3 tablespoons honey
3 drops rose essential oil
2 drops vanilla essential oil
Add essential oils to honey and mix well, then add the mixture to (not too hot) running water to treat yourself to a sensual and nourishing bath fit for a queen.
Because this hand soap includes tea tree essential oil, it is a natural hygienic hand disinfectant.
1 cup liquid castille soap
1 tablespoon liquid vegetable glycerin
EO Blend as follows: 10 drops tea tree, 10 drops peppermint, 5 drops lavender
Prepare EO blend and allow it to marry for several days. Then combine all ingredients in a pump bottle and shake well. Shake well before using.
6 tablespoons rosewater
2 tablespoons vegetable glycerin
2 tablespoons honey
EO Blend: 5 drops each of chamomile, rosewood, and geranium
Prepare EO blend and allow it to marry for several days. Then combine all ingredients in a dark bottle and shake well. Shake well before using.
1 tablespoon ground almonds
1 tablespoon ground oatmeal
EO Blend: 10 drops palmarosa, 10 drops sandalwood, 5 drops carrot seed
Grind almonds in a blender or with a mortar and pestle, add oatmeal and grind some more. Place almonds and oatmeal in glass bowl and add EO blend, mixing into a fine paste.
Use paste to clean skin (avoid eye area), and rinse well. Then follow up with a facial toner and facial oil.
1 egg
1 tablespoon jojoba or olive oil
EO blend: 10 drops lavender, 5 drops geranium
Blend all ingredients together well, and then massage into hair and cover. Rinse with clear water after 30 minutes, than shampoo and follow with a hair rinse.
1 cup epsom salts
1 cup dead sea salts, sea salts, or kosher salts
1 cup baking soda
1/2 teaspoon (50 drops) rosemary
1/2 teaspoon (50 drops) tea tree
Combine all ingredients in an air tight container. Add 1/4 cup of Achy Muscles Bath Salts to a warm (not too hot) bath.
4 tablespoons cocoa or shea butter
2 tablespoons carrier oil (recommendation: calendula oil)
2 teaspoons vit E oil
1/2 – 1 tablespoon cornstarch
15 drops EO blend (5 drops patchouli, 10 drops sandalwood)
Heat butter in double boiler until melted (do not boil.) Remove from heat and add carrier oil. Beat with hand mixer until balm starts to cool. Add vit e oil. Continue beating until balm becomes light and fluffy. Slowly add cornstarch, beating thoroughly after each addition. Over time you will learn when the balm has reached the proper consistency and you can stop adding cornstarch. Try to err on the side of adding too little cornstarch as opposed to too much.
Too much cornstarch will cause the balm to be gritty and hard to apply. Too little and the balm may be slightly greasy. Adding the right amount gives the balm a smooth, velvety texture and allows it to melt into the skin.
Add EO blend and beat about 30 seconds more. Transfer balm to sterile air tight container and allow it to cool completely before adding the lid.
8 ounces witch hazel
1/2 ounce vegetable glycerin
EO Blend as follows:
2 drops clove
5 drops coriander
5 drops grapefruit
2 drops lavender
10 drops lemon
5 drop lime
5 drops palmarosa
Prepare the EO blend and allow it to marry for several days. Then combine all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well. Shake well before using.
10 drops ylang ylang
8 drops lime
8 drops rosemary
1 cup boiled water
2 ounces apple cider vinegar
Combine all ingredients; use regularly as a hair rinse.
As always, the essential oil formula will be more effective if you blend it a few days before and allow it to marry. Try blending enough for a week or two.
Finally, a good use for all those pretty stones you pick up!
large basin
enough small round stones to cover the bottom
hot water to fill
1 cup epsom salts
5 drops of the following EO blend: 5 drops rosemary, 5 drops peppermint, 5 drops lavender
Line bottom of basin with stones, add (not too) hot water, swish around the epsom salts and then add 5 drops only of the EO blend. Soak feet for about 10 minutes, occasionally rolling your feet along the stones. Pat dry and follow up with a foot oil or cream and a foot powder.
Bliss !
2 drops clary sage
2 drops lavender
1 drop vetiver
Use in a warm (not too hot) bath to make you drowsy and ready for sleep.
Treat your dry, winter hands to this shea butter barrier cream!
2 tablespoons lanolin
2 tablespoons shea butter
4 tablespoons almond oil
1 tablespoon beeswax (grated)
7 tablespoons lavender infusion
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
1/4 teaspoon borax
20 drops EO formula (suggestion for dry skin: 10 drops geranium, 5 drops patchouli, 5 drops rose)
You will need a double boiler and a hand mixer for this recipe.
Directions: Make the herbal infusion and let stand for 30 minutes. Grate the beeswax, measure into the top of the double boiler, along with the lanolin, shea butter, and almond oil. Melt this mixture gently, taking great care to never allow it to boil. While mixture is melting, strain your lavender infusion, measure it out, and add the aloe vera gel and the borax. Mix with a small wire whisk.
Once your oil mix has melted, remove the top of the double boiler from the heat and let the mixture stand until a slight film forms on the top of the oil. Use your hand mixer to blend well on a low setting. Once you’ve got your oils well mixed, turn the mixer speed up to medium. Slowly begin adding the herbal infusion mixture. You may need to stop several times to scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat thoroughly until you get a light, creamy consistency. Add essential oil blend and mix 30 seconds more.
Use the rubber spatula to transfer the cream into a dry sterile container. Do not cover until completely cool. This will make approximately 8 ounces of cream.
A simple face mask recipe suitable for all skin types.
1 egg white
2 teaspoons facial oil suitable for your skin type
Blend ingredients together with a wire whisk. Use immediately.
TO Use: Apply to clean skin (avoid eye area), leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse off with tepid water and apply a facial tonic followed by a facial treatment cream or oil.
To learn more about facial oils, considering purchasing my recipe guide.
10 ounces kaolin (white) clay
enough water to form a paste
2 egg yolks
12 drops lemon essential oil
6 drops patchouli essential oil
lemon oil to remove impurities, patchouli oil to tone and soothe the skin
Measure out the clay in a glass bowl, add enough water to form a paste that has the consistency of yogurt. In another bowl, separate the eggs (save the egg whites for a face mask) and add the essential oils (use a wire whisk to blend). Add yolks to the clay mixture, and blend well. Smooth over your entire body (except for your face). Leave on for 20-30 minutes, then sponge off with warm water.
Follow this up with an aromatherapy bath suitable for your skin type and a good moisturizer.
Calendula oil makes a marvelous additive to all your cosmetic recipes, as it is so nourishing to the skin.
8 ounce mason jar w/lid
1 – 1 ½ cups calendula flowers (marigold) dried or fresh
6-7 ounces carrier oil
1 teaspoon vit E oil
Pack the mason jar with flowers, then add carrier oil. Olive oil, almond oil, or sesame oil are good choices, or a blend of all three. Cover the flowers with the oil, and seal tightly. Jar should be kept in a cool dark place and shaken every day for two weeks.
When two weeks have passed, strain the oil into a dark glass jar and add the vit E oil as a preservative.
Note that if you are using fresh flowers, you may need to increase the quantity as much as twice. Also, you should bruise the flowers first by scrunching them in your hands.
Alternative Medicine