Skin Care

Soothing Cucumber and Aloe

2-tablespoon aloe vera gel
1 cucumber, peeled
2-tablespoon apricot kernel oil
1-tablespoon coconut oil
4 tablespoon melted beeswax
1 tsp honey
Puree cucumber and strain out the liquid. Add the aloe vera gel and mix well. Melt the beeswax with the honey in a double boiler. When the wax is melted, slowly stir in the oils. Then slowly stir in the cucumber and aloe vera. Remove the mixture from the heat and cover, and then stir slowly about every 4-5 minutes until cool. Keep refrigerated. For a skin-whitening formula, add 2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice while cooling and stirring.
Shelf life – 60-90 days

Creamy Rose Moisturizer

1-cup sweet almond oil
1/2-cup beeswax
3/4-cup total rosewater and glycerin blended together
1/4 tsp tincture of benzoin
5 drops essential oil
Melt the oil and wax together, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and slowly add the blend of rosewater and glycerin, stirring rapidly until the mixture is evenly textured. Add the tincture of benzoin, followed by a few drops of essential oil (rose or lavender work best).
Shelf life – 6-9 months

Moisturizing Sports Rub

1-cup sweet almond oil
1/2-cup beeswax
3/4-cup total rosewater and glycerin blended together
1/4 tsp tincture of benzoin
5 drops peppermint essential oil
5 drops wintergreen essential oil
5 drops camphor essential oil
5 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 drops menthol essential oil
Melt the oil and wax together, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and slowly add the blend of rosewater and glycerin, stirring rapidly until the mixture is evenly textured. Add the tincture of benzoin, followed by the essential oils. Keep away from mucus membranes
Shelf life 6-9 months

Rosewater and Glycerin Skin Softener

1/2-cup rosewater
1/2-cup glycerin
1-2 drops food coloring
Mix together thoroughly and place in a glass bottle.
Shelf life – 3-4 months (adding 1 tsp alcohol doubles the shelf life)

Deep, Intensive Moisturizing Cream

1/4-cup cocoa butter
1/4-cup sweet almond oil
1/4-cup olive oil
5 drops essential oil of choice (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a double boiler and warm them until the cocoa butter is completely melted. Remove from heat and stir until the mixture is cool and starts to gel. Allow to rest until it finishes setting up. If it separates, use a hand mixer on low speed and beat until smooth. If kept too cool, it will need reheating before using.
Shelf life – 3-4 months

Massage Cream

1/2-cup beeswax
1/4-cup sweet almond oil
24 tablespoon distilled water
12-16 total drops essential oils of choice (optional)
Melt the wax on low heat, stirring constantly. Whisk in the almond oil, then the water, a few drops at a time. Blend thoroughly and remove from heat. Add the essential oils, stir, and pour into containers. This rub is quite solid when cooled, warm just enough to soften before using.
Shelf life – 1 year

Olive Creamy Rub

1/2 tsp borax
2 tsp boiling water
2-tablespoon beeswax
4-tablespoon olive oil
Stir the borax into the boiling water until dissolved. Melt the beeswax and oil in a double boiler on low heat, stirring until it is smooth, and then add the water-borax mixture. Remove from heat and continue to stir until it is too thick to continue. Place in a container with a lid. A couple drops essential oil may be added. 2 drops of citronella essential oil makes a good bug repellant, 2 drops each camphor and menthol make a good sports rub.
Shelf life – 6-12 months

Hand Butter

1/4-cup cocoa butter
1/4-cup beeswax
2-tablespoon safflower oil
4-6 drops essential oil of choice (optional) (fruity works best)
Warm the cocoa butter and beeswax together until melted. Add the safflower oil and remove the mixture from heat. Add the essential oils. Using a whisk beat the mixture until cool. While it is still a little soft, place in a decorative tin that fingers can reach.
Shelf life – 6 months

Peppermint and Menthol Foot Salts

1/4 cup Epsom salts
1/4-cup sea salt
4 drops liquid menthol
4 drops peppermint essential oil
Place all ingredients in a plastic bag and shake them to distribute oils. Add to warm (or cold) water and soak your feet. Variants – Eucalyptus can substitute for menthol and rosemary can substitute for peppermint.
Shelf life – 1 year

Eucalyptus Foot Deodorizer

1/2-cup cornstarch
1/2-cup baking soda
6 drops eucalyptus or peppermint essential oil
Using a hand sifter, combine the powders and add the essential oil a little at a time. Sift entire mixture several times.
Shelf life – 1 year to 18 months

Creamy Lotion

1/4-cup aloe vera gel
1/8-cup beeswax
1/2-cup apricot kernel oil
4 drops essential oil of choice
4 drops jojoba oil
3 tsp borax
Melt the apricot kernel oil, jojoba oil, and beeswax together in a small pan. In a separate bowl, mix the aloe vera and borax together until the borax is dissolved. When the beeswax is melted, remove from heat. Stir a few times, and then stir in the aloe-borax mixture. Keep stirring for about 5 minutes, and then add the essential oils. Continue stirring for another two minutes.
Shelf life – 3 weeks, if kept refrigerated.

Body Butter Crème

1/4-cup aloe vera gel
1/4-cup cocoa butter (or 1/8 cup shea butter 1/8 cup cocoa butter)
1-tablespoon olive oil
4-5 drops essential oil of choice
Melt the olive oil and cocoa butter together on low heat. Remove from heat and stir in the aloe vera gel and essential oils. Stir for a couple minutes, then put into pots or tins with lids.
Shelf life – 3-6 months

Quick Tan Oil

1/2-cup sweet almond oil
1/4-cup jojoba oil
2-tablespoon wheat germ oil
3 drops essential oil of choice (optional)
Mix all together and store in a bottle in a cool, dry place. WARNING – will tan you faster, but will also burn you faster. Does not contain sunscreens.
Shelf life – 6 months

Hot Wax Herbal Hand Treatment

1-cup beeswax
10-tablespoon sweet almond oil
8-tablespoon virgin olive oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops chamomile essential oil
Melt the beeswax in a crock-pot on low heat. When melted, add all of the oils and stir. Put into a pan large enough for one hand or foot at a time. Make sure the wax is very warm but not hot enough to burn (91-98F). Dip one hand or foot in at a time, wait 7-10 minutes until the wax is set up, then peel off. Wax is reusable, add additional oil if it becomes too dry or loses it’s aroma.
Shelf life – 1 year

Skin Lightener

1/2 lemon, squeezed and strained
1-tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon powdered milk
2 drops orange essential oil
Water
Mix the ingredients together, adding the water a little at a time until a very soft paste. Apply to the skin on dark areas (age-spots or freckles). Leave on for 5 minutes, then wash off and apply moisturizer.
Shelf life - NONE

Cuticle and Callous Crème

5-tablespoon cocoa butter
1 tsp wheatgerm oil
3 tablespoon avocado oil
3 drops rosemary essential oil
Heat cocoa butter until just melted, stir in other ingredients and cook about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Rub onto cuticles and calluses for softening.
Shelf life – 2-3 months

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