Homemade Lip Gloss
You only need a few ingredients to make your own lip gloss, though once you understand the basic recipe you can begin to experiment by adding different essential oils, aloes, and food products to create your own, unique type of gloss.
Homemade lip gloss containers can be any small glass jar or tin, or you can reuse an old lip gloss container (just make sure all the old gloss is out of the container). To sterilize the container, wash with soap and hot water, dunk the container in a jar of rubbing alcohol, rinse clean, and then allow the container to completely dry before pouring in your melted gloss. allow the gloss mixture to cool completely before using (you can speed up this process by placing the container of gloss into the refrigerator for a few hours).
Honey Lip Gloss
Ingredients
1 tsp beeswax (you can find this at a craft store or at your local farmers’ market)
½ tsp honey
2 tsp almond oil (optional)
Put ingredie Vitamin E oil from a capsule (optional)
Directions
1. Melt the beeswax and honey in a heat-proof jar in the microwave or use a double boiler method.
2. When the wax and honey are just melted, remove from the heat source and whisk in the almond oil and vitamin E oil, if you so desire. To remove the vitamin E oil from the capsule, simply prick the end of the capsule with a safety pin and squeeze it out.
3. Pour the mixture into the containers and allow to cool fully before using.
Note: If you want to add a citrus flavoring to this lip gloss, you can add a few drops of lemon or lime essential oil during the whisking stage.
“Make-up” Lip Balm
If you have leftover make-up (such as blush, lipstick, or shimmering eye shadow), don’t let it go to waste. you can use it in this “recycled” lip balm.
Ingredients
Petroleum jelly
Blush, mineral eye shadow with shimmer, lipstick (only use one or two of these for your balm)
Essential oil for flavoring (optional)
Directions
1. Mix together the petroleum jelly and either the blush (add a little at a time until the desired color is attained), eye shadow, or the last remnants of any lipstick. Add essential oil and mix thoroughly.
2. Scoop the mixture into containers and put in the refrigerator to harden.
Note: you can also experiment by melting the jelly with some beeswax and then adding in the leftover makeup. The possibilities are endless.
Homemade Bath Products
Lavender Bath Salt
Pour several tablespoons of this into your bath as it fills for an extra-soothing, relaxing, and cleansing experience. You can also add powdered milk or finely ground old-fashioned oatmeal to make your skin especially soft. Toss in a few lavender buds if you have them.
Ingredients
2 cups coarse sea salt
½ cup Epsom salts
½ cup baking soda
4 to 6 drops lavender essential oil
Red and blue food coloring, if desired (use more red than blue to achieve a lavender color)
Mix all ingredients thoroughly and store in a glass jar or other airtight container.
Citrus Scrub
Use this invigorating scrub to wake up your senses in the morning. The vitamin C in oranges serves as an astringent, making it especially good for oily skin.
Ingredients
½ orange or grapefruit
3 tbsp cornmeal
2 tbsp Epsom salts or coarse sea salt
Squeeze citrus juice and pulp into a bowl and add cornmeal and salts to form a paste. rub gently over entire body and then rinse.
Healing Bath Soak
This bath soak will relax tired muscles, help to calm nerves, and leave skin soft and fragrant. You may also wish to add blackberry, raspberry, or violet leaves. Dried or fresh herbs can be used.
2 tbsp comfrey leaves
1 tbsp lavender
1 tbsp evening primrose flowers
1 tsp orange peel, thinly sliced or grated
2 tbsp oatmeal
Combine herbs and tie up in a small muslin or cheesecloth sack. Leave under faucet as the tub fills with hot water. If desired, empty herbs into the bath water once the tub is full.
Rosemary Peppermint Foot Scrub
Use this foot rub to remove calluses, soften skin, and leave your feet feeling and smelling wonderful.
Ingredients
1 cup coarse sea salt
¼ cup sweet almond or olive oil
2 to 3 drops peppermint essential oil
1 to 2 drops rosemary essential oil
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, crushed, or ½ tsp dried rosemary
Combine all ingredients and massage into feet and ankles. Rinse with warm water and follow with a moisturizer.
Minty Cucumber Facial Mask
1 tbsp powdered milk
1 tsp plain yogurt (whole milk yogurt is best)
1 tsp honey
1 tsp fresh mint leaves
½ cucumber, peeled
Blend ingredients thoroughly, using a food processor or blender if available. Apply to face, avoiding eyes. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse.
After-Sun Comfrey Lotion
Comfrey root soothes skin and minimizes inflammation. Apply this lotion to sunburned skin for immediate relief and faster healing.
Ingredients
3 tbsp fresh comfrey root
1 cup water
1 tbsp beeswax, unrefined
¾ cup sweet almond oil or light cooking oil
¼ cup cocoa butter
4 vitamin E capsules
¼ cup aloe vera gel
1 tsp borax powder
12 to 16 drops essential oil (peppermint, lavender, or sandalwood are all good choices)
Directions
1. Place the comfrey root and water in a small pot and bring to a boil, simmering for about 30 minutes. Strain, retaining the water. Discard the root.
2. In a double boiler, combine beeswax, oil, and cocoa butter, stirring over low heat until melted. Remove from heat. Pierce the vitamin E capsules and add the oil from inside, stirring to combine.
3. In a separate saucepan, combine the comfrey water, aloe vera gel, and borax powder, stirring over low heat until the borax is fully dissolved. Allow to cool.
4. Once both mixtures are cooled to room temperature, pour the beeswax and oil mixture in a thin stream into the comfrey water mixture, whisking vigorously to combine (or use a food processor). Add the essential oils and continue mixing until thoroughly combined.
5. Cover and store in a cool, dark place.
Shampoo
Cleaning your hair can be as simple as making a baking soda and water paste, scrubbing it into your hair, and rinsing well. However, if you enjoy the feel of a sudsy, soapy, scented shampoo, try this recipe. you can substitute homemade soap flakes (see soap recipe on page 501) for the castile soap, if desired.
Ingredients
4 ounces liquid castile soap
3 tbsp fresh or dried herbs of your choice, boiled for 30 minutes in 2 cups water and strained
Pour the soap and herbal water into a jar, cover, and shake until well combined.
Hair Conditioner
This conditioner will add softness and volume to your hair. Avocado, bananas, and egg yolks are also great hair conditioners. Apply conditioner, allow to sit in hair a minimum of five minutes (longer for a deeper conditioning), and then rinse well. You may wish to shampoo a second time after using this conditioner.
Ingredients
1 cup olive oil
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp cider vinegar
2 tsp honey
6 to 10 drops essential oils, if desired
Whisk all ingredients together or blend in a food processor. Store in an airtight container.
Fruits and Vegetables for Your Skin
These fruits and vegetables can be applied directly to your face or blended together to make a mask. Leave on skin for 20 to 30 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Tropical Face Cleanser
The vitamin C in kiwi has enzymatic and cleansing properties, and the apricot oil serves as a moisturizer. The ground almonds act as an exfoliant to remove dead skin cells. yogurt has cleansing and moisturizing properties.
1 kiwi
¾ cup avocado, banana, apricot, peach, strawberries, or papaya (or some of each)
2 tbsp plain yogurt (whole milk is best)
1 tbsp apricot oil (almond oil also works well)
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp finely ground almonds
Purée all ingredients together. Massage into face and neck and rinse thoroughly with cool water. Store excess in refrigerator for one to two days.
