Ideal Bite

Oh, what a relief it is – to be able to make your own bath bombs, soaps, and lip goo. Well, kinda fun anyway, and Colorado Organics' warehouse-y store has all the chem-free supplies you need. It'll even take back empty bottles and jars when you use up your goods, and offers classes to boot. Here's a soothing lotion recipe to get you started.

Vanilla Body Butter
15-20 minutes

What You Need (local and organic whenever possible):

2 oz sunflower oil
2 oz sweet almond oil
2.75 oz premium food-grade cocoa butter
2.75 oz refined shea butter
3 oz yellow beeswax pastilles
1 tsp vanilla fragrance oil
4 drops rosemary oil extract (a natural antioxidant/shelf extender; optional if you plan to use up the lotion within a year)
Glass measuring cup
4 plastic or waxed-paper molds, 3 oz each

Pour all ingredients except vanilla fragrance and rosemary oil extract into 16-oz glass measuring cup. Put cup in saucepan with 2 inches of water. Melt ingredients over low heat (no need to stir). Once melted, stir in fragrance and extract. While still hot, pour into small plastic molds to solidify. If body butter is too hard to pour, gently remelt and add 1/4 oz oil to soften.