How to Utilise Your Ice Cube Tray To Make Beauty Products and Snacks

The longer I spend at home, the more creative I am becoming in an attempt to keep busy. Self-care days are definitely getting longer! I’ve been researching how to make natural beauty alternatives at home, and discovered there was a bit of a pattern… most products you can make with ingredients you might already have, but best of all you can whip up these ideas thanks to your ice cube tray. I’ve had my Samsung appliance for just over two years, and my trays are built into my freezer. I wish I knew these recipes a lot sooner, it’s taken spending more time at home to discover these fun recipes. 

I’ve not only been experimenting with skincare additions, but also snacks and a revolutionary way to keep my iced coffee less watery. This is a big deal for me as coffee is a big part of my day. So read on for four ways to utilise your ice cube tray.

1. Body Scrub

Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Brown Sugar, Essential Oil, Soap

Method: Melt coconut oil and mix in brown sugar. Add a dash of oil for scent (lavender is great for relaxation) and grate quarter bar of soap. Spoon into your ice cube tray and freeze. Once frozen, you can remove the individual body scrubs and they will melt onto your skin when used a warm shower. They remove dead skin skills and leave your skin soft and nourished.

2. Flavoured Coffee Cubes

Ingredients: French Pressed/Moka Pot Coffee, Coconut Syrup (or alternative)

Method: Pour coffee and syrup into your ice cube tray and freeze.

Iced lattes can become quite diluted adding ice, so fill your glass with milk and add these coffee cubes instead! This way your coffee is just as strong. 

Alcoholic version for cocktails:

Fill half the ice cube tray with hot coffee adding in coffee liqueur. Let that freeze and then fill the remaining half with single cream. Place 2 into a Martini glass and add Vodka.

3. Aloe Vera Cubes for Sunburn

Ingredients: Brewed Green Tea, Fresh Aloe Vera

Method: Brew a pot of green tea and pour into your ice cube tray. Cut Aloe Vera from a plant and scoop the gel from the stems into the trays. Freeze and apply to sunburn when needed.

Both Aloe Vera and Green tea have soothing properties. The natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatories in green tea can work to take down the angry eruption caused by UV damage. They also come in handy on a hot day at home to cool yourself down, and additionally great to sweep over your face to reduce puffiness.

4. Melted Chocolate Bites

Ingredients: Cooking Chocolate, Fresh Blueberries, Peanut Butter

Method: Melt your chocolate in a bowl over a pan of hot water. Spoon into your ice cube tray adding in blueberries or other fruit. Swap fruit for peanut butter if you're after something a little more sweet. Freeze and enjoy!

So there you have it, less conventional ways to utilise your freezer, which one is your favourite? I have some videos on my Instagram stories making these recipes which are live for 24 hours.

Article in partnership with Samsung Home Appliances 

Photography and creative direction by yours truly

Relocating: Four Months On

After seeing the response from my post in April about moving back to the UK, it only felt right to update you on how things have been going so far. I left my full-time social media job in Sydney to put all my energy into Style Structure. I’m settled in my new apartment, styling and designing my space exactly how I want it. I signed the lease on my place for the high ceilings and natural light - both important when you work in the creative industry. Working from home has it’s highs and lows (I miss being the office chatterbox!) but one thing I have really gotten back into is cooking more. I live in the centre of Cardiff, and it’s all too easy to fall off the bandwagon eating out and opting for the quick and unhealthy option. If I’m not travelling or photographing, I spend the rest of my time in my office, my home. So chef Helen needed to up her game going from office lunches in Sydney to healthy quick and easy solutions back in Cardiff!

I have literally gone from a fridge shelf in a shared house in Sydney, to a nice big Samsung fridge Freezer here! It’s surprising how living alone and working in the same space fills the fridge more than I could imagine. I tend to do my weekly food shop with my mum, but get fresh produce in every few days. Go to meals include Spaghetti Bolognese and homemade Chilli Con Carne because these dishes last a bit longer and can be frozen. Also great if I have a last minute meeting in London I need to attend. Fresh salads like spinach with poached chicken is usually what I am preparing for lunches, but I also love putting together a super quick charcuterie board with olives, cous cous and peppers. I’m getting back into green smoothies, and trying to include more protein into my breakfasts to stay focused (eggs and fish). After all, food is the fuel to creativity so it’s important to take breaks throughout the day.

The one thing I tried to practice the moment I stepped off that plane is stick to a ROUTINE. I’m still without a coffee machine, so try and make an effort to go for a walk to get one each day. It also gives your mind the mentality you are ‘on your way to work’. I am making an effort to cook three meals a day, attending gym classes in the evenings and trying my hardest adhering to a 9-5 schedule. The latter is always difficult as social media doesn’t sleep, but I have found doing these 3 things help a lot. 

I can’t wait to share more about my move back to the UK, and photograph creative projects at home. I know it will be happening a lot more come winter! 

This post was brought to you in partnership with Samsung Home Appliances. 

Photography and creative direction by yours truly.