Introducing Tutorials

I’m pretty excited to be able to introduce you to my very first tutorial - right here on the website!

Squee!

If you have been following me for a while, you already know I love working with botanicals of all types for all kinds of things. One increasing interest in recent years has been creating flavour oils. It began with lip balms in mind, but as I started getting more and more into combining ingredients to smell nice as well as taste nice, I kept coming up with even more things I wanted to try.

I’m not even going to mention how long my to-do list is at the moment.

This particular challenge (capturing the flavours of a classic gin and tonic) has taken much longer than I expected (that seems to be a bit of a pattern when I start out thinking I can ‘knock something out relatively quickly’). Many of the initial batches started out well, but then the fragrance faded, or flavour changed, or something else went annoyingly wrong.

Fast forward 3 years and a few more batches than I originally thought were going to be necessary, and finally I could say I was happy with the results.

The star of this tutorial is making the flavour oil (which is super for several different products), but I’ve also created a couple of lip balm formulas to use the flavour oil in: a vegan version and a version featuring beeswax.

Wouldn’t you know the balms also took a bit longer than expected to get right (I’m looking at you vegan waxes), but as it turned out, quite a bit of it was solved when I got the flavour oil right.

Does this sound complicated? Well, before I had figured out how to do it, it was, but when you know how to do it, it’s not that complicated. (Isn’t that true of so many things?)

Are you a little curious about getting busy making your own?

Click the picture below to read more.

Tutorials

Make your own bespoke ingredients and use them in your cosmetics. Tutorials feature immediate and unlimited access.

PS: The formulas for both of these balms as well as the flavour oil are free for LisaLise Club members. If you think you might want to check out becoming a member, click the picture below.

Club

If you love working with plants, making your own extracts, and incorporating them into your personal care products, then check out the Club where members have access to exclusive content. Please note: membership spots are limited.

How to Make a Strawberry Glycerite with Preservative

Today, we’re making strawberry glycerite.

You: Lise, it’s not summer, and there are no strawberries available.

Me: It’s summer in Australia right now, so somewhere on the planet, this is a timely post.

Important: Use the ripest, plumpest, freshest (organic) strawberries available to you for optimal results. If that means you have to wait for summer, then wait. Trust me when I say it will be worth it.

Because we are using fresh strawberries (which are about 92% water), there is no need to add any water.

Ingredients

• Fresh strawberries

• Glycerine

• Preservative (I used benzyl alcohol)

Water to Glycerine Ratios

One of the most common ratios of water-to-glycerine for an extract with preservative is 50/50. It’s easy to work with too.

I generally start by seeing how much preservative is recommended, choose a dosage a little higher than middle, then calculate ‘backwards’ to find how much glycerine and strawberry to add. I used benzyl alcohol in this extract which has a recommended max dosage of 1%. But because glycerine is ‘aiding’ the preservative, I chose to use less than max: 0.6%. I made this pictured batch some years ago and it performed beautifully so if I were to repeat this today, I would use the same amounts.

Strawberry Glycerite with Preservative

Ingredient	%
Preservative	0.6
Organic Strawberries	49.7
Glycerine	49.7

Method

1. Sanitise the jar and equipment

2. Place the jar on a scale and set to 0

3. Slice or chop the strawberries

4. Add strawberries to jar to desired weight

5. Set scale to 0

6. Weigh up glycerine to desired weight

7. Weigh and add preservative

8. Place lid on jar (TIP: If your lid isn’t in pristine condition, place a protective layer of food-safe paper or plastic between the lid and jar)

9. Place jar out of direct sunlight at room temperature. I find putting a tea towel over the jar works well.

10. Gently agitate the jar once a day for 7-10 days. The strawberries will start to look a little ‘spent’ and ‘tired’ when the mixture is ready for straining.

You Might be Wondering…

If we are using a preservative, can we add it after straining instead of before infusing?

Yes you can. To do so, weigh up the amount of strained liquid and then calculate how much preservative to add.

Why I don’t do it this way.

I prefer adding preservative at the beginning because the water to glycerine ratio is lower than when making a self-preserving glycerite (read: the preservative is working while the infusion is ongoing), and I just find it easier (and makes for less math) all around.

Straining

1. Sanitise your equipment

2. Place funnel in receptacle

3. Place filter/ lining in funnel (1-2 layers of clean muslin, cheesecloth, or suitable paper filters)

4. Pour mixture into funnel and allow to strain

5. Decant into bottle

6. Label and date the bottle

7. Store the extract cool, and use within 6 months.

Do Tell

Are you a fan of strawberries in your skincare? Please share in a comment below.

Are you a member of LisaLise Club? If not, you may want to check out what it has to offer you by clicking the picture below.

Club Highlights

We’re welcoming the new year with all kinds of great new content! Click the picture below to check out what the club has to offer you!

Club

If you love working with plants, making your own extracts, and incorporating them into your personal care products, then check out the Club where members have access to exclusive content. Please note: membership spots are limited.

Aromatherapeutic Smelling Salts (and other DIY Gift Ideas)

So there are undoubtedly some last minute things that need doing before the holiday break, some of which might be gifts. This post shows you a few things you can put together and add all kinds of your own personal touch to.

Let’s start with these lovely smelling salts (pictured above).

Classic Smelling Salts

Smelling salts have been around for ages. From days of yore, where they functioned as a go-to remedy for ladies who would tend to faint (due to their constrictive corsets). But smelling salts are still in use today. I’m sure you’ve seen them used in televised sports-related situations. Classic smelling salts pack a real punch due to the content of ammonia.

But.

What if smelling salts could have other functions?

Like, say

• a 'Christmas Spirit' blend to jump-start the holiday cheer

• a 'Clear The Head' blend to help battle stuffy noses

• a 'Summer Memories' blend to bring a whiff of summer warmth

• a 'Calm Your Spirit' blend to aid sleep and relaxation

One might even consider making a lovely personalised gift for someone.

Are you inspired?

Good, then let's get started!

Ingredients & Necessities

• Small glass bottles that hold 10-15 ml with tight-fitting lids

• Coarse salt (The Himalayan Crystal salt I used has a fabulous pink color, but you could use normal coarse salt or even decorative colored salts)

• 25-30 drops essential oil blend per bottle

• Small funnel (for dripping accuracy)

Method

Plan and combine your blend(s) before you start. Make a note of how much of each essential oil (EO) you want to use. In this example, I have created a small batch I call My Good Morning Pick Me Up blend which consists of

• Rosemary EO: 1 g

• Peppermint EO: 0.75 g

• Menthol Crystals: 0.5g

• Eucalyptus EO: 0.5 g

• Tea tree EO: 0.5 g

When you've planned and made your blends, it's simply a matter of

• Filling the bottle with salt

• Adding your essential oil blend

• Capping the bottle and giving it a bit of a shake

• Rejoicing at your fabulous creativity

If you make different blends and are using the same salt in all of them, do find a way to mark or label your bottles. I did 2 different blends here. The mix including rosemary got a little sticker at the bottom. Optional: make a proper label for each bottle.

How To Use Aromatherapeutic Smelling Salts

• Uncap the bottle

• Waft the under the nose and inhale deeply

Note: keep your smelling salts out of the reach of children.

More About Classic Smelling Salts (LINK)

Inhalers

If you happen to have the necessary containers, you can also make personalised inhalers.

Click the picture to see the Clear Nose Inhalers post.

Or click the picture below to make aromatherapy inhalers

Teas

If you have a stock of dried herbs, there are a few ideas for personalised tea blends.

Click the picture below to make Calm Steam Face Tea

Clicking the picture below will take you to the Gentle Steam Botanical Face Tea post.

Finally, there is a guide to how I make my own Personalised Herbal Tea Blends if you click the picture below (for sipping)

Have fun!

Do Tell

Which essential oil combinations would you use to make your smelling salts? Which herbs you you use to make a personalised tea blend?

PS: If you happen to have this book, creating and making your own bi-phase cleansers is both easy and fun

Bi-Phase Cleansers

Make Your Own Healthy Candy

Above is a peek at a few LisaLise Pure Natural Edibles. Even though this is a skin and hair care blog, the holidays are fast approaching – a traditional time of (making and) giving gifts!

These are not only easier to make than you might think, they're downright good for you.

What you see above is healthy, vegan-friendly raw food candy with no added sugar or sweeteners. The best part: they pass the 'I hate healthy food' test every time.

Even though 'healthy' and 'candy' doesn't usually go together, these tasty treats are rich, decadent and sinfully delicious. I dare you to make them and not agree with me!

There are 4 variations pictured above – each covered/dipped in organic 72% dark chocolate. Also pictured above: a peek at the packaging I made one Christmas when I was doing large-ish batches so there was enough to give as holiday gifts.

Shall we make healthy candy? Excellent!

You need only 3 base ingredients:

1. Raw Cocoa Powder

2. Pure Coconut (flour, grated or shredded)

3. Medjool dates (do not substitute for other dates -- there is a world of difference!)

and one optional ingredient

1. Dark Chocolate (if youw want to dip or cover your candies with chocolate)

The secret to success: don't skimp on the quality of the ingredients and you will have a sure-fire hit every time.

Healthy Raw Candy Instructions

1. Pit and chop medjool dates

2. Add raw cocoa powder and/or coconut and knead (in wax paper) until the mixture can be handled

3. Split into however many portions you want to make flavours, then add any extras you may fancy to each portion.

4. Knead each mixture until it is even

5. Roll into balls

6. Roll balls in cocoa or coconut

7. Dip in chocolate

8. Decorate

9. Chill

10. Enjoy

In the versions you see above, I soaked goji berries in rum for one of the flavor variations, added chopped almonds for another, made a roasted sesame seed with orange combo, and the fourth flavor shown above is a straight-up coconut/date combo.

I've made these many times and almost always experiment with the flavors. Try adding exciting and unexpected things such as licorice powder (this was quite a hit with my family).

If you want to go all out, photograph each flavor and make a little booklet with the ingredients and a fun description for each flavor. The recipient will not only appreciate the thought, but anyone with special dietary needs will be fully informed as to what they're tasting.

A Little Film of the Making Process

When I was a member of Vine (a social media app) many years ago, I made a series of short films to show how I make these. I do apologize for the quality of this film, but we are talking about a very old iphone, no special lighting, an amateur photographer and editor (me) and a handful of old vine shorts. Despite all the flaws, I though it still might be useful to see the making process, so I have done my best to make it as palatable to look at as I am able.

Packaging tip: if you can't find suitable boxes, package in cellophane bags and tie shut with a pretty bow.

Have fun!

After enjoying your fabulous candies, you might want to make your own tooth powders to brush your pearly whites. The book below shows you how.

Botanical Tooth Powders

€35.00

How to Apply Face Oil

A lot of people have asked me what's so special about putting oil on your face.

My answer is always the same: a properly blended face oil (or serum as some prefer to call it) will nourish, soften, balance sebum (helping either very dry or very oily skin), strengthen the underlying cellular layers, fight wrinkles, help heal scars and acne, and help firm the skin.

(not all at once, but almost)

A properly applied oil will not leave your face feeling greasy or oily, but will simply melt into your skin and do its work, providing you with the perfect base for your daily moisturiser, or the perfect base for the rest of your day without the addition of any other products. In later years, I have been pretty basic in my use of skincare products and my morning routine ends with the application of my current face oil blend.

After having used face (and body) oils for years, I fully understand the ancient Egyptians appreciation of topically-applied oils for health and well being. They literally do feed your skin and leave it feeling silky smooth.

There are many ways to apply a face oil, but today I’m sharing my personal favourite method. This may sound/read like it is complicated, but it takes around a minute to do.

Start with freshly cleansed skin that is still slightly damp.

1. Drop 6-12 drops face oil into the palm of one hand and quickly rub palms together so it is evenly dispersed. Be sure to include your fingertips

2. Apply to your face in light, upward strokes, starting with the cheeks and moving upward and outwards towards the temples and hairline

3. Tap gently under the eye area

4. Place a finger on either side of the bridge of the nose and move outwards along the eyebrows

5. Move to the forehead with gentle upward strokes

6. Pinch along your jawline lightly, starting from the chin and working outwards towards each ear.

7. Finish with your neck in gentle, upward strokes

8. Check the mirror for awesome looking skin.

Do Tell

Are you a fan of face oils? What is your favourite application method?

PS: The e-books below (available in both Spanish and English) have formulas for facial oils for all types. The books are also very beginner-friendly.

Club

If you love working with plants, making your own extracts, and incorporating them into your personal care products, then check out the Club where members have access to exclusive content. Please note: membership spots are limited.

Club Highlights

Members of the club get a 30% discount on all e-books, free formulas, loads of tips, and access to exclusive content not available anywhere else. Think you might want to join? Click the picture above to see what the Club has to offer you!

Make Your Own Preservative Free Natural Cosmetics With 21 Ingredients

Haz tus propios productos cosméticos naturales sin conservantes con 21 ingredientes

Easy Single Use Creamy Soaps

These little pink squares are single use soaps. Each one weight only a few grams and because of they way they are made, an entire soap is used up with each application. No waste!

They are quick and easy to make if you can source the star ingredient in paste form (which I have used here), but I imagine they are just as easy to make if you can get the surfactant in powdered form and add a bit of liquid to create your own paste.

The soaps can be decorated quite easily by 'dusting' them with some of the leftover herb and clay mixture, but are just as functional and make an equally creamy lather without any added decoration.

You only need about 20 minutes to make these if you have all the ingredients at hand.

Shall we get started?

Moldable Fun

The main surfactant in these soaps has the INCI name Disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate and is sometimes referred to as Plantapon SUS or just 'Foam Paste'.

This is an anionic, sulphate-free, EcoCert surfactant that is available in liquid, powder or paste form and is suitable for every kind of lathery cleansing product you might want to make: from shaving creams, shampoos, and bath soaps to single-use soaps.

When making these soaps, you’ll discover how pleasantly malleable the dough is - it’s both fun and easy to work with and you can either press the dough into moulds or simply shape your soaps by hand. The pictured soaps were shaped by hand and then sliced in much the same way you might make some cookies.

This portion is enough for a 'try-me' sized portion of 100 grams / 3.53 oz

LisaLise's Single Use Creamy Soaps

Ingredient	Grams	Ounces
Foam Paste	19.5	0.69
Rose Glycerite	20.0	0.71
Pink Clay	2.0	0.071
Hibiscus Powder	2.0	0.071
Distilled Water	3.5	0.12
Cornstarch	53.0	1.87

Method

1. Sift the herb powder and clay together (make extra if you want to use some for decorating)

2. Mix the first 5 ingredients together in a bowl

3. Add cornstarch and work together to form a dough

4. Shape into single use sized bars ( a few grams per soap)

5. Optional: roll soaps in leftover herb and clay mixture

6. Allow to set and air dry

You can use these right away if you like. The texture of the dough is a little 'rubbery' and reminds me a bit of a soft eraser.

Above is a pic of how I shaped these. The dough was molded into a long ‘sausage’ and gently patted to make it into a squarish shape. The pieces were sliced off and allowed to dry.

A Bit About the Ingredients

Glycerite

If you make your own glycerites, these soaps are a perfect place to put them to use. I added a rose glycerite here but you could use any glycerite or replace with glycerine if you prefer.

Herbs and Clay

I chose a pink illite clay and combined it with a powdered hibiscus extract. You can use any clay and herb you like. My main reason for using these ingredients was to accentuate the pink of the rose glycerite. Pictured below: a few soaps with added herb-and-clay dust.

Demineralised Water

This is the same as distilled water. You might easily find this at a supermarket or the likes. It is often sold as water to be used in steam irons.

Cornstarch

This is exactly the same as the cornstarch you might use for cookingand may already have in your kitchen.

Sudsy Demo

Here's how this soap lathers up. There is actually more lather to be had but this is as good as I could get doing one-handed lathering with one-handed photograpy. The soap dissolves readily into a creaminess that is quite pleasant.

Have fun!

Links to Suppliers of the Surfactant

Aroma Zone

Bay House Ingredients

Soapmakers Store

Want more bath-related fun and formulas? You might just enjoy the book below.

Create Your Own Bath Products With Essential Oils