The Handmade Spa: Natural Cosmetics

Naturopathic expert Duménil (founder of the French skincare company Formule Beauté) presents an easy-to-follow resource on creating handmade lotions, balms, body oils, and soaps for face, hair, body, and even teeth. The book features a clear introductory section about essential ingredients and tools, safety precautions, and the elements and characteristics of the five basic product textures (emulsions, gels, balms, lotions, and oils). Duménil also guides readers through assessing their skin type to learn which products will suit them. Each recipe that follows has a key that indicates the estimated time commitment, the shelf life of the finished product, and whether it’s safe for children. Most of the recipes contain only four or five ingredients. Occasionally, readers will find tips for customizing the book’s recipes.