Summer Beauty & Herbal Wellness
Thank you to all that attended the first Mother Earth Fair "Herbal Wellness Conference" it was 2 days full of excellent speakers and information. I can't believe I talked for over 3 hours!! I also appreciate all my friends at Mountain Rose Herbs for hosting me at their beautiful mercantile and providing all of the ingredients I used. Summer is here and it has started out so beautiful with my flowers blooming and a huge "strawberry" moon at night. I hope you all are having a relaxing start to the season too Here are the recipes and ideas I taught this week for you to enjoy as well!
Summer is the perfect season for creating your own natural skin care products and treatments. There are so many fresh ingredients available. Herbs, produce and flowers are everywhere and perfect ingredients for homemade body care products.
Cucumber Chamomile Cleanser
This is a mild non-soap cleanser that is perfect for all skin types especially those with sensitive skin. Cucumber juice chamomile flowers, and aloe vera gel are all gentle and soothing to the skin.
2 Tablespoons fresh cucumber juice
1 Tablespoon dried chamomile or chamomile tea
1 cup hot water
1 Tablespoon aloe vera gel
1 Tablespoon vegetable glycerin
Make a strong infusion of the chamomile flowers and water and let cool. Strain off the chamomile flowers. Mix together the cucumber juice, chamomile infusion, glycerin, and aloe vera gel. Pour into a clean container. To use: Apply to your skin with a cotton pad and rinse with cool water.
Yield: 8 ounces
Fresh Cucumber Toner
Cucumber juice is a natural astringent and also mild tonic for sunburned skin.
1 /4 cup fresh cucumber juice
2 Tablespoons witch hazel
2 Tablespoons pure water
Mix together all the ingredients and pour into a clean bottle. To use: Apply to your skin with a clean cotton ball. You can also spray onto your skin.
Yield: 4 ounces
Note: To make fresh cucumber juice. Blend a fresh cucumber on high and then strain the fresh green juice.
Sunflower Lotion
This is the year of the sunflower and no other flower feels more like summer than these bright blooms. Sunflower oil is nourishing to your skin and is high in vitamin E. This light lotion makes a wonderful all over body lotion.
1/2 cup water
1/8 teaspoon borax or baking soda
1 /2 cup sunflower oil
1 /2 teaspoon grated beeswax
Combine the borax powder and water and stir well. Set aside. Mix together the oil and beeswax in a heat resistant container. Heat gently in a water bath until the wax is melted. Heat the water solution until it is very hot but not boiling. Pour the water mixture into a blender and slowing add the oil in a slow steady stream. You can also do this by hand. Let the lotion cool completely. You should have a light white lotion. Pour into a clean container. To use: Massage into your skin.
Yield: 8 ounces
Soothing Sunburn Lotion
This is a soothing light lotion that can take some of the heat and discomfort out of a bad sunburn. Witch hazel and baking soda are two old fashioned cures and the natural peppermint oil is naturally cooling to your skin.
2 Tablespoon water
1 Tablespoon witch hazel
1 Tablespoon aloe vera gel
1 /4 cup baking soda
Mix together all the ingredients to form a thin, milky solution. Shake well before using. To use: Gently apply to your skin and allow to dry. Reapply if necessary. You may also want to rinse your skin afterward because this lotion leaves a fine, powdery film as it dries.
Yield: 4 ounces
Hair Conditioning Clay
This is a rich conditioning hair treatment that can be used before or after shampooing your hair. It acts as a deep cleanser and adds body.
1 /4 cup sunflower oil
2 Tablespoons natural clay
1 /2 cup water
Mix together all ingredients until you have a smooth creamy mixture. Spoon the mixture into a clean container. To use: Wet your hair and massage about a tablespoon of the clay mixture into your hair and scalp. Wrap your head in a cotton towel or shower cap and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Then shampoo as usual and rinse your hair well.
Yield: 4 ounces
Ultimate Pedicure
The word pedicure means, “caring for the feet,” summer is the perfect season for this treatment because we are often barefoot or in sandals exposing and your want your feet to look and feel their best. It has been proven that your whole body benefits when your feet feel good.
Here are the steps to follow for healthy, happy feet:
1. Soak feet for 15 -20 minutes in a warm footbath. You can add dried herbs or herbal tea in your water. Also adding a little vinegar will really help soften and remove rough skin. Scrub gently with a natural pumice stone or luffa sponge.
2. Trim your toenails. The best time to trim nails is after they have been soaking you will get a cleaner cut. Cut straight across the nail to avoid ingrown toenails.
3. Apply a foot mask. Use your favorite facial mask recipe or create one just for your feet. I like to use green clay mixed with some black tea and tea tree oil. Elevate your feet and relax for 15 -20 minutes.
4. Rinse your feet and Massage them with some natural oil or a rich cream. You can gently push back your cuticles on the base of each nail with a nail stick wrapped in cotton.
Note: If you do this treatment in the evening before bedtime you can apply a thick layer of cream and wear a pair of cotton socks to bed.
For more information, supplies and recipes:
Janice Cox
Mountain Rose Herbs
Mother Earth News Magazine