Green Tea Vanilla Bean Body Butter

Anyone else out there in an ongoing love affair with tea? I literally have a whole cabinet shelf dedicated to teas of all flavors and types....I would estimate I have around 40 different selections, conservatively. That being said, I don't always get through my teas before they reach their "best by" dates. It breaks my heart to throw anything out, so I either keep drinking it anyway or, as is the case here, make something from it.

I had a box of plain green tea approaching its date and decided, knowing all the wonderful properties of green tea, to make some new skin food with it! I opted for a super simple body butter using green tea-infused coconut oil and vanilla essential oil for scent. It smells absolutely heavenly and, thanks to some lingering tea bits, has endearing specks like vanilla bean ice cream...hence the name! As a former Starbucks Green Tea Frappucino addict, I would absolutely compare the scent to that! Coconut oil shines as a fantastic moisturizer, and green tea is loaded with antioxidants and great for use after sun exposure, making this a great addition to your summer beauty regimen!

Whipped Green Tea Vanilla Bean Body Butter
1 cup virgin coconut oil
2-3 tablespoons loose green tea, organic preferred
20-30 drops vanilla essential oil

In a double boiler, melt the coconut oil gently over medium heat. Once melted, add tea leaves and stir. Simmer, covered, over low heat for one hour to infuse the oil.

Strain tea out using cheesecloth, over a large chilled bowl (you can place your bowl in the freezer when your begin the simmer and take it out when you're ready for it). Allow oil to cool to room temperature; it should become slightly solidified. Once it has cooled, whip for a few minutes using an electric mixer on lowest speed until fluffy.

Note: if your house is warm and the oil does not solidify, you can place the bowl in an ice bath to help it set up. Warm temperature will also cause difficulty in whipping and may melt your finished product. Store in the fridge to keep it set up, and keep in mind that tea is perishable...use your product within about a month of making it.

Make a pretty label, slather on, and enjoy!!

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Sweet & Salty Scrub

Anybody else out there LOVE a good body scrub? I've loved them since I was a teenager...smooth, silky skin, deliciously-scented ingredients, a renewed purpose in life (okay, maybe I took that a bit far)..but seriously, what's not to love?

One of my favorite things about making my own body care products is how many of the ingredients I already have in my home...particularly, in my kitchen! I am a lover of all things food-related, so whipping up fresh ingredients into awesome personal care creations is a fusion I can't resist. Today I'm sharing a super simple, 5-minute recipe for a salt- and sugar-based scrub that will leave your skin soft, moisturized, and lightly scented. Best of all, the scent is totally customizable to your needs and preferences!

I made this batch up in an energizing, drool-worthy Tangerine Vanilla scent, but you could just as easily make a relaxing before-bed Lavender blend, an invigorating Peppermint version, or whatever tickles your (nose's) fancy. You could even leave it unscented if you prefer. Okay, I'm done babbling...here's the recipe:

Sweet & Salty Scrub
1/2 cup dead sea salt (or other sea salt)
1/3 cup raw sugar (mine is very coarsely ground, but you may prefer a finer sugar)
1/4 cup virgin coconut oil (or more, depending on how "liquidy" you want your finished product to be)
30-40 drops essential oils of choice (I used 15 drops tangerine and 25 drops vanilla)

Gently warm the coconut oil, on the stove or in the microwave, until liquid. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl, and transfer to an airtight jar for storage. Keeps about 1 month. Make sure you label your jar with a name and expiration date! A beautifully labeled jar is more tantalizing to use from, anyway =)

To use, simply scoop out a small handful either before or in the shower and rub gently over the skin (not for use on the face!). Then rinse!

Hope you all enjoy!
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