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.
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.
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.
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.
Floral Facial Mist – all skin types
1/2 cup lavender infusion
3 drops rosewood essential oil
3 drops chamomile essential oil
1 drop neroli essential oil
1 drop rose essential oil
Blend essential oils and allow to “marry” for several days. Make lavender infusion, cool and strain. Add essential oil blend and lavender infusion in spray bottle. Shake gently to blend.
To Use: Shake well before use. Spray your skin throughout the day to replenish moisture lost to the atmosphere.
Please refer to Herbal Infusion and Decoctions: A Simple How To, for information on making a lavender herbal infusion
Aromatherapy Relaxing Bath Oil Recipe
2 ounces sweet almond oil
12 drops lavender essential oil
6 drops rose essential oil
2 drops tea tree essential oil
Combine all ingredients in a dark glass bottle, blending essential oils first and allowing them to “marry” for a few days. To use, add half of the contents to a warm bath.
Please consult Essential Oil Blending Basics for information on how to blend essential oils.
Alternative Medicine