Here’s a recipe for delicious smelling peppermint rosemary shaving cream. This soap-free 100% natural formulation is great for sensitive skin. The plant oils and butters moisturise the skin as well as giving a clean shave. It’s a great Christmas gift idea that’s easy to make.

This quantity makes around 3-6 small jars, depending on which size jars you use. A little goes a long way, so even a small jar will last quite a while.

Ingredients

75 g shea butter
70 g virgin coconut oil
56 g jojoba or sweet almond oil
10 drops rosemary essential oil
5 drops peppermint essential oil

Where to find the ingredients

You can find pure shea butter on ebay in smaller quantities. Please ensure your supplier responsibly sources their shea butter from producers who are paid a fair wage. Check out my ebay profile to see if I have any spare fair trade shea butter listed.

I buy coconut oil from Nuilife, who developed a great system to source fresh virgin coconut oil directly from small-scale producers. Coconut oil is also available at health food shops and Indian grocery stores.

Jojoba, almond oil and essential oils are easily sourced from health food shops. If you have any trouble finding anything, just drop me an email and I’ll try to help you out.

Directions

Melt the shea butter and coconut oil. You can combine them over low heat in a small saucepan and stir until just melted, or alternatively toss them into a pyrex jug or bowl and nuke in the microwave.

Start with one minute and then blast for 30 second increments until melted, stirring after each increment.

Transfer to a heat-safe bowl or jug if you used the stovetop method. Add the jojoba/almond oil and essential oils and stir thoroughly to mix.

Place the bowl in the fridge and chill until solid. This takes a good couple of hours at least. Remove from the fridge and whip with a hand beater or a stand mixer until light and fluffy.

Spoon into jars. Store in a cool, dry place. If it gets very hot the mixture will start to melt and you will lose the light fluffy texture. There are no preservatives in this recipe so you need to ensure water is kept out of the jar to avoid any bacterial growth. Use within six months.

Directions for use

Apply a thin layer to shaving area. After shaving, wipe off with a warm damp face cloth. Soak the razor in warm water for a few minutes to remove shaving cream residue.

You might want to make up some labels with ingredients and directions. Paper labels won’t really cut it, as the oils and butters tend to soak in and ruin them. Transparent plastic labels from office supply shops work well.

Best wishes for the season!

You want to get away from the supermarket deodorants, and try something more natural. But, to be honest, you’re not really sure if natural deodorants are all that effective. You might have tried crystals, or various other ‘natural’ brands. And maybe you discovered they weren’t so natural after all. Or they didn’t work that well. Or they just smelled weird.

Either way, you’re not really happy with what you’ve tried in the past. So you’re wary of trying anything new.

I get it.

I want to make it easy for you to try something new.
So here’s my offer:

Jungle Jane natural deodorant satisfaction guarantee

I’m so confident that you’ll love Jungle Jane’s handmade 100% natural deodorant that I’m offering a money back guarantee. If you try one of Jungle Jane’s deodorants and you aren’t completely happy with it, just return it to me within 28 days of purchase and I’ll give you your money back, excluding postage return costs.*

Remember, this is a natural deodorant, NOT an antiperspirant. (Even the strongest antiperspirants only reduce sweating by less than half). So your body will still sweat, which is not a bad thing. But when used properly (on clean, dry skin), the antibacterial plant oils and butters and powerful essential oils in Jungle Jane deodorants will prevent odours by reducing the bacteria on your skin. Plus, they smell great. Just a few swipes with the deodorant bar in the morning, and you will stay fresh all day. And if it doesn’t work for you? Drop me an email outlining the problem, and if we can’t sort it out to your satisfaction you can send the deodorant back to receive a full refund.

Why make this offer?

I want you to feel comfortable with trying something new. Jungle Jane deodorants might look a bit different from anything you’ve used before. You might not be sure that it will work for you, or you might be unsure about the solid bar form.

How can I be so confident that I’m willing to make this offer? Because my customers tell me this is the best natural deodorant they have ever tried. Because my customers tell me that Jungle Jane deodorant works just as well as the synthetic chemical laden supermarket brands. Because people come back for more, and then buy supplies for friends and family.

But will it really work for me?

Everyone’s body chemistry is different. I can’t guarantee 100% that Jungle Jane natural deodorant will work for you. But I’m so confident it will, I’m willing to offer your money back.

And don’t forget, all Jungle Jane products are plastic free, vegan-friendly and source all ingredients from responsible suppliers to ensure they are friendly to people, animals and planet earth.

Take a look at Jungle Jane natural deodorant here. You’ll find a full ingredient list and description of how each ingredient works. And if you have any questions, hit me up in the comments or send me an email.

* Offer only available within Australia.

“Oh, but I have no time for baths’, I hear you say, “I’m far too busy.” I can’t count how many times I’ve heard women tell me this at craft markets and in the school yard. To which I reply: make time, my dear. Yes, we’re all busy, but even in this day and age we (women) are far too self-sacrificing. It’s vital for our physical and mental health to carve out some time to ourselves (and not feel guilty for doing so).

So find an hour, grab some bath melts, drop one in a warm tub and hop in. Immerse yourself in the floating rose petals and settle in with a good book while the rich emollients do their work. Close your eyes, breathe in the pure essential oils and you could be wandering through a fragrant rose garden on a warm summers day. Like this one:

Victoria State Rose Garden, Werribee Park, south of Melbourne. We visited last summer. It’s one of those places where your everyday worldly cynicism vanishes, and you find yourself oohing and sighing with delight and tripping about like a demented fairy.

As with all Jungle Jane products, Drifting Rose bath melts contain all natural, minimally processed ingredients sourced from responsible suppliers.

I developed these melts at the request of the lovely Jen, who has been a great supporter of Jungle Jane and asked for a rose scented version in addition to the Tiger Wishes bath melts. Thanks, Jen! Customer suggestions are always welcome in the jungle.

I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall. – Eleanor Roosevelt

This is a fantastic resource: find local sustainable restaurants, food co-ops, food swaps, farmers markets etc. in Australia. Just plug in your postcode and see what’s in your area. http://www.localharvest.org.au/

How to make your own natural cleaning products

Nice simple article with basic recipes:

http://linda-stuffilike.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/why-i-make-my-own-cleaning-products.html

Stop stuffing up in the kitchen!

Most common cooking mistakes:

Cheap wine remedy

Catch this great offer while it lasts – free shipping on all orders over $20 until 11 May.

Just enter the coupon code MUM at checkout.

Grab some bath melts, moisturisers or skin scrubs for mum, and stock up for yourself at the same time!