EQUAL MEASUREMENTS RECIPES

Steps:

• Gather together all of the ingredients listed above
• Boil your water and then pour it into a pyrex or heatproof beaker/jug. Add your vegetable glycerine and then put to one side. This is our ‘water part’. Combine your ‘oil parts’ with your wax, which includes your shea butter, sunflower oil and emulsifying wax in another, separate heatproof or pyrex beaker/jug.
• Now pop that in a water bath or double boiler with your water and glycerine mix. You can set up a water bath by simply pouring a few inches of water into a pan and leaving it on the stove to warm. You don’t want it to boil, keep the heat very low.
• Let your oils and waxes melt together. Depending on the temperature you’ve set your stove, this can take about 20 mins. If it’s still not melting, turn the temperature up and keep a close eye on it.Once everything has melted, add your water part to your oils part. Try your best not to spill. It’s best to leave the combined mixture in the waterbath for a few minutes once it’s been mixed, just to ensure everything is melted.
• Remove your pyrex jug/beaker from the water bath and gift it a quick stir. Next, we need to give it a good whizz with a milk frother.While you’re mixing, keep the beater as close to the base of the jug as possible as not to add too much air. You don’t want bubbles, you want thick lotion.
• Depending on the emulsifying wax used this could take a while, it may not fully thicken right away, so persevere with it.Leave your mixture for about 10 minutes once you’ve whizzed it. This will make sure it’s cool enough to add the next few ingredients.
• Measure out your preservative following directions for your chosen preservative. A pipette really comes in handy here, as we’re using such small quantities.I find the best method for this is placing your jug onto a scale, set it to zero and then add your preservative a drop at a time until you have enough. This will make sure no preservative gets left in a cup or ramekin.Then stir thoroughly.
• Add around 16 drops of essential oil. Iv'e used 10 drops of Rosewood and 6 of Lavender essential oil but you can exchange this to suit your own taste. And stir thoroughly once more.
• Decanter your mixture into your chosen storage container. If you’re using a jar with a wide lip you can use a spatula or spoon. If you’re using a bottle, you can make use of a funnel.
• Once that’s done, your DIY lotion is pretty much finished. Although it may seem unnecessary, always label your homemade health and beauty products, including the date in which you’ve made it. This will make sure you’re never going to use an out of date product.

Steps:

• Fill a high ball glass with ice. Add gin and lime juice. Then top with tonic water. Garnish with lime wedge or slice.