Monday, January 19, 2009

Make Your Own Beauty Products

When making your own bath products, you know exactly what's in it. These make great gifts.

Homemade Hair Conditioner

Recipe Ingredients:

Apple Cider Vinegar
Fresh Herbs: lavender, rosemary, basil, sage
Citrus Peels: lemon peel, orange peel

Directions:

  • Take a sterile jar of any size and fill half way with your favorite assorted herbs and citrus peels, make sure they are pesticide free.
  • Next fill the jar to the top with apple cider vinegar.
  • Seal, store in a cool, dark place and shake daily for three weeks. Strain & refrigerate the infused vinegar.
  • Take 2 TBS of the herbal vinegar and put into a 12 to 16 ounce spray bottle. Top with water.

Spray as much as you need on your hair after shampooing (first wash off the shampoo, shake spray bottle before using), massage into scalp, rinse off. No application of commercial hair conditioner is needed.

This recipe not only helps condition and nourish your hair, it also helps remove much of the buildup from commercial shampoos and conditioners.

*Note: Some herbal combination may affect light colored hair (blondes, grays) or dyed hair color. You should be ok since it’s such a small amount of herbal vinegar that is well diluted in water, but just a heads up to test a small patch of hair first.

Homemade Lavender Water

2 cups water (distilled)
3 TBS vodka
15 drops Lavender essential oil

Directions:

  • Mix the essential oil and vodka together then add water. Seal in a jar or bottle, keep in a dark place for 2 weeks before using.

Bath Jelly

Ingredients:

3/4 cup water
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup liquid soap (unscented–use shower gel, hand soap or bubble bath)
*Essential oil (choose your favorite–a few drops)

Directions:

  • Bring water to a boil, remove from heat then slowly stir in and dissolve the gelatin. Slowly add liquid soap and stir to mix. Add essential oil, stir well.
  • Pour liquid into a clean clear jar or container, seal and refrigerate overnight.

Once the mix gels, it’s ready to use. Just add a spoonful under running water in the bath for a bubbling treat (a tablespoon or two will do).

*If you wish, you can skip the essential oil and use liquid soaps that have a fragrance.

Notes: Use within a few weeks. Keep refrigerated and airtight to avoid mold.


Peppermint Milk Bath Recipe

1 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 cups hot water
1/2 teaspoon peppermint oil

Herbal Milk Bath Recipe

1 cup powdered milk
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 TBS dried herbs of choice
2 cups hot water

Almond Honey Milk Bath

1 TBS Almond Oil
1/4 cup honey (*omit honey if mixing ahead, add when using)
1 cup powdered milk
2 cups hot water

Lavender Milk Bath

1 cup powdered milk
1/8 cup dried lavender
2 cups hot water


Brown Sugar Scrub

1/2 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup of almond oil
1/4 cup of liquid Ivory hand soap
1/4 tsp of vanilla

Lemon Sugar Scrub

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
1 TBS lemon zest (grated)

Lavender & Rosewood Scrub

1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup almond oil
1/2 tsp vitamin E
6 drops rosewood essential oil
4 drops lavender essential oil

Coffee & Brown Sugar Scrub

1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
3 TBS fresh coffee grounds
5 tsp almond oil
5 tsp jojoba oil
2 tsp honey
1 tsp vitamin E
1 tsp vanilla

Tea Sugar Scrub

2 cups white sugar
1 cup honey
2 TBS tea
5 drops vanilla

Yogurt Sugar Scrub

3 TBS baby oil
1 TBS yogurt
1 TBS white sugar

Directions:

  • Mix ingredients and use as a body scrub/exfoliator.