DIY Aromatherapeutic Slime

The days of the slime craze has probably already passed (replaced by soap cutting and bath bomb slicing) but between the three of them, we’re pretty sure that slime is kinder to the wallet, generally safer (no sharp objects!) and it also lasts longer.

So for today, we’re going to share our favorite slime recipe with you. It’s formulated using a specific glue (we’ll tell you why other glues may not work the same later) and it has an aromatherapeutic twist to it as well (because as calming as playing with slime already is, additional aromatherapeutic benefits can’t hurt)!

What you’ll need:

1. Craft Glue  We used this specific one.
2. Borax  **If you’re not an adult, please work with borax under the guidance of one to prevent any mishaps!
3. Essential Oil  We used lavender, lemon and sweet orange!
4. Mica powders  We used True Green and Aztec Gold, but you can find more colour options here!
5. Popsicle Sticks
6. A measuring spoon  We used a 1ml one for this
7. Two beakers  We used a glass one to mix hot water and borax and a plastic one to mix glue and hot water. You can switch out the plastic beaker for a paper cup.
8. A bowl
9. A silicone mat (Optional, but will be infinitely helpful in keeping your table clean)

Instructions (for approximate 60g of slime)

1. Measure out 40ml of glue and add in 20ml of hot (ours is 40°C) water. Stir until the glue and water are thoroughly mixed.*Note:
   a) If you’d like your slime to be more sticky, you can add in more glue or lesser hot water.
   b) You can also add up to 5 drops of 100% pure essential oil during this step, or opt to add it after the slime is done (check out how to at the last section of this post).
2. In a separate beaker, measure out 20ml of hot (again, ours is 40°C) water and add in 1ml of borax. Stir until the borax has dissolved.*Note: If you’d like a tougher slime texture (think hard jelly), you can add up to another 1ml of borax. Be careful because borax is extremely alkaline so it can irritate the skin!
3. Pour the glue mixture into a bowl and add in the dissolved borax mixture. Stir with the popsicle stick.
   

   
   *Tip: To control the texture of your slime, You can add in the dissolved borax mixture part by part. Try adding 10ml of dissolve borax mixture into the glue mixture, then stir. If there is still some glue mixture that hasn’t reacted with the dissolved borax mixture, add in more in smaller amounts until you’ve achieve a texture you like.

Adding Colours

1. Spread out the slime on a flat surface.
2. Add in your desired colour of mica powder (we used Aztec Gold first, and added True Green later), but do it in small amounts! Too much mica will cause the colour to bleed out.
3. Fold the slime over the mica powder. Make sure to ‘package’ the mica powder inside of the slime or you’ll have quite a mess afterwards!
4. Gentle kneed and pull until the mica powder has been thoroughly mixed into the slime.

Adding Essential Oils

After some time, essential oils will oxidize and thus, the slime will lose the scent and aromatherapeutic properties. Here’s how you can incorporate essential oils into your slime:

PS: since our essential oils are 100% pure and thus, highly concentrated, we don’t recommend adding more than 5 drops at a time for this specific recipe of ours. If your choice of essential oil is diluted, you can add more.

1. Spread out your slime and add up to 5 drops of 100% pure and undiluted essential oil in the middle.
2. Carefully, fold the slime over the essential oil(s). Make sure to ‘package’ it thoroughly so that the essential oils doesn’t leak out.
   *Note: If the essential oils leak out, you can use one side of the slime to ‘wipe’ it up before folding it in. If any gets on your hands, immediately wash your hands.
3. Gentle kneed and pull until the essential oils have been completely absorbed into your slime.

We used Aztec Gold and True Green here, plus Sweet Orange, Lavender and Lemon essential oils!

Notes:

*Always be extra careful when handling borax and undiluted essential oils.

* Different glues can yield different results. We used another brand of glue and our slime turned out clumpy like failed poached egg whites.

* You can mix different glues to make slime. Make sure to use more of the one that gives a smoother finish, though! …Unless you prefer the clumpy kind more 

Pssst, we're also available at Craftiviti.com!

We Got Featured by Moody Seagull!

Recently, Daniella who’s behind Moody Seagull Illustration (she’s @moodyseagull on Instagram and this is her website), featured our store in her second ever vlog on YouTube and after watching it, it’s safe to say that we’re enamored 

Check out her vlog over here! 

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Thank you Daniella for sharing this video with us!

Pssst, we're also available at Craftiviti.com!

Top 10 Carrier Oils for Hair

Carrier oils, also known as ‘base oils’, are named as such because they are used to carry essential oils (which have aromatherapeutic benefits) onto the skin. Nevertheless, this does not mean that carrier oils are without their own benefits. So, if you’re looking to have healthy and beautiful hair, these carrier oils are the ones you should try!

1. Argan Oil

Rich in vitamin E, omega-6 and omega-9. Argan oil is one of the rarest oils in the world. It has an amazing ability to moisturize, nourish and improve the condition of your scalp and hair. This makes argan oil brilliant for dry and/or dandruff-prone scalps, and also for thin, frizzy and/or brittle hair.

 We sell two kinds of argan oil: Organic Unroasted and Unrefined Argan Oil and 100% Pure Argan Oil (Refined).

2. Apricot Kernel Oil

A light and emollient oil that’s high in fatty acids. This ‘lightness’ makes it easy to be absorbed into the hair and scalp, whereas as an emollient, it will help make your hair smooth and pliable. Apricot kernel oil is also rich in vitamins A and E. It can be used to help seal ends and to prevent split ends. It can also be used to help treat dry, flaky scalps.

3. Avocado Oil

An intensive and rich oil that has softening and protective properties, along with the ability to promote cell regeneration. It’s incredibly rich in vitamin D, potassium, amino acids and protein that can stimulate hair growth. It is also effective in unclogging hair follicles, keeping your hair moisturized and soft, and also assists in hair regeneration. Brilliant for damaged hair and for boosting hair growth.

 We sell Refined 100% Avocado Oil here.

4. Castor Oil

Very thick and viscous which makes it useful to lock in moisture. Castor oil has a ricinoleic acid content that’s perfect for strengthening roots and nourishing the scalp. It also has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties which can help treat scalp infections, and is rich in many other essential nutrients that can treat damaged hair. Though, this oil may not always suitable to be used in large amounts on it’s own for hair care.

 We sell Refined 100% Castor Oil here.

5. Coconut Oil

Fractionated coconut oil is light, non-greasy, non-staining and liquid oil. It’s rich in antioxidants like vitamins E and K, which help repair and build healthy tissues, strengthening the hair and preventing it from breaking and thinning out. The fatty acids present can reduce inflammation and repair scalp and hair damage. It’s also an effective moisturizer, thus it can help treat dry scalps.

 We sell Refined and Fractionated 100% Coconut Oil here.

6. Jojoba Oil

Easily absorbed due to its nature being similar to the sebum naturally produced by our body, doesn’t clog pores and perfect for sealing moisture, jojoba oil is effective for those with dry and normal hair types who want frizz-free and shinier hair. Moreover, it prefect as an oil cleanser, and can also help promote hair growth. It also has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties which can help your scalp.

 We sell Refined 100% Jojoba Oil here.

7. Olive Oil

Great for treating hair and scalp issues like dandruff, dry and flaky scalp, and frizzy hair. Olive oil also increases the elasticity of hair, strengthening it so that your hair is less problem to breakage or being pulled out. Moreover, olive oil has a significant amount of antioxidants and it also has antibacterial and moisturizing properties, which helps promote scalp health.

 We sell Refined 100% Pomace Olive Oil here.

8. Sunflower Seed Oil

Sunflower Seed Oil has a high omega-9 content, which is known to be one of the essential fatty acids that stimulates hair growth, and preventing brittle hair and hair loss. It’s extremely high vitamin E content can protect skin cells from harmful UV rays. It’s also packed with vitamins A, B, C, potassium, iron, and calcium which benefits your your hair and scalp.

 We sell Refined 100% Sunflower Seed Oil here.

9. Sweet Almond Oil

Light and quick to be absorbed, Sweet Almond Oil can help improve scalp circulation, stimulate hair growth and minimize hair loss. It’s a good source of vitamin E and unsaturated fats which can help retain moisture and heal scalps. It can also soften your hair due to it’s nature as an emollient, while simultaneously strengthening and repairing it.

 We sell Refined 100% Sweet Almond Oil here.

10. Sea Buckthorn Oil

A luxurious and exotic wonder oil that contains over 190 nutrients and phytonutrients, including vitamins C, E and A. Also rich in omega-3, 6, 9 and 7, and has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Sea buckthorn oil can repair and assist in the regeneration of cells, increase hair growth and shine, improve blood circulation, prevent breakage and split ends, and more!

 We sell Unrefined 100% Sea Buckthorn Oil here.

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We hope this post helps you!
Stay tuned for some DIY recipes on our favorite and most effective hair oils 

Pssst, we're also available at Craftiviti.com!

About “Free From” Claims on Personal Care Products

There’s a whole list of “free from” claims on personal care products, ranging from free from parabens, to free from sulphates, free from preservatives, and more. But, are the personal care products really free from whatever the label claims it to be free of? And, when are you actually allowed to say that a product is free from something?

Check out the following video by Belinda Carli, Director of the Institute of Personal Care Science and Cosmetic Formulator to learn about this 

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Thank you Belinda Carli from Personal Care Formulations for sharing this video with us!

Pssst, we're also available at Craftiviti.com!

DIY Mini Lavender, Rose and Lemon Hearts Wax Melts

Wax melts, wax tarts or wax cubes are a closer relative to wax sachets (in terms of them not requiring wicks) and they are brilliant alternatives to candles. Place a wax melt in a warmer and they’ll gradually melt and fill your chosen space with your choice of aroma.

They’re safer than candles because you don’t have to worry about leaving flames unattended. They’re also brilliant for when you’re unsure if you’d like a certain fragrance enough to buy candles (of any size) for them! Moreover, they have a longer ‘burning period’ than candles. This is because they gradually absorb heat and the oils aren’t burnt, but warmed, so the oils in wax melts evaporates more slowly. Best of all, no soot is released at all when a wax melt is used!

So, what are we waiting for? Let’s have some fun DIY-ing some wax melts!

What you’ll need:

1. Double Boiler
2. Mini Heart Soap Mold 5g – 55 Mini Hearts
3. 20g of Natural Soy Wax
4. 10g of Refined Shea Butter
5. Lavender Essential Oil
6. Lemon Essential Oil
7. Dried Rose Petals
8. Beaker (or two)  We used two 100ml ones, which you can get here.
9. Stirrer  We used a popsicle stick here.
10. Oven Mittens / Thick Cloth (to remove the beaker from the double boiler)

Instructions (Makes 20-21 mini heart wax melts)

1. In separate beakers, melt 10g of shea butter and 20g of natural soy wax in the double boiler.
   *Note: The butter helps make a wax melt that is softer and also melts faster. If you want a harder wax melt, you can decrease the amount of butter (or forgo it entirely) and add more soy wax instead.
2. Once they’re both thoroughly melted, turn off the heat. Pour the shea butter and mix it together with the soy wax.
3. Add in 10 drops of lavender essential oil and 5 drops of lemon essential oil. Stir well so that the essential oils are evenly distributed.
   *Note: The aroma of essential oils fade faster than that of fragrance oils. You can either:
   a) increase the amount of essential oils (maximum 20 drops or the stability of the wax melt may be compromised)
   b) swap to fragrance oils (to have longer lasting scents but no aromatherapy benefits) or,
   c) have a blend of both (longer lasting scent+aromatherapy benefits).
4. Crush a dried rose bud and place the crushed pieces in to the mixture.
   

   
5.  While pouring into the mold, you might want to stir a little so that the petals don’t end up clumped together.

   

   The person doing this has a shaky hand, so they spilled a little of the mixture  Not much harm done, though, because there’s still 20 mini heart wax melts here.

6. Leave it aside to harden completely. This will take about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the temperature of your surroundings.
7. Carefully pop out the wax melts after at least 30 minutes. Keep them in a airtight container so that the essential oils don’t oxidize too fast when you’re not melting them in a wax warmer.

Pssst, we're also available at Craftiviti.com!

Are Your Personal Care Products REALLY Organic?

We often get a variation of similar questions at our store and in our inbox about the ‘organic’ label for personal care products. Among these variants are:

1. How can I make organic personal care products (eg: hair care products, skincare products, cosmetics, bath products, etc)?
2. What makes a personal care product organic?
3. Can I just use organic ingredients and label my product as ‘organic’ without the proper certification(s)?

The quick answers to these questions are:

1. You can start by using ingredients and materials that are approved by organic certifiers.
2. It must have a proper certification to be labelled as organic.
3. No, a certification is required.

And as you can see, certificates are involved in all our answers.

To know more about organic personal care products, watch the following informative and super helpful video by Belinda Carli, Director of the Institute of Personal Care Science and Cosmetic Formulator, as she shares her knowledge on how to tell if a product is really organic, and learn some basic rules of how organic products need to be formulated 

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Thank you Belinda Carli from Personal Care Formulations for sharing this video with us!

Pssst, we're also available at Craftiviti.com!