Herbal Beauty Tips

Rejuvenating Lemon-Ginger Bath

1/4 cup minced ginger root
1/4 cup dried parsley
1/2 cup lemon zest
2 tablespoons oatmeal

Toss all ingredients into some muslin or nylon, tie it closed, and toss it into a warm bath. The ginger aids circulation. The parsley is good for the
skin, the lemon lends a refreshing aroma, and the oatmeal softens the water for a very rejuvenating bath.

Fruit for your face?

Tired skin can be refreshed by using a mask with strawberries! Mix 4 large berries, enough cream and honey to make a thick paste and apply. Wait 20 minutes then rinse.

Milk Bath Blends

For homemade herbal milk baths, just dry your own herbs, and powder them in small batches in your blender. Add a couple teaspoons of the
herb to 1/2 C powdered milk and 1/4 C powdered oatmeal. Toss in the tub and soak. It's a bit messy, but your skin will love you. Herbs
to try: Peppermint, Lemongrass, Chamomile, Rosemary, Lavender, and scented geraniums.

What is Rosewater?

Rosewater is obtained during the process of extracting essential oil from rose petals. Rose petals are steam distilled, and rosewater is the result of that steam condensing. It is wonderful for dry or sensitive skintypes.

Facial Toners

Make your own facial toners by steeping herbs that
best suit your skin's needs in apple cider vinegar,
then dilute with an equal amount of rose- or orange
flower-water.

Herbal Bath Oils

Herbal oils for the bath will leave your skin feeling silky smooth, and your senses refreshed.

Use 1 part herb to 8 parts oil. Use a good natural oil like olive oil. You don't need to use extra virgin. Just buy the much less expensive
olive oil.

Warm the oil in a saucepan over very low heat. Crush and powder the herb or herbs of your choice to help release their oils. Soak the
herbs in the warm oil for a few hours, then strain, making sure to press all the oils from the herb material before discarding them. Add a
couple of tablespoons of this oil to your next bath.

Specific herbs and combinations for specific results are listed in other tips in this section.

Kelp for my hair?

Foods high in iron, including kelp or other sea vegetables, are good to eat to keep hair healthy. Flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, and Vitamin E are also helpful.

Don't Forget Your Eyes!

After applying your favorite mask, place cooled chammomile tea bags on your eyes and relax for 20 minutes. The tea bags soothe irritated eyes.

Dark Hair Rinse

For a scalp-stimulating hair rinse for
Dark Hair, toss a couple of handfuls of fresh
rosemary and an equal amount of fresh sage leaves in
a non-reactive pot. Cover with a quart of water,
bring slowly to a boil, cover, and simmer for 10
minutes. Remove from heat, allow to cool, and strain. Use as the final rinse when washing your hair.

Dry Skin Lotion

Combine equal parts Rosewater and vegetable
Glycerin (both available at your pharmacy) for a
wonderfully refreshing old-fashioned lotion.
Apply liberally as needed.

Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer

Make the Dry Skin Moisturizer in the previous tip, and add 5 drops lavender essential oil, or 2 drops Rose essential oil to each 4 ounces of liquid.

Cleansing Herbs for the Bath

Borage
Fennel
Lemon balm
Rose Petals
Sage

After Sun Care

Soothe burned skin with a tepid shower or bath soak as soon as possible. Then mix 3 drops peppermint oil into 1/4 cup of honey and apply.

Dry Skin Toner

If you have dry skin, and want to make your own
toner, try adding a couple of tablespoons fresh
lemon juice to a cup of witch hazel extract.
If its too strong for your skin, dilute with
distilled water. Store in the refrigerator for up
to a month.

Parsley and Vitamin A

Parsley's high Vitamin A content makes it a great addition to facial toners. Or, make the tea, and use it as a facial rinse.

Dry skin mask

Dry skin can be refreshed and moisturized by applying simple honey. Leave this effective mask on for 20 minutes before rinsing with tepid water. Your face will thank you for it!

Sore Muscle Soak

Next time your muscles ache from garden work, make a strong infusion with fresh Rosemary and add about a quart to your bath. Soak
for 20 minutes.

Basic Mouthwash

1/4 Cup breath-freshening herbs such as:mint, parsley, anise
2 tbsp Vodka-cheap is fine
2 Cups water

Blend, strain and store until use

Less-Mess Herbal Bath Idea

Ever buy those loose herbal bath mixes? Or make your
own? To reduce the mess of adding the loose herbs to
your bathwater, put a couple handfuls of the mix in
a piece of an old pair of pantyhose, tie it off, and
toss it in the tub to steep.

Baldness prevention

Gota Kola, nettle and rosemary have all been said to help stimulate hair growth.

Herbal rinse for baldness

Make a scalp rinse using garden sage and make it a STRONG one! Massage into scalp as a daily tonic or simply rinse hair following washing.

Dry Skin Facial Moisturizer

For a non-greasy facial moisturizer, combine equal parts Rosewater and vegetable Glycerin (available at your pharmacy), and then dilute by half with distilled water. Put in a spray bottle and use as a night moisturizer, under make-up, or alone.

Refreshing Herbs for the Bath

Bay
Basil
Rosemary
Mint
Pine
Thyme

Baldness busters

Your diet should consist of whole foods including the skins of such things as potatoes, peppers, sprouts and cucumbers, which all contain silicon giving strength to hair and nails.

Oily Skin Wash

For an oil-minimizing facial wash, make a strong
infusion of lemon grass, using a couple handfuls
of the herb to a quart of water. Bring it to a slow
simmer, cover, and remove from heat. Allow to cool,
then strain and add to an equal amount of liquid
castile soap. Wash daily.

Winter Mask

1 packet unflavored gelatin
2-3 tablespoons of your favorite soothing herb like chamomile or calendula or even lavender
1/2 cup boiling water

combine all ingredients, cover and steep 10 minutes. Let cool and apply to face. When dry, peel.

Can I make my own Rosewater?

Well, sort of. You can make an infusion by barely
covering rose petals with distilled water, bringing
it to a slow simmer, removing it from the heat and
covered, allowing it to cool. Then strain and store
in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Relaxing Herbs for the Bath

Catnip
Chamomile
Jasmine
Lavender
Lime flowers

Blonde Hair Brightener

For blonde hair, toss several handfuls of
chamomile flowers in a non-reactive pot and
cover with water. Bring slowly to a boil, cover,
and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and
allow to cool, strain, and use as the final rinse
when shampooing.

Why Try An Herbal Bath?

Herbal baths can be invigorating, relaxing, and
medicinal. They are generally made by adding loose herbs or strong herbal infusions to bathwater. Your skin "breathes in" the
therapeutic properties of the herbs.

Why does my homemade Rosewater lose its potency?

Because it does not contain as much oil and was not made in as sterile an environment as the commercial Rosewater. You will probably not add preservatives, either, as are in many commercial varieties. However, the addition of a drop or two of rose essential oil will both prolong the shelf-life and enhance it's quality.

Violets and Vitamin A

Violets contain a great amount of vitamin A. As such, you might want to include the leaves and flowers in your cosmetic toners and infused oils.

Herbs for baldness

If there is no pattern of baldness in your family, please see your health practitioner to check for other causes such as low thyroid function, nutrient deficiencies such as iron or biotin, hormonal problems, skin disease, diabetes or stress to name a few.

Unpetroleum Jelly

Add melted beeswax to your favorite infused oil that is warming in a crockpot on low heat. Stir well and pour into containers. Use on exposed skin to prevent chapping in cold weather.