Beauty & Bath

Homemade Shampoo (Jean's Recipe)
Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
Do-it-Yourself Herb Facial
Miracle Grains Soap Replacement
Herbal Facial Steam
Honey Mask
Rosewater Rinse
Homemade Face Cream

Homemade Shampoo (Jean's Recipe)

Herbs:

4 tablespoons nettle
2 tablespoons rosemary
2 tablespoons orange peel
2 tablespoons lemongrass
1.5 tablespoons Irish moss

Other ingredients:

1 pint olive & coconut castille soap
1 teaspoon orange essential oil
½ teaspoon lemon essential oil
½ teaspoon cinnamon essential oil
3 tablespoons aloe vera gel
1 teaspoon jojoba oil
10 drops benzoin tincture (preservative)

Directions:

Simmer herbs in 2 quarts distilled water for 30 minutes. Let sit overnight. Strain. Cook liquid down to 1 quart. Add olive and coconut castille soap, the orange, lemon, and cinnamon essential oils, aloe gel, jojoba oil, and benzoin tincture. Place in shampoo dispenser(s). Shake before use.

Acknowledgement: I am grateful to staff at Jean's Greens Herbal Tea Works who shared this recipe with me. I use it and love it! For your information, Jean's Greens have a wonderful range of herb products. Check them out at www.jeansgreens.com.

Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

Combine a handful of your favorite combination of herbs, such as nettle, fresh rosemary, sage, chamomile, and/or horsetail, and cover with 1 quart of apple cider vinegar (Do not use the harsher white distilled vinegar, but only apple cider vinegar). Keep this herbal vinegar convenient to your shower or bath. After shampooing your hair, rinse with one quart warm water to which just 1 tablespoon of the hair rinse has been added.

This apple cider vinegar rinse helps re-establish an acid environment which helps protect your scalp. It also makes your hair feel fantastic!

Do-it-Yourself Herb Facial

For a lovely herbal facial, follow these steps:

1. Wash your face with Miracle Grains
2. Enjoy an herbal facial steam
3. Apply a honey mask
4. Rinse with rose water
5. Moisturize with homemade cream

Miracle Grains Recipe*

This is a wonderful soap replacement:

1 cup finely ground oats
2 cups white clay
1/4 cup finely ground almonds
1/8 cup each of finely ground lavender and roses

Grind ingredients in a small electric grinder or blender. Mix them together and store in a glass container. To use, mix 1 teaspoon of the Miracle Grains mixture with warm water to form a paste and gently massage on the face. The grainy nature of this cleanser helps to remove dead skin cells and results in a clean, fresh face!

Herbal Facial Steam

A facial steam opens pores and helps remove impurities. To enjoy, place a handful of selected herbs in a large bowl or sink and cover with water which has been brought to a boil. Cover your head and the bowl or sink with a large towel to trap in the steam. Do not make yourself uncomfortable or allow yourself to get too hot. After about 5 minutes, pat your face dry with a towel.

Deep Cleansing Herbs: chamomile, fennel, nettle, rosemary

Herbs for dry to normal skin: chamomile, roses, marshmallow, parsley, lavender, comfrey

Herbs for normal to oily skin: horsetail, yarrow, sage, rosemary, witch hazel

Formulate your favorite mix for your personalized facial steam!

Honey Mask

Gently apply honey to your face. Leave on for about 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Be sure to use gentle strokes when massaging and applying or removing material from the face.

Rosewater Rinse

Wet a cotton pad with rose water, a light astringent, and gently apply to the face for a final rinse.

Homemade Face Cream*

¾ cup apricot oil
½ cup coconut oil
1 teaspoon lanolin
½ oz. grated beeswax

Melt lanolin and beeswax into apricot and coconut oil. Remove immediately from heat and place in a glass cup to cool to room temperature. Oils should become semi-solid and creamy in color. The oils should be completely cool before continuing to the next step.

Place distilled water, aloe vera gel, and your choice of essential oil in a blender. Turn on to high speed and slowly drizzle the oil mixture into the center vortex. When most of the oil mixture has been added, the blender will begin to hesitate as the cream thickens and turns white. At this stage, turn the blender off as it is important not to overbeat! Pour the cream into jars and store in a cool place. The cream thickens more as it sets up.

* Acknowledgement: I learned to use Miracle Grains and prepare homemade face cream through Rosemary Gladstar's wonderful correspondence course, The Science & Art of Herbology.