The moringa tree is also known as the Miracle Tree and the Tree of Life. It’s considered a superfood because the leaves are packed with vitamins A, B, and C, manganese, and protein, and the seeds contain potassium, fiber, and magnesium. This DIY mask contains moringa seed oil and moringa leaf powder to create an incredibly skin-loving product.

This mask recipe was designed with combination skin in mind. The amount of kaolin clay creates a thick but spreadable texture. If you have dry skin, you can use less kaolin clay as shown in the DIY Lavender Clay Face Mask. If you have oily skin, increase the amount of clay as shown in the DIY Sea Clay Mask. Find all of our clay mask recipes below.

• DIY Rose Clay Face Mask 
• DIY Sea Clay Face Mask
• DIY Turmeric Clay Face Mask
• DIY Lavender Clay Face Mask

This mask is lightly scented with the Spa Essential Oil Blend. It’s a complex blend of lavender fine essential oil, bergamot essential oil, rosemary essential oil, and more. If you have sensitive skin, you can omit the essential oil completely. Read more about recipe substitutions below.

A few notes about recipe substitutions and changes:

• Polawax Emulsifying Wax is a highly reliable and strong emulsifier. It could be substituted for the generic version, Emulsifying Wax, if you prefer, although this recipe was not tested with Emulsifying Wax. Due to the clay in the recipe, we splurged and used Polawax Emulsifying Wax to avoid any chance of separation.
• This recipe calls for avocado and moringa seed oil. Other oils can be used instead if you prefer; we recommend staying with liquid oils that absorb easily into the skin. Changing the total amount of oil in the recipe will change the overall texture of the mask.
• Because this recipe is essentially a lotion and contains a large amount of water, a preservative is necessary to prevent mold and bacterial growth. We chose Optiphen, but other water-soluble preservatives will work. Learn more about preservatives here.
• Increase the total amount of clay if you want it to be better suited for oily skin, or decrease the amount to make it better for dry skin. Decreasing the amount of clay may create a thinner product.
• If you prefer to use different clays, feel free to swap them. Clays have different absorbing properties, which will affect how it feels on the skin. Learn which clay is right for your skin.
• If you have very sensitive skin, fragrance and essential oils can be irritating. Omit from the recipe if you prefer.
• Green tea extract can be substituted with a different extract if you prefer. Find more extracts here.

What You’ll Need:
Four 8 oz. Bail Jars 
21.4 oz. Distilled Water
1 oz. Moringa Seed Oil
1.3 oz. Avocado Oil
1 oz. Polawax Emulsifying Wax
0.8 oz. BTMS-50 Conditioning Emsulifier
6 oz. Kaolin Clay
0.2 oz. Moringa Leaf Powder
2 mL Spa Essential Oil Blend
0.5 oz. Green Tea Extract
0.2 oz. Optiphen
Moringa Clay Mask Label Template

Click below to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart

EQUIPMENT PREP: Disinfect your utensils by dipping them in a 5% bleach water solution and allowing to dry. This includes mixing containers, your stick blender, and any spoons or spatulas that may come in contact with your mask. Your products must be as free of germs, bacteria, and microbes as possible. To be safe, bleach water all your utensils.

CLAY PREP: In a small container, add 6 oz. of kaolin clay and 0.2 oz. of moringa leaf powder. Mix together.

ONE: In a heat-safe container, combine 1.3 oz. of avocado oil, 1 oz. of moringa seed oil, 0.8 oz. of BTMS-50, and 1 oz. of Polawax. Heat the container in the microwave using 30-60 second bursts until the waxes fully melt. Be careful when removing the container as it will be hot. Set aside.

TWO: In a separate large container, heat 21.4 oz. of distilled water in the microwave until it reaches about 160-170 ° F. Some water may evaporate during this process. If necessary, remeasure and add more distilled water until you have 21.4 oz. of hot water.

THREE: Check the temperatures of both containers. Each container should be about 160° F. If the oil and wax has cooled, place back into the microwave until fully melted. Place the stick blender into the water, and burp it to help get rid of bubbles. Pour the oil and wax mixture into the water and use a spatula to make sure every little bit is added. Begin pulsing the stick blender. The mixture will take on a “milky” appearance once the water, oil, and waxes have started to emulsify. Continue to pulse and stir for about a minute.

FOUR: Begin adding heaping spoonfuls of the kaolin clay and moringa leaf powder and pulsing the stick blender until combined. Continue to add the clay to the mixture and blend in small amounts until all the clay is added.

FIVE: Continue stick blending for about one to two minutes. Use a spatula to scrape down any clay that may be on the sides of the bowl. Check the temperature of the mixture. Once the mixture is about 130-140°F, add 0.2 oz. of Optiphen, 2 mL of Spa Essential Oil Blend, and 0.5 oz. of green tea extract. Stick blend (don’t forget to burp the stick blender) the ingredients until fully mixed.

SIX: Pour the mixture into the bail jars. If there are bubbles on the top, you can spritz with alcohol to help get rid of some of them. Allow the containers to cool for several hours with the lid open to prevent condensation.

Once fully cooled, the mixture will be a thick, lotion-like texture. To use, apply a medium layer to dry, clean skin. Avoid the immediate eye area. Allow the mask to sit on the skin for about 10-15 minutes. Use warm water to rinse off. There is no need to wash the skin after, but you can if you prefer.

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Moringa Clay Mask DIY

This DIY face mask is made with skin-loving ingredients like avocado oil and moringa leaf powder.

Course Clay Mask

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• Four 8 oz. Bail Jars
• 21.4 oz. Distilled Water
• 1 oz. Moringa Seed Oil
• 1.3 oz. Avocado Oil
• 1 oz. Polawax Emulsifying Wax
• 0.8 oz. BTMS-50 Conditioning Emsulifier
• 6 oz. Kaolin Clay
• 0.2 oz. Moringa Leaf Powder
• 2 mL Spa Essential Oil Blend
• 0.5 oz. Green Tea Extract
• 0.2 oz. Optiphen
• Moringa Clay Mask Label Template

Instructions

EQUIPMENT PREP: Disinfect your utensils by dipping them in a 5% bleach water solution and allowing to dry. This includes mixing containers, your stick blender, and any spoons or spatulas that may come in contact with your mask. Your products must be as free of germs, bacteria, and microbes as possible. To be safe, bleach water all your utensils.

CLAY PREP: In a small container, add 6 oz. of kaolin clay and 0.2 oz. of moringa leaf powder. Mix together.

• In a heat-safe container, combine 1.3 oz. of avocado oil, 1 oz. of moringa seed oil, 0.8 oz. of BTMS-50, and 1 oz. of Polawax. Heat the container in the microwave using 30-60 second bursts until the waxes fully melt. Be careful when removing the container as it will be hot. Set aside.
• In a separate large container, heat 21.4 oz. of distilled water in the microwave until it reaches about 160-170 ° F. Some water may evaporate during this process. If necessary, remeasure and add more distilled water until you have 21.4 oz. of hot water.
• Check the temperatures of both containers. Each container should be about 160° F. If the oil and wax has cooled, place back into the microwave until fully melted. Place the stick blender into the water, and burp it to help get rid of bubbles. Pour the oil and wax mixture into the water and use a spatula to make sure every little bit is added. Begin pulsing the stick blender. The mixture will take on a “milky” appearance once the water, oil, and waxes have started to emulsify. Continue to pulse and stir for about a minute.
• Begin adding heaping spoonfuls of the kaolin clay and moringa leaf powder and pulsing the stick blender until combined. Continue to add the clay to the mixture and blend in small amounts until all the clay is added.
• Continue stick blending for about one to two minutes. Use a spatula to scrape down any clay that may be on the sides of the bowl. Check the temperature of the mixture. Once the mixture is about 130-140°F, add 0.2 oz. of Optiphen, 2 mL of Spa Essential Oil Blend, and 0.5 oz. of green tea extract. Stick blend (don’t forget to burp the stick blender) the ingredients until fully mixed.
• Pour the mixture into the bail jars. If there are bubbles on the top, you can spritz with alcohol to help get rid of some of them. Allow the containers to cool for several hours with the lid open to prevent condensation. Once fully cooled, the mixture will be a thick, lotion-like texture. To use, apply a medium layer to dry, clean skin. Avoid the immediate eye area. Allow the mask to sit on the skin for about 10-15 minutes. Use warm water to rinse off. There is no need to wash the skin after, but you can if you prefer.

The post Moringa Clay Mask DIY appeared first on Soap Queen.

Old favorites like olive oil and rice bran oil are great additions in handmade lotion. There’s no denying their powerful moisturizing properties, but the list of ingredients you can add to your recipe doesn’t stop there. Your skin will love additives like our new honeyquat and allantoin powder.

Both of those new ingredients are used in this Lavender and Honeyquat Lotion. It’s also made with moringa seed oil, rosehip seed oil, and shea butter. That mixture creates a thick lotion that absorbs quickly into the skin and leaves it feeling soft and silky. Allantoin powder adds a hydrating feel to the lotion while honeyquat draws more moisture to the skin.

This lotion has a sweet, floral scent from new Lavender Absolute 50%, which is amazing paired with the herby scent of moringa seed oil. On its own, lavender absolute is incredibly thick and hard to work with. Bramble Berry’s Lavender Absolute 50% has been diluted with fractionated coconut oil to create a thinner product that’s easier to use. It’s still quite thick and heavy, so pay special attention to the lotion temperature when you add it to this recipe. If it’s added while the lotion is still very thin, it may separate out.

Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!

EQUIPMENT PREP: Disinfect your utensils by dipping them in a 5% bleach water solution and allowing to dry. This includes mixing containers, your stick blender, and any spoons or spatulas that may come in contact with your lotion. Your products must be as free as possible of germs, bacteria, and microbes.

ONE: In a heat-safe container, combine the rosehip seed oil, moringa seed oil, shea butter, Polawax Emulsifying Wax, and cetearyl alcohol. Heat the container in the microwave in 30-second bursts until the waxes have fully melted and the mixture is about 160° F.

TWO: Pour the distilled water into a second heat-safe container. Heat in the microwave to about 160° F. Add the allantoin powder to the hot water. Use a spoon to fully mix in the powder until completely dissolved.

THREE: Check the temperatures of both containers. Each should be about 140-150° F. Once they are at the correct temperature, pour the oils and wax into the water and begin pulsing the stick blender. Blend the mixture for 60-90 seconds, making sure the oil and water phases are fully emulsified. Be careful to “burp” your stick blender by tamping it on the bottom of the container to release bubbles – you don’t want bubbles trapped in your lotion.

FOUR: Continue stick blending until the temperature drops to about 130° F. Add the honeyquat and use the stick blender to pulse for about 60 seconds to fully mix in.

FIVE: Because the Lavender Absolute 50% is thick, it must not be added until the mixture has cooled and thickened. If added to a hot, thin lotion, it may separate out. Check the temperature of the mixture. Once it is 130° F or below, add the Lavender Absolute 50% and stick blend for several minutes. It will turn the lotion a very faint green color. Once mixed in, add the Optiphen and continue to stick blend for about 1-2 minutes more.

SIX: Carefully pour the lotion into bottles. Let the bottles sit overnight without a cap (otherwise condensation can form inside the bottle). Once completely cooled, place the caps on the bottles and enjoy!

NOTE: If the Lavender Absolute 50% begins to separate after being poured into the bottles, don’t fret. Pour the lotion back into bowl, and stick blend the lotion for several more minutes. If it’s too thick to blend, place the mixture into the microwave and heat using 15-second bursts until it has slightly thinned. 

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Lavender & Honeyquat Lotion Recipe

This luxurious lotion is made with Lavender Absolute 50% and honeyquat.

Course Lotion

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• Four 4 oz. Bottles White Disk Cap
• 11.9 oz. Distilled Water 73%
• 0.1 oz Allantoin Powder 0.5%
• 1 oz. Moringa Seed Oil 6%
• 1 oz. Rosehip Seed Oil 6%
• 0.3 oz. Shea Butter 2%
• 1 oz. Polawax Emulsifying Wax 6%
• 0.3 oz. Cetearyl Alcohol 2%
• 0.5 oz. Honeyquat 3%
• 2 mL or 40 drops Lavender Absolute 0.5%
• 5 mL Optiphen 1%

Instructions

EQUIPMENT PREP: Disinfect your utensils by dipping them in a 5% bleach water solution and allowing to dry. This includes mixing containers, your stick blender, and any spoons or spatulas that may come in contact with your lotion. Your products must be as free as possible of germs, bacteria, and microbes.

• In a heat-safe container, combine the rosehip seed oil, moringa seed oil, shea butter, Polawax Emulsifying Wax, and cetearyl alcohol. Heat the container in the microwave in 30-second bursts until the waxes have fully melted and the mixture is about 160° F.
• Pour the distilled water into a second heat-safe container. Heat in the microwave to about 160° F. Add the allantoin powder to the hot water. Use a spoon to fully mix in the powder until completely dissolved.
• Check the temperatures of both containers. Each should be about 140–150° F. Once they are at the correct temperature, pour the oils and wax into the water and begin pulsing the stick blender. Blend the mixture for 60 – 90 seconds, making sure the oil and water phases are fully emulsified. Be careful to “burp” your stick blender by tamping it on the bottom of the container to release bubbles — you don’t want bubbles trapped in your lotion.
• Continue stick blending until the temperature drops to about 130° F. Add the honeyquat and use the stick blender to pulse for about 60 seconds to fully mix in.
• Because the Lavender Absolute 50% is thick, it must not be added until the mixture has cooled and thickened. If added to a hot, thin lotion, it may separate out. Check the temperature of the mixture. Once it is 130° F or below, add the Lavender Absolute 50% and stick blend for several minutes. It will turn the lotion a very faint green color. Once mixed in, add the Optiphen and continue to stick blend for about 1-2 minutes more.
• Carefully pour the lotion into bottles. Let the bottles sit overnight without a cap (otherwise condensation can form inside the bottle). Once completely cooled, place the caps on the bottles and enjoy!

The post Lavender & Honeyquat Lotion Recipe appeared first on Soap Queen.

Shop essential oils for hair care products

Moringa seed oil comes from the Moringa tree, also known as the Miracle Tree and the Tree of Life. It’s considered a super food because it’s made from seeds of the tree, which are packed with potassium, fiber, and magnesium. These amazing properties makes moringa seed oil a great addition to skin and hair products.

This Moringa & Ginger Hair Conditioner recipe contains 10% moringa oil to nourish the hair without weighing it down. Ginger essential oil adds a zesty scent and gives the conditioner a light cream color. Cetearyl alcohol and BTMS-50 work to combine the oil and distilled water.

We tested this conditioner on several hair types including curly, dry, fine, and coarse hair. Everybody who tried it loved it. We used the conditioner normally after shampooing, leaving it on slightly longer than normal for extra conditioning. It can also be used as a deep-conditioning treatment, but it may be heavy to use as a leave-in conditioner.

What You Need:
Four Short 8 oz. Bail Jars
20 oz. Distilled Water (77%)
2.6 oz. Moringa Seed Oil (10%)
1.8 oz. BTMS-50 Conditioning Emulsifer (7%)
0.9 oz. Cetearyl Alcohol (4%)
0.3 oz. Ginger Essential Oil (1%)
0.3 oz. Optiphen (1%)

Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!

EQUIPMENT PREP: Disinfect your utensils by dipping them in a 5% bleach water solution and allowing them to dry. To b sage, dip all your utensils, mixing containers, stick blender, and any spoons or spatulas that may come into contact with your lotion. Your products must be as free of germs, bacteria, and microbes as possible.

ONE: Pour the distilled water into a heat-safe container. Heat in the microwave until it is about about 160–180° F.

TWO: In a separate heat-safe container, combine the moringa seed oil, cetearyl alcohol and BTMS-50. Heat the container in the microwave using 30–60 second bursts until the waxes have fully melted and the mixture is about 180° F.

THREE: Check the temperatures of both containers. Each container should be about 160°–180° F. Once they are the correct temperatures, pour the oils and wax into the water and begin pulsing the stick blender. Blend the mixture for 60–90 seconds, making sure the oil and water phases are fully emulsified. Be careful to “burp” your stick blender by tamping it on the bottom of the container to release any bubbles — you don’t want bubbles trapped in your conditioner.

FOUR: Continue stick blending until the temperature drops to about 130–140° F. Add the ginger essential oil. Stick blend until completely combined.

FIVE: Once the mixture falls below 120° F, add the Optiphen. Using the stick blender, mix for an additional 60–90 seconds until everything is completely mixed.

SIX: Pour the mixture into jars. Let the jars sit overnight without the lids on (otherwise, condensation can form inside the jars). Once the mixture is completely cooled, shut the jars and enjoy!

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DIY Ginger & Moringa Oil Hair Conditioner

This hair conditioner is mage with moringa seed oil and ginger essential oil. It's great for a wide variety of hair types!

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• Four Short 8 oz. Bail Jars
• 20 oz. Distilled Water
• 2.6 oz. Moringa Seed Oil
• 1.8 oz. BTMS-50 Conditioning Emulsifer
• 0.9 oz. Cetearyl Alcohol
• 0.3 oz. Ginger Essential Oil
• 0.3 oz. Optiphen

Instructions

Disinfect your utensils by dipping them in a 5% bleach water solution and allowing them to dry. To b sage, dip all your utensils, mixing containers, stick blender, and any spoons or spatulas that may come into contact with your lotion. Your products must be as free of germs, bacteria, and microbes as possible.

• Pour the distilled water into a heat-safe container. Heat in the microwave until it is about about 160–180° F.
• In a separate heat-safe container, combine the moringa seed oil, cetearyl alcohol and BTMS-50. Heat the container in the microwave using 30–60 second bursts until the waxes have fully melted and the mixture is about 180° F.
• Check the temperatures of both containers. Each container should be about 160°–180° F. Once they are the correct temperatures, pour the oils and wax into the water and begin pulsing the stick blender. Blend the mixture for 60–90 seconds, making sure the oil and water phases are fully emulsified. Be careful to “burp” your stick blender by tamping it on the bottom of the container to release any bubbles — you don’t want bubbles trapped in your conditioner.
• Continue stick blending until the temperature drops to about 130–140° F. Add the ginger essential oil. Stick blend until completely combined.
• Once the mixture falls below 120° F, add the Optiphen. Using the stick blender, mix for an additional 60–90 seconds until everything is completely mixed.
• Pour the mixture into jars. Let the jars sit overnight without the lids on (otherwise, condensation can form inside the jars). Once the mixture is completely cooled, shut the jars and enjoy!

The post DIY Ginger & Moringa Oil Hair Conditioner appeared first on Soap Queen.

When moringa seed oil first arrived at the Bramble Berry warehouse, we were so excited to test it out. We love the unique earthy scent and how soft our skin feels after application. After more research, it became clear moringa has so much more to offer.

The trees are incredibly resilient. They grow quickly and thrive in hot, dry climates like Nicaragua, where the oil we carry is from. It tolerates a variety of soil conditions, it’s resistant to drought and many types of insects, and it grows year-round. That means it provides resources to areas without easy access to expensive irrigation techniques, according to this Wikipedia post.

Those resources are what really set the tree apart. Moringa is also known as the Miracle Tree and the Tree of Life because every part of it can be used in some way. It’s considered superfood because the leaves are packed with vitamins A, B, and C, manganese, and protein, and the seeds contain potassium, fiber, and magnesium. That’s some serious nutritional value. The tree is also used for medicinal purposes in many parts of the world.

The oil harvested from the tree is packed full of goodness as well. The seed oil is yellow and has a distinct “green” smell. The scent is subtle in finished recipes, especially with added fragrance or essential oil. Because it’s a dry oil, it absorbs into the skin quickly and doesn’t leave a greasy residue. The consistency and absorption remind us of jojoba oil, or a slightly heavier avocado oil. So why add it to your handmade creations? It’s extremely moisturizing for the skin, hair, and nails. It’s a stable oil with a shelf life of about one to two years. Most importantly, every time you use it you’re supporting a tree that has helped thousands, whether as a filling meal, a sustainable source of nutrition, or a hydrating addition to lotion. Learn how to work with it below.

Cold Process & Melt and Pour Soap
You can use moringa seed oil in cold process soap up to 15%. It will give your bars the hydrating properties mentioned above. Because it’s a soft oil (liquid at room temperature), it will make your soap softer and more moisturizing. It’s ideal for intricate designs, as it won’t speed up trace. Learn more about formulating a recipe for intricate designs in this post. As for melt and pour, we don’t recommend adding extra oil. It can make the bases oily or soft and inhibit lather. If you do add moringa seed oil, use no more than 1 teaspoon per pound of melt and pour soap.

Lotion & Conditioner
If you’re in the market for a hydrating lotion or conditioner, you can use moringa seed oil as the only oil in the batch. That would be about 23% or more, depending on your recipe. You can also pair it with another liquid oil like argan to get the beneficial properties of both. If you like a lotion or conditioner that’s a bit thicker, adding a butter like avocado or shea would be a good option. Learn more about making lotion in this post. Look out for a luxurious conditioner made with moringa next week.

This Ginger and Moringa Oil Conditioner recipe will be on the blog soon.

Balms
A traditional body or lip balm formula is 1:1:1 wax, butter, and oil. Moringa seed oil can be used at 5% and up. It pairs nicely with beeswax or candelilla wax. As for butter, the sky is the limit. Cocoa, mango, or kokum butter are great options. Before you get started on your balm, pop a few spoons in the freezer. When you dip the cold spoons into the melted balm, it hardens instantly so you can check the texture. This is called The Spoon Trick. If the balm is too soft or too firm, you can adjust from there. Learn more about formulating balms in this post.

Body Butter
Moringa seed oil adds a soft, spreadable texture to your body butter recipes. You can use it at 5% or more and pair it with any butter you like. The All About Butter post has more information on options for your recipe.

Scrubs
Because moringa seed oil absorbs quickly and moisturizes the skin, it’s a great option for scrubs. You can use it at 5-100% in your recipe with the exfoliant of your choice. You can also add potassium cocoate or liquid soap if you prefer a more cleansing scrub. You can add moringa to the DIY Turmeric and Ginger Body Scrub for extra hydration. The recipe is made with turmeric powder and ginger essential oil, which are also new additions to the Bramble Berry line.

Moringa seed oil would feel fantastic in the DIY Turmeric and Ginger Body Scrub.

Bath Bombs
Oil and butter wet bath bombs, which helps them hold their shape. They also moisturize the skin. You can add about 0.5 oz. of moringa seed oil per 1.5 cups of fizzy mixture to start. If you want the bath bombs wetter, you can add more from there. Get more tips in the Bath Bomb Questions and Answers post.

The post How to Use Moringa Seed Oil appeared first on Soap Queen.