Herbal Skin Care

Skin Toner

An easy skin toner to make is with witch hazel, which is inexpensive and available at drug stores. Combine with a few drops of essential oil, or steep with herbs:

Ingredients: 3 ½ cups liquid witch hazel, ½ cup herbs
Directions: Combine in a jar, set on a sunny windowsill for one week, shaking at least once a day. Strain and store in refrigerator.

Variations: Use calendula for a gentle toner, or try a lemon rind/mint mixture for oily skin .

Facial Masks

Give your face a refreshing treatment with an herbal mask. For dry skin, try a combination of rose petals and chamomile, or comfrey alone. For oily skin, use sage, yarrow, or a combination of chamomile and lemongrass.

Directions: Mix 3 tablespoons dried herbs and 2 tablespoons oatmeal in blender with 2 tablespoons distilled water. Apply to the face and leave on about ten minutes, rinse.

Herbal Soap

Here is an easy way to make herbal scented soaps:

Ingredients: 2 teaspoons dried or 2 tablespoons fresh herbs, ¼ cup water, several drops essential oil, 2 cups shredded pure soap (glycerin soap like Neutrogena).

Directions: In an enameled pot, combine all ingredients EXCEPT soap and bring to a boil and simmer 25 minutes. Add shredded soap, stirring frequently to mix. Turn off heat and cool for 15-20 minutes. Divide into 6 parts and roll into balls. Let dry on waxed paper for a few days.

For Sore, Dry Skin

--Don't forget aloe vera, which can be applied straight from the leaf to the skin to soothe dry spots.

This recipe does not contain any herbs (unless you want to count the rosewater), but it was a good one that I wanted to include here:

This cream is excellent for sore, dry skin. The recipe, developed by Rosemary Gladstar, is from in the book "Tasha Tudor's Heirloom Crafts."

3/4 cup of apricot or almond oil
1/3 cup of coconut oil or cocoa butter
1 teaspoon lanolin
1/2 oz of grated beeswax

Melt these ingredients over low heat. Cool to room temperature. While these ingredients cool, mix together:

2/3 cup of rosewater
1/3 cup of aloe vera gel
1-2 drops of rose oil
the contents of 1 vitamin E capsule

Add these ingredients to the first mixture. Whip together until their consistency resembles buttercream frosting. Store in a covered jar.

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