I’ve never shared one of my Lovely Greens product recipes before but now a handful of people know how to make Natural Lavender Body Balm. The reason and audience seemed fitting for the share though – it was to remember my friend Leo Phillips by showing her friends and family how to make her favourite Lovely Greens product. Leo passed away last year after her second battle with Cancer and I think she’d have loved to be remembered in this way.
The last time I saw Leo was in a ward at Nobles Hospital. It was shortly before she passed and though it was obvious that Cancer really had taken its toll she was still as feisty as ever. I remember bringing a pot of the body balm as a gift and asked if she’d be able to get help to put it on later. Even though she was tiny and weak she defiantly pulled back the blanket to show that she could reach her own toes. Leo loved to use the balm on her feet, especially after she went through chemotherapy and the skin on her hands and feet became extremely irritated.
She was gone within days but since then friends have been remembering Leo in different ways. At Christmas her harp students put together a memorial concert and I just found out that a wooden dragon sculpture has been erected in her memory at the Villa Marina Gardens. I also wanted to organise something to remember her so I got in touch with a friend who works at Manx Cancer Help to see if I could offer a class to others battling the big C. Manx Cancer Help is a drop-in centre for anyone affected by Cancer and Leo was a huge fan of the aromatherapy, reflexology, and other services the centre provides.
We organised the lesson for last Friday and I arrived at 1pm to set up two large trestle tables in the main room. Paul Moulton came along shortly afterwards to do a video interview for Manx TV – I speak about the idea behind the lesson and Lovely Greens for a bit but more importantly the interview highlights the services that Manx Cancer Help provides. Cancer can be terrifying for both patients and their loved ones and the centre does a great job of helping to support the affected from an emotional and psychological stand-point.
The lesson was lively and chatty and everyone seemed amazed at how easy it is to make your own beauty products. Lip balms and body balms are simply oils that are chosen to work together to moisturise and protect. They are gently melted together and then poured into containers to harden – you can use them almost immediately.
The day was a success and I think that each and every person there could then go on to make their own body balm at home. One person was so excited about the idea of making bath and beauty products that she’s asked about booking a soap making lesson for herself and her friends. Making handmade soap is a lot more involved but with a little guidance it’s fun and do-able for anyone with the interest to make it. I love showing people how to make soap!
Throughout the lesson we all spoke of Leo and remembered things she said and did. Everyone there knew her as a friend and her husband, David, was also very happy to join us for the day. Even after I’d packed up and headed out the door I could hear the sound of laughter and chit chat and know that most of all that’s what would make Leo smile.
For her I’d like to share the recipe and instructions for making Natural Lavender Balm here as well. If you have any questions please leave a message below.
Natural Lavender Body Balm
Ingredients for two 125ml pots
18g Beeswax
40g Shea Butter
110g Sweet Almond oil
1/8 tsp High IU Vitamin E oil
1/4 tsp French Lavender essential oil
1. Over low heat, melt the beeswax and shea butter until liquid. Add the Sweet almond oil
and then wait for it to liquefy again.
2. Take the oils off the heat and allow them to rest until the temperature is just below
130F/ 54C. Mix in the Vitamin E and essential oil and then pour into containers. Allow to
cool for at least 30 minutes before moving. Do not put a lid on the container until the balm is hardened and at room temperature.
Shelf-life of up to two years and/or the closest use-by date of any of your ingredients. Use within six months of opening and using.
Leo & David Phillips
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