to return to this, my favorite method: sun infusion.

Hardcore sun infusion fans believe the gentle power of a slow infusion utilizing sunlight creates the most potent and vibrant end product. And although I am not sure science has looked into this (or even has anything to say about it), I tend to agree.

I find it inherently satisfying to ‘greet’ my infusions every morning during the daily agitation and monitor how the mixture is coming along.

When an infusion is ready for straining, it usually lets you know.

Learn How to Make This Facial Serum

This powerful facial serum was developed for a very special purpose. It is part of a course I have been working on since late last year. I can reveal that it not only smells heavenly but works like a charm on my (sensitive) skin.

I’m extremely proud to have been asked by Tisserand Institute to create and teach a course in formulating natural skincare for aromatherapists (and anyone interested in working with essential oils in cosmetics). This facial serum is part of the course. The blend of essential oils in this formula was developed by Robert Tisserand himself.

As a matter of fact, he developed an entire series of fabulous essential oil blends that I have incorporated into the different products you’ll learn how to make if you sign up.

Interested? Visit Tisserand Institute to learn more and sign up.

The Infusing Test

This is a fresh strawberry infusion in glycerine (on the left) and propanediol (on the right) as a side by side experiment.

I started it a while ago and it is proving quite educational and contains a few surprises and delights.

If you want details, check this blogpost on the main blog.

Reassembling Grapes - An Experimental Oil Infusion

Pictured: freeze-dried grapes. (Yes, they really look like that when they are freeze-dried). I bought these in my local supermarket in the ‘healthy snacks department’. There are no additives of any kind. Not only are they quite sweet and tasty, but they inspired me to try a little experiment.

I decided to use them in an oil infusion, so I bought some oil for that specific purpose. Not just any oil, mind you, but an oil that (I expect) any grape would be proud to swim around in.

Have you guessed which oil yet?

Even though this little exercise is highly experimental and may turn out to be a huge fail, it may decide to become a huge success.

The oil? Why, grapeseed oil.

I suppose it is fair to say making an oil infusion of grapes into grapeseed oil is my attempt at reassembling grapes.

Soothing Balm With a Purpose

I developed this balm for a couple of reasons.

1. Creating excellence with a minimum of ingredients is my addiction

2. I was asked to create a series of formulas for a specific purpose

3. I love balms and cannot find a single reason not to make and use them for just about everything

More to come…