help! i think i have a (cough cough) problem..

don't know why, but i compulsively buy stuff like oils/butters/esters/waxes.

can anyone tell me if they use any of these, and what they like to use them for? here's a list of what i have-

extra virgin olive oil
sunflower oil
hazelnut oil
meadowfoam seed oil
macademia nut oil
jojoba oil
fractionated coconut oil
lanolin
emu oil
hemp butter
shea butter
aloe butter

i like using the hemp butter straight on my face, doesn't feel as greasy as some others. i like "washing" my face with hazelnut oil, and extra virgin olive is supposed to be a good after sun moisturizer, but i'm running out of heather to put these items on :?

any face/body/hair ideas? or if someone thinks one of these items is perfect for some function, let me know!!

bye
heather

extra virgin olive oil - food, hot oil treatments. I don't like the smell enough (in my hair) to use it in a leave-in, brushing it on bread before baking makes it really, really yummy...umm..rainee wants focaccia

sunflower oil - good for skin

hazelnut oil - "

meadowfoam seed oil

macademia nut oil - supposed to be a fairly regenerative oil. I bought some for my skin a while ago. It's also an ingredient in Cetaphil moisturizer, so they obviously consider that to be true. I went back to using the Cetaphil, since it's easier to work with and I started getting sick of the nutty smell (on my face). It also makes really, really, really good vegetable stir fry. When I run out, I'm buying more of this stuff for cooking purposes.

jojoba oil - very good for skin (recommended for acne-prone people too) and hair. I don't use because of the price.

fractionated coconut oil - I have a coconut oil that I use solely for cooking (solid at room temperature). Doesn't smell like coconut. Good for high heat cooking, since it won't evaporate at high temperatures used in things like pan-searing fish. Coconut oil's heavier (and hence greasier) so I don't like it on my skin nor my fine hair. A lot of people like monoi oil, which is a type of fractionated coconut oil.

lanolin

emu oil

hemp butter

shea butter - Many people mix the butters with oil, for moisturizers or leave-ins or facial wash lotions. I ordered 2 oz recently to try.

aloe butter

Oh, Rainee, now you've got me craving foccacia! Lol!

Heather - I know you're interested in making your toiletries, so I'll pass on a few recipes that are fabulous - nothing like lotions and lip butters to use up the oils, imo!

Here they are:

Body Mousse

1.2 ounces oils
7.4 ounces water
0.5 ounces glycerin
0.5 ounces emulsifying wax
0.3 ounces stearic acid
0.1 ounces preservative (germaben, germall, etc)

Measure all ingredients except preservative into pot - heat gently until melted. Pour the hot mixture into an electric mixer, and begin beating at low speed until it thickens and bowl is cool to touch.

When that happens, increase speed and beat until appearance of egg whites. You'll be able to see the beater tracks in the creme! Add the preservative and any fragrances or essential oils (max of 0.1 ounces) and blend. Pour into containers.

This recipe isn't mine - the credit goes to Beth of Delmarvelous Botanicals. Steph made this recipe, and loved it! Now, here's a lip butter recipe:

1 part beeswax
1 part oil (choose whatever you have - heavier oils are better, I find)
1 part plant butter (hemp, shea, whatever!)

Gently heat the ingredient together until all melted - if using shea, you'll have to heat it a bit longer, since it tends to go a bit grainy if not heated enough. Add a few drops of essential oil (I only use 3 drops max per 10 ml lip balm tube or jar - more than that and it's a little irritating), stir in, and pour into little pots while still hot. Let cool and harden.

You could also use a blend of oils for oiling your hair, if you do that - I used macadamia and liked it! :D

Anyways, that's my $0.02 Canadian cents for you. If I had that variety of oils, I'd turn it all into lotion!

Rachel

extra virgin olive oil: very healthy stuff for the whole body. i use this to cook and no other oil. good kind of fat that the body needs.
<secret>look at the skin of greek people.</secret>
i use evoo on my hair (direct application at night or deep conditioning mixed with mayo, or egg & honey, or avocado, or even henna...hehe just anything :D) also makes a good oil for massages, before bath for very dry skin.

i also make wonder garlic bread using this - mix one spoon, evoo, one spoon garlic paste/crushed garlic, dried parsley/basil, salt. mix well. smear a little on cut up bread pieces, bake in preheated overn at 350 C for 5 mins. yummmmmmmmm :D

also used in my facial cleanser - my version of jonobie's recipe. you can find the thread in the same forum - titled - swesome cleansing oil.

sunflower oil: great for cooking - frying stuff. less/zero cholestrol

meadowfoam seed oil: fox uses this oil too in her brlended oil for her leave in conditioner. other than that, no idea.

macademia nut oil: its directly appliable on face. somebody posted that it made a great oil for stir fry. no personal try though!

jojoba oil: i use it in my leave in conditioner recipe. (one part condiioner, one part shea butter, 1/2 part jojoba oil, EO optional)

fractionated coconut oil: u can use it in cooking too.

lanolin: this is used in bodybutters/creams.

shea butter: use in my leave in conditioner - see above in jojoba oil. i also apply this leave in as a deep conditioning treatment.

hope this helps! also hope that u'll use all those products to great results :D

extra virgin olive oil - Cooking. I've never tried it on my hair... I think it would be too heavy. Now I'm craving foccacia, too. XD

sunflower oil - can't you cook with this, as well?

hazelnut oil - n/a
meadowfoam seed oil - n/a
macademia nut oil - n/a

jojoba oil - I use this on my hair and on my skin. For hair, I put a little in a mister with rosewater and go to town... For skin, I put a bit on my palms and add some aloe vera gel, smush it together, then just apply on any itchy or dry spots.

fractionated coconut oil - I've got some, I just melt a little onto my fingers and rub it into my skin. I've tried it on my hair, but it's really too heavy for that.

lanolin - n/a
emu oil - eeeew. ><
hemp butter - n/a
shea butter - don't got any, but as soon as I can find someplace local where it's cheap, I want to get some to play with.
aloe butter - not sure what this is?

Aloe butter's the same idea as shea and all the other butters... except from the aloe plant, of couse!

you guys crack me up! gonna have to go find some good italian food SOOOOON!

i never thought about eating my nut oils, even though i bought some of them in the grocery store. (duh..) thanks for reminding me that oil = food!

rachel- yeah, i got into making stuff cause i could never find the "perfect" formula commercially (not that things i make are any better, but they're mine :) )

i saved the body mousse recipe you posted to try. haven't ever whipped anything, sounds cool! and what's funny is i make lip balm using your formula :) it's easy for me to remember- 1 part wax, 1 part butter, 1 part oil. i used to use beeswax, shea and jojoba, but the last one i made used hemp butter and meadowfoam seed oil, and i liked it (yeah, i had some grainy shea issues..)

working on my lotion making and cooking skills now, thanks!
heather