3 Jul 2017

Simplifying Herbal Skin Care: 5 Basic Recipes To Get You Started

Tagsbody butter, body scrub, herbal skin care, lip balm, skin care

Have you ever searched for easy homemade herbal skin care recipes only to find complicated recipes with 15 steps and hard-to-find ingredients? Us too, which is why we have compiled this list of simple DIY herbal skin care recipes made with basic, user-friendly ingredients.

Not only are these straightforward recipes easy to follow, but they are also easy to adapt using your favorite herbs or essential oils. Infuse coconut, almond, or sunflower oil with popular herbs such as lavender, mint, lemon balm, and chamomile. I am a huge fan of lavender, which is soothing and always makes me feel better, as well as and mint, which is zesty and refreshing—perfect for infusing in the body wash recipe below. When using essential oils, be sure to check for safety and follow proper dilution guidelines.

Creating and using non-toxic face and body products should not be intimidating, even for beginners.

5 Basic Herbal Skin Care Recipes

1. Basic Salt Body Scrub

Since you are getting your scrub on, why not make an easy and effective DIY salt body scrub. Here’s what you need for this recipe.

Basic Salt Body Scrub

Adapted from Karen Housel’s Homemade Lavender Salt Scrub recipe on Mother Earth News (Housel, 2016).

Ingredients

½ Epsom salts (can substitute kosher salt)
2-4 tablespoons raw virgin herbal infused organic coconut oil
1-2 sprigs of fresh herb of your choosing
Essential oil (optional)

Directions

Slowly melt herbal infused coconut oil in a double boiler. If using a double boiler, pour into clean glass jar once oil is melted.
Add the Epsom salts and stir to form a paste. Depending on your viscosity preference, you might need to adjust the oil amount slightly.
Finely chop one or two sprigs of lavender (or herb of choice) and mix in.
As a final optional step, add a few drops of an appropriate essential oil of your choosing.

Use this natural scrub to buff away dead skin cells and smooth rough patches.

Simplifying Herbal Skin Care: 5 Basic Recipes To Get You Started | Herbal Academy | Looking for easy homemade herbal skin care recipes? Here's 5 DIY skin care recipes that are both simple and basic to get you started!

2. Basic Lip Balm

I have a confession to make: I am a lip balm addict. And, making my own balms is a fun, less expensive way to feed my obsession. Plus, the possibilities are endless so feel free to get creative! The basic recipe listed here has been adapted from 101 Easy Homemade Products for your Skin, Health, and Home by Jan Berry.

Basic Lip Balm

Yield: Approximately 12-14 tubes of lip balm.

Ingredients

1 ounce herbal infused sunflower oil
½ ounce castor oil
½ ounce beeswax (for a vegan option substitute ¼ ounce candelilla wax*)
Essential oil (optional)

* Derived from the leaves of the small Candelilla shrub, this wax is a plant-based alternative to beeswax.

Directions

Melt the oils and the wax over a medium low heat in a double boiler. Stir slowly. Once combined, remove from heat and add essential oils, if using them.
Pour into lip balm tubes or small tins, and let cool until firm (several hours).
Store out of direct sunlight.

Shelf-life: approximately 6 to 9 months.

Pro tip: Do not leave this balm in a hot car. It will melt and make a mess.

3. Basic Lip Scrub

Want to get really soft kissable lips? Use a gentle, earth-friendly lip scrub before applying your new balm. It is one of the easiest scrubs to make.

Basic Lip Scrub

Ingredients

1 tablespoon raw organic sugar or organic brown sugar
Approximately ¼ to ½ tablespoon herbal infused olive oil (substitute coconut oil)
Small drop of honey (optional; omit for vegan option)
Essential oils (optional)

Directions

Since you just want enough oil to create a paste, you might have to adjust the oil amount slightly. Adding a small drop of honey will increase the creaminess. If you are feeling adventurous, you can add a small drop of essential oil to the scrub.
Once mixed to your preference, place in a small glass container with a tight lid. Or, better yet, upcycle an old lip balm tin—just clean and sanitize prior to use.

Note that while the abrasive quality of the sugar is perfect for removing dry skin from your lips, it can also be slightly harsh, so don’t overdo it. Use this scrub sparingly—once to twice a week—and discontinue if irritation occurs. Follow with moisturizing lip balm.

4. Basic Body Butter

As a dry skin sufferer, I have tried so many different moisturizers, especially during in the rough New England winters. This is my favorite, easy-peasy, everyday option that can be used on your face, entire body, and even your hair.

Basic Body Butter

Yield: One jar of moisturizer.

Ingredients

½ cup organic cocoa butter (or organic shea butter)
½ cup raw herbal infused virgin organic coconut oil
Essential oil (optional)

Directions

Using a double boiler, slowly melt the cocoa butter over low-medium heat.
When almost liquified add in the herbal infused coconut oil and continue stirring slowly to incorporate.
Once the oils are melted and combined, turn off the heat. If you are adding essential oils, now it the time to add 4-6 drops.
Stir and pour into a clean glass jar. Leave to cool.

If making this during warm weather months, you can place in the refrigerator to speed solidification. I typically make two batches of this potion, one plain and one with lavender essential oil.

5. Basic Herbal Body Wash

With summer upon us, this body wash is a refreshing treat on a hot summer day. From 101 Easy Homemade Products for your Skin, Health, and Home by Jan Berry.

Basic Herbal Body Wash

Ingredients

1 tablespoon chopped or torn herbal leaves or flowers
¼ cup herb infused witch hazel
2 ½ tablespoons aloe vera gel
2 ½ tablespoons (unscented) liquid Castile soap
Essential oil (optional)

Directions

The first step is to infuse the witch hazel by placing the herbs in a small glass jar and pouring the witch hazel over it. Cap the jar, shake well, and set in cool dark cabinet for 2 to 3 days. Once infused, strain and set aside.
To make the body wash, combine the infused witch hazel with the aloe vera gel and mix well until the aloe is completely dissolved.
Add the Castile soap and stir gently.
If using an essential oil, add it now.
Pour into a glass or plastic bottle. Note: While glass is preferable for storing homemade products, plastic is safer for use in the shower.
To use, rub a small amount in the palm of your hands or on a bath pouf and lather all over your body. Rinse well.

We hope you enjoy creating these easy, earth-friendly herbal skin care products. Making homemade herbal face and body products does not have to be intimidating or difficult. Using natural, non-toxic ingredients is good for your skin as well as the planet. The recipes presented here include easy-to-find, basic ingredients so that practitioners of all levels can create them. Once you become more comfortable you get making your own products, you can explore more advanced herbal and essential oil recipes.

What are some of your favorite go-to skin care recipes? Connect with us on our social sites, and let us know what herbal skin care recipes you make to use every day.

REFERENCES

Berry, Jan (2016). 101 Easy Homemade Products for Your Skin, Health & Home. Salem, MA: Page Street Publishing.

Housel, K. (2016). Homemade Lavender Salt Scrub. Retrieved on June 15, 2017 from http://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/homemade-lavender-salt-scrub-zbcz1601.

Simplifying Herbal Skin Care: 5 Basic Recipes To Get You Started