Category Archives: Herbal Cosmetics

Orange zest, Thyme and Rose Body Scrub

This wonderful combination of orange zest, thyme and rose along with almond meal and oatmeal is a great exfoliating body scrub that can be used instead of a loofah on the skin. It is wonderfully aromatic, mild and satisfying to the skin.

To use: Just before showering, rub the scrub gently onto damp skin, avoiding any tender areas such as the face, then shower off or rinse with cool water.

Ingredients:

Peel or zest of two oranges
Old fashioned oats
Dry thyme
Dry rose petals
Almond meal
Measuring cup
Measuring table spoon
Coffee grinder or spice grinder
Storage jar with tight fitting lid
Labels

Directions: Using a vegetable peeler, remove the skin of two oranges. Cut into thin strips.

Place the orange peels on a paper towel and place on a microwave safe plate and at half power microwave for one or two minutes adding 30 seconds until the orange peels are crisp and brittle.

Hint: Stir after each microwave time to stop burning of orange peels in the middle.

Grind the orange peels in a spice grinder until fine. Grind rest of ingredients, using the coffee grinder, until each achieved a flour like consistency.

Grind orange peel to a fine powder

Measure out 1 cup oat flour, 3 Tbsp. rose petals, 3 Tbsp. almond meal, 1 Tbsp. thyme and 1 Tbsp. orange peel. Thoroughly mix and add to an airtight jar and label.

Rose petals and rose buds in grinder

Note: Almond meal can be purchased or grind chopped or slivered almonds.

almond meal

Orange zest and Oatmeal will soften, cleanse and heal the skin, leaving a wonderful feeling after each use of the orange zest, thyme, and rose body scrub.

Almond is good for dry skin and those rough patches we get in the winter.

Thyme will stimulate circulation, and is an astringent. Rose petals will soothe and perfume the skin, and is especially good for mature and sensitive skins.

Mixture of ingredients for body scrub

Be sure and check for allergic reactions before using any body product. Just add a small amount to the underside of the arm and leave on for several hours. If no redness occurs you properly will not have any allergic reactions.

Finished body scrub

Optional: Add essential oils of your choice, some options might include lavender for a cooling, relaxing scent, lemon for a fresh citrus scent, or patchouli for a stimulating, musky scent and is considered rejuvenating to the skin. Add just a few drops of essential oil to the scrub and mix thoroughly. This scrub can also be mixed with almond oil and used within two days. Add about a Tbsp of sweet almond oil to each 2 Tbsp. of scrub.

If giving as a gift, add a label with the directions for use, and decorate as desired.

How to make Face Moisturizers, sweet orange or lavender

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Following is step by step on how to make face moisturizer. This wonderful sweet orange face moisturizer is great for the face. Always check for any allergic reactions to this or any homemade moisturizer. If you are not sure if you are allergic to sweet orange or orange water, mix a couple of drops in small orange water and place on the underside of the arm and cover with band aid and allow to sit for an hour or so. If no reaction occurs, it should be safe to use these products.

This moisturizer can be made with lavender essential oil and lavender water or rose essential oil and rose water. Just check for allergic reactions.

According to “The Essential Oils Book” by Colleen K. Dodt

You should avoid the sunlight for at least six hours when using citrus essential oils. “These oils contain components that may cause reddening and blistering or darkening of the skin when exposed to sunlight.”

Summer months try either lavender or rose essential oils.

Wash your face and smooth a small amount on your face. Any time you use orange or any citrus essential oils, they can react with the sun. Check with your manufacturer of essential oils.

Ingredients for face moisturizers

Equipment:

2 heatproof glass mixing bowls or large glass measuring cups
Small sauce pan
Wooden spoon and whisk
4 small storing jars, sterilized
Labels

Ingredients:

2 tsp. borax
¾ c. orange table or flower water
4 tsp. beeswax granules
5 Tbsp. almond oil
1 oz. cocoa butter
10-14 drops of vitamin E oil
5 drops sweet orange essential oil

If using glass jars for storing the sweet orange face moisturizer, sterilized the jars in boiling water for 10 minutes. I like to keep my food utensil separate from my cosmetics utensils. This is a choice and not necessary. You should only put on your face and skin what you would not be afraid of absorbing into your body.

Sterilized jars for 10 minutes

Have your labels ready with both date and ingredients. Gather you utensils and have them ready. You do not want the borax water to cool while looking for either equipment or ingredients. Heat two pans of water ready to use as a double boilers.

Place a glass measuring cup in the water as a double boiler and fill the measuring cup with borax and flower water.
Heat gently stirring the borax and water with a whisk until borax is dissolve. Set aside keep the glass cup in the warm water to keep the mixture warm. It is important to keep warm so it will not cause the beeswax to harden too soon.

Dissolving borax and flower water

Put a bowl or glass measuring cup over simmer water and add the beeswax, cocoa butter, and almond oil. Warm, stirring gently until all the ingredients have completely dissolve.
Take off the heat and slowly pour the borax and orange flower water into the mixture of wax, whisking all the time. Watch the magic happen when the two mix.

Melting beeswax and oils for face cream in double boiler

Melted beeswax and oils

Continue to whisk until the mixture has cooled somewhat about 2 minutes.

Pouring borax and floral water into melted oils and beeswax

While whisking, add the essential oils and vitamin E oil, and continue to whisk. This is the tricky part because if you do not whisk long enough it will separate when completely cooled.

Add essential oil and vitamin E oil to face cream

Pour into 4 small jars and store all unused jars in the refrigerator.
Don’t forget to label.

Sweet Orange Moisturizer face cream

Use within 6 months to one year as long as it is store in the refrigerator. Enjoy your wonderful sweet orange moisturizer.

When making cosmetics never use aluminum, copper, or non-stick pans, as their chemical content can affect the ingredients beneficial properties. Commercial beauty products contain artificial chemicals and these chemicals do penetrate the skin.

We are absorbing substances through our skin we would never dream of putting in our mouths. Natural products help protect our skin and our health. Most recipes are easy to make, but may require some experimentation to find the one that works best for your skin type.

Making Face Masks and Astringents

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Making face masks and astringents is a great ways of making your face feel wonderful and clean.

When using herbs for these homemade cosmetics, use the powdered form and pass it through a sieve to make sure all large particles are remove.

Following are several recipes. Make sure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients. Try different ones until you find the right combination for you and your skin type.

Directions for each mask: With a blender, mix all the ingredients well. Make only enough to use for one mask. About 1 Tbsp. for each is enough for one mask. Apply to clean face and leave for about 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and use moisturizer afterwards. Any leftover masks store in refrigerator.

Mint Face Mask, equal parts each

Spearmint
Oil such as almond oil, grape seed oil, apricot kernel oil or olive oil
Raw honey
Add a couple of drops of lavender oil, or patchouli oil, or chamomile oil

Yogurt Facial Mask

¼ c. plain yogurt
½ tsp. honey
½ tsp. green clay, or white clay
3 drops of lavender essential oil
1 Tbsp. Finely chopped cucumber
1 Tbsp. Yogurt
1 Tbsp. Finely chopped parsley or calendula powder

Almond face Mask, equal parts each

Almond meal
Calendula powder
Chamomile powder

Herbs good for oily skin include:

Lady mantel
yarrow

Healing herbs for the skin:

Fennel
House leek
Marshmallow
Comfrey

Cleansing Herbs:

Chamomile
Fennel
Lady’s mantle
Lovage
Nettle
Parsley
Plantain

Herbs for Acne:

Burdock
Clover
Horsetail
Lavender
Southernwood

Chamomile is a great skin cleaning herb, and rosemary will increase circulation. Elder flower, horsetail, and spearmint will tighten the skin at the same time it will stimulate the skin.

Astringents can be made from any of the herbs listed below by adding dried herbs to apple cider vinegar and allowing steeping for two weeks. Strain and dilute 2 Tbsp. vinegar in a pint of water.

Vinegars will help both dry and oily skin and will tighten skin pores. It establishes a natural acid balance and softens the skin. Use unfiltered apple cider vinegar. Add about 1 cup of fresh leaves and stems for each pint of vinegar and allow steeping for two or three weeks. Shake every day and strain and re-bottle in glass bottle with cork or plastic lid. Save your vinegar bottles. Use this in a diluted form for astringents and facial steams.

Astringents are used for cleansing and a refreshing feeling.

Astringents herbs:

Bay
Chamomile
Comfrey leaf
Elderflower flowers
Frankincense
Lemon
Mint
Myrrh
Nasturtium
Raspberry
Rose
Rosemary
Sage
Witch hazel
yarrow

Astringents for oily skin:

Sage
Yarrow
Plantain
Lemon balm
Lemon grass
Rose
Witch hazel
Lavender

Astringents for normal to dry skin:

Chamomile
Comfrey
Elderflower
Fennel

Herbs to help stimulate the face:

Bee balm
Calendula
Elderberry flowers
Lavender
Lemon verbena
Mint
Nettle
Plantain
Raspberry
Rosemary
Sage
Savory

Sage astringent recipe:

3 Tbsp. dried sage, powdered
3 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 Tbsp. witch hazel liquid
¼ tsp. borax powder
1/8 c. glycerin

Finely minced sage and added to apple cider vinegar and allow steeping for two weeks. Stain. Dissolve borax in the witch hazel. Stir into apple cider vinegar and mix in glycerin and add to a glass bottle with tight lid. Shake before use.

Change the herbs in the above recipe to match your skin type. If your skin is oily, or dry will dictate what herbs to put in the above recipe.

Always check to make sure you are not allergic to any of the herbs before adding them to your face. Mix small amount of crushed herbs with water and put on the underarm and cover with bandage and keep in place for 24 hours. If no reaction occurs from the herbs you properly are not allergic.

Homemade Bath Oil

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These little bottles of homemade bath oil are wonderful for relaxation are easy and fun to make. With just a few ingredients you can have wonderful gifts for your family and friends.

Ingredients:

Almond oil
Safflower oil
Vitamin E oil
Rose essential oil (optional)
Dried rose petals

Ingredients for bath oil

Use a new glass or plastic bottle or a recycle glass bottle. Glass jars should be sterilized in boiling water for 10 minutes and allow to thoroughly dry.

Plastic and glass bottles, perfect for the project can be found at your local hobby store in the cosmetic/soap section. They usually run about $1.00. Just remember what ever size you choose, you have to fill it with oil.

A 16oz. bottle of almond oil runs about $9.00. Safflower oil runs about $4.00 for 24 oz. and a 4 oz. of rose buds runs about $4.00. You will have enough to make several bath oil gifts.

Some other blends for bath oils can be made out of lavender flowers or a mixture of rose and lavender. If you are not allergic to ragweed try chamomile. Other herbs include geranium, jasmine, lemon grass, sage, or rosemary.

Other oils used in homemade bath oil might include:

Apricot kernel oil
Sunflower oil
Grapeseed oil
Olive oil, it has a fairly strong scent
Avocado oil
Wheat germ oil
Jojoba oil, which never goes rancid

Another gift idea:

A massage oil can be made with a combination of any of these oils and essential oils of your choice. A massage can improve circulation, is good for relaxation, helps relieve stress, tension and in the elimination of waste from the body.

Breakdown of ingredients used in homemade bath oil:

Almond oil is almost orderless oil, very nourishing and slow to become rancid. Vitamin E, is not only good for the skin but will help to preserve the bath oil.

Essential oils are antibacterial as well as adding a wonderful addition to the scent.

The rose buds add scent but also looks great in the bottle. The scent of roses have a calming action to the brain and may help develop a positive mood. Homemade bath oils leaves the skin soft and smooth.

Pour in the oil

Bottle with rose buds

How to make homemade bath oil:

Pick your bottle, herb’s buds and oils
Once your bottle is picked, add rose buds to the bottle filling about 1/4 to 1/2 full
Add vitamin E oil and any essential oils, about 5 drops each depending on size of bottle
Fill the bottle half way with almond oil or oil of your choice
Fill the rest of the bottle with safflower oil
Allow the mixture to set a minute or two to allow the bubbles to come to the top
Cap

To seal homemade bath oil:

Melting wax in double boiler

Place wax with color of your choice in a glass jar in a pan of water, the opening of the jar should have a wide enough mouth to accommodate cap of homemade bath oil
Do not heat wax directly on the stove, it can catch fire, Always melt wax in a double boiler
Watch carefully and don’t leave the room, or answer the phone.
When the wax is melted, dip the capped bottle in the wax and allow the excess to drip back in the glass jar. Dip again several times until the wax has sealed the bottle.

Dip the bottle in the wax to seal

Allow to cool
Add a label or tie a card with information on the bottle using ribbon or raffia
Programs like Publisher will make nice labels, I use the business card size, or hand write a label
Shake gently before each use.

On the label I add the date, the ingredients list and how to use the oil.

Bath oil gifts

To use the homemade bath oil:

Add about 1 to 2 Tbsp. oil to the bath water while it is running. Be careful when entering or leaving the bath, the oils can cause the tub to be slippery.

Another recipe for homemade bath oil:

Add 1 Tbsp. vegetable glycerin to the bottle, add essential oil of your choice and fill with oil of your choice. For every 1/2 c. oil use about 10 drops of essential oils.

Other things you might include is pure vanilla, small amount of castile soap, dry milk and or honey.

Enjoy your own version of homemade bath oils.

Comfrey and Mint Facial Scrub

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This wonderful Comfrey and Mint facial scrub is just right for normal skin and will add a healthy glow. If you have oily skin, leave out the dried milk.

5 Tbsp. oatmeal flour
4 Tbsp. sunflower seed meal
3 Tbsp. almond meal
2 Tbsp. dry milk
1/4 tsp. ground organic comfrey leaves
1/4 tsp. ground organic peppermint leaves
few drops of vitamin E oil (optional)

Use a coffee grinder, mortar and pestle or small food processor to grind your ingredients. Grind each ingredient separately.

Coffee grinder for nuts and herbs

Wipe out grinder between nuts and herbs for the perfect Comfrey and Mint Facial Scrub.

Ingredients for facial scrub

The picture above shows the ingredients for the Comfrey and Mint facial scrub after they have been ground and measured.The recipe measurements are after grinding.

Mix in a glass bowl or measuring cup and add a few drops of vitamin E oil. This may clump some but the vitamin E is a great addition to your facial scrub.

Facial scrub ready to jar

To make the decorative circle, cut a piece of fabric larger than a saucer, which is what I used to make the circle. Lay the saucer on the fabric and with a white pencil on dark fabric or dark pencil on light fabric draw a circle.

Cutting the perfect circle

Use pinking shears cut out the circle.

Pink the circle to prevent fraying

To use the Comfrey and Mint Facial Scrub:

Always test a small area on sensitive skin such as the inside the elbow to make sure the ingredients do not cause any allergic reactions, before applying to the face.

In a small bowl mix about 4 tsp. of the facial scrub and enough water to make a paste. Allow to sit a a minute or two until the mixture thickens. Spread on a clean face and rinse thoroughly. Follow with a nourishing moisturizer.

Your face feels clean and soft. This mixture is safe for everyday use.

Why these ingredients and herbs work:

Comfrey is an emollient, soothing, healing and a mild astringent. Peppermint is stimulating to the skin.

Other herbs that might be substituted include:

Elder flowers: Cleansing, emollient, helps to clear complexion, hydrate the skin and normalized the acid balance of the skin
Violet: Cleansing and emollient
Calendula: Cleansing, astringent, promotes healing, toning
Lady’s Mantle: Astringent
Thyme: Toning, refreshing, disinfectant, may cause a reaction so use with caution
Chamomile: Cleansing, cooling, lightening, anti-inflammatory
Lavender: Antiseptic, stimulating

Emollient herbs will sooth and lubricate the skin. Sweet violet contains mucilage, a compound which forms gel when mix with water. This mucilage is good for the skin.

Astringent herbs such as calendula reacts with proteins to create a tightening effect on the tissues of the skin.

Oatmeal is a deep pore cleaning agent, softening and nourishing. Almond meal has a healing, soothing and healthful deep pore cleanser.

Milk is good for those dreaded blackheads and help to soften rough skin. Milk should be used on normal skin.

Vitamin E oil helps to slow down the aging process and premature wrinkles. YEA! YEA! Vitamin E is absorbed through the skin and can be apply to problem skin to help with the healing process.

Comfrey and Mint Facial Scrub

The finished product and ready to give as a wonderful gift. Don’t forget to make some for yourself.

Enjoy the Comfrey and Mint Scrub.

Herbal Vinegar Hair Rinse

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This wonderful vinegar rinse is great for the hair and will bring life back to your tresses. Herbal vinegar hair rinse can be made from different herbs depending on your hair type and color.

Choose the right herb for your hair type. Listed below are some of the herbs used in herbal rinses.

Blondes:

Chamomile
Lemon
Mullein flowers
Orange flowers
calendula
Turmeric

Brunettes:

Sage
Rosemary
Yarrow
Clove
Henna
Marigold

Red Hair

Marigold flowers
Witch Hazel Bark
Henna
Clove
Red Hibiscus

Dry Hair

Comfrey root and leaf
Red Clover
Geranium
Sage
Orange Peel

Oily Hair

Lavender
Lemon Balm
Rosemary
Lemon Grass
Lemon Peel

For Luster

Parsley
Basil
Rosemary

Before using any herb solution on the scalp, dap some on the inside of your arm and cover with a bandage and leave for 24 hours. If nothing happens, it is properly safe to used on your head.

For the rinse featured in this blog, I used chamomile, comfrey, calendula, and rosemary. These herbs were chosen because I have blond, dry hair. The chamomile and calendula can be replaced with sage and rosemary for dark hair.

Chamomile and calendula are for blond highlights, rosemary for luster and hair growth and comfrey for dry hair.

Herbs used in Hair rinse

Chamomile Herbal Vinegar Hair Rinse

Ingredients:

About 1 cup of dried chamomile flowers
2-4 Tbsp. each of rosemary, comfrey and calendula
3 cups of apple cider vinegar plus more if needed to cover

Equipment used in Hair Rinse

Equipment used:

Glass, enamel, or ceramic pot for heating vinegar, stay away from aluminum
Quart jar with lid lined with wax paper
Measuring cup
Funnel
Plastic container with plastic lid (Note: use plastic in the shower, glass might break)
Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth lined strainer
Labels

Chamomile Hair Rinse

Heat vinegar in glass pot to almost boiling. It is good idea to stay away from aluminum pans, they react to the vinegar. Some suggest staying away from all metal, but I have used stainless steel.

Vinegar heated to almost boiling

Place herbs in glass jar. Have lid ready and lined with wax paper. The wax paper is to prevent the vinegar from coming in contact with metal lid. Plastic lids works best, but they are hard to fine to fit glass jars.

Cover the herbs with hot vinegar and allow to cool before adding the lid. Don’t forget to label and date. Chamomile will soak up a lot of vinegar, so allow room in jar. May need to add additional apple cider vinegar in a few days.

Hair rinse Ready to be stained

Shake every day for 1 to 2 weeks which allows the herbs to infuse with the vinegar. After the time has passed, strain the vinegar using a coffee filter lined mesh strainer. Squeeze out as much of the liquid as possible. Compost the herbs. Pour into plastic container with plastic lid to use in the shower. The part full container is what is left from the last batch I made. This size plastic container will not hold all the vinegar this recipe makes.

How to Use:

Mix about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of vinegar with 2 cups of warm water. After shampooing, rinse hair with vinegar/water solution and massage into scalp. Watch your eyes, vinegar will sting. I like to keep a plastic cup in the shower for mixing the vinegar solution.

The vinegar solution can be left in hair or rinse with warm water followed by cool water. Use about once a week to every other week.

Vinegar removes soap film and excess sedum oil from the hair. Sedum oil is needed in moderate amounts to promote healthy skin and hair.Too much can cause oily hair and skin.

Vinegar helps with all the abuse we put our hair through and it will help to restore, soften and condition the hair.

Beautiful hair is a result of what we put on our hair as well as what we put in our body. A balance diet and hydration will result in great hair.

Parsley Post

How to grow and use herbs for everyday life

Category Archives: Herbal Cosmetics

Orange zest, Thyme and Rose Body Scrub

How to make Face Moisturizers, sweet orange or lavender

Making Face Masks and Astringents

Homemade Bath Oil

Comfrey and Mint Facial Scrub

Herbal Vinegar Hair Rinse