Handmade for the Holidays - Peppermint Soap

I needed something to go with my peppermint lip balm in gifts this year.  So decided what better to go with peppermint lip balm than peppermint soap!  And this one is even easier to make than the lip balm.

What you'll need:

• Soap molds (or I've seen people use like a loaf pan and then just slice it afterward if they are making big batches, but I just needed a few so a soap mold works for me)
• Candy Cane
• Peppermint Extract
• Pyrex mixing bowl (or any other bowl that is microwave safe)
• Heat and pour soap mix (I used a goats milk soap base and a shea butter soap base, I've also used a plain glycerin base before.  Found these all at hobby lobby)

1)  Put your candy cane in a plastic bag and crush it
2)  Cut your soap base up into small chunks and place in your mixing bowl (I used about a quarter of the package of soap base for 3 bars)
3)  Put in microwave and heat in 30 second intervals until soap is completely melted
4)  Stir in about a teaspoon of peppermint extract
5)  Sprinkle a pinch of the candy cane dust into the bottom of the mold and then pour in the soap
6)  Sprinkle another pinch of the candy cane dust onto the top of the soap

7)  Place in refrigerator for about an hour to solidify
8)  After it has fully solidified you can pop them out and you have your homemade peppermint soap


(For the layered effect on the bar of soap below I filled the mold about 3/4 up with a clear Shea Butter soap base, then when it started to harden put a layer of goats milk soap base on top)

Handmade for the Holidays - DIY Peppermint Lip Balm

I just learned how to make lip balm and it is extremely easy, so thought I would make some peppermint lip balm for Christmas gifts.  

What you will need :

• Cocoa Butter or Shea Butter (one teaspoon)
• Olive oil (one teaspoon)
• Beeswax (about 3/4 of a teaspoon)
• Vitamin E oil (a few drops)
• Peppermint extract (a few drops)
• Dropper (optional I use this to measure out the peppermint extract, but you could just carefully pour it in)
• Jar to put lip balm in

**Note my measurements are approximate, most other recipes go by weight measurements, but I didn't have an accurate scale so just messed around until I found about what worked for me.  You may need to slightly adjust the measurements to make it to your desired consistency.
 
Put all of the ingredients into a glass bowl sitting on top of a pot filled with about half an inch of water.  Put your burner to medium high heat.

Constantly stir your mixture as it warms ups.  It will get to a gooey consistency first, like this:

Then it will hit a point where it starts to go clear, like this:

Keep over heat and continue stirring until all pieces have melted.  Then pour into your container.

Put in the fridge for a couple of hours and you've got yourself some homemade lip balm!  Add a little bow and here's the finished product:

 

Let me know how yours turns out!