Herbal Cleansers

Oatmeal Cleanser

1 C warm water
1/2 C oatmeal
1 Tbsp glycerin
1-2 drops benzoin

Blend on high until smooth

Lemon Cleansing Cream

1 tbsp beeswax
1 1/2 tbsp petroleum jelly
3 tbsp mineral oil
1 tbsp witch hazel
1 tbsp lemon juice, strained
1/8 tsp borax
6 drops essential oil of lemon.

Melt beeswax and petroleum jelly together over a low heat. Warm the mineral oil, then gradually add it to the wax mixture, beating for 3-5 minutes.
Add witch hazel to the lemon juice.
Warm gently then stir in the borax until dissolved.
Slowly add this to the wax mixture, beating steadily until it's creamy and cool.
Once cooled, stir in the lemon oil.
Spoon into a clean jar and label.

If you live in a humid climate or during the summer you may want to cut the mineral oil and petroleum in half.

Fennel Cleansing Milk

1/2 cup buttermilk
2 tbsp fennel seed, crushed

Gently heat milk and crushed seeds together in a double boiler for 30 minutes.
Do not boil!!
Let stand for 2 hours, strain, bottle and refrigerate. Use within 1 week.
(fennel has a distinct smell, some people do not like)

Orange-flower Cleansing Cream

2 tbsp soy oil
2 tbsp almond oil
1 oz. cocoa butter
1 tbsp beeswax
2 tbsp orange-flower water
1/8 tsp borax
5 drops essential oil of neroli

Mix and warm the oils.
Melt cocoa butter and stir into the oils.
Melt the beeswax and beat into the oil mixture a little at a time.
Warm the orange-flower water and dissove the borax in it.
Beat this into the first mixture. Leave to thicken and cool.
As the mixture starts to thicken, stir in the essential oil.
Once cool, spoon it into a clean jar and label.
The neroli essential oil is extracted from the orange flower. It stimulates old skin cell loss and their replacement with new ones.

Honey Cleansing Scrub

1 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp finely ground almonds
1/2 tsp lemon juice.

Mix and rub gently onto face. Rinse off with warm water.

Herbal Steamy Facial

Bring 4 cups of water to a simmer and add 4 Tbsp of lavender to a teapot. Pour boiling water over herbs in teapot, cover teapot. Sit down at the table and cover your head with towel, slowly pour steaming herb/water mix into deep bowl, do 1/3 of the water at a time. Allow the steam to build up around your face, be careful of the hot water. The steam opens the pores of the skin allowing the oil from the herbs to pentrate. Do not steam longer than 20 mins. Use an astringent immediately after steam while pores are open, for best results, or apply a face mask.

**You should not use a face sauna if you have sensitive skin, are pregnant or suffer from asthma. If in doubt ask your Doctor.

Herbal Steamy Facial using oils

Fill a bowl with near boiling water, add four drops of each of the essential oils recomended for your skin type.

• Normal Skin: Mandarin and Lavender
• Oily Skin: Lemon and Eucalyptus
• Dry Skin: Rose and Camomile

Place a towel over your head and hold it over the bowl for several minutes. This opens the pores, especially good before using a face mask.

**You should not use a face sauna if you have sensitive skin, are pregnant or suffer from asthma. If in doubt ask your Doctor.