Make a heart-shaped massage bar to show your love

by Star Khechara

Well 'tis the season to be jolly, if one has gone over the overdraft in this consumer-fest formally known as Christmas, and is also the season of giving. So why not give something you've lovingly handcrafted yourself? It'll save both bank balance and planet if we grab our whisks and create a decadent potion which will make the grateful recipient feel a zillion dollars (but only costing a few of your finest English sterling).

Imagine opening up a little box containing a gorgeously scented heart all tied up in organza fabric and ribbon. Well, imagine no more, today we shall craft a beautiful heart-shaped massage bar to give as soul-delighting ethical Winter Solstice/Christmas gift. So please tie up your apron strings and get ready for...

The Love spread

This cute heart-shaped massage bar uses intoxicating Monoi de Tahite which is Coconut oil infused with fragrant Gardenia petals.

To make your own massage bar, you will need:

• 80g Organic cocoa butter
• 20g fair-trade shea butter
• 30ml Monoi oil
• Rose-buds to decorate (optional)

Equipment needed

Weighing scales, chopping board and knife, measuring jug, heatproof non-metal bowl over a pan of simmering water (a bain-marie), mini whisk, and a heart shaped soap mould. Plus a pretty box and ribbon to jazz it up!

How to make your massage bar

Roughly chop the shea and cocoa butters, and melt gently in the bain-marie, add the monoi oil and warm through so everything is melted. Pour into the mould and leave to set, once it has started going a little solid poke some rose buds in the top so it looks pretty.

How to use

Smooth over the body... or someone else's.

In beauty,

Star xxx

Mookychick loves holistic beauty:

• Make your own lavender moisturizer
• Make your own hair products
• Boost your lips with facercise
• Make your own fruit skin peel
• Aromatherapy oils and their uses

More alternative health and gothic beauty tips

• More: Health and beauty tips | Alternative style

Mission statement

Mookychick believes that climbing trees and riding giant turtles is more fun and girly than worrying about make-up. But if you want to worry about make-up instead of turtles? Fine by us. Be you feminist, kitten, punk, emo, indie, goth, witch, vegan, horror junky, intellectual, christian goth, corset queen, geek, unicorn, sea monkey... be you into alternative style, alternative health, spirituality, comics, manga, j-pop, harajuku or jock culture... we will always love you.