Kitchen Cosmetics

Index:

Aromatherapy & Bath Oils, Powders & Salts

Deodorants

Eye Care

Hair Care

Hand, Foot & Nail Care

Make-Up Recipes

Skin Care

Teeth, Gum & Breath Care

Aromatherapy, Bath Oils, Massage Oils, Powders and Salts



Calming Bath Blend

3 drops rosewood oil
1 drop rose oil
1 drop german chamomile oil
1 drop marjoram oil
2 drops sandlewood oil
2 drops clary sage oil
Add oils to bathwater after it has cooled a bit. Very hot water makes essential oils evaporate too quickly.

Citrus Bath

Squeeze the juice of 1 orange, 1 lemon, 1 lime, 1 grapefruit and 1 tangerine into a jar. Combine peels in a blender; blend until minced very fine. Add to juice. Pour as much as desired into bath water.

Cold Relief Herbal Soak

Use the following combinations of herbs for the fighting off a cold:
4 parts dried lavendar
4 parts dried rosemary
4 parts chopped fresh ginger root or 2 parts ginger powder
2 parts dried eucalyptus
Use 1/2 cup of dried herbs or one to two cups of fresh herbs. Crush the herbs first to release their essential oils. Mix the herbs and tie them into a square of muslin or a handerchief. Hang the bag under the faucet as you fill the tub. The bag can be used to scrub your skin as well.

Exotic Massage Oil

2 fluid ounce bottle of almond oil
16 drops Ylang Ylang essential oil
12 drops Geranium essential oil
10 drops Sandalwood essential oil
8 drops Patchouli essential oil
6 drops Clary Sage essential oil
Add essential oils to the bottle of almond oil, shake gently until thoroughly mixed.

Fragrant Bath Salts

1 cup instant nonfat dry milk
1 cup baking soda
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp cream of tartar
1 Tbsp cinnamon
Combine all and store in a decorative container in the bathroom. Add as much as desired to your bath water.

Insomnia Milk Bath

1 tbsp Almond oil
4 drops Lavender essential oil
3 drops Marjoram essential oil
2 drops Benzoin essential oil
1 cup of powdered milk
Pour oils into a small bowl, mix thoroughly. Stir in 1 cup of powdered milk. Add mixture to bath water.

Lemon Lifter

20 drops lemon essential oil
20 drops tangerine essential oil
25 drops neroli essential oil
25 drops lavender essential oil
Place a few drops of oils mixture on a handerchief to sniff or add a few drops to a diffuser or bath water.

Milk and Honey Bath

1 cup honey
1 cup boiling water
2 cups milk
1/2 cup sea salt
2 Tbsp baking soda
10 drops of vanilla oil
Dissolve sea salt and baking soda in bathwater. Dissolve honey in boiling water, add milk. Add milk and honey mixture to bathwater. Add vanilla.

Oatmeal Bath Salts

1 cup borax
1/8 cup kelp powder
1/8 cup finely ground oatmeal
1/8 cup sea salt
Place all in a glass jar. Add your favorite powdered fragrant herbs to the salt mixture and mix well or add several drops of your favorite essentail oil/oils. Let sit for several hours or overnight to dry and allow oils to penetrate salts. Break up any lumps that formed when adding the oil. Store in an airtight container. Add about 4 Tbsp to bathwater as desired.

Perfumed After-Bath Powder

2 cups cornstarch
1 cup rice flour
Pulverized/powdered herbs for fragrance

Purchase rice flour from any health food store and orrisroot powder from a pharmacy or crafts store. Mix all ingredients and store the powder in a tightly closed jar for about 1 week, then transfer to a conatiner of your choice. Apply with a powder puff or from a sprinkler style container.
Variations:
1) Add 2-3 vanilla beans to the powder. Let sit for a a week to absorb frangrance. Transfer and store to a tightly closed tin.
2) Sprinkle a cup of rose petals into the mixture, cover, and let the roses scent the powder.

Perfumed After Bath Powder #2

1 cup powdered arrowroot
1 cup corn starch
1/4 cup baking soda
Pulverized/powdered herbs for fragrance

Sift all together, add your favorite powdered fragrant herbs.

Sleepytime Bath Oil Blend

4 drops bergamot oil
3 drops lemon essential oil
2 drops pine essential oil
1 drop cedarwood oil
1 drop orange oil

Stress-B-Gone Blend

Use this in bath water, body lotions, cosmetic creams or diffusers.
15 drops lavender
5 drops cedarwood
20 drops sweet orange
2 to 3 drops clary sage
1 teaspoon of jojoba, hazelnut, sunflower, almond or apricot kernal oil

Therapaeudic Bath Salts

6 cups epsom salts
2 cups baking soda
1 cup sea salt
Combine all ingredients in a large jar with lid, shake until thoroughly blended. Store salts into a decorative jar or container in the bathroom.

Vanilla Bath

1 cup sunflower oil
1/2 cup castile soap
1 Tbsp real vanilla extract
1/4 cup honey
Blend all ingredients together. Shake well before using. Use 1/4 cup per bath.

Body & Foot Deodorants

1) Add a few cups of tomato juice to the bathwater, soak for at least 15 minutes. This is an old, well known remedy for deodorizing pets and people who have been sprayed by a skunk. . . if it works on that odor, any other body odors are a piece of cake.

2) Add an infusion of parsley to the bath water as a deodorizer

3) Witch hazel is a very effective deodorant. Simply apply to underarms with cotton balls or gauze.

4) Use 4 tablespoons of baking soda in the bathwater. After bathing and drying, apply baking soda under the arms

5) Apply cornstarch under the arms

6) Apply vinegar under the arms

7) Use pine soap when bathing

8) Wear all cotton clothing that breathes as opposed to synthetic fibers which cause perspiration and retain odors.

9) For problem odor, avoid eating the following strong smelling and choline rich foods which cause body odor when sweated out:
Garlic
Onions
Curry
Cumin
Peppers
Eggs
Liver
Fish
Legumes

10) Eat fresh parsley daily

Cream Deodorant

1/2 ounce cocoa butter
1/2 ounce beeswax
1 Tbsp glycerine
1 Tbsp rosewater
Melt cocoa butter and beeswax slowly in the top of a double boiler. Remove from heat, add glycerine and rosewater. Add several drops of one or more of the following deodorizing esssential oils: calendula, coriander, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, rosemary, sage, or thyme. Stir before use if cream seperates.

Herbal Deodorant Powder

2 parts powdered sandalwood (for fragrance and anti-microbal properties)
1 part powdered white oak bark (an astringent)
1 part powdered lovage root (for fragrance)
Pulverize herbs in a blender or food processor until they become a very fine powder. Transfer powder into a clean, dry iron skillet and very lightly pan-roast to set resins and scents. Fill muslin draw-string bags with the powdered herbs, or use handerchiefs tied with a string or ribbon. Pat bags under your arms or on feet.

"No-Sweat" Tea

The following herbs, when brewed and drunk as a tea are reported to reduce perspiration within 2 hours of use with its effects lasting several days:
4 cups boiling water
1 teaspoon dried hops
1 teaspoon stinging nettle
1 teaspoon fresh cut rose petals
1 teaspoon fresh or dried strawberry leaves
1 teaspoon fresh walnut leaves
3 tablespoons of dried sage leaves
Combine all ingredients, cover and steep for an hour. Strain and sweeten with honey if desired.

Radish Deodorant

Extract the juice from about 2 dozen radishes, add 1/4 teaspoon of glycerin. Pour into a squirt bottle and keep refrigerated. Squirt under arms after a bath or pour some into the palm of your hand and rub under the arms.

Stick Deodorant

4 ounces cornstarch
2 ounces baking soda
1 ounces liquid chorophyll
2 ounces vodka
2 ounces distilled water
8 ounces beeswax
10-15 drops of honeysuckle, rose, coriander or essential oil of your choice.
Mix all ingredients except wax and chorophyll in a bowl, stir thoroughly. Melt wax in top of a double boiler over very low heat, remove from heat. Add the other ingredients and blend well. If the wax thickens too much to be workable, heat again. As the mixture begins to cool, but before it hardens, add the liquid clorophyll and essential oils. Pour into molds. Let harden. Remove from molds. Store in a tightly closed container away from heat to avoid shrinkage.

Turnip Deodorant

Apply the juice of fresh raw turnips under the arms

Deodorizing Foot Bath

Soak the feet in the following solution:
1/2 cup white vinegar
5-6 Tbsp Epson salts
1 gallon warm water

Sage Foot Bath
Soak your feet in a bowl of warm/hot water with 2 drops of essential oil of sage every day for a week.

Pine Foot Bath
For foot odor, bathe the feet in a mixture of witch hazel and essential oil of pine


Sage Foot Deodorant
Pulverize some dried or fresh sage, sprinkle the powder into shoes before wearing.

Sage Deodorizing Foot Powder

1 tablespoon of baking powder
2 drops of Sage essential oil
Mix baking powder and oil in a plastic bag, shake well. Allow to dry. Break up any clumps that may have formed. Dust feet regularly with the powder and add a teaspoon in the shoes overnight.

Eye Care


1) The best overall eye tonic is eyebright (an herb). Make a tea of it and either use the teabags or soak cotton balls or soft gauze in the tea and apply to eyes as a compress while lying down.

2) For puffy and swollen eyes, make a wet compress of 4 Tbsp. freshly grated raw potato. Place on the eyes for about 15 minutes, then rinse with cold water.

3) To reduce swelling and for bags under the eyes, brew a cup of strong rosehip tea. Soak 2 cotton balls in the tea or use 2 tea bags, lie down and place over the eyes.

4) For dark cirles, cut a fresh fig in half, place a half over each eye.

5) To soothe tired, irritated eyes, cut the end of a cumber into 1/4 in thick slices. Apply a cool slice to each eye.

6) Raw potato slices laid on sore eyes reduces heat and redness.

7) For eye puffiness, any tea bag (herbal is better, especially eyebright), slightly cooled, placed on the eyes while you rest.

8) For tired or bloodshot eyes, soak sterile cotton balls or soft cloth in cold skim milk. Place over eyes for 10 minutes. Rinse entire face in warm,then cool, water.

9) To lighten dark circles under your eyes, wrap a grated raw potato in cheesecloth and apply to eyelids for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Hair Care


Conditioners:

Egg Conditioner
1 egg yolk
1/2 tsp olive oil
3/4 cup lukewarm water
Beat egg yolk until it is thick and light colored. Slowly drizzle drops of oil into egg, beating well. Slowly add and beat the water into the egg mixture. Transfer mixture to a container. After shampooing, massage all conditioner into hair and leave on for a few minutes before thoroughly rinsing.

Protein Conditioner
Beat 1 egg white until foamy. Add to 5 Tbsps plain natural yogurt. Apply to hair in small sections at a time. Leave in for 15 minutes. Rinse.

Split End Treatments
1) Mix 1 tsp honey with 2 Tbsps olive oil, then beat in 1 egg yolk. Massage on hair in small sections. Wrap head with shower cap for 30 minutes. Rinse and shampoo.

2) Massage hair and scalp with warm avocado or olive oil. Wrap hair securly in a towel. Leave oil on hair about 8 hours or overnight. If left on overnight, put a shower cap over head to avoid staining pillows and bedding. Wash hair, then rinse with a vinegar /water solution.

Hot Oil Treatment
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup boiling water
Place olive oil and boiling water into large glass bottle or jar with a lid. You may need to wrap a towel around the bottle to avoid burning yourself. Shake very well until oil is emulsified. Massage into hair, taking care not to burn your head. Put a shower cap or plastic bag over your hair and wrap your head in a hot towel that has been soaked in hot water then wrung out. Leave mixture on your hair for 1/2 hour, then shampoo as usual

Mayonnaise Conditioner
To recondition the hair, shampoo hair with homemade shampoo or a shampoo from the natural foods store. Rinse and towel dry. Apply regular mayonnaise (not salad dressing) to the hair. Massage in. Let sit for 10-15 minutes, shampoo again lightly and rinse with an apple cider vinegar and water solution.

Dandruff
1) Make an infusion of 1 ounce each of fresh or dried rosemary and sage in 2 cups of water. Let steep for 24 hours, then use daily as a hair rinse.

2) Boil 5 heaping Tbsp dried thyme in 2 cups water for 10 minutes. Strain and cool. Pour 1/2 mixture over clean, damp hair. Massage into scalp, do not rinse. Use second half of solution another day.

3) Instead of shampooing, massage handfuls of baking soda into the hair and scalp to absorb oil and to loossen dead skin on scalp. Rinse thoroughly, use no other shampoos. While initially the hair may seem dry, after several weeks, dandruff will be gone and hair will be smooth and shiny.

4) Mint Rinse
Boil:
1 cup water
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 handful of fresh mint leaves
Strain and pour into a container. With fingertips, massage solution into the scalp, let dry without rinsing out.

5) Use the hot oil treatment recipe given on this page.

6) Soothing Herbal Hair Rinse
Combine equal parts of dried rosemary, comfrey, witch hazel leaves and nettles to make about 1/2 cup. Add to 2 cups of water in a covered pot. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let steep overnight. Strain. Shampoo and rinse hair then use herb tea for a final rinse to relieve itchy, flaky scalp.

Hair Coloring
Herb, Fruit & Vegetable Rinses for Color and Highlights
These rinses work over a period of time to subtlely color and add highlights to the hair. First wash and rinse hair, then pour any of these rinses over the hair 15 times catching the excess in a bowl or the bathroom basin as it runs off the hair, then pouring it over the hair again.

For Brunettes
1) Cook an unpeeled potato in boiling water. Cool slighly. Dip a pastry brush or cotton ball in the cooking water, cover and saturate hair, being careful not to get any on skin. Leave on hair for 20 minutes then rinse out.

2) Make an strong infusion of any of the following herbs and teas then use as a rinse:
Rosemary
Sage
Raspberry leaves
Parsley
Ivy Berries
Catnip
Black coffee
Black Tea (for chestnut highlights).


For Blondes
1) Marigold gives golden highlights to light hair and brings out red and gold highlights in light brown and red hair. Saffron, tumeric, calendula, mullein, privet and yellow broom in addition to any yellow blossomed herb or flower also add color and highlights for blondes.

2) Rinse hair with a solution of 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to one gallon of water after shampooing.

3) To restore hair that was once blonde, mix 10 grams of licorice root with 10 grams of oat straw, add a pinch of saffron. Cover with water and boil to make an infusion. Strain and use a s a rinse after shampooing. It should be allowed to soak into the hair and NOT rinsed out.

4) To bring out highlights and lighten blonde hair, steep 1/2 cup of camomile tea in one quart of boiling water . Strain and cool slighyly. Shampoo hair until oil free, then rinse with the tea infusion.

5) Add 4 tablespoons of chopped rhubarb to 3 cups of hot water, simmer for 15 minutes. Strain, cool, then use as a rinse after shampooing.


For Redheads
1) Use strong black coffee as a final rinse

2) Use a strong rosehips tea

3) Make a decotion of red hibiscus tea, use as a rinse

4) Make a rinse from calendula

5) Use an infusion of saffron for a rinse.


For Grey Hair
1) Potatoes: Boil potato peels in water, strain, and cool. Use the strained water as an after-shampoo rinse to darken grey hair

2) Sage covers the grey when used consistently over a period of time. Simmer 1/2 cup dried sage in 2 cups of water for 30 minutes. Steep for 2-3 hours. Strain, use as rinse on clean hair. Leave on until hair has dried, then rinse out.

3) Mix 1 oz. sage, 1oz. rosemary and 1 pint of water. Simmer for 30 minutes and strain. Massage into the scalp and grey hair.

4) Mix 1 tablespoon of apple-cidar vinegar with one gallon of warm water, use as final rinse.

5) Use an infusion of hollyhock (blue-purple flowers) to remove the yellow cast from grey hair.

6) Use betony as a rinse to cover yellow in grey hair.

For All Hair Colors
Make an infusion of any of the following for color, conditioning, highlights and shine:
Catnip: Make a rinse of catnip and water to promote hair growth and shine.
Nettle
Parsley
Rosemary: good as a hair tonic for thinning hair and dandruff and to stimulate hair growth.
Thyme: makes a great stimulating shampoo.
Yarrow: Use a yarrow rinse for mild cases of dandruff.



Hair Spray
Chop 2 lemons, add 2 cups water, simmer in a pan over low heat until lemons are quite soft. Cool, then strain through cheesecloth. Pour into a spray bottle, add 1 Tbsp vodka, shake. Dilute with water if too sticky.



Shampoos:

Nana's Egg Shampoo
1 large egg separated
3 Tbsp castile soap
In a bowl, beat egg white until foamy. Blend in yolk followed by the castile soap. Wet hair with warm water. Massage half the egg shampoo into scalp. Rinse well then massage remaining shampoo into scalp. Leave on hair about 1 min. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Egg Shampoo #2
1 egg
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp castile soap
1/2 cup water or herbal tea
Drop of fragrant essential oil of your choice (optional)
Combine all in blender and whip until smooth. Shampoo with mixture using warm, not hot water for the shampoo and rinse. Store any remaining shampoo in the refrigerator for use the next day.

Herbal Shampoo
1/4 cup of your favorite herbal tea, strongly brewed
8 oz liquid castile soap
Add soap to tea. Stir over low heat until well blended. Store in a capped bottle.

Hands, Feet & Nail Care

Fingernail Treatments
1) Beat 1 egg yolk in a small bowl. Soak fingernails for 5 minutes. Rinse.

2) Forget the Palmolive Madge! Make a solution of pure castile soap and water in a large bowl, soak hands and nails for about 10-15 minutes.

Dill & Horsetail Nail Soak
2 Tbsp chopped horsetail herb
2 Tbsp dill seeds
1 cup boiling water
Pour water over herbs, steep for 1-2 hours. Strain and bottle. To use: warm some of the solution, pour into a small bowl, soak nails for 10 minutes.

Lady's Mantle Hand Mask
2 Tbsp finely ground oatmeal
1Tbsp lady's mantle infusion
1 tsp avocado oil
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp glycerin
Mix all to form a smooth paste. Apply to hands at bedtime. Leave on for 1/2 hour, wash off and apply moisturizing cream overnight (wear gloves) Wash off in the morning.

Cornmeal Hands Mask
Mix 1/4 cup corn meal with 3 Tbsp. milk. Heat over low heat until a paste forms. Add 1 drop almond oil. Let cool. Spread on hands, leave on for about 10 minutes. Rinse.

Lady's Mantle Hand Lotion
2 Tbsp of a strong infusion of lady's mantle
2 Tbsp glycerin
2 tsp carrageen moss (Irish Moss) melted in a little hot water
4 Tbsp vodka
10 drops essential oil of rose or geranium
Stir glycerin into melted moss. Add essential oil to vodka, then blend into the glycerin mixture. Stir in lady's mantle infusion, blend well. Pour into jar, cap tightly. Shake before using.

Heavy Duty Barrier Cream
4 Tbsp Unpetroleum Jelly (available in natural foods stores)
2 handfuls fresh elderflowers
Melt jelly, add elderflowers. Steep for 45 minutes, reheating the jelly when it solidifies. Reheat until mixture is liquified, strain through a fine sieve into a jar. Cool, then cap tightly.

Heavy Duty Gardeners Hand Cream
2 Tablespoons of shaved beeswax
1/2 Teaspoon of carnuba wax
2 Tablespoons of jojoba oil
1 Teaspoon of aloe vera gel
10 drops of Vitamin E oil ( or 4 capsules)
1 drop of your favorite essentail oil for fragrance
Melt the first four ingredients in a stainless steel pot on the stove or use a glass pyrex cup in the microwave. Remove from heat and beat until cool, adding the Vitamin E oil before mixture thickens. Continue beating until this mixture becomes creamy. Add your favorite essential oil, continue beating until cream has completely cooled. Spoon your cream into a jar, store in a cool dark place.

Banana Hand & Foot Cream
Dry hands and feet will become smooth and soft overnight if you mix:
Bananas
Honey
Lemon juice
Natural margarine
Smear on hands and wear white gloves to bed. Wash off in the morning. For dry feet, smear the mixture on and wear heavy socks to bed, wash off in the morning.

Wheatgerm Hot Oil Fingernail Treatment
Soak fingernails in warmed wheat germ oil for about 5 minutes. Wipe off oil, then massage nails. Strengthens weak and brittle nails.

Make-Up Recipes

Basic Lip Gloss
1/4 cup beeswax
1/4 cup castor oil
2 tbsp sesame oil
Beet juice
Melt beeswax in top of double boiler. Remove from heat and add oils. Add as much beet juice as desired for color. Store in jar. Transfer a small portion to a purse sized container for use when away from home. Any favorite essential oil may be added from fragrance.

Apricot-Orange Lip Gloss
1 tsp beeswax
1 tsp apricot kernel oil
1 tsp calendula oil
3-4 drops of essential oil of orange
Beet juice
Melt beeswax in top of double boiler. Add apricot kernel and calendula oils, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add beet juice if desired, for color. When partially cooled, add oil of orange. Store in jar. Transfer a small portion to a purse sized container for use when away from home.

Skin Care

pH Balancer

Use this cleansing, restoring rinse after your regular cleansing or after any or all of the skin treatments on this page. Apply with clean sterile cotton balls or gauze or simply splash on, being careful to avoid your eyes:

Basic Balancer
3 cups distilled water
1/3 cups apple cider vinegar
Combine water and vinegar. Pour into a clean decorative decanter and store in the bathroom.

Various essential oils or herb infusions (in place of the plain distilled water) may be added to the basic balancer for fragrance and/or therapuedic value:

For oily skin add one of the following oils or infusions:
Calendula (marigold)
Geranium
Horestail herb
Sage
Yarrow

For dry, sensitive skin add one of the following oils or infusions:
Borage
Cornflower
Houseleek
Lady's Mantle
Marsh mallow (roots and leaves)
Parsley
Sorrel
Sweet Violet (flowers and leaves)


Acne

1) Make a face pack of bran plus baking soda and water. Mix into a paste, apply to the face, leaving on for 15 minutes. Rinse with solution of 1 part apple cider vinegar and 8 parts water.

2) Parsley : Use an infusion of fresh parsley to wash the skin

3) Mint: Peppermint is an excellent antiseptic wash for acne.

4) Garlic: Peel and mash eight cloves of fresh garlic. Apply to face avoiding the area around the eyes. Leave on for about 15 minutes. Wash off with a warm cloth. Finish with a rinse of the vinegar pH balancer.

5) Wine: Breakouts can be controlled by applying wine with a cotton ball, white wine for fair skin, red wine for darker complexions.

6) After washing skin rinse with any of the following herb infusions:
a) chamomile which is purifying
b) yarrow to eliminate toxins
c) catnip which is an antiseptic
d) lavender which is antiseptic
e) thyme which is a strong germ killer

7) Dilute some lemon juice with water, dab pimple with solution to kill germs, cool inflamation and improve blood circulation.

8) Purchase or make your own calendula(marigold) ointment. Apply to reduce inflamation and speed healing. Or make an infusion and apply as a compress to the skin.

9) Lady's Mantle Acne Remedy
An infusion of lady's mantle herb is an excellent soothing and healing face rinse.


Antiseptics

1) Tea tree oil is a powerful antiseptic. Use it for acne, either diluted or full strength.

2) Burdock leaves in a poultice are excellent for boils and swellings, and as a wash for acne.

3) Thyme is a powerful antiseptic making it an excellent wash for pimples

4) Garlic has well known antibiotic properties making it an excellent treatment for pimples and acne. Apply peeled, mashed garlic cloves to pimples and other skin blemishes.


Astringents/Tighteners/Toners

1) Cucumber is cooling, gentle astringent, use the juice or mashed pulp.

2) Eggwhite Toner
Clean face thoroughly using any natural cleanser. Apply raw eggwhites to the skin and leave on for at least 15 minutes. Wash off with tepid water.

3) Elderflowers, lavender, orange flower water and rosewater are all classic toners for all skin types. Make a strong infusion of any of the above, refrigerate and use within 3 days.

4) Lecithin Toner
Dissolve lecithing granules in jojoba or almond oil. Apply to face and throat as a day or night cream.

5) Lemon is a strong astringent, dilute with water before using, being careful to keep away from eyes.

6) Lemon Toner
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 cup distilled water
2/3 cup witch hazel
Combine all ingredients. Pour into a clean bottle or decorative cosmetics container. Shake well before using. Apply with a clean cotton ball.

7) Pine Toner
2 cups fresh pine needles
1 cup distilled water
1/2 cup witch hazel
Place pine needles in small saucepan with distilled water. Bring water to boil. Allow water to cool completely then strain and discard pine needles. Add witch hazel and stir well. Pour into a clean bottle or decorative capped container. Apply to skin with a cotton ball. Store in a cool dark place.

8) Protein Toner
Beat together 1 Tbsp milk, 1 tsp honey and 1 egg. Apply to face and neck. Leave on as long as desired. Rinse off with warm water followed by a splash of cold.

9) Queen of Hungary Water
This water can be used as an astringent, aftershave, deodorant, hair and skin tonic and even as an inhaled headache remedy:
1 part roses
1 part lavender
1 part rosemary
1 part sage
1 part orange peel
1 part lemon peel
2 parts mint
To 2 ounces apple cider vinegar, add 2 ounces of the above herbal formula. Put in an air-tight glass jar, let steep for about 2 weeks. Strain and add 1 1/2 cups pure distilled rosewater. Pour into a decorative, air tight decanter and use daily.

10) Rose Water & Glycerine Astringent
1/2 pint olive oil
1 ounce rose water
a few drops of glycerin
1 ounce vodka

11) Sage Astringent
4 Tbsp dried sage
4 Tbsp vodka
1/4 tsp borax
3 Tbsp witch hazel
10 drops glycerin or honey
Steep the sage in vodka for 2 weeks then strain. Dissolve borax in witch hazel, stir in the saged vodka and glycerin. Pour into bottle with a tight cap. Shake before each use.

12) Strawberry: Mash strawberries, use as an astringent and cleansing face mask.

13) Violet: Simmer violet flowers in a little milk to make a softening and mildly astringent face lotion.

14) Witch Hazel: Use an extract of witch hazel as an astringent, a skin freshener and to soothe skin irritations.

15) Lemony Lavender Toner
3 drops lemon oil
3 drops lavender oil
3 teaspons of distilled water
Use a soft cotton ball to massage mixture into the skin after cleansing. Follow with a moisturizer if desired


Blackheads & Blemishes

1) Heat honey slightly and apply to face, tap face gently with your fingers.
Wash honey off with warm water then rinse with cool water. A bit of wheat germ may be added to the honey before applying.

2) To loosen and cleanse blackheads, make a paste of oatmeal, honey and an eggwhite. Apply to the skin, massage for 10 minutes then rinse with tepid water.

3) For blackheads, make a paste of oatmeal and water.

4) For blackheads, make a paste of almond meal and water.

5) Blotchy skin: Make a mixture of 1 part apple cider vinegar and 8 parts water. Store in a decorative bottle in the bathroom. Rinse face 1-2 times a day with the solution.

6) For blackheads, rub with a slice of tomato


Brown Spots and Freckles

1) Apply odorless castor oil or vitamin E nightly.

2) Apply lemon juice as a bleach to the spots

3) An old folk remedy for freckles: Dissolve some suger in the juice of one lemon. Apply mixture to each freckle with a camels hair brush!!!!


Cleansing Creams, Milks and Scrubs

1) Apricot Butter Cold Cream (For Dry Skin)
10 oz apricot kernel oil
2 oz cocoa butter
2 oz beeswax
Heat all in top of double boiler until wax and butter are melted. Beat with a wooden spoon until smooth and cooled. Transfer to jars, cap and refrigerate.

2) Buttermilk and Fennel Cleansing Milk (For Oily Skin)
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 Tbsp crushed fennel seeds
Heat the milk and fennel seeds in top of double boiler for 30 minutes. Turn off heat, let steep for 2 hours. Strain, cool, pour into bottle and refrigerate. Keeps for 2 weeks.

3) Chamomile Cleansing Milk (For Dry and Sensitive Skin)
1/4 cup cream
1/4 cup milk
2 Tbsp chamomile flowers, fresh or dried
Simmer ingredients in top of a double boiler for about 30 minutes, do not allow milk to boil. Turn off heat and let sit for about 2 hours, strain. Keep refrigerated. Apply with cotton balls to the face. Variations: Use elderflowers, sweet violets or lime blossoms in place of chamomile

4) Cornmeal Cleanser (for Oily Skin)
Castile soap
1 Tsp Cornmeal
Wet face. Pour a little castile soap into the palm of your hand, add cornmeal. Mix meal and soap into a lather, wash face, being careful to avoid the delicate skin around the eyes.

5) Honey Cleanser (For Dry Skin)
Castile soap
1 Tsp Honey
Wet face. Pour a little castile soap into the palm of your hand, add honey. Mix honey and soap into a lather, wash face.

6) Honey Almond Scrub
2 Tbsp almonds
2 tsp milk
1/2 tsp flour
1/2 tsp honey
Grind almonds in a blender. Add milk, flour and honey, mixing until a thick paste is formed. Rub into skin, rinse with warm water followed by the pH balancer.

7) Honey 'n Oats Scrub
1/2 cup uncooked oatmeal
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp cider vinegar
1 tsp ground almonds
Moisten face with a warm washcloth then apply mixture to face avoiding the sensitive area around the eyes. Let mixture dry, then remove with a warm, damp washcloth.

8) Lemon Cleansing Cream (For Oily Skin)
1 Tbsp beeswax
1 1/2 Tbsp Unpetroleum Jelly (available in natural foods stores)
3 Tbsp jojoba oil
1 Tbsp witch hazel
1 Tbsp strained lemon juice
1/8 tsp borax
6 drops essential oil of lemon
Melt beeswax and unpetroleum jelly over low heat. Add warmed jojoba oil to wax and jelly mixture, blending for 3-5 minutes. Mix witch hazel and lemon juice, warm gently, mix in borax until dissolved. Slowly add this to the wax mixture, beating until cool and creamy. After completely cooled, add lemon oil, spoon into clean jar.

9) Milk and Honey Cleanser:
Mix 1 tsp warm honey with 1 tablespoon milk or cream. This recipe should be prepared fresh each time.

10) Peppermint Patty Scrub: (For Oily Skin)
2 cup rolled oats
1 cup almonds
2 tsp dried lavender
2 tsp dried peppermint
2 cup white cosmetic clay
Grind oats, almonds and herbs to a very fine powder in blender or with a mortar and pestle. Mix ground herbs with clay, store in covered container. To use: mix 1 heaping tsp of mixture with water to make a paste. Massage into skin then rinse well with warm water.

11) Sesame Oil Cleanser: (For Dry Skin)
Apply sesame oil to face and neck. Remove oil and makeup with a washcloth that has been soaked in hot water and wrung out. Finish with a rinse of the pH Balancer.

12) Sweet Butter Cleansing Cream: (For Dry Skin)
Whip sweet, unsalted butter, transfer to container with a tid lid. May be stored at room temperature away from heat sources or refrigerate.


Cleansing Grains:

1) Almond Cleanser
Grind almonds to a fine powder in a blender. Wet face then rub on almond powder. Rinse. Store powder in a tighly sealed container.

2) Orange & Oats Scrubbing Grains
1 cup dried orange peel
1 cup cooked oatmeal
1 cup almonds
Place peels, oats, and almonds in food processor, blend until mixture is a fine powder. Place some in the palm of your hand and moisten with a few drops of warm water. Rub paste onto face with a gentle circular motion. Rinse with warm water.


Dry Skin

1) Make a puree of 1 banana and 1 papaya, peach or avacado. Apply to skin. Leave on for at least 20 minutes then rinse with warm water, followed by a moisturizer of natural margarine or natural vegetable oil.

2) Apply natural mayonnaise, either homemade or from natural foods store. Massage into skin, leave on for 15-20 minutes, rinse thoroughly with warm water.


Face Lift

Combine a handful of strawberries, a handful of grapes, 1/2 pear, 1/2 apple and 1 oz. orange juice in a blender. Apply a thin layer of honey to face, then apply fruit mixture to face. Leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Finish with a rinse of the vinegar pH balancer.


Facial Masks

Most facial masks are applied to the skin, left on for 15-20 minutes then washed off with warm water, followed by a cold rinse.

1) Apple & Honey Mask
A mask of grated apple mixed with a little honey is an excellent remedy for pimples.

2) Apricot Mask
Mash the fresh fruit for a good face mask.
Variation: Add apricots to a little warm olive oil to form a spreadable paste. Good for dry skin.

3) Avocado & Honey Moisturizer Mask(For Dry Skin)
Mash up 2 tablespoons avocado, mix with 2 tablespoons honey and 1 egg yolk. Apply to face, leaving on about 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Finish with a rinse of the vinegar pH balancer.

4) Creamy Avocado Mask
Mash 1 tablespoon ripe avocado, add 1/2 tsp honey and mix. Stir in a little almond meal until creamy. Apply to clean skin, leave on for 15-20 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water. Finish with a rinse of the vinegar pH balancer.

5) Avocado Honey Mask #2(For Dry Skin)
Peel one ripe avacado, mash the meat into a creamy texture. Heat over a double boiler until just warm,iIncorporate 1 Tbsp of honey. Massage into the face and neck. Finish with a rinse of rosewater, witch hazel or vinegar pH balancer.

6) Banana Mask
Mash a banana and spread on face for a soothing, cleansing and moisturizing face mask. Rinse celan with warm water finished with a rinse of the vinegar pH balancer.

7) Brewers Yeast Mask(For Oily Skin)
Make a paste using the yeast and a small amount of warm water.

8) Carrot Mask(For Oily Skin)
Carrots make an excellent skin mask for acne and blemishes.
Apply raw, grated carrots to the face while lying down, a little lemon juice may also be added. For a cooked carrot mask: Boil three large carrots and mash them, or process in a food processor. Add 5 tablespoons of honey or yogurt (optional). Apply gently, in an upward motion. Leave on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Finish with a final rinse of witch hazel or the vinegar pH balancer.

9) Cool As A Cucumber Yogurt Facial(For Normal/Oily Skin)
1/2 cucumber
1 Tbsp plain yogurt
Puree cucumber in blender. Mix in yogurt, apply to face. Leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse well.

10) Elder Flower Mask(For Oily Skin)
Mix elder flower herb with yogurt to make a paste, apply to face.

11) Fennel Wrinkle Mask
Mix a strong infusion of fennel seed or herb into a liberal amount of honey and yogurt to form a paste, add some additional dried fennel herb, mix well, apply to skin.

12) Honey Mask(For Oily & Blemished Skin)
Massage a small amount of slightly heated honey into skin. Wheat germ may be added for its abrasive action, protein and nutrients.

13) Lemon/Egg Mask(For Oily Skin)
Squeeze half a lemon and mix the juice with one beaten egg white. Apply to face avoiding the area around the eyes. Leave on your face overnight or if during the day, for about 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

14) Oatmeal Facial(For Oily Skin)
Make a creamy paste of oatmeal and water. Apply to face, let dry completely. Remove by very gently rubbing off with your fingers.

15) Papaya Skin Treatment
A fresh mashed papaya applied as a face mask will remove dead, flaky skin.

16) Peach Mask(For Dry Skin)
Mash a fresh peach, mix with enough warm olive, peach kernel or almond oil to form a spreadable paste.

17) Strawberry Mask(For Oily Skin)
Mash strawberries then use as a cleansing face mask.

18) Tomato Mask(For Oily Skin)
Use mashed or sliced tomato for enlarged pores.

19) Yogurt Mask(For Oily Skin)
Apply natural unflavored yogurt adding honey and/or oatmeal if desired.


Large Pores:

1) Mix almond meal with enough water to make a paste. Apply to pores for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, then apply withch hazel or a solution of apple cider vinegar and water.

2) Mix table salt and buttermilk into a paste, apply on enlarged pores and massage well. Rinse with warm water.


Lines and Wrinkles:

1) Apply the leftover eggwhites in the bottom of the shell to the lines under your eyes

2) Apply odorless castor oil to the crepe-like skin under the eyes or on the throat.

3) ***** 3 capsules of vitamin E and drain into small bowl. Add 2 tsps plain yogurt, 1/2 tsp honey and 1/2 tsp. lemon juice. Apply to face with cotton ball. Leave on skin for about 10 minutes. Rinse.


Makeup Removers

1) Apply milk or plain yogurt to face with a cotton ball, then rinse.

2) Eye Makeup Remover
1 Tbsp castor oil
1 Tbsp light olive oil
2 tsp Canola oil
Blend all ingredients together. Apply with tissue or cottonball to remove makeup on and around the eyes.


Moisturizers, Creams and Lubricants
1) Peaches & Cream Moisturizing Lotion
Peel and mash one very ripe peach. Strain through a sieve to extract all the juice. Mix peach juice with an equal quantity of fresh cream. Keep refrigerated.

2) High Protein Moisturizer
Beat 1 egg yolk into 1 cup whole milk. Apply to face with fingertips. Bottle and store remainder in refrigerator.

3) Apply any of the following vegetable, seed or nut oils to the skin
a) Virgin olive oil
b) Sesame oil
c) Peanut oil
d) Avocado oil

4) Use 2 parts rose water and 1 part glycerin to make a lotion. Apply nightly and work into skin.

5) Buy a pound of natural margarine from the health food store, NOT the supermarket. Store in refrigerator. Apply enough to cover smooth skin. It will absorb into the skin and surprisingly, does not leave a greasy residue.


Oily Skin

1) Make a puree of fresh tomatoes, apply to the skin

2) Beat together 1 egg white, 1 tsp spirits of camphor, 1 heaping Tbsp skim milk powder and a scant drop of essential oil of mint. First apply a thin film of odorless castor oil to the skin , then apply a thick layer of the egg white mask. Lie back for about 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water, then rinse with an apple cider vinegar and water solution or witch hazel.

Tooth, Gum & Breath Care


Breath Fresheners
1) Chew fresh parsley to sweeten the breath.
2) Chew fennel seeds to freshen the breath.
3) Chew anise seeds to freshen the breath.
4) Chew a few peppermint or spearmint leaves or drink a cup of peppermint tea
5) Add 1 drop of myrrh oil to 1 cup of cooled, boiled water. Use as gargle/mouthwash. tea


Old Fashioned Tooth Powder
2 Tbsp dried lemon or orange rind
1/4 cup baking soda<