Recipes  for  the  Body

 

AROMATIC SKIN WHITENER

125g white wax

250g honey

170ml vegetable oil

juice of 3 lemons

your choice of aromatic oil

Melt wax in top of a double boiler, add other ingredients and beat all together with a fork until cold. Add a few drops of aromatic oil such as lavender or lemon verbena.

 

PEPPERMINT TOOTHPASTE

5 tablespoons bicarb of soda

30 drops of peppermint essential oil

Mix together and store in a glass jar with a plastic screw on lid. To clean your teeth, use 1 teaspoon of the mixture moistened with a little water to make a paste.

 

ROSEWATER HAND LOTION

Mix 5 parts glycerine to 12 parts rosewater. Rub well into roughened hands. If your hands are stained, add a pinch of borax.

 

APRICOT SKIN CREAM

1 teaspoon of rose petal infusion

1/2 teaspoon beeswax

2 teaspoons cocoa butter

2 teaspoons almond oil

2 teaspoons apricot oil

1/4 teaspoon honey

Make the rose infusion by soaking rose petals in half a cup of boiling water, and leave to steep for several hours. Melt beeswax in a glass jar by standing in hot water, then add cocoa butter and wait for it to melt. Pour in the oils, then the honey and make sure it has melted. Add the rose infusion. Take the jar form the hot water, screw on the lid firmly and shake until mixture cools.

 

ALMOND HAND CREAM

200g Vaseline

200g lanolin

20ml almond oil

20ml rosewater

In the top of a double boiler, warm lanolin and Vaseline together. While still on low heat, gradually beat in the almond oil and rosewater. Remove mixture from heat and beat using an electric mixer for 10 minutes. Leave to cool overnight. Beat again the following day and store in screwtop jars.

 

EGG WHITE HEEL REMEDY

If you have blisters on your heels that need treatment, you need methylated spirits and 1 egg white. Bathe your blistered feet in cold water, and pat dry gently, but thoroughly. With cotton wool, dab your feet with methylated spirits. Paint blistered heels with egg white to protect and soothe.

 

TROPICAL DREAM BODY BUTTER
"Spread this on the body of your choice"
3 tsp beeswax
1/4 cup sweet almond oil
1/4 cup glycerine
1 tsp each mango & peach fragrant oil
3 drops each red and yellow food colouring
Melt beeswax in pan. In separate pan, heat almond oil, and glycerine. Stir in beeswax. Remove from heat. Place in bowl. Whip with electric mixer or whisk until well blended. Add fragrant oils and food colouring and mix well. Allow to cool slightly and then whip until cool and thick.


Note: placing bowl in large bowl of ice water speeds process. Spoon into jars.

 

IVY CELLULITE CREAM

Some doctors and scientists dispute the concept of cellulite; many people look at their skin and think otherwise. Whatever the outcome of this argument, the fatty "orange peel" deposits on the thighs and buttocks can benefit from extra attention.



Massage into areas of cellulite.

2 tsp beeswax
1 tsp emulsifying wax
3 tsp almond oil
1 tsp avocado oil
4 TBS double strength ivy decoction
8 drops each essential oils of oregano, fennel, rosemary


 

1. Melt the waxes in a double broiler. Warm the oils and then stir them in well.
2. Beat in the ivy decoction and allow the mixture to cool before stirring in each of the essential oils.
3. Spoon into jars and label.


 

Herbs: RD Home Handbooks by Lesley Bremness

 

PEPPERMINT MOUTHWASH

20g green aniseed

10g star aniseed

5g cloves

5g cinnamon stick

10g angelica

200ml vodka

3 drops peppermint oil

 

Steep the herbs and spices in the vodka for 2 weeks then strain the mixture through a piece of cotton cloth and then add the peppermint oil. To use, add 1 teaspoon of herbal mixture to a full glass of water and rinse your mouth.

 

MILD ALMOND SOAP

3/4 cup almond meal

1/2 cup rice powder (from health food stores)

1 1/4 cups of shaved castile soap

Mix together and pour into a screwtop jar and store. When using, make a lather in your hands by adding warm water. Rub gently into your skin and rinse well with warm water.

 

LIME JUICE LOTION FOR OILY SKIN

Mix together equal amounts of strained fresh lime juice and water. Apply mixture to already cleansed skin using cotton ball. Do this while standing in a bath so that the juice drips into it and not on floor. This lotion removes any excess oil, loosens any dead skin cells and leaves your skin feeling cooled, refreshed and smooth.

 

CLOVE MOUTHWASH

Infuse 3 tablespoons of cloves (bruised or sliced) in 600ml of boiling water in a container. Cover and leave for about one hour. When cold, strain liquid through muslin and use as a mouthwash.

 

ORANGE BLOSSOM COLOGNE

10g bergamot essential oil

10g orange essential oil

2g orange blossom

5g lemon essential oil

2g rosemary essential oil

1 litre alcohol

 

Mix all of the above ingredients together, bottle and shake well before use. Dab on a little every morning or before you go out.

 

CORNMEAL HAND CLEANER

Cornmeal can remove all manner of dirt, oil and grease from your hands. It also soothes rough, reddened hands that are sensitive to soap, and makes a good bleaching solution to remove or fade freckles and dark spots from the back of your hands. Take 1 cup of cornmeal and 1/2 cup finely shaved castile soap in a glass jar. Shake well to combine all the ingredients. To use cleanser, simply wet your hands and apply the mixture to wash them.

Face  Recipes

HONEY & ALMOND FACE PACK

1 egg white

1 desert spoon honey

5 drops almond oil

Beat all these ingredients together until you have a smooth cream. Then apply the cream liberally over your face so it is gluggy on your skin's surface. Leave it for 30 mins, then remove it using tepid water and cotton wool.

 

OLIVE OIL MOISTURISER

50g sesame oil

40g olive oil

few drops of bergamot oil

Mix ingredients together, bottle and shake well before using.

 

WHIPPED CREAM FACE MASK

1 peeled raw potato

a little whipped double cream

Finely grate potato and mix with enough cream to make a paste. Smooth over face and leave for 20 minutes, then wash off with milk or tepid water.

 

LIP CARE

An old folk remedy for chapped or cracking lips was to make an ointment of red clovers. Boil 1 cup of flowers in 3 cups of water over a low heat for about 45 minutes. Strain off the liquid and repeat this process twice more. Now allow the remaining juice to cook down until a syrup forms. Keep this in a container and apply to lips as needed. Violet petals and sage are also effective.



Another lip balm is made with 1 cup almond oil, 1 ounce of bees wax, 2 teaspoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of rose or vanilla extract for flavour. Mix all of these ingredients over a low heat until well incorporated, then store in an air tight container for use.

 

HONEY LEMON MASK

2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon lemon juice


Gently warm the honey and lemon (mixed together) in the micro or toaster oven. Test for warmth and then spread on face. Leave on for up to 30 minutes
then wash off.


BB  Eliza

*Please note: Stay out of direct sunlight after using lemon on your face as it makes it very sensitive.

 

HERBAL FACIALS

Make a tea out of herb (chamomile, nettle*, rosemary, peppermint).
Moisten wash cloth with hot tea and lay on face. Lay back and relax.


Mint tea makes a great skin freshener.

*Please test to make sure you are not allergic to any of these herbs.

 

PEACHES AND CREAM MOISTURISER

Blend together 1 ripe peach and heavy cream. Refrigerate. Massage onto your skin whenever needed once per day.

 

CUCUMBER SPLASHER

from Nature's Beauty Kit: Cosmetic Recipes You Can Make at Home

Ingredients:
cucumber, water, fresh mint


Instructions:
Peel and cut half of a cucumber. Mix in blender until smooth. Add an equal amount of water. Add 4 fresh mint leaves. Mix in blender until smooth. Strain through muslin, cheesecloth, or a paper coffee filter into clean jar. Splash on face or apply with a cotton ball. Store in refrigerator, discarding any unused portion after four days.


 

OATMEAL FACE MASK

For oily skin and especially for those hot summer months, grind whole oats in your mortar and pestle. Add enough water to make a paste and apply to face. Allow to dry. Then scrape off the dried oat mask into a paper towel or into the trash. It will clog a sink drain. Wash off the rest with a warm to hot washcloth.
Leaves face feeling soft and smooth, and removes all traces of oils.


 

OATMEAL FACE MASK

Mix together 1 tablespoon of instant oatmeal, 1 tablespoon of almond oil, 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 egg yolk. Pat onto face and leave to dry for about 15 minutes. Rinse mixture off your face using only tepid water and dab face dry on clean towel.

 

LEMON LIP BALM

By Kelly Reno From her "Oils, Lotions and Other Luxuries" book

1tablespoon of petroleum jelly
1/2 teaspoon of beeswax, grated
3 drops lemon flavour oil
In a very small pot, heat the petroleum jelly and add the beeswax, stirring until melted. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon oil. Pour the mixture into a small screw-top jar or metal tin.


 

HERBAL FACE MASKS

Any of the herbs listed {below} can be used to create a green mask. Take 2 handfuls of fresh leaves or three tablespoons of dried (softened by soaking in
boiled water overnight). Add 2 tablespoons of distilled or mineral water and blend at high speed for a few seconds. This makes a rather wet mixture, but if you are in a bath or lying on a towel it can be applied as it is. If you wish to thicken the mixture add fuller's or ground almonds until it reaches the desired consistency.


 

FOR NORMAL SKIN:

Fennel, juniper berries, lady's mantle, linden flowers, mint, nettle.

 

FOR DRY AND SENSITIVE SKIN:
Comfrey, hens and chicks, marsh mallow, pounded flax or quince seed
(which contains softening mucilage.)


 

FOR OILY SKIN:
Sage, yarrow; 2 tablespoons of pounded fennel or lupine seed to exfoliate dead skin and refine pores.


 

LAVENDER MOISTURISER

Take 2 drops of lavender essential oil, 1 drop of chamomile essential oil, 1 drop of orange essential oil and 2 tablespoons of soya oil. Place all ingredients in a coloured bottle and shake well. To use, shake bottle again and apply a little of the oil mixture on dry areas on your face. Then gently massage into your skin using your fingertips. When absorbed, repeat application.

 

PEPPERMINT SHAVING SOAP

1 grated cake of creamy white soap

3 cups distilled water

4 drops of your favourite essential oil

2 drops thyme essential oil

1 drop peppermint essential oil

5 drops bergamot essential oil

 

Melt soap in a saucepan over a low heat with just enough distilled water to form a soft paste. Stir in the essential oils until the whole mixture is thoroughly blended and smells the way you want it to. Remove mixture from heat and then spoon it all into a wide and shallow container, leave it for 48 hours to harden before using.

 

HONEY & MILK FACIAL MASK

1 teaspoon powdered skim milk

1/2 teaspoon honey

1 egg white

 

Mix the skim milk with the honey and blend well. Then beat the milk mixture with an egg white until all of the ingredients are thoroughly blended. Apply the paste thickly to your face and leave for about 20 minutes. Remove using warm water, then splash your face with cold water.

 

AVOCADO SKIN CLEANSER

If you have dry skin, avocado is a great cleanser and conditioner. Mash a ripe avocado thoroughly, apply it to your skin and massage in carefully for several minutes. Remove residue using a tissue, but leave a coating of the rich oil on your skin so the vitamin A in the oil can penetrate your skin while you sleep.

 

AVOCADO HERBAL CLEANSER

2 tablespoons safflower oil

2 tablespoons sesame oil

1 tablespoon sunflower seed oil

1 tablespoon avocado oil

1 tablespoon peanut oil

1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil and wheat germ oil

3 drops of your favourite perfume

 

Mix all the above ingredients together in a blender, pour into a screw-top jar and shake well.

 

OATMEAL AND MILK FACE MASK

This is an ideal treatment for oily skin. Mix enough oatmeal with milk to make a consistent paste, and then spread the mixture over your face. Leave it on your skin for about 15 minutes, and then rinse off the mask using warm water. Then splash cold water onto your face and pat skin dry. Apply face moisturiser after mask.

 

SOUR CREAM CLEANSER

This cleaner is cooling on those hot summer days. Apply a liberal amount of cold sour cream to the skin and leave it on for up to 20 minutes. Remove the cream from your face using a face cloth dampened in warm water, then rinse off in cold water. This cleanser is also very stimulating for your skin's circulation.

 

ROSEMARY AFTERSHAVE LOTION

2 tablespoons chopped sage leaves

2 tablespoons rosemary leaves

1 1/2 cups cider vinegar

1 1/2 cups witch hazel

 

Steep the herbs in vinegar in a large glass jar, cover and leave for 2 weeks, stirring occasionally. Strain through a cloth or coffee filter paper and stir in the witch-hazel. Store in a tightly capped glass bottle. Pat onto your skin using a cotton wool ball.