Underarm Lightening Scrub Butter July 24 2024, 0 Comments

This butter will help you have beautiful and healthy armpits. The butters and oils will help keep them moisturized and may help with dark spots and uneven skin, the scrubbing will help with any issues from shaving and natural irritation.

I suggest this butter to be a layered melt and pour so you can use more or less scrub choosing the layers, but you can also mix or whip.

This butter is super easy to make, melt the butters then add the oils, let them heat together for a little bit, to avoid future separation, separate the amount of scrub by the number of layers you want, pour some butter/oil blend into a jar or tin, pop into the fridge until solid, add a second layer and some scrub, the scrub will settle on top of the first, solid now, layer. Keep repeating until your butter and scrub are done. 

Murumuru Butter - 3 Parts

Cupuaçu Butter - 2 Parts

Pracaxi + Andiroba Oils - 1 Part

Quartz Powder Face - 1/2 Part 

I use this scrub on clean damp skin, after scrubbing I gently remove the powder using a wet towel and rinse with warm water, no soap is needed, pat dry. *If you are putting clothes on right away you may need to remove the butter better.

I hope you enjoy, please tag us if you make this recipe!

@RainforestChica

If you need further help text or WhatsApp us at 9542742032

Check our YouTube video!

Moisturizing Foot Scrub Bar July 22 2024, 0 Comments

This bar is perfect for a quick but efficient mini foot spa. The bottom side where all the quartz powder has settled will give your feet a good scrub and the buttery top side will keep your feet and cuticles moisturized.

For this bar you will need  three butters, you can use just one oil if you want to simplify the recipe, keep Andiroba if you have any skin issues on your feet, or only Brazil Nut if you want a lighter bar, one or two oils keep it at 1 part. I use the system of "parts" in my recipes because it is easily converted to different systems. So if you do ounces, read "parts" as "ounces", it goes the same to metric systems.

You will need a mold with a flat bottom, it can be a silicone soap mold, even a milk carton cut sideways. The quartz is added after the mix is poured into the mold, if you are using a single mold (and cutting afterwards) make sure you pour the quartz evenly, if you are using individual single molds you need to separate the quartz equally for each mold. You can also add the quartz in two layers, pour a little of the mix, pop the mold in the fridge for a little bit, the pour the rest of the mix and add the rest of the quartz, the powder will settle to the bottom, then settle again on top of the first solid layer making two scrubbing layers which will make your bar very "scrubby" for a longer time.

Cupuaçu Butter - 2 Parts

Murumuru Butter - 2 Parts

Ucuuba Butter - 1 Part

Brazil Nut + Andiroba Oils - 1 Part

Beeswax - 1/2 Part or for vegan Candelilla - 1/2 Part

Quartz Powder Body - 1 or 2 Parts depending on how "scrubby" you want it.

Melt the wax in a double boiler, add the butters and then the oils, to avoid separation let the oils heat for a bit. Pour mix into mold or molds te add the quartz in one single layer or two.

I love using this bar after the shower, I use on my feet and lower legs, then I remove the quartz with a towel or a rag and my feet are scrubbed and moisturized. You can also apply more of the smooth side, put socks on and go to bed.

Be careful moisturized feet can be slippery.

Remember these recipes are for personal use, if you are making them to sell or in larger amounts you may need to add preservatives. These will look cuter made in individual molds as cutting the bars get them a bit frayed at the ends.

 

I hope you enjoy, please tag us if you make this recipe! @RainforestChica

If you need further help text or WhatsApp us at 9542742032

Check out our YouTube video!

Crepey Skin Help March 19 2024, 0 Comments

“Crepey skin” refers to skin that looks thin, wrinkled, and similar in appearance to crepe paper. Causes may include: aging, UV radiation, excessive weight loss, lack of moisture, hormonal changes, pollution, stress, cigarette smoking and more. Basically crepey skin is almost unavoidable but while it can't be entirely reversed, there are steps you can take to make your skin firmer and smoother.

Using great quality butters and oils will help - "as you age, your skin produces less oil than it did when you were younger. These oils create an important lipid barrier that protects your skin and helps seal in moisture". Massaging them onto your skin will strengthen muscle memory, spur collagen production and boost blood circulation, all of which will help with crepey skin.

Exfoliation with a gentle scrub and good oil/butter will help to get rid of excess dead skin and clay masks may help detoxify and firm the brand new skin.

All of my products can help but these are products are the best for helping with this issue.

For oils and butters: The oils can be used alone but blending them with butters makes it easier to massage on skin. The butters can also be used on their own, but cupuacu may be a little too firm and bacuri a little too messy. So blends it is the way to go for body skin care. The best time to use a butter blend is after a shower on damp skin, give it a good massage. If I have time to just wrap a sarong around my body I will apply all over my body but if you have to go, apply at least on the problem areas.

For Masks: mix the clay with water or any secret fantastic tea you know about, make it a bit thicker for face and neck and thinner for body, apply on skin - I love my little wooden spatulas for it - leave it on for 15-30 minutes and rinse with warm water, no need for soap, tap skin dry with a clean towel and apply an oil or your butter blend after a few minutes on skin still damp. 

For a Scrub: since crepey skin if thin I recommend my gentle Face Quartz Scrub - a fantastic scrub can be made adding the quartz to bacuri and buriti, since these products can be difficult to use on their own (bacuri stains clothing and buriti may stain light skin), a scrub that will be washed or wiped off is the perfect time to use them alone. 

Whipped Butter 1 - this recipe should come out very light and easy to use, great for all skin types. This recipe will make your skin look healthier right away withoug causing too much of a mess.

Cupuaçu - 4 parts

Bacuri - 1 part

Acai, Andiroba - 1 part (1/2 part each)

Whipped Butter 2 - This recipe will come out a bit darker and it will bring a glow to your skin, great for all skin types but may be messy as bacuri transfers to clothing.

Cupuaçu - 3 parts

Bacuri - 2 part

Acai, Andiroba, Buriti - 1 part (1/3 parts each)

Melt and Pour - This will be a darker and messier blend but it will work as a tinted moisturizer, giving you a beautiful tanned glow. It may be too much for very pale skin and it will transfer to clothing. But you can also apply just to the areas that need more attention or even on legs to go out in short summer clothing.

Cupuaçu - 3 parts

Bacuri - 2 part

Acai, Andiroba, Buriti - 2 parts.

MORE COMING SOON!

Lip Lil' Butter Bar - Scrub & Moisturizer February 25 2024, 0 Comments

I am in love with these mini butter bars! 

Growing up in Brazil, even in the big city, we did not have fancy ChapSticks, we had lipstick shaped cocoa butter - manteiga de cacau - and it worked great, so the other day, it was kinda dry in Florida and my lips were in need of some serious loving, I thought about our old cocoa butter ways and decided to add scrubbing to it.

I will leave modesty aside and say it was a genius idea and these bars work wonders! If you want to play it a little rough use scrubbing side, if you just want loving use the all butter side.

I did two layers of scrub so all the powder doesn't concentrate on one end which I think would become too crumbly, you can make smaller bars with just one scrubbing end.

Since it was a spur of the moment thing I used what I had around - an ice tray with a silicone bottom. Any small mold with a flat bottom will work, I think the tiny squares would look adorable, no flowers or shapes.

Ingredients:
Cocoa butter - 2 oz.
Cupuaçu butter - 1/2 oz.(if you live in a cold place you can add a 3/4 oz.)
Andiroba oil - 1/4 oz.
Fine quartz powder - 1 oz.

How to:
Melt butters and oil, for two layers of scrub, fill little molds up to half and add a little powder, the quartz being heavy will drop to the bottom, put in freezer until solid then add rest of butter/oil mix, then more powder. For just one layer of scrub fill the mold almost up to the top then add the quartz just once. Remember not to make a too thick layer of quartz.

You can mix a few drops of a good EO and sweeteners if you want to go fancy. For full summer heat it may need a little wax.

Enjoy!

Lil' Summer Skin Butter Bar April 29 2023, 0 Comments

Summer Skin & Hair Butter April 29 2023, 0 Comments

This three ingredient butter can be used for hair and skin, it is amazing for before and after tanning.

You just need to melt the butters in a double boiler and add the oil - if you are whipping it you can add the oil as the butters are cold and ready to whip, for a melt and pour you will need to add the oil into the hot butters - you can also use more oil.

Ingredients:

Cupuacu butter - 2 parts.

Murumuru butter - 2 parts.

Buriti (or tucuma oil) - 1/2 to 1 part.

"Parts" can be anything - ounces, kilos, cups, just substitute the word "part" for the the measurement you are using.

Formulating With The Red Oils April 29 2023, 0 Comments

All my red and orange oils are beta carotene rich - beta carotene is a red-orange pigment found in plants - veggies, leaves and fruits - in the body, beta-carotene converts into vitamin A. Buriti and Tucuma oils are two of the richest natural sources of beta-carotene known. Beta-carotene is becoming an extremely popular skincare ingredient as the topical application of it  may have photoprotective and aging-well properties.

I get asked often what is the safe amount to add into formulations, these carrier oils can be used alone but the red pigment that makes them so important also makes them harder to use. They will turn light skin orange and stain clothing and everything else, so unless you have darker skin and hair and are wearing a bikini, I recommend blending them with lighter oils, at 25% they still look beautifully red but lose the staining power. 

Since the topical application of beta-carotene has shown to help with safe tanning (not enough SPF to skip sunscreen guys!) and during Summer we usually wear less clothing, these are two very popular Summer oils being widely used in tanning oils.

These oils can also be used to naturally and safely color soap, body bars, whipped butters, lip balms,  lotions and more.

Rainforest Chica HP Ojon Hair Bar April 12 2022, 0 Comments

I have many customers who ask me every year to make more of my HP Ojon Hair Soap Bar. This is a true soap, not a solid shampoo.

So I decided to share both the recipe and my process.

If you're a beginner, do your research first. If you have questions, feel free to contact me before you get started.

If you're a business and decide to sell it, go ahead! I only ask that you send a little good energy my way every time you sell a bar. 😊

This recipe yields approximately 2 lb. of finished soap after cooking.

Text or WhatsApp Chica: 954-274-2032

THE EQUIPMENT

• A reasonably accurate digital scale. In soap making, everything is measured by weight, including liquids.

• A food thermometer.

• Heat-safe containers and spoons.

• A crockpot.

• A stick blender.

• A loaf mold. A milk or juice carton works well—simply turn it on its side and cut away one panel. No liner is needed. Since this recipe produces a thick batter, loaf molds work much better than individual cavity molds.

• Appropriate safety gear: gloves, safety glasses, a mask, and an apron.

THE INGREDIENTS

• Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) – 3.11 oz.

• Distilled Water – 8.36 oz.

• Babassu Oil – 2 oz.

• Brazil Nut Oil – 4 oz.

• Cupuaçu Butter – 8 oz.

• Murumuru Butter – 2 oz.

• Andiroba Oil – 4 oz.

• Castor Oil – 2 oz. (Castor oil has a unique fatty acid profile that contributes excellent lather and conditioning. It's also easy to find in most pharmacies.)

• Ojon Oil – 1 to 1.5 oz.

• Fragrance or essential oil (optional) – 0.5 to 1 oz., depending on the fragrance. I personally prefer this soap unscented, but if you decide to fragrance it, I recommend adding it after the Ojon oil. Be sure to research the fragrance or essential oil you choose, as some can accelerate trace or change the appearance of the finished soap.

I am going to show you my process. If you are new to soap making, I recommend doing a little more research first. If you are an experienced soap maker, you probably already have your own style.

Keep in mind that I am not a professional soap maker. I simply found a method that works well for my own recipes.

1. Weigh every ingredient separately before you begin. You don't want to stop and weigh ingredients once the oils and lye have been mixed.

2. Mix the lye and water. Always add lye to water, never water to lye. Work in a well-ventilated area and wear appropriate safety gear. Use a heat-safe container, as the mixture can reach temperatures of around 200°F (93°C). The mixture will appear cloudy at first and then become clear after a few minutes.

3. Melt the butters in the crockpot. Once they are melted, add the remaining oils, except the Ojon oil, and allow everything to warm together for a few minutes before turning the crockpot off.

4. Keep an eye on the temperature of both the lye solution and the oils. I don't mix them above 100°F (38°C) because the batter can become too hot during the cook and may volcano. Trust me, it isn't fun.

5. Once both mixtures reach the desired temperature, pour the lye solution into the oils and stick blend until you reach trace. This recipe reaches trace fairly quickly. Trace is when the batter becomes thicker and has a smooth, pudding-like consistency.

At this point I put the lid on the crockpot and leave the soap alone. I only stir if it looks like it may rise too much or needs a little help. During the cook the soap will go through several stages and, after about 60 to 90 minutes, it will reach what many people describe as the "Vaseline stage." Mine usually looks glossy.

6. Once the soap has reached the glossy Vaseline stage and appears fully cooked, transfer it to another container. If it stays in the crockpot too long it can dry out, making it harder to mix.

7. Add the Ojon oil and stir vigorously until fully incorporated. Then add your fragrance or essential oil and mix again. Spoon the soap into the mold as soon as everything is well combined, as the batter will continue to firm up if you wait too long.

8. I like to place my mold in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before moving it to a cool, dry place. My soaps are usually ready to unmold and cut within 6 to 12 hours.

This is what my bar looks after cutting.

     

Photo 1 – What trace looks like. Please note: this is a different recipe that contains buriti oil. Your basic Ojon recipe will remain cream-colored until the Ojon oil is added after the cook.

Photo 2 – Saponification has begun. At this point I don't stir the soap. For small batches, the process takes care of itself. I only stir if it looks like the soap is rising too much or something isn't going as planned.

Photo 3 – The soap is fully saponified. I transferred it to another container and mixed in my post-cook superfat.

This is what your mix will look like after mixing the Ojon Oil, you will need to spoon it into the molds. The color will be like this or lighter depending on my batch of Ojon.

Make sure you're prepared and have done your research before getting started. If you have questions, ask me before making the mistakes! 😄

Good luck

DIY WITH PEQUI OIL! February 21 2022, 0 Comments

Pequi is an incredible oil, in northern Brazil it is used for skin, hair, internal maladies and cooking. It solidifies easily if the temperatures are a bit bit cooler than Amazon rainforest temperatures. Pequi has a beautiful orange color and very strong, sweet, fruity scent.

Pequi Hair Butter

This butter can be used as a treatment mask, pre-shampoo and even as leave-in if used in very small amount.

Melt butters, add oil, when the mix is cools down and is semi solid you can start whipping, it will also work well not whipped. I usually pop my mixes in the fridge for a little bit. 

• Murumuru - 4 oz.

• Cupuacu - 4 oz.

• Pequi Oil - 1 oz.

Pequi Body Butter

Melt butters, add oil, when the mix is cools down and is semi solid you can start whipping, it will also work well not whipped. I usually pop my mixes in the fridge for a little bit.  

• Cupuacu - 4 oz.

• Cocoa - 4 oz.

• Pequi Oil  - 2 oz.

Pequi Oil/Butter Bar

Melt the wax, add butters, after they are all melted add oil and allow it to melt for a while mixing well with the other ingredients, pour in molds, let it cool down and solidify at room temperature, if your place is too warm you can pop it in the fridge for a few minutes. You can change the amount of beeswax to adjust the hardness of the product to your weather.

• Cupuacu - 3 oz.

• Tucuma Butter - 3 oz.

• Pequi Oil - 2 oz.

• Beeswax - 2 oz.

Pequi Vegan Lip Balm

Melt the candelilla wax, add butters, after they are all melted add oil and allow it to melt for a while mixing well with the other ingredients, pour in containers, let it cool down and solidify, if your place is too warm you can pop them in the fridge for a few minutes. You can change the amount of wax to adjust the recipe for your weather. If you want to use beeswax, use double of the candelilla wax. This lip balm came up perfect, between the pequi and cocoa it smells amazing.

• Cocoa Butter - 2 oz.

• Pequi Oil - 1.5 oz.

• Candelilla - 0.5 oz.

I hope you enjoy these recipes! If you have any questions text or WhatsApp me at 954-2742032.

Chrys

Brazilian Clay For CP Soaps February 04 2022, 0 Comments

My soaps were never classically beautiful. So in order to showcase my beautiful, sustainable, fair trade Brazilian clay, I commissioned soaps from a customer who is a spectacular soap maker.

Her recipe is very light made with clear/white oils/butters and uses 1 teaspoon of clay per 16 oz. of fats. She adds the clay to the lye water. 

The amount of clay can be increased but watch out for false trace if you decide for a much higher amount of clay. The clay can also be mixed to the fats before adding the lye water or even at trace, the final color doesn't change much.

Clay ages well in soaps, with the color not changing much with time.