Body Care

   It is believed that the spiritual body cannot prosper if one neglects the physical, for they are linked.  Therefore, I have scoured the net for these recipes for body care recipes.  Please enjoy them.   

Creating Bath Salts

The basic ingredients are table salt, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) & Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate). Some herbalist also use borax. Add the salts to a large bowl in these proportions:

3 parts Epsom salts

2 parts baking soda

1 part table salt (or borax)

Mix thoroughly. This is now the base from which you can create a wide variety of bath salts.

Its wise to add the power of colors to bath salts. Use plain food coloring for this purpose, letting it fall drop by drop onto the salt base. If two or more colors are required to mix an exotic hue (such as purple), mix these in a spoon first and then add to the salts to avoid creating a two-toned product.

Add many drops for a darker colored salt; fewer for a lightly hued salt. Mix the color into the salts with a spoon until it is evenly distributed.

Now add the essential oils drop by drop, one ingredient at a time, until the scent seems right. Mixwith a spoon until all salt particles are moistened. (Could take 1/2 hour or more) As you mix, visualize the energies within the oils merging with each other and with the salt. Keep the salt's magickal goal in mind while you stir.

Empower the mixture. Use or store until needed.

As to proportions, rely on your nose to determine the exact quanties. The more potent the finished products' scent, the less will have to be used for each bath. They should be strongly scented.

To use, add from 2 tablespoons to one-half cup of the ritual bath salts to a full tub. Mix with your hands, feeling their energies merge with the water.

While sitting in the tub, soak up the power. Allow yourself to receive it, or alternately, to realease specific negative energies from yourself into the water.

Always keep tub clean. Ritual baths taken in unclean bathtubs won't have the desired effects!

Remember: Use only genuine essential oils!

Muscle Relaxer

Soak in this relaxing bath to sooth soar , aching muscles. Great after a hard day. Add the following essential oils to a mixture of fine rock salt, sea salt, and cornstarch.

Purification

Perfect for use before rituals to cleanse your thoughts and mind.

Bath Gels

Gel Shampoo Base

3/4 cup distilled water

1/4 cup shampoo concentrate { or substitute 1/2 cup unscented shampoo and increase salt to 1 1/2 teaspoons salt}

1 teaspoon table salt

Green Apple And Aloe Vera Shower Gel

Ingredients for Liquid Shampoo and Shower Gel Base { Recipe above} 2 tablespoons Aloe Vera gel

15 drops apple fragrance oil

1 drop green food coloring { optional}

Warm the water and pour into a ceramic bowl. Add the shampoo concentrate and stir until well mixed. Add the aloe vera gel, salt. apple fragrance oil, and coloring { if desired} and stir until thick and well blended. Pour into a squeeze bottle and close....

Liquid Shampoo and Shower Gel Base

Liquid Shampoo and Shower Gel Base and Gel Shampoo Base provide the basis for the following recipes. { See the mixing instructions in each recipe.} Makes 8 ounces

3/4 cup distilled water

1/4 cup shampoo concentrate { or substitute with 1/2 cup unscented shampoo and increase salt to 1 teaspoon}

1/2 teaspoon table salt

Peach Shower Gel

Ingredients for Liquid Shampoo and Shower Gel Base { recipe above}

1 tablespoon apricot kernel oil

15 drops peach fragrance oil

5 drops vitamin E oil { oil 2 capsules}

1 drop orange food coloring { optional}

Warm the water and pour into a ceramic bowl. Add the apricot kernel oil, salt, peach fragrance oil, vitamin E oil { just break open the capsules}, and coloring { if desired}, stirring until well blended and thick. Pour into a squeeze bottle and close.

Shampoos & Gels

In the following recipes, you will find that table salt is called for in the recipes. Salt increases the thickness of the shampoo. Fragrance oils and herbs called for in these recipes can be found in most health food stores or a good herbal shop......

Vanilla Rose Bubble Bath Gel

1/4 cup distilled water

2 tablespoons shampoo concentrate { or substitute 1/4 cup unscented shampoo and increase the salt to 1/2 teaspoon}

2 tablespoons rose water

1 tablespoon liquid glycerin

1/4 teaspoon table salt

10 drops vanilla fragrance oil

4 drops rose fragrance oil

Warm the water and pour into a ceramic bowl. Add the shampoo concentrate and stir with a wire whisk until well blended. Add the rose water, liquid glycerin, salt, and fragrance oils and stir until well mixed. Bottle.

Liquid glycerin can be purchased at a drugstore in the first-aid section.... Most of the ingredients in the above recipes can be purchased in either health food stores or major craft stores or herbal shops....... I have not tried any of these recipes myself but plan to do these for Christmas gifts this year.... Enjoy! Glenda...

Body Scrubs

Almond Salt Scrub

1/4 cup almond oil

1/2 cup salt

1/4 cup almond milk

Approx. 1 1/2 oz. melted glycerin soap

Almond f.o.

Beach Sand Foot Scrub

2 Tablespoons Canola oil

2 Tablespoons beach sand

3-5 drops rosemary oil

Combine and mix into a paste using a fork. Massage scrub onto feet, concentrating especially on problem areas. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry.

Crystallized Honey Scrub, Green Tea Rinse

One use for that crystallized honey which no one will eat: Beforehand, boil 2 pints or so of water -- enough to use for rinsing your face well. Remove from heat, steep a few handfuls of loose green tea for 10 minutes. Strain into a large bowl that will fit in your kitchen or bathroom sink and cool to WARM.

Then, scoop out honey from its container with a clean narrow spatula. Spread on face with spatula. Massage GENTLY: the crystallized honey "sloughs" or exfoliates beautifully but it can hurt if you're rough. Leave on 20 minutes. Put the large bowl of warm green tea in the sink and splash on to rinse well. Tea can stain your "good" pale towels, so pat dry with an "old" or dark one.

Culture Scrub

1 tablespoon table salt

1 tablespoon flavored yogurt

3 tablespoons baby oil

Mix in small bowl. ingredient amounts can vary depending on your taste. this scrub is wonderful for winter dry skin especially where the legs are shaved repeatedly. this is not only a dead skin remover but a reconditioner as well. it works well on other body parts as well. enjoy!

Do It Yourself Scrub

1 part oil of choice

1 part abrasive (salt, fine sand, ground oatmeal, ground almonds, etc.)

3 to 5 drops of e.o. of choice.

You may also add 1 part liquid soap if desired.

Mix well with a fork. Apply gently to skin and shower or bath as usual.

Facial Scrub

1 small bar castile or baby soap, grated (or Dove soap for dry skin problems)

2 c. oatmeal, blended or processed into powder

1 small pkg. blanched almonds, blended with the oatmeal

Mix these items. Put in pretty jar with plastic spoon. Use 1 tsp to scrub face, or 2-3 Tbsp in bath.

Honey Oatmeal Scrub

One of the best scrubs I ever made only had 2 ingredients: honey and ground blue corn meal. When I wanted to use it I'd take it out of the fridge, warm it up in the microwave and slather it on. It smells sooo good and the corn meal has just the right amount of abrasiveness.

Mild Face Scrub

2 tablespoons oatmeal

2 tablespoons cornmeal

2 tablespoons wheat germ

Perfect for exfoliating normal to sensitive skin. Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container. Make a paste by adding a splash of warm water to one tablespoon of the mixture. Use once or twice a week.

Milk n Honey Oatmeal Scrub

2 T finely powdered whole milk (if needed, whir in a blender)

2 T finely ground oatmeal

2 T powdered honey

1 vitamin e capsules

In coffee grinder, whir oatmeal and contents of the vitamin e capsule till finely blended. Add the finely powdered whole milk and powdered honey. Whir all ingredients for 10 seconds.

When ready to use, take 1-2 T of the mix and add enough WARM water to make paste. A very fine and refreshing scrub. A 1/8 tsp of powdered vanilla add a complementary scent for those wanting a natural scent.

Oatmeal and Almond Scrub

1/4 cup finely ground oatmeal

1/4 cup finely ground almonds

Stir well; place in clean dry container. To use place approx. 1 tbls of scrub in palm and add enough water to make a soft paste. Massage into skin. Rinse well. From Natural Beauty for All Seasons by Janice Cox

Pineapple-Cornmeal Face Scrub

Mix a half cup of any type cornmeal (blue is pretty) with one tablespoon of pineapple juice. Double this if you like, but use it all. Using your fingertips, take a few minutes to massage the mixture gently all over your face with circular motions.

Relax for about 10 minutes, then rinse off with tepid-to-cool water. Use only natural, unsweetened, unprocessed juice. To be sure, buy a small bottle of pure juice from a health-food store, or squeeze from fresh pineapple. Drink or eat whatever you don't use for your facial. Or, keep any extra juice tightly capped & refrigerated. (Fresh whole/cut pineapple never seems to do well in the fridge for long, but the juice does a bit better.)

Salt Scrub

1/2 cp Sea Salt

1/2 cp sweet almond oil

1/2 oz plain M&P soap

Mix first two ingredients. Melt M&P soap. Whisk into other ingredients while liquid. Add fo/eos. Of course you can use whatever oils you want.

Salt Scrub 2

1 1/4 cup sea salt

1/4 cup sweet almond oil

1/8 cup liquid hand soap with aloe vera in it

5 200UI Vitamin E capsules

.5 ml. peppermint EO

.5 ml lavender EO

.5 ml rosemary EO

I put it all in a squeeze bottle and shook it up. It's really great! I used a lot more salt that what the original recipe calls for so it would be more of a scrub and added a little more oil. This could be a best seller!!!

Serious Face Scrub

1 teaspoon sugar

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Ideal for dry, flaky skin. While washing face with your regular soap, add the sugar and scrub gently. Splash face with the lemon juice and rinse with cool water. Do at least once a week.

Body Cleansers

Cleansing Body Polisher with Jojoba Oil

1 cup fine sea salt

1/2 cup jojoba

1/2 cup liquid soap

1/2 tsp.. orange essential oil

I poured about 1 1/2 cups of boiling water over a bunch of grated homemade soap. I stirred it and smashed it until it cooled off enough to mush it with my hands. Then I poured it through one of those cone shaped colanders (used for canning) with the pedestal (sp?) that comes to a point at the end. I pushed it through the strainer and then strained it again, this time removing most of the remaining soap particles. Then I measured 1/2 cup of the liquid to use in the Body Polisher recipe. This one came out liquidy and would work best in a plastic bottle with a flip top lid so you could pour it.

Cleansing Body Polisher with Olive Oil

1 cup fine sea salt

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup melted M&P from Wal-Mart

1/2 tsp.. peppermint essential oil

This one I just mixed all together. It made a thick paste (when it set up) that I put in a wide mouth jar to dip out with your fingers. I think I would use this more as a foot scrub or a hand/body scrub, but not on my face.

Cleanser

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1 tablespoon sunflower oil

1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Great for all skin types. Mix all ingredients together and place in a sealed container. Store in the refrigerator. Use 1 teaspoon morning and night to cleanse face.

Hair

Shampoo Recipes:

City Shampoo

This shampoo is known to be effective in removing impurities such as smog and city grime from the hair. Ingredients for Liquid Shampoo and Shower Gel Base [recipe above]

1 tablespoon dried thyme

1 tablespoon dried peppermint

1 tablespoon dried lavender

1 teaspoon witch hazel

1 teaspoon almond oil

7 drops cinnamon oil

3 drops Ylang Ylang oil

In a heavy saucepan, bring the water to a boil and add the dried thyme, peppermint, and lavender, Remove the pan from the heat and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain the herbs from the water and pour the herbally infused water into a ceramic bowl. Add the shampoo concentrate and stir until well mixed. Add the salt, witch hazel, almond oil, cinnamon oil, Ylang Ylang oil to the mixture, stirring until thick. Bottle and close.

Hot Oil Hair Treatment

3 tablespoons pure jojoba oil

Warm the jojoba oil and apply it to your hair, starting at the ends and working up to the top of head. Wrap hair in a towel and relax for an hour, or leave the oil in overnight. Rinse and shampoo hair as usual. Do once a week, more often if your hair is extremely dry.

Coconut And Vanilla Shampoo

Makes 9 ounces

Ingredients for Gel Shampoo Base Recipe above}

1 tablespoon coconut oil

2 teaspoon jojoba oil

10 drops vanilla fragrance oil

10 drops coconut fragrance oil

Warm the water ass the shampoo concentrate, stirring until well blended. Add the coconut oil, salt, vanilla fragrance oil, and coconut oil, and stir with a wire whisk until the mixture becomes a smooth, thick liquid. Pour into a bottle and close. { A plastic squeeze bottle will work best for this gel shampoo}

Herbal Shampoo

2 tablespoons catnip

1 tablespoon castille soap

1/4 cup boiling water

Place boiling water in a cup and add catnip. Allow to steep for 10 minutes. Add castille soap to cup. Mix well. Apply entire portion to wet hair and lather well. Rinse with cool water.

Lemon Sparkle Shampoo

For use on all hair types for daily use... Ingredients for Liquid Shampoo and Shower Gel Base { Recipe above}

2 tablespoons dried chamomile

1 tablespoon dried rosemary

2 teaspoons sweet almond oil

1/4 teaspoon lemon oil

1 drop yellow food coloring { optional}

Heat the water in a saucepan, bringing to a boil. Add dried chamomile and rosemary to the water and remove the pan from the heat. Let the herbs sit in the water for 20 minutes. Pour the water through a strainer and into a collecting bowl. Discard herbs. Add the shampoo concentrate to the water and stir until it has dissolved. Add the almond oil, lemon oil, and the food coloring{if desired} and stir until blended. Add the salt and stir until the mixture thickens. Let the mixture cool to room temperature and bottle. If giving as a gift place in a pretty colored bottle and tie with pretty ribbons and glue on some silk flowers.....

Peppermint Clarifying Shampoo

This is a tingly treat for the scalp for all types of hair. It stimulates the scalp without drying. Makes 8 1/2 ounces. Ingredients for Liquid Shampoo And Shower Gel Base { recipe above}

2 teaspoons jojoba oil

1/8 teaspoon peppermint oil

1 drop red food coloring { optional}

Warm the water and pour into a ceramic bowl. Add the shampoo concentrate and stir with a wire whisk until well blended. Add the salt, jojoba oil, peppermint oil, and food coloring { if desired} and stir until well blended. Pour into a bottle and close.

Esther's Shampoo Bar

196 gr. sodium hydroxide

1 lb.3 oz distilled water

3ox avocado oil

4oz wheat germ oil

9oz castor oil

2oz jojoba oil

1lb. coconut oil

14oz palm oil

1oz shea butter

2oz cocoa butter

12 gr. grapefruit seed extract-optional

7 t. EO or FO-optional

Temp fats and oils=100 degrees

Temp lye solution=100 degrees

Lye Discount= 10%

Note: Cut these bars immediately after the insulation period. Soon afterward, they become almost too hard to cut.

Another Shampoo Bar

1 oz cocoa butter

3 oz coconut oil

1.6 oz Sweet almond oil

6oz Tallow (could substitute palm for all veggie)

4 oz castor oil

Pine Forest FO

2.2 oz lye

4.5 oz water

Mix lye/water in a well ventilated area. Let cool to about 100 degrees-ish. heat oils until all is melted, then let cool to the same temp.

Mix together. Traced in about 3 minutes with a stick blender. pour into molds and keep warm for 24 hours. Unmold and cut and cure. Use after 10 days.

Leave-In Conditioner for Dry Hair

handful of fresh rosemary

Handful of fresh mint leaves

1 cup cider vinegar

In a glass jar with a lid, drop the rosemary and mint leaves and cover with the cider vinegar. Seal the jar and leave for two weeks. Strain the potion. After shampooing, pour a tablespoon onto dry hair and leave in.

Conditioner for Oily Hair

1 lemon

1/4 cup cider vinegar

Wash, slice, and de-seed the lemon. Whir lemon in a blender to a smooth pulp. Filter through muslin. Mix with the cider vinegar. After shampooing, blot hair with a towel and rub lemon-vinegar mixture into scalp. Leave on 5-10 minutes, then rinse with cool water.

Conditioner for Fine Hair

2 strips kombu (Japanese seaweed)

3/4 cups boiled spring water

Steep kombu in spring water for 30 minutes. Remove the seaweed. After shampooing, massage into hair. Rinse.

Dandruff Elixir

4 or 5 drops tea tree oil

1 tablespoon jojoba oil

In a glass jar with a tight lid, combine ingredients. Shake well. After sectioning wet hair, dab mixture onto a clean cotton wad and stroke along the scalp. Wrap hair in a towel and let sit for 2 hours. Work shampoo into hair with a little water to remove oil. Rinse.

Dandruff & Dry Scalp

Dandruff can affect both dry and oily scalps in all seasons. While many herbal preparations will help, keeping dandruff at bay will require frequent and regular treatments. An overnight application can be made by blending certain essential oils. Try using 10 drops of eucalyptus, 10 drops of rosemary, and 5 drops of tea tree. Combine these oils with 2 oz of jojoba, almond oil, or other quality oil. Apply generously all over hair and scalp and cover in plastic wrap. Shampoo regularly the next morning and use the same combination of essential oils in a quart of water as a final rinse. Repeat this 2 -3 times a week and you should see an improvement within just a week.

To Get Rid Of Dandruff

I only really know of one, it's not really an herbal remedy, more of a home remedy. This is it:

10 aspirin tablets 3/4 cup warm water Dissolve the aspirin in the water. After shampooing, massage into scalp, leave on for ten minutes, then rinse out.

Hair Rinse

2c apple cider vinegar

About 1/4 c powdered dried lavender flowers

About 1/8 c dried, powdered rosemary

About 1/4 c dried, powdered patchouli leaves

1 c water

Put the apple cider, lavender, rosemary and patchouli into a small pot and bring to a simmer. Bring heat down to almost nothing, if you are using an electric range put heat on lowest setting for about 15 min, turn off heat and let cool down. After mixture is cool, pour into your container, I used an old shampoo bottle and add the water.

This should be used after you wash your hair, squeeze hair dry, pour on vinegar, rinse well.

Lips

Minty Lip Gloss

1 tablespoon petroleum jelly

3 drops peppermint oil

Mix petroleum jelly and peppermint oil. Apply to lips as often as necessary for a minty-fresh lip gloss.

Moisture Creams

Creams

Mint Coconut Cream

4 tablespoons mint infusion

1/2 teaspoon borax

3 tablespoons coconut oil

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon almond oil

1/2 teaspoon beeswax

Prepare the mint infusion in advance by placing three or four sprigs of mint into a tea cup, and fill with boiling water. Infuse it for two hours before straining. Dissolve the borax in the liquid. Place the oils and wax in a double boiler and melt them gently. Remove from heat and slowly add the reheated mint infusion. Whisk until it is cool. This fluffy cream can be used as either a day or night cream and is suitable for dry, normal and combination skins. Instead of olive oil, try substituting a lighter oil or one that absorbs easily, like jojoba grape seed or apricot oil. You can add vit.e, grape seed extract and eo's to prolong shelf life. Some of the ingred., are already helping to do this.

Rose Scented Moisture Cream

Makes about 3/4 cup

1/2 cup rosewater

1/2 tsp.glycerine

2 tablespoons witch hazel

1/4 tsp. borax

2 tbsp. emulsifying wax or white beeswax

1 tsp. lanolin

2 tbsp. almond oil

2 drops rose oil

Gently heat the rosewater, glycerin, witch hazel and borax in a saucepan until the borax has dissolved. In a double boiler, melt the wax, lanolin and almond oil over a gentle heat. slowly add the rosewater mixture to the oil mixture, whisking as you do so. It will quickly turn milky and thicken. Take off the heat and continue to whisk as it cools and then add the rose oil. Pour into glass pots or jars.

Unscented Moisture Cream

Ideal for applying before going outdoors, this simple, fragrance-free cream can be used by both men and women. Makes about 2/3 cup

2 tbsp carnauba wax

1 tbsp white beeswax

1/2 cup almond oil

Melt the waxes and oil in a double boiler over low heat and stir. Take off the heat, pour the cream into a pot, or leave to set.

Moisturizer

6 tablespoons jojoba oil

1 tablespoon vitamin E oil

2 tablespoons grated beeswax

1 tablespoon pure aloe vera

2 tablespoons rose water

8 drops sandalwood essential oil

4 drops rose essential oil

In a small bowl, combine jojoba oil, vitamin E oil, and beeswax. Place bowl in a shallow pan of boiling water and heat, stirring occasionally until the beeswax melts. Remove the bowl and allow to cool to room temperature. (The mixture will thicken and become cloudy as it cools.) In a blender or small food processor, combine aloe vera and rose water. Add the cooled oil and blend on high until the mixture becomes thick and cloudy (about two minutes). Add sandalwood and rose essential oils and blend mixture into colored glass jar. Apply a small amount (a little goes a long way with this skin softener) to face every evening in lieu of your usual moisturizer. For very dry skins, use also in the a.m.

Traditional cold cream:

This is an all-purpose cream that can be used to cleanse and soothe the skin. Makes 7 oz.

52 oz white beeswax

1/2 cup almond oil

1/2 teaspoon borax

1/4 cup rosewater

1.} Place the beeswax in a double boiler and add the almond oil. Melt the wax over low heat, stirring constantly to combine the ingredients.

2.} Take off the heat and dissolve the borax in the rosewater and slowly pour it into the melted wax and oil, whisking constantly.

3.} It will quickly turn milky and thicken, continue whisking while it cools. When it reaches thick pouring consistency, pour into glass jars or china pots.

Nails

Cuticle softener

1 bottle of vitamin E oil

Rub the vitamin E oil on the cuticles of both feet and hands after bath or shower daily and at bedtime.

Skin

Astringent for Normal Skin

1/4 teaspoon borax powder

3 tablespoon distilled water

3 tablespoons rose water

1 tablespoon vodka

Dissolve the borax powder in the distilled water. Stir well. Add the rose water and vodka. Bottle in a container with a tight lid to prevent the alcohol from evaporating. Apply to clean face with a cotton ball after washing skin.

Herbal Facial Sauna for Acne

1 tablespoon lavender

1 tablespoon red clover leaves

1/2 cup fresh strawberries

Sprinkle the lavender, strawberries, and red clover leaves in a bowl of steaming water. Place face over the steamy concoction and cover head with a towel. Soak up the fruit and herb-rich steam for 5-15 minutes. Rinse face with cool water and pat dry. Best when done once a week.

Pore Cleanser

Garlic clears out your pores, acting as a panacea for pimples. Apply the paste to your face. This will make your skin tingle.

Recipe: Peel and mash eight fresh garlic cloves (or, if you're lazy, use crushed garlic from a jar). Leave on your face for 15 minutes. Wash off with a warm cloth. Results: Very smelly. Garlic gets even smellier as it rinses off, but the good news is that dead skin comes off with if you can stand the stink, try it. A word of warning, however: keep it away from your eyes.

Toner for Problem Skin

A few drops of tea tree oil

1/4 cup distilled water

The best tonic for combating pimply skin. Mix the tea tree oil and water together and store in a sealed bottle. Shake well before using. Soak a clean cotton ball with the potion and apply to just-cleansed blemished skin. The tea tree oil is both a natural antiseptic and antibiotic. Use after washing skin whenever you have blemishes.

Zit Blaster

skin of 1 egg

Carefully remove the skin from an egg's inner shell. Place this membrane over just-cleaned blemishes. Leave on for an hour or more, preferably overnight. Rinse with cool water. Do this once a day whenever you have a zit(s).

Eye Recipes

Bright Eyes

Tired eyes? Try this for tired or bloodshot eyes.

Recipe: Soak a sterile strip of puffy cotton in cold skim milk. Place over eyes for 10 minutes. Rinse entire face in warm, then cool, water. Results: Eyes look so clear and sparkling.

Potato Head

Dark circles under eyes?

Recipe: To lighten dark circles under your eyes, wrap a grated raw potato in cheesecloth and apply to eyelids for 15-20 minutes. Wipe off residue and apply an eye cream. Results: Circles will lighten and skin tighten.

Body Wraps

Herbal Body Wrap

1 cup of your favorite herb or combination of herbs

Large beach towel or cotton sheets

Plastic drop cloth or shower curtain

Fill a large sink or bucket with very hot (but not boiling) water. Pour in your herbs and allow to steep for 5 minutes. Add the beach towel or sheets.

Lay the plastic drop cloth on your bed. Wring out the towel or sheets and wrap around your body. Lie down on the bed and have your partner help you wrap yourself in the plastic drop cloth. Cover yourself with blankets and lie quietly for 10 minutes --no more. Don't overdo it. Try not to talk or be distracted.

Slowly unwrap yourself and get up.

"Natural Beauty at Home" by Janice Cox

Spa Style Herbal Body Wrap

6 cups very hot water

1/2 cup dried chamomile

1/2 cup dried rosemary

1/4 cup fresh mint or peppermint leaves

Cheesecloth or wide cotton gauze

Linen or loose-weave cotton, cut into long strips 4 to 6 inches wide Roll of plastic wrap

Bring the water to a boil and remove it from the heat (or pour it into a stoppered sink). Wrap the herbs in the cheesecloth or gauze, making a large bundle, and push them down into the water with a large spoon or other utensil. Cover the infusion to contain the steam and allow it to sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Uncover the herbal infusion, stir it once or twice, and add the long strips of linen or cotton. When the fabric is saturated, wring it out and wrap the strips around your body (like a mummy) except your head, lower arms, and feet. The infusion and fabric should be hot, but not so hot they will burn you! When you're done, repeat the wrapping process by covering the fabric with the plastic wrap.

Make a cold compress for your head and pour yourself a cool glass of water to sip while you rest. Now lie down, relax and let the herbs do their work. Leave the wrapping on your body for no more than 15 to 20 minutes; then unwrap and cool your body for another 15 minutes before showering. HINT: If you have high blood pressure, heart problems, or other medical conditions, such high-heat situations may be harmful. Be sure to consult your doctor if you have health problems and want to do this procedure.

"The Natural Beauty and Bath Book" by Casey Keller

Facial Stuff

Silky Smooth Facial & Bath

Facial:

1 cup fresh cucumber juice

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup plain yogurt

6 drops Lavender

4 drops Geranium

Mix well and apply to face just before bath.

Bath:

8 drops Jasmine

8 drops Fennel

2 tbsp. Frac. coconut or Jojoba

Light a candle and relax.

A Yogurt/Buttermilk/Betonite Clay Face/Body Mask

1 tsp *hot* Water

1/2 tsp Dead Sea Salts, dissolved in the hot water.

2 tsp Buttermilk

2 Tbls Plain Yogurt

5 drops Chamomile EO

15 drops Lavender EO

3 drops Tea Tree EO

2 slightly heaped Tbls of Betonite Clay (Powdered, bought at health food store)

Mixed these up and went to take a nice soaking steamy shower. Put on face, arms, torso, and legs. Was tingly, cooling, and felt kinda nice. Let sit for 15.. 20ish minutes, then rinsed off. It left a slight oily residue on my skin, which I can only assume was the buttermilk since the yogurt I used was supposedly non-fat. I've never had the oil residue left from my usual face mask recipe. Finished shower. Skin still felt tingly for a few hours afterwards, but it was a nice sort of tingle. I have somewhat sensitive skin, but not terribly.

So far, no pimples or red spots have appeared from this little experiment, and it's 2 days later. I think it was a success. Anyone who wants, feel free to use. I include yogurt and buttermilk because they're two natural sources of alpha hydroxy acids. If anyone recalls the stories of southern women using buttermilk to keep their skin soft and pale. Well I'm trying it for nixing freckles. We'll see. Store bought AHA lotions have worked so far, but they tend to be a little harsh.

Face Mask for Normal Skin

1 tablespoon whiskey

1 whole egg

1/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder

Juice of 1 lemon

Combine all the ingredients. Keep the mixture in the refrigerator. Spread the compound over the entire face, avoiding eye area. Allow to dry. Remove with a wet wash cloth. Use once a week.

Face Mask for Dry Skin

Same as above, except use only the egg yolk.

Face Mask for Oily Skin

Same as two above, except use only the egg whites.

Facial mask

1/2 tsp Echinacea & goldenseal blend (I just open capsules and measure into tsp.)

1 tsp.French Green Clay

1 tsp honey

1 drop Palma Rosa

1 drop orange

1 drop rosemary

Green Goddess

Dry skin? Try this avocado facial for dry skin.

Recipe: Mash the meat of the avocado into a creamy texture. Massage into the face and neck with upward and outward movements. Tissue off after 15 minutes with rosewater or witch hazel. Results: Skin fells tight and buttery soft.

Lemon-Aid

Combination Skin?

Recipe: Squeeze half a lemon and mix the juice with one beaten egg white. Leave on your face overnight or, for a quick pick-me-up, just 15 minutes. Splash warm water on your face to rinse. Results: Removes blotches. (The lemon works as a bleaching agent.) You could also use commercial lemon soap on a daily basis

Magical Egg White Mask

Beat the white of one egg until stiff. Use hands or a washcloth to apply an even layer over your face. Wait until it gets stiff, then rinse off. If mixed with some lemon, it deep cleanses while taking away blotchiness.

Mask for Dry Skin

1 Tablespoon of Rose Clay

1 Tablespoon of Instant Oatmeal or finely ground Regular Oatmeal

1 teaspoon of Honey

1 teaspoon of Almond Oil

1 drop of Rose Oil

1 drop of Lavender Oil

Use enough water to make a paste.

Mask for Mature or Ageing Skin

1 Tablespoon of Rose Clay

1 Tablespoon of Instant Oatmeal or finely ground Regular Oatmeal

1 teaspoon of Honey

1 teaspoon of Avocado or Almond Oil

1 drop of Frankincense Oil

1 drop of Neroli or Lavender Oil

1 drop of Rose Oil

Use water to make a paste.

Mask for Normal Skin

2 Tablespoons of Green or Rose Clay

1 teaspoon of Honey

2 drops of Geranium Oil

Use aloe vera juice or water to make a paste.

Mask for Oily Skin

2 Tablespoons of Green Clay

1 teaspoon of Aloe Vera Juice

1/2 teaspoon of Vegetable Oil or Jojoba Oil

1 drop of Bergamot Oil

1 drop of Lavender Oil

Use enough water to make a paste.

Mask for Sensitive Skin

1 Tablespoon of Rose Clay

1-2 teaspoons of Avocado Oil

1 drop of Rose Oil

1 drop of Roman Chamomile Oil

Use water, if necessary, to make a paste. Use a little more clay if too runny.

"The Aromatherapy Book" by Jeanne Rose

Oatmeal Mask

1 Cup Pink Clay

2 Tablespoons of Oat Flour (ground oatmeal)

1 Tablespoon Chamomile Flowers, ground

1 teaspoon finely ground Rose Hip Seeds

Mix all this together and store in an airtight container.

To use take about 1-2 Tbsp of the mask, and add enough distilled water to get a paste consistency. I actually did a pure lemon juice (to whiten skin and to restore skin's natural acid mantle) diluted in water, 1 tsp honey (moisturizing), then added a couple drops of Tea Tree oil (antibacterial). It was nice and tingly.

Oatmeal Mask and More

1 Tbls. oatmeal powder

Egg white

2-3 drops of lemon oil

Mix and spread on face. leave on till dry or 20min.

Another one is Brewers yeast and water or milk and I have heard of powdering red beans and adding water to that. Brewers yeast is really hard to wash off so probably it is best to use with an essential oil and\or milk and it can stain washcloths. It really makes your skin look great though.

Peel-Off Mask

1 packet Un-flavored Gelatin

1/2 Cup Fruit Juice or Herb Infusion

Heat together gently to dissolve the gelatin. Let cool until almost set. Apply to face, let dry completely, peel off.

What's Up Doc?

A carrot mask! At least the color is in fashion this season.

Recipe: Boil three large carrots and mash them, or process in a food processor. Add 5 tablespoons of honey or yogurt to help neutralize the skin. Apply gently, in an upward motion. Leave on for 15 minutes. Splash off with mineral water or witch hazel. Results: Leaves your skin feeling so soft...

Lemon Witch Hazel Toner

The freshest lemon in an alcohol base will blot away excess oil and grime from oily skin.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp (30 ml) Vodka

2 tbsp (30 ml) Fresh Lemon Juice

1 tsp. (5 ml) witch hazel

1 tbsp (15 ml) Water

To Make:

Mix all ingredients thoroughly. It is important that the Lemon Juice is freshly squeezed, as the bottled variety has anti-oxidizing Chemicals in it that are not Pure enough for application on the face.

To Use:

This toner is quite strong in its astringent (oil removing) effect. to moderate it, I suggest not adding the alcohol, in which case it will not last as long because alcohol is a good preservative or simply not using this preparation every day. Apply in the usual way and don't leave on the skin very long rinse off with warm water. Do not apply to broken skin it will sting!