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Raw Materials 101: What They Are & How You Can Use Them

Raw Materials 101: What They Are & How You Can Use Them - coconut oil, raw materials - local - letsbelocal.ca

We currently offer a small selection of raw materials including butter, waxes, and carrier oils. Raw materials are essential key ingredients needed to make your homemade lotions and potions! Each material has a variety of benefits; keep reading to learn about what they are, and ideas on how you can put them to use.

 

FAQ: What are emulsifiers?

As a lot of you may know, oils and water do not mix. That's why it's extremely important to always use an emulsifier! You can dilute essential oils with a carrier oil (such as Fractionated Coconut Oil) however if your recipe calls for water, adding an emulsifier will help your essential oils stay suspended and evenly distributed. If you're making any kind of spray recipe, make sure you use an emulsifier to help lengthen the life of your spray bottle and spray mechanism. Our favourite emulsifiers include Vegetable GlycerineEpsom Salts, Castile Soap or Vodka.

 

Zinc Oxide

Anti-inflammatory, moisture retaining, anti-ageing, sun protection

Zinc Oxide is made from a natural metallic element called zinc. Zinc carries a certain electric charge that provides the body with its special benefits for the immune system, digestive system, brain, and skin. Zinc acts as an important building block for protein synthesis, enzyme creation and the metabolic process.

DIY Ideas:

  • Sunscreen
  • Acne treatment
  • Diaper cream

 

 

Carrot Seed Oil (Extra Virgin - Cold Pressed)

Antioxidant, antibacterial, moisturizing

Cold pressed carrot oil is made by pressing the oil out of the seeds of the carrot plant. The antioxidants found in carrot seed oil help protect your skin from UV and environmental damage due to its ability to regenerate new skin cells. Carrot Seed Oil also helps heal dry, cracked, ageing, or sun damaged skin.

DIY Ideas:

  • Sunscreen/sunburn relief
  • Face scrub
  • Anti-ageing serum
*This is Carrot Seed Oil (carrier/base oil) and is not to be confused with Carrot Seed Essential Oil

     

     

    Aloe Vera Gel Juice

    Cooling, hydrating, alkaline

    Aloe Vera Gel Juice has been shown to minimize the effects of UV radiation and it also helps to repair your skin from UV damage. Everyone knows how good it feels to apply a nice cool layer of Aloe Vera on a fresh sunburn! Due to the rich source of vitamins and antioxidants, it can also help protect your skin and even help eliminate acne. Its thin consistency is perfect to incorporate into DIYs.

    DIY Ideas:

    • After-sun spray/salve
    • Acne treatment or facial toner
    • Hand sanitizer

     

    Beeswax Pastilles

    Anti-inflammatory, hypoallergenic, antiseptic, antibacterial

    If you’re a fellow DIY’er, you probably already know that beeswax is a highly popular ingredient for homemade recipes. That’s because beeswax is solid at room temperature, but has a melting point of 147 degrees Farenheight (64 Celcius). When integrated with creams, lotions, and balms– it creates a barrier that helps to seal moisture into the skin and thickens the texture of your recipe. Beeswax also contains vitamin A which can help with hydration and cell regeneration.

    DIY Ideas:

    • Lip balm
    • Candles
    • Salves

    *Our beeswax is available in pastille form, which is easier to measure and meltdown for DIY projects.

     

     

    Organic Shea Butter

    Anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory, hydrating

    Shea butter is very rich and thick in consistency which makes it the ideal natural ingredient for body butter, balms, and moisturizers. Shea butter comes from the seeds of the fruit of the Shea (Karite) Tree and contains vitamin A, E, F, and natural UV protection SPF 6. It can also help bring anti-ageing benefits to the skin by producing fatty acids and nutrients that are necessary for collagen production.

    DIY Ideas:

    • Body butter
    • Lotion
    • Deodorant

     

    Citric Acid

    Antioxidant, natural preservative, alkaline

    Citric Acid can be found naturally in citrus fruits like lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, kiwis, apples, strawberries, pears, and vegetables such as potatoes, mushrooms, peas, asparagus and tomatoes. Citric acid is found in many skin care products such as creams, serums, and face masks as it promotes skin cell re-growth, and also helps combat photo-aging, environmental damage, and oxidative stress. When you incorporate citric acid into your homemade recipes, it will help it last a little bit longer because it acts as a natural preservative!

    DIY Ideas:

     

     

    Castille Soap

    Plant-based, biodegradable, gentle cleansing agent

    There are so many different ways to use Castille soap, it’s hard to keep track! Castile Soap is made by combining very few natural ingredients such as vegetable oil (coconut, avocado, etc.) and caustic soda (A.K.A. sodium hydroxide) making it vegan-friendly and completely biodegradable. It’s a great base ingredient for DIY beauty, and homemade cleaning supplies. There is also quite the list of skin health benefits when it comes to Castille soap! It’s a very gentle cleansing agent without the toxins, can be used on all skin types, does not clog pores, and leaves your skin feeling smooth and hydrated.

    DIY Ideas:

    *Safe for babies and pets

     

    Fractionated Coconut Oil (FCO)

    Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial

    Fractionated Coconut Oil is made when regular (solid) coconut oil goes through a certain distillation process so that it will always remain in a liquid state, which is perfect for diluting your essential oils and mixing with your homemade remedies. FCO is one of the most popular carrier oils for blending because it helps “carry” the essential oils into your skin and allows them to be absorbed for a longer period of time. FCO can easily be incorporated into DIY beauty recipes, as it helps with skin issues such as eczema, psoriasis, burns, scars, and much more.

    DIY Ideas:

     

    Jojoba Oil (pronounced ho-ho-ba)

    Emollient, hypoallergenic, moisturizing, anti-ageing

    Jojoba is another popular carrier oil when it comes to blending essential oils, but this gem really does shine all on its own! There are certain glands present in our skin that create an oily substance which is commonly referred to as sebum, and jojoba oil is as close as you can get to replicating that sebum which your skin produces naturally. This can come in handy because as we get older our skin doesn’t produce as much sebum– which is why our skin can often get dry and flaky.

    DIY Ideas:

    • Skin serum
    • Face + hair mask
    • Hair growth serum
    • Anti-ageing cream

     

    Vegetable Glycerin

    Humectant, solvent, anti-inflammatory

    Vegetable Glycerine is a liquid that is typically derived from the oils of plants and is completely colourless, and odourless with a syrup-like texture. Vegetable Glycerin is a natural humectant, which means it retains and preserves moisture, which is why you’ll find it in many skin care and beauty products today. Using Vegetable Glycerin on your skin will help improve it’s texture, hydration, and suppleness.

    DIY Ideas:

    • Lotion
    • Soap
    • Toothpaste
    • Shampoo


    Witch Hazel (Alcohol-Free)

    Astringent, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral

    Witch Hazel originates from a shrub native to North America and contains a variety of helpful medicinal properties. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it can help soothe and disinfect certain skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema. It can also help neutralize free radicals which are unstable molecules that can build up in our body and damage us over time.

    DIY Ideas:

    If there is something we don't have that you would like to see on our shelf, feel free to reach out to us! Follow us on Instagram, and Facebook for DIY recipes, sales, giveaways, and more.

    2 comments

    My Essential Business

    RE: Lisa Hasted

    We only carry aloe vera gel juice which is like a hybrid of aloe gel and aloe juice. You can visit the “Raw Materials” tab on our website to see our full collection and what is in stock. We order in small batches to ensure freshness, so if a raw material shows out of stock then it will likely be restocked within 1-2 weeks.

    Lisa Hasted

    Will you be getting Aloe Vera gel? If so do you expect it?
    Also, do you sell carrot seed oil in smaller quantities?

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