HEALTHY SKIN - NATURALLY Healthy skin has a natural glow, a radiant vitality and a soft smooth texture. It is the product both of fortunate genetics and careful skin care. We can't necessarily change our constitution and our skin type but we can certainly choose skin care products that support natural beauty. The general rule of thumb when choosing skin care products is that if you wouldn't put an ingredient in your mouth you don't want to put it on yourself. Most modern cosmetics are made with totally synthetic inert materials which are very stable and will not go bad on the shelves. They are 'dead' products and certainly cannot give life to your skin. The recipes given below all use simple natural ingredients, which are readily obtainable. There is something very satisfying about making your own skin care products, and in knowing that basically all of the ingredients are fit to eat! AROMATHERAPY SKIN CARE Pure essential oils (EO) penetrate the skin relatively easily and can be used for cosmetic or therapeutic purposes. They are very concentrated and great care should be taken when using them because of their strong medicinal effects. Normal skin Dry skin Oily skin Inflamed skin Sensitive skin Acne Chapped skin Excema Wrinkles seed. Cellulite Clary sage, Neroli, Geranium, Lavender, Ylang ylang, Palma rosa. Chamomile, Sandalwood, Carrot seed, Ho, Jasmine, Palma rosa, Cedarwood, Orange, Benzoin, Rose. Lemon, Tea Tree, Sage, Basil, Geranium, Frankincense. Chamomile, Clary sage, Rose, Carrot seed, Lavender, Patchouli, Myrrh, Lemon. Neroli, Melissa, Rose. Bergamot, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Niouli, Lemon, Palma rosa. Benzoin, Vanilla, Chamomile, Rose, Geranium, Sandalwood, Cedarwood. Lavender, Peppermint, Patchouli, Rose, Cedarwood. Fennel, Lemon, Patchouli, Myrrh, Frankincense, Clary sage, Carrot Fennel, Juniper, Sage, Grapefruit.
Using essential oils correctly Massage Dilute 5 mls (1 tsp) EO in about 200 mls (1/4 pint) of almond oil. Store in a tightly stoppered bottle to avoid evaporation. Bath Use about 10 drops EO in a bath. Add just before getting in. Facial compress Use 5 drops of EO in a bowl of warm water. Wring out a face cloth in the water and apply over the face for a few minutes. Repeat several times. SKIN CARE FORMULAS Cleansing the skin Steaming Herbs Use about 1 oz herb per pint of hot water. Place them in a basin and, with a towel over the head, allow the steam to open the pores and prepare the skin for deep cleansing. After steaming splash the face with the herbal water. oily skin Equal amounts of Agrimony, Lemon Balm, Witch hazel, Horsetail, Elderflowers and Sage. dry skin Equal amounts of Comfrey leaf, Marshmallow, Plantain, Chamomile, Rose petals, Lavender. Fennel and buttermilk cleansing milk - for oily skin 1/2 cup fresh buttermilk 2 tbsp. crushed fennel seed 3 drops EO of fennel Warm the buttermilk and seeds together in a double boiler for 30 minutes. Allow to cool the strain off. Add the EO. Store tightly sealed in the refrigerator for up to a week. Herbal peel Puree the flesh of an unripe papaya with a little lemon juice and enough fine white clay or Fullers earth to make a thick paste. Apply as a face pack. Leave on for 20-30 minutes then wash off. Do not use this on sunburned or inflamed skin.
Nourishing mask - Excellent for sun or wind damaged skin. 1 ripe avocado 1 oz each of lemon and orange juice 2 tsp. acacia honey 2 tsp molasses 2 tsp wheatgerm oil 2 tsp St John's wort oil 15 drops EO of Sandalwood, Benzoin or Carrot seed. Put all the ingredients in the blender at low speed for 1 minute then at high speed for 1 minute. Spread over the face and neck and leave for at least 30 minutes. Toning the skin Toners are used after cleansing to close the pores and restore the acid mantle. The simplest ones are floral waters: Rosewater for dry, irritated or aging skin, Witch Hazel water for oily skin and Elderflower or Orange water for normal skin. Normal skin toner 100 ml of Orange or Elderflower water 1 ml each of EO of Geranium, Palma rose, Lavender and Neroli. Oily skin toner 100 ml Witch Hazel water 2 ml each of EO of Lemon and Sage or Frankincense and Basil. HAIR CARE FORMULAS Most commercial shampoos contain harsh detergents which strip the natural oils from the hair and remove the acid mantle. It is best to use a very gentle baby shampoo or even a little liquid castille soap which does not contain artificial lathering agents, colours or scents. EO can be added to shampoos to medicate and scent them. Use about 40-60 drops of EO to 100 ml (4 oz) shampoo. Dry hair: Lavander, Geranium, Sandalwood Oily hair: Cypress, Lemon, Sage. Normal hair: Cedar, Rosewood, Ho Falling hair: Rosemary, Cedarwood, Sage, Lemon Cedarwood and Rosemary Hair Wash - for normal hair
50 g powdered cedarwood 400 ml dry white wine 40 ml vodka 5 ml castor oil 5 ml avocado oil 40 drops EO of Rosemary Steep the cedarwood in the vodka and wine for 2 weeks, shaking daily. Strain it off and add the oils. Shake well before using. To use apply to wet hair and leave it on for a few minutes. This shampoo stores well for several weeks. Hot Oil Conditioning Blend - for dry or damaged hair 50 ml each almond, jojoba and wheatgerm oils 50 ml infused oil of calendula 10 ml each of EO of Cedarwood, Rosemary and Sage Mix everything well together and store in a tightly sealed dark bottle. Massage into scalp once a week. Cover with hot towels for as long as possible and leave on overnight before washing out in the morning. Herbal Hair Rinses The simplest hair rinses are made by steeping or simmering herbs in water. These do not have any keeping properties so must be used the day they are made. Blond hair Chamomile, Lemon, Sage, Calendula Dark hair Rosemary, Nettles, Ivy, Walnut leaves Miscellaneous skin care recipes The Queen of Hungary's Toilet water - a fourteenth century recipe 30 g flowering tops of Rosemary 10 g fresh Lavender 10 g Juniper leaves 3 g EO of camphor 1/2 litre dry white wine Mix everything together in a bottle with a tight stopper. Steep for 2 weeks, shaking daily. Strain off and use as an occasional toner, as a hair lotion or as an addition to a warm bath. Cleopatras Sybaritic Bath Blend - total luxury 2 litres whole milk, the creamier the better
50 g liquid acacia honey 50 ml. tincture of Benzoin 10 drops each EO of Clary sage, Frankincense, Patchouli and Geranium Pour all together into a warm bath, lie back and enjoy. Knee and elbow treatments To soften and whiten the skin use 1/2 lemons stuck on the elbows for 15 minutes, or wipe lemons over the knees. The inside of avocado skins can be used as a rich moisturiser for the knees and elbows. Feet Use strong Peppermint tea as a footbath to revive tired feet. Also try a drop of EO of Peppermint in each shoe if you have to be on your feet a lot.