#non-edible

Not only are these Frappuccino Bars pleasantly exfoliating and mosturising, they also make good use of your coffee grounds, once dried.

Ingredients (makes 4 bars):

60 grams/2 ounces shea butter

60 grams/2 ounces dried coffee grounds

75 grams/2 1/2 ounces coconut oil

45 grams/1 1/2 shea butter

5 drops geranium essential oil

5 drops grapefruit essential oil

In a medium bowl, melt shea butter over a saucepan of simmering water -water must not touch the bottom of the bowl- over a low flame, stirring with a clean spoon until completely melted. Remove from the heat and stir in coffee grounds.

Divide mixture between the 4 cups of a dome silicon mould. Chill in the freezer, until solid.

In a medium bowl, combine coconut oil and shea butter. Fit bowl over a saucepan of simmering water -water must not touch the bottom of the bowl- over a low flame, stirring with a clean spoon until completely melted and well-blended. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly before stirring in geranium and grapefruit essential oil.

Once the coffee butter is solid, remove from the freezer; and pour geranium and grapefruit mixture over, to fill the cups. Carefully place mould in the refrigerator, and allow to chill until completely solid.

I’m really having the most fun making these natural cosmetics, and even more so since they are actually meeting their purpose in the most pleasant ways! The scrubs leave my skin nice and smooth, the bb makes me feel like Phryne Fisher herself and her beloved scented soaks, this Aloe Lemongrass Blam has proved useful against insect bites...

Now, I’ve started work again this week, the week of the heat wave, yes!, and whether I’m walking to the train station in the morning or home in the evening, it’s always under a scorching heat. The office is in an old building, with lovely large windows that let the light flood in, which in these circumstances, means it’s about 40°C in there in the arvo. All that to say, when I’m finally home (because sometimes, I add some extra walking and go and see the World Cup games at the stadium!), and sit with a cold beer (ta Jules!); my legs are so sore I don’t really want to stand up again!

Well, this Soothing Lavender Spray, is now the first thing I do (generously spraying it and rubbing it on my calves) when I walk inside and close the door to the outside inferno, and I can sit with a coldie, and then stand up and dance the night away if I wished!

I haven’t had a sunburn because I’m very careful and dutiful with sunscreen, but apparently it would soothe them too!

Ingredients (makes about 220 millilitres/7.5 fluid ounces):

1/2 teaspoon Dried Lavender

4 tablespoon cool water

3 medium leaves aloe vera

2 tablespoons jojoba oil

1 tablespoon safflower oil

a dozen drops lavender essential oil

In a small cup, combine Dried Lavender and water. Let steep, half an hour.

Rinse aloe vera leaves thoroughly under cold water, and place them in a shallow plate or flat bowl. Cover with cold water, and let them soak, half an hour. Set aside.

Remove aloe vera leaves from the bowl, and discard the water. Rinse the bowl, and refill it with 1/3 cup cold water.

Using a sharp knife, run it on both edges of the leaf, to cut off the green skin. Then place aloe leaf flat onto your work surface, and gently run the knife just underneath the skin on top. Now the aloe vera gel is exposed. Finally, run the knife underneath the gel, to scoop it off the bottom skin. Place aloe vera gel into the bowl of cold water, and proceed likewise with remaining aloe leaves. (If that’s not clear, here’s a helpful Goodful video!)

Transfer aloe vera gel and the “aloe water” (the now gloopy water where the aloe soaked) to a blender, and process until smooth. Add jojoba oil, safflower oil and lavender essential oil, and process again, to combine. 

Pour mixture in a spray bottle. Pour in reserved lavender water. Close bottle tightly and shake well to combine. 

Last February is when I actually started adopting a daily skincare routine. Before that, I washed my face, in the morning and before going to bed, obviously, and I’d started applying day cream every day the day I turned thirty. But that was about it. Of course I indulged in a mask or a scrub now and then, but there was no regularity whatsover. Observing my sister, is what convinced me; and also having a mirror in my room I can sit in front of. And now I have this little ritual, twice a day, but especially at night where I sit and spray my face with jasmine or geranium or rose water, and massage in rich cream or night mask, and jojoba oil, and I find it quite relaxing. It soothes me. And I realise, it’s now growing on me to take equal care of the rest of my body. And so, after making these Lavender Bath Salts for Jules, I’ve decide to try my hand at more homemade bath and skincare products. Since the roses are blooming profusely this year, I started with these Rose Bath Bars!

Ingredients (make 2 bars*):

1/3 cup dried rose petals**

1/2 cup shea butter

1/2 teaspoon essential almond oil

*Depending on the size of the mold(s) you’re using. For these, I used a silicon tartlet mold

**Collect the rose petals, gently removing them form the flower into an open container like a teacup or mug. Let them dry, uncovered, at room temperature, for a couple of weeks.

Arrange a few dried rose petals at the bottom of each mold.

Melt shea butter in a bowl fitted over a small saucepan of simmering water, over a low flame, until completely liquid and transluscent. Stir in almond oil, and remove from the heat. Stir in remaining rose petals, and let stand, a couple of minutes. Then, pour mixture into prepared molds. Place in the refrigerator for an hour, to chill and hardened completely.

Olivia: Instagram @ livmei Pinterest @ oliviameigan