Baking is a relaxing experience for many people. There is an enjoyment to the precision required to make a perfectly fluffy cake, chewy gooey cookies, or airy loaf of bread. Everything is wonderful until it comes time to clean the pan or tray in which you baked your goods. The cleanup process usually involves a lot of soaking and scrubbing. We can say for a fact that nobody likes that part. 

What do you do to minimize the dishes you have to do? If you are like most, you either use aluminum foil (not the healthiest choice) or silicone trays or mats. You can use silicone bakeware to easily remove gummy items, lotion bars, household staples, or cupcakes and muffins. The use of silicone molds may spark this question: Is it safe? Well, that truly depends, but we aim to answer it in this article.

What Is Silicone?

Before we get into cooking with silicone, it’s integral to understand the difference between silicon, silica, and silicone. Although these substances are related, they are not the same. Here’s a quick overview:

• Silicon: This is a natural element, meaning it cannot break down into smaller particles without splitting atoms. After oxygen, silicon is the second most abundant particle on the earth. It is used in many industries, including solar energy, construction, and electronics. Silicon Valley, anyone?
• Silica: This compound is made of silicon and oxygen. Silica is a primary component of the Earth’s crust and is naturally occurring in nature. It shows up in ceramics, abrasives, and glass manufacturing. You can also find silica in the human body, with some research indicating potential health benefits. 
• Silicone: You can create silicone, a synthetic polymer, by adding carbon or oxygen to silicon. It exists as a liquid, gel, or solid and is commonly used in the medical field. It exists in medical devices, including pacemakers, joint replacements, and implants. It is considered safe for these uses, and is very common in cooking utensils and bakeware. 

Is Cooking With Silicone Safe?

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), food-grade silicone is safe and approved for use in a variety of kitchen products. Food-grade silicone has been tested and certified by the FDA to be safe for contact with food. Food-grade silicone is a popular material for kitchenware. It is made from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which is a synthetic polymer. It has a superior ability to withstand heat, it is non-stick, and it is dishwasher- and microwave-safe. Popular silicone bakeware items include cupcake liners, food storage containers, ice cube trays, baking molds, and reusable straws.

Benefits Of Silicone Bakeware

Silicone bakeware items are sturdy, convenient, and last a lot longer when made with silicone rubber. These molds can go straight from the oven to the freezer, or vice versa, without affecting their integrity. They have a higher resistance to high heat and are safe for human health, even after extensive use. Continue reading for more benefits. 

Easy-to-Clean

Silicone bake mats, molds, and other products are usually easy to clean. They are highly flexible, which makes it easy to get things in and out of them, allowing for easier cleanup. Silicone bakeware tends to be dishwasher-safe, but you can easily wash the items by hand. It has a smooth surface and tends to resist stains, so it won’t retain odors. 

Non-Stick

Silicone bakeware is usually more non-stick than traditional bakeware. That is highly convenient for muffin cups and cake pans. The natural non-stick properties mean that you don’t need to oil or grease before use, although a little oil never hurts. By not using excess grease or oil, you can reduce the amount of added fats in baking. 

Reusable

It is very easy to use parchment paper or aluminum foil when baking, especially if you are trying to save yourself excess cleaning. Silicone is very durable and can withstand repeated use. It is also resistant to fading, cracking, and peeling. People tend to choose silicone for these reasons, as it is a more eco-friendly alternative to foil, cupcake liners, and more.

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During the winter, many people need lotion to survive. It’s a necessity if you want to hydrate your skin and provide it with essential nutrients. Nowadays, lotion bars are more popular than ever, primarily because they are concentrated bars of skin-enhancing goodness. Unlike most bottled lotions that contain alcohol or water, these lotion bars aren’t diluted. 

When lotion is free of water, it means that preservatives aren’t necessary. Most liquid lotions are quite complex to make because they go through three phases: the aqueous phase, the oil phase, and the cool-down phase. This takes time and requires the use of emulsifiers, thickeners, and preservatives. Lotion bars don’t call for any of those, making them a better solution for your skin.

What Is A Lotion Bar?

Resembling a bar of soap, a lotion bar is essentially a solid block of lotion that remains solid at room temperature. Unless otherwise stated, you can freely use a lotion bar anywhere on the body. The heat of the body will slightly melt the bar, making it glide easily on the skin. Often times, lotion bars contain cocoa butter, shea butter, beeswax, jojoba oil, avocado butter, almond oil, and essential oils. In the case of the recipe in this article, it contains coconut oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, and essential oils. 

The Benefits Of Lotion Bars

As mentioned earlier, it’s much easier to make your own lotion bars, as they require fewer ingredients. Their concentrated nature means that you’ll use less lotion, and there’s less packaging involved. It’s beneficial to keep them in a soap dish or metal tin, just how you’d store a bar of soap. As far as why they are superior to regular lotion, continue reading.

No Fillers

There are reputable lotions on the beauty market, but many popular brands contain ingredients that can harm the skin. Many lotions contain phthalates, formaldehyde, enthanolamines, petroleum, parabens, and para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). Lotion bars are free of these potentially hazardous chemicals, making them better for your skin and your overall health. 

Very Moisturizing

The high concentration of oils and butters that the body can easily absorb helps the lotion bars lock moisture into the skin. The combination of essential oils, butters, beeswax, and oils helps seal in moisture and doesn’t let it escape, also known as trans-dermal water loss. Think of lotion bars like lip balm for your skin. They provide intense protection, helping to fill in the cracks that may not be visible to you.

They Last A Long Time

Once you start using lotion bars, you’ll find that a little goes a long way. It may take you a few uses to realize how little you need to apply. Although everyone requires a different amount of usage, it isn’t necessary to use them as much or as often as regular lotion. And the best time to use them is right after you get out of the shower or bath. When your pores are open, the ingredients in the lotion bar can easily penetrate the skin and seal in moisture. 

Homemade Lotion Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 cup coconut oil
• 1 cup cocoa butter
• 1 cup beeswax pellets
• 15-30 drops essential oils of your choice
• Silicone molds or metal tins

Instructions:

• Fill the bottom of a double boiler one-third of the way with water and place over medium-low heat.
• Add the coconut oil, cocoa butter, and beeswax pellets to the top of the double boiler and melt, stirring occasionally. 
• Once the ingredients are melted and fully combined, remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly. 
• Stir in the essential oils of your choice and then pour the mixture into silicone molds or metal tins. 
• Allow the mixture to cool completely until firm. You should be able to pop the bars out of the molds when they’re ready. 
• Store in an airtight container for up to one year. 

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Some people have rose bushes at their homes or in their neighborhoods. The flowers get picked and placed in a vase to beautify the living space, scenting the room with a lovely aroma. We’re not taking anything away from this, but seldom do people take advantage of the therapeutic properties of roses. One of the best ways to do this is by making natural rose-infused oil.

Rose Oil Fact: It takes tens of thousands of rose blossoms to yield about one ounce of rose essential oil. It is often expensive due to the high concentration, but you only need to add a few drops to a recipe to reap the benefits.

Rose may possibly be one of the most popular ingredient in skin care products, and it’s not just because they smell pretty. Rose blossoms contain a diverse mix of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and emollient properties that help to moisturize the skin. If you regularly experience dry skin, rose-infused oil helps to reduce redness, inflammation, and may even help control some cases of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Not enough benefits for you? That’s okay because they don’t end there. Recent studies have found that rose oil may help to relieve anxiety symptoms and depression in post-partum women. Combining rose oil with lavender essential oil can enhance this benefit.

Helpful Tip: It’s best to have silicone molds to make your lotion bars. When the soap finally hardens, the silicone mold makes it easy to pop the lotion bars out without damaging them.

How To Make Rose-Infused Oil

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rose petals
• 1 cup carrier oil of your choice (olive oil or jojoba oil are great options)

Instructions:

• Bring a couple inches of water in a saucepan to a boil and then remove it from the heat.
• Pour one cup of carrier oil in a glass jar. Crush one cup of rose petals with your hands before adding them to the jar with the oil. Swirl the jar, but don’t shake it.
• Cover the jar and place it in the saucepan with the hot water. This helps to release the aromatics from the rose petals.
• Once the water cools, remove the jar and place in a sunny windowsill for at least 24 hours.
• Strain the oil through a cheesecloth, pressing the petals to get out as much oil as possible. Pour the strained oil into a dark bottle with a lid to help keep out the sunlight. Store in a cool, dry place.

Rose Lotion Bars

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup rose-infused oil
• ¼ cup organic beeswax
• ¼ cup organic Shea butter
• 3 drops geranium essential oil

Instructions:

• Add oil, beeswax, and Shea butter to a heat-safe glass jar and set this jar in a saucepan filled with a few inches of water. This is your makeshift double boiler.
• Place the saucepan over medium-low heat and warm until the beeswax and butter have melted.
• Once they have melted, carefully remove the jar from the saucepan and let it cool for a couple minutes. Stir in the essential oil until everything is well combined.
• Pour the mixture into a heatproof silicone mold and let it cool until the lotion bars are completely hardened.
• Pop them out of the molds once they have hardened and store in metal tins in a cool, dry place. Rub on dry skin to moisturize as needed.

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