LIBRARY JOURNAL
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.
VERDICT Readers who want to make their own simple skincare products and fans of Formule Beauté will be excited to check out Duménil’s book. It’s a great starting point for library programs, spa days with friends, or even holiday activities.
BOOKLIST (American Library Association) for Handmade Spa: Natural Cosmetics, and Natural Soaps
These two titles from the Handmade Spa series, focusing on eco-friendly recipes to make at home, are beginner ready and divided into three, easy-to-work-through sections. With beautiful photography of both processes and finished products, each book begins with an introductory chapter on definitions, ingredients, needed equipment, and safety practices. Both books include recipes for face, body, hair care, hygiene, and general well-being items and accessibly explain the organic ingredients used on a chemical level. Reader-crafters will find fun, inspiring, and creative alternatives to harsh soaps and beauty products.
French skincare company founder Duménil guides readers in making their own cosmetics. First, she goes over skin types and basic cosmetic textures, including emulsion, gel, balm, lotion, and treatment oil. Then come the recipes, which contain notes on length of time needed to make, if they are good for all skin types and suitable for children, how long finished products will keep, how to use the finished product, intended benefits, such as cleansing or moisturizing, and tips for customizing with essential oils. Recipes for hydrating detox masks, nourishing lip balm, cleansing lotion, and roll-on deodorant are well explained and approachable.
In Natural Soaps, Soapmaker Boué educates readers on the process of making beautiful and environmentally safe soaps. She first explains how soaps are made and what equipment is required before delving into recipes for soaps using almond milk, honey, beeswax, spirulina, and marigolds (for baby). Recipes are straightforward, include information on each soap's best uses and the skin type it benefits and note product suitability for children and pregnant women. Step-by- step photos are vibrant, beautiful, and helpful. — Nataya Culler
BOOKLIST Young Adult: Skin care and earth-friendly products are a hot commodity for teens; these titles pointthem in the right direction.
