by Jan Berry
Using a fork or small whisk, stir the lotion briskly for 30 seconds, then set it aside to cool down for around 5 minutes. To speed up the cooling process, place your mixing container into a bowl partially filled with ice cubes and water. Stir occasionally, for around 30 seconds at a time, as the lotion cools and thickens.
If you’re adding a natural preservative, check the temperature to see if it’s the proper time to do so. Recommended temperature will vary according to type, but preservatives are usually added when the lotion is cooling.
Pour the lotion into a pump-top or squeeze bottle while it’s still slightly warm and runny, or wait until it fully sets up to spoon into a jar. Depending on how much air you whipped in while stirring, it should roughly fill a 4-ounce (120-ml) jar. Your lotion may still need an occasional shake or stir throughout the first day to complete the thickening phase. Keep tops and lids off of your lotion container until it’s completely cool, to prevent condensation from building up on the lid. If you didn’t add a preservative, store your lotion in the refrigerator and use it within 2 weeks.
Tip: Using aloe vera gel for part of the water portion makes for an especially nice lotion. If you’re allergic to aloe, though, try using water or witch hazel in its place. Also, this recipe is designed for use with emulsifying wax NF only. If you try to substitute beeswax or another type of wax, the lotion could potentially fail.
Grapeseed & Thyme Lotion
This lightweight lotion is specially designed for those with oily and acne-prone skin. Grapeseed is a hypoallergenic, nongreasy oil that absorbs into your skin quickly. In this recipe, it’s paired with thyme, an herb known for its ability to effectively wipe out the bacteria that cause acne. Witch hazel is an astringent that tones skin while reducing redness and inflammation. For an extra antibacterial boost, try adding a drop or two of tea tree oil. Lightly smooth this lotion over your face and neck daily, or as needed, for softer skin.
YIELD: 3½ OUNCES (100 ML)
1 tbsp (15 ml) thyme-infused grapeseed oil (see here for how to infuse oil)
3 tsp (6 g) emulsifying wax NF
4 tbsp (60 ml) distilled water
1 ½ tbsp (22 ml) witch hazel
1 to 2 drops tea tree oil (optional)
Natural preservative (optional)
Add the oil and wax to a canning jar or other heatproof container. Measure out the water and witch hazel in a separate half-pint (250 ml) canning jar.
Place both containers down into a saucepan containing 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) of water, then set the pan over a medium-low burner. Keep both containers in the pan for around 10 minutes to allow the wax to fully melt and the water to reach a nearly matching hot temperature of around 150°F (66°C). Remove from heat.
Pour the hot water/witch hazel and oil/wax mixtures into a heatproof mixing bowl or measuring pitcher. As they’re poured together, the separate mixtures will begin to emulsify upon contact and turn a milky white color.
Using a fork or small whisk, stir the lotion briskly for 30 seconds, then set it aside to cool down for around 5 minutes. Stir in the tea tree oil, if using. To speed up the cooling process, place your mixing container into a bowl partially filled with ice cubes and water. Stir occasionally, for around 30 seconds at a time, as the lotion cools and thickens.
If you’re adding a natural preservative, check the temperature to see if it’s the proper time to do so. Recommended temperature will vary according to type, but preservatives are usually added when the lotion is cooling.
Pour the lotion into a pump-top or squeeze bottle while it’s still slightly warm and runny, or wait until it fully sets up to spoon into a jar. Depending on how much air you whipped in while stirring, it should almost fill a 4-ounce (120-ml) jar. Your lotion may still need an occasional shake or stir throughout the first day to complete the thickening phase. Keep tops and lids off of your lotion container until it’s completely cool, to prevent condensation from building up on the lid. If you didn’t add a preservative, store your lotion in the refrigerator and use it within 2 weeks.
Tip: This recipe is designed for use with emulsifying wax NF only. If you try to substitute beeswax or another type of wax, the lotion could potentially fail.
Rose Face Cream
This naturally colored face cream is a treat for mature skin! Roses are cooling and soothing, making them a wonderful ingredient in skin care products. Sweet almond oil is suitable for most skin types, high in beneficial fatty acids and helps soften and improve skin texture. Shea butter is high in vitamins A and E and is especially useful for treating weathered and damaged skin. Witch hazel tones and fights puffiness and inflammation.
YIELD: 4 OUNCES (120 ML)
¼ cup (4 g) loosely packed rose petals, fresh or dried
¼ cup (60 ml) simmering hot distilled water
1 tbsp (15 ml) sweet almond oil
1 tbsp (14 g) shea butter
1 tbsp + 1 tsp (8 g) emulsifying wax NF
Tiny pinch of alkanet root, for color (optional)
2 tbsp (30 ml) witch hazel
Few drops of rose or geranium rose essential oil (optional)
Natural preservative (optional)
FOR THE ROSE-INFUSED WATER
Place the rose petals in a heatproof jar or mug and pour the simmering hot water over them. Let steep for 20 minutes. Strain.
FOR THE CREAM
Combine the oil, shea butter and emulsifying wax in a small heatproof jar or container. If you’d like your cream to be tinted pale pink, add a small pinch of alkanet root to the oil. Set the jar down into a small saucepan containing 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) of water. Place the pan over a medium-low burner for around 10 minutes.
While that’s melting, add the witch hazel to the jar of rose-infused water and set it down into the small saucepan as well. Both mixtures should end up somewhere around 150°F (66°C).
After 10 minutes of heating, remove both jars from the pan. Pour the oil mixture into a small mixing bowl along with the rose water and witch hazel mixture. It will turn a milky pink color right away as the emulsifying wax starts to react with the water.
Using a fork or small whisk, stir the cream briskly for 30 seconds, then set it aside to cool down for around 5 minutes. Stir occasionally, for around 30 seconds at a time, as the cream cools and thickens.
If you’re adding a natural preservative, check the temperature to see if it’s the proper time to do so. Recommended temperature will vary according to type, but preservatives are usually added when the cream is cooling.
Pour the cream into a jar. Depending on how much air you whipped in while stirring, it should roughly fill a 4-ounce (120-ml) jar. Your cream may still need an occasional stir throughout the first day to complete the final thickening phase. Keep the top off of the jar until it’s completely cool, to prevent condensation from building up inside the lid, creating a cozy place for mold to potentially grow. If you didn’t add a preservative, store your cream in the refrigerator and use it within 2 weeks.
Tip: This recipe is designed for use with emulsifying wax NF only. If you try to substitute beeswax or another type of wax, the cream could potentially fail.
Elder Flower Eye Cream
This eye cream contains luxurious oils designed to help fight the signs of aging. Argan is a premier oil that improves and repairs skin texture. If it’s difficult to obtain, you can use easily absorbed sweet almond or rice bran oil instead, though they won’t have the potent benefits that argan oil does. Elder flowers are an old-fashioned remedy for a beautiful, clear complexion, while modern research has shown them to possess antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties as well. Rosehip seed oil is one of the best, most effective antiaging oils around. It helps regenerate skin tissue, reduce the appearance of scars and smooth out wrinkles. Mango butter is yet another wrinkle fighter that softens and conditions skin as well.
YIELD: 2 OUNCES (60 ML)
0.5 oz (14 g) elderflower-infused argan oil (see for how to infuse oil)
0.5 oz (14 g)
mango butter
0.5 oz (14 g) beeswax, grated or pastilles
0.5 oz (14 g) rosehip seed oil
1½ tbsp (22 ml) distilled water
Natural preservative (optional)
Place the elderberry-infused argan oil, butter and beeswax in a heatproof jar or container. Since rosehip seed oil is heat sensitive, save it for later in the recipe. Set the jar down into a saucepan that has 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) of water in the bottom. Place the pan over a medium-low burner and heat until the wax has melted. Remove from heat and stir in the rosehip seed oil. Let cool to around 85 to 95°F (29 to 35°C).
In a small saucepan, heat the water slightly until it matches the temperature of the oil. The oil and water portions really need to be within 5 degrees Fahrenheit (about 3 degrees Celcius) of each other for the most successful emulsion.
Slowly drizzle the water into the oil mixture as you beat it with a handheld mixer. It may take around 30 to 45 seconds to accomplish this step. Beat for 5 to 10 minutes or until a thick cream develops.
If you’re adding a natural preservative, check the temperature to see if it’s the proper time to do so. Recommended temperature will vary according to type, but they’re usually added when the cream is cooling.
Spoon the finished eye cream into a glass jar. If you didn’t add a preservative, keep the cream in the refrigerator and use within 2 weeks.
Variation: If elder flowers aren’t available, roses, chamomile, calendula and violets share similar complexion-improving properties.
Quick, Custom Herbal Cream
This simplified cream recipe designed for beginners comes together quickly, with no special emulsifiers, wax or equipment needed. It yields a thick, creamy moisturizer with a pleasing silky feel when rubbed between your fingers and over your skin. While you can add other water-based ingredients, such as rose water or witch hazel, a thick aloe vera gel tends to bring something special to this cream and yields the best results. Some herbs and flowers that do well in this recipe include, but aren’t limited to: lavender, rose, forsythia, dandelion, calendula, chamomile, mint and violet leaves. Check the descriptions of the flowers and herbs here and oils here to learn about the various benefits the plants and oils provide.
YIELD: ALMOST FILLS A 2-OUNCE (60-ML) JAR
2 tbsp (30 ml) flower or herb-infused oil of your choice
1 tbsp (14 g) shea or mango butter
1 tbsp (15 ml) aloe vera gel
2 to 3 drops of essential oil (optional)
Add the flower or herb-infused oil and butter to a half-pint (250-ml) canning jar. Set the jar down into a small saucepan containing 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) of water and heat until the butter is melted. Remove from heat and place the mixture in the refrigerator for around 30 to 45 minutes or until it firms up to the consistency of a soft salve.
Using a fork, stir well. Add the aloe and essential oil, then stir vigorously for about 2 minutes. The mixture will start to turn opaque and creamy. Set it aside for 5 to 10 minutes to thicken, then stir thoroughly once more with the fork. You should now have a thickened cream.
Store the cream in a cool area or your refrigerator and use within a few weeks, or add a natural preservative to lengthen shelf life. If the quick cream begins to separate, simply whisk with a fork again until blended back together.
Smooth this cream over your hands, face and body, preferably after a bath or shower to seal in moisture. Because of the small amount of liquid in this cream, it’s very rich, so a little bit goes a long way!
Honey & Chamomile Cream
This thick, rich face and body cream is ideal for those with damaged or weathered skin. It can also be used as an aid to relieve the discomfort of eczema and other itchy, dry skin afflictions. It contains chamomile, a wonderful herb with mild cortisone-like properties, along with sunflower oil, which has been shown to be an effective skin healer. Raw honey fights skin inflammation and repairs skin, while nourishing shea butter softens and protects from further damage. Lavender essential oil not only contributes a calming scent, but soothes and relieves hot, inflamed skin conditions. Because this cream is so rich, it does best when applied at bedtime, so it has time to sink into your skin overnight.
YIELD: 5 OUNCES (150 ML)
2 oz (60 ml) chamomile-infused sunflower oil (see here for how to infuse oil)
1 oz (28 g) shea butter
0.5 oz (14 g) beeswax, grated or pastilles
1.75 oz (50 ml) warm distilled water
1 tsp raw honey
2 to 3 drops lavender essential oil (optional)
Natural preservative (optional)
Place the chamomile-infused oil, butter and beeswax in a heatproof jar or container. Set the jar down into a saucepan containing a few inches (7 cm) of water. Place the pan over a medium-low burner until the wax and butter are melted.
Remove from heat, pour into a small mixing bowl and let cool to around 85 to 95°F (29 to 35°C).
While the oil mixture is cooling, stir the warm water and honey together in a small bowl or cup until the honey is fully dissolved. Set aside.
Once the oil mixture has sufficiently cooled, it will be thicker and almost salve-like. Check the temperature of the water and heat if necessary by setting it down in the pan of water used to melt the beeswax and oils. When making creams with beeswax and no emulsifier, it’s important that both the oil and water portions are in the same temperature range of 85 to 95°F (29 to 35°C) and less than 5 degrees apart for the most successful emulsion.
Using a hand mixer, start beating the oil mixture. Continue beating, adding a small amount of water at a time and incorporating it before adding more. It will take around 1 minute to work all the water in. Continue beating another 3 to 5 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice. If you decide to add lavender essential oil, do so at this time.
If you’re adding a natural preservative, check the temperature to see if it’s the proper time to do so. Recommended temperature will vary according to type of preservative used, but they’re usually added when the cream is cooling.
Spoon the finished cream into a glass jar. If you didn’t add a preservative, keep the cream in the refrigerator and use within 2 weeks.
Violet & Aloe Moisturizing Cream
This recipe incorporates the Violet-Infused Aloe. While infused aloe alone is a soothing treat for inflamed skin, it works equally well for daily skin protection when incorporated in moisturizing creams such as this one. Stearic acid (a natural fatty acid sourced from plants or animals) is a popular ingredient used to help thicken creams and lotions. If you leave it out, the recipe will yield unreliable results. Sweet almond oil is high in nourishing fatty acids and helps soften and smooth skin, while shea butter protects against damaging elements.
YIELD: 3 OUNCES (90 ML)
3 tbsp (45 ml) sweet almond oil
1½ tbsp (21 g) shea butter
1 tbsp (10 g) tightly packed beeswax, grated or pastilles
½ tbsp (3 g) stearic acid
¼ cup (60 ml) violet-infused aloe (or plain aloe vera gel)
Few drops of essential oil, for scent (optional)
Natural preservative (optional)
Combine the sweet almond oil, butter, beeswax and stearic acid in a heatproof jar or container. Set the jar down into a saucepan that has 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) of water in it. Place the pan over a medium-low burner until the wax and stearic acid are melted.
Remove from heat and pour into a small mixing bowl. Let cool to room temperature, then add the infused aloe vera gel and essential oil, if using. One of my favorite scent combinations for this cream is a few drops each of lavender and litsea cubeba essential oils, but you can use any scent that you prefer. Using a handheld mixer, beat for around 5 minutes or until thick and creamy.
Spoon the finished cream into a glass jar. Store the cream in a cool area and use within 2 weeks, or add a natural preservative to lengthen shelf life.
Variation: Sweet almond oil is a great all-purpose oi
l suitable for most skin types, but if you’re allergic to tree nuts, try using sunflower or avocado oil instead. Mango butter can be used if shea is not available or tolerated.
Garden-Fresh Bath Soaks & Salts
Soak away the stresses of life with these herbal bath recipes designed to renew, revitalize or relax your mind, body and spirit.
For those times that you’re feeling run-down and in need a quick pick-me-up, try Energizing Rosemary Mint Bath Tea or Garden Herbs Bath Soak.
Are you longing for a good night’s sleep? You’ll surely want to spend time relaxing in a Calming Bath Soak or Lavender Sleepy Time Bath Tea. For an even greater sleep-inducing effect, try pairing one of these soothing bath treats with a spoonful of Chamomile Calming Syrup.
If you’re a fan of that perennial fall favorite, pumpkin spice, you’ll definitely want to check out Calendula Spice Fizzing Bath Salts. Just as their name implies, these easy-to-make bath salts add a fun fizz factor to tub time, much like a bath bomb, minus the hefty price tag!
Garden Herbs Bath Soak
This refreshing bath soak incorporates a variety of green herbs and leaves from the garden. Mix and match as you please, but choose several strong aromatics, such as mint, lavender leaves, rosemary, sage, thyme or pine needles for their energizing scents and beneficial circulation-boosting properties. If available, add a few leaves of violet or plantain to round out the mix and for their extra skin-soothing effect. Baking soda softens the water while Epsom salt helps ease sore muscle aches and pains. These bath salts are further scented with invigorating eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils to revitalize and uplift a tired spirit and body. As a bonus, these two essential oils are amazing at clearing sinuses, making this a great soak for when you have a stuffy nose or cold.
YIELD: ½ CUP (130 G) OR ENOUGH FOR 1 BATH
