Bath Melts

 Bath Melts are a super-moisturizing bath treat guaranteed to make your

skin feel baby soft. Get creative with these body-buttery bath treats by

adding dried flowers. Substitute an infused oil for the

sweet almond oil to add extra scent and therapeutic value. Make these

Bath Melts extra cute by using a decorative mold in the shape of hearts

or flowers. A flexible plastic or silicone mold is preferable for this recipe.

Package them in decorative glass jars and tie with ribbons for a sweet,

homemade gift.

YIELDS: 8 one-ounce bath melts. The number of Bath Melts you make

depends on what type of mold you use.

⁄ cup cocoa butter

⁄ cup shea butter

⁄ cup sweet almond oil

4 vitamin E capsules

Essential oil blend

Dried lavender buds, optional

Dried rose petals, optional

What you will need: double boiler, measuring cups, rubber spatula, ice

cube tray, small silicone molds, or loaf pan lined with wax paper, 10–16-

ounce glass jar with lid to fit the shape of your melts

1. To Make: Start the double boiler on medium heat. Once it reaches a boil,

reduce heat to simmer. Place the cocoa butter and shea butter in the top of

the double boiler and cover. Simmer until melted, stirring occasionally. To

preserve the beneficial botanicals, do not overheat. Remove from heat, take

the top pan off the double boiler, wipe the water off, and let cool 5–10

minutes. Add the sweet almond oil. Pierce the vitamin E capsules and

squeeze the liquid out into the melted oil, discarding the gel caps. Add the

essential oils and stir well, scraping any of the hardened cooled mixture off

the sides and back into the melted oils. If the mixture hardens too much

before you can pour it, gently melt it again in the double boiler. If adding

decorative flowers, put a few petals in the bottom of the molds. This will be

the top of the melt and the petals will look pretty through the solid butter.

Pour the melted butter into your molds, cover with plastic wrap, and let

stand undisturbed for 4 hours or overnight. Expedite the solidification

process by placing the molds in the refrigerator. The surface will become

uneven if they’re bumped or moved as they cool, so keep it to a minimum

and move them directly after pouring.

2. To Store: Carefully remove the Bath Melts from your molds. If they stick,

carefully warm the bottom of the mold in hot water. Dry it off before

removing because you don’t want water on these yet. If you used the loaf

pan, remove by pulling up the wax paper. Remove the wax paper, placing

the brick of butter on a cutting board. Warm a large knife under hot water

and wipe it dry. Cut into 1” cubes. Store the Bath Melts in a sealed

container labeled with contents and expiration date of 1–1 ⁄ years.

3. To Use: To use, simply drop one Bath Melt into a hot bath for a luxurious

moisturizing treat.

SKINCARE SECRETS

Bathing in hot water causes your body to sweat out toxins, which

means that you need to take extra special care to not become

dehydrated. Drink lots of fresh water or one of the spa waters

to aid the elimination of toxins. Keep in mind that sodas,

juices, or even herbal teas are not proper substitutes for good clean

water. Your cells need fresh water to keep clean! The more water

you drink, the easier all of your bodily systems will function, including

your skin.