Simplifying Your Life -Part Two
I must admit it; I love beauty products. It’s some sort of bizarre high that I get when I purchase them or see them in my bathroom cabinets. I have learned though, by trial and error that natural products really do work best. Lately, in an effort to teach myself “the evils” of commercialism and capitalism, I have been attempting at making my own beauty products. Right now, and as a side business, I make my own herbal soaps. I do also make my own face cream, and hair cream for my tight curly hair.
Making soap is actually not a difficult process, and in doing so, you are promoting the environment by not purchasing soap or soap products from companies whose factories pollute the earth. You may also find that you save money this way. For me, the best part is, knowing what is in my products, and knowing that they are completely tailored to my needs-not mass produced in a factory, and formulated by folks who know nothing about my skin or hair needs.
3. So number three, in our series of tips, would be to make as many beauty products as you use most frequently. The things I use the most in my house are soap, skin cream and hair cream.
a. Soap -you can try your hand at homemade soaps; one place to try for advice and recipes, is www.soapnuts.com.
You can also try, the melt and pour method. This method is basically purchasing plain unscented soap, and melting in the essential oils, butters, herbs and other additives you may want to include in your soap. This is the method I would recommend if you are starting out. One place to purchase your soap in bulk is www.soapwizards.com. You can purchase soap, molds and fragrance oils there. For essential oils the best place hands down, iswww.wellnaturally.com.
b. Beauty products-I will include my favorite cream formula. It’s the best stuff I have ever used ever in my life! My skin has never looked better.
It’s taken from, Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal by Rosemary Gladstar.
ROSEMARY’S PERFECT CREAM
Though this recipe appears easy, it is also a bit challenging. You are attempting to combine water and oil; they don’t normally mix. Follow the recipe closely. If it doesn’t work, don't be discouraged. Try again; the luscious cream is well worth your time and effort.
Package your cream in glass jars. It doesn’t need to be stored in the refrigerator.
Waters
2/3 cup rosewater
1/3 cup aloe vera gel
1 or 2 drops essential oil of choice (I use Palmarosa EO)
Vitamins A and E as desired
Oils
¾ cup apricot, almond or grape seed oil
1/3 cup coconut oil or cocoa butter
¼ teaspoon lanolin
½ to 1 ounce grated beeswax
Combine the waters in a glass measuring cup. Set aside.
In a double boiler over low heat, combine the oils., Heat them just enough to melt. Pour the oils into a blender and let them cool to room temperature. The mixture should become thick, creamy, semisolid, and cream colored. This cooling process can be hastened in the refrigerator, but keep an eye on it so it doesn’t become too hard.
When the mixture has cooled, turn on the blender at its highest speed. In a slow, thin drizzle, pour the water mixture into the center vortex of the whirling oil mixture.
When most of the water mixture has been added to the oils, listen to the blender and watch the cream. When the blender coughs and chokes on the frosting, turn off the blender. You can slowly add more water, beating it in by hand with a spoon but don’t over beat! The cream will thicken as it sets.
Pour into cream or lotion jars. Store into cool location.
The following is a cream meant for tight curly hair. It’s my own recipe.
ROSE HAIR CREAM
1 cup Jojoba Oil
4 tablespoons grated beeswax
1 cup rosewater
For this hair cream, you will use the same process as with the face cream.
To use: Comb your wet or damp hair, and apply cream to your hair. Dry lightly with diffuser, and you are set!
HAIR SPRAY
An easy way to make hair spray is to combine ½ cup rosewater and ½ cup infusium with 2 tablespoons of sugar, and pour into a spray bottle. You can play around with the recipe. I use Infusium because the stuff is amazing. But you can just use 1 cup of rosewater if you like.
Play around with how much hold you want. The more hold you want, the more sugar you’ll add.
Now it being February, it seems only appropriate to have some Valentine’s Day themed recipes.
Enjoy!
Romance Blends For Your Valentine
TOUCH MY HEART
5 drops Bergamot
2 drops Jasmine Grandiflora
4 drops Frankincense
I'd use close to two ounces of carrier if using this blend for a full body massage. (And remember to use Bergamot FCF if using on the skin.) I'd prefer to use it in the aromalamp, though.
SENSUAL MASSAGE BLEND
First prepare the Vetiver Base Oil: to 100 mls of your favorite carrier oil (we prefer Fractionated Coconut) add one or two drops of Vetiver. Let stand overnight.
to 30 ml (one fl ounce) of the above carrier, add:
2 drops Sandalwood
2 drops Clary Sage
1 drop your favorite Ylang ylang
And ONE drop of either Rose Otto or Jasmine Grandiflora. (The latter addition is optional, but I would insist on the Rose.)
LOVE POTION
4 Jasmine Sambac
7 Indonesian Patchouli
4 Ginger
Romantic Recipes For Your Valentine
CHOCOLATE HEARTS
1-1/2 cups (375 mL) firmly-packed brown sugar
2/3 cup (150 mL) Crisco Shortening
1 tbsp (15 mL) water
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups (375 mL) all-purpose flour
1/3 cup (75 mL) cocoa
1/4 tsp (1 mL) baking soda
1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
2 cups (500 mL) miniature semi-sweet Hershey's Chipets
6 oz (180 g) white chocolate
12 candied pineapple hearts (optional) chocolates
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Place sheets of foil on countertop for cooling cookies.
2. Combine brown sugar, shortening, water and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Beat eggs into creamed mixture.
3. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Mix into creamed mixture at low speed just until blended. Stir in Hershey's Chipets. Divide dough in half. Spread dough into 2 ungreased 8-inch (20 cm) round cake pans.
4. Bake one pan at a time at 375°F (190°C) for 10 to 12 minutes. DO NOT OVER BAKE. Cool 5 minutes in pan. Cut with 2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter with point towards center to make 6 cookies. Remove cookies to foil to cool completely.
5. Chop white chocolate into l/2-inch (1 cm) pieces. Place pieces in a microwave safe shallow bowl. Microwave on 100%(HIGH) power for 30 seconds. Stir. Repeat at 30 second intervals until chocolate is melted. Spread melted chocolate on top of cooled hearts. Cut pineapple, if used, into 2-inch (5 cm) hearts 1/4-inch (6 mm) thick. Top each cookie with red candied pineapple heart. Set aside to dry completely. Makes: About 1 dozen cookies
DARK CHOCOLATE WAFFLES WITH STRAWBERRIES
1/2 c. butter, melted
1/4 c. sugar
2 eggs, separated
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 oz. bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled
1-1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt (optional)
1/2 c. milk or 3/4 c. buttermilk
Powdered sugar
Fresh strawberries, sliced and sweetened
Preparation:
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar. Add the egg yolks, vanilla and cooled chocolate. Mix well. In separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt, if using. Add the flour mixture to the chocolate mixture alternately with the milk, blending well with each addition. (If using buttermilk, which is thicker than milk, use a little more if necessary, to thin almost to a pouring consistency.) With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until stiff. Fold them into the batter. Place about 1/3 cup batter in a hot waffle iron, close the cover and bake until the steaming stops; these waffles are dark so don't judge doneness by the color. Serve sprinkled with powdered sugar and topped with strawberry slices. Makes 5 to 6 waffles.
That is all for now. Next month, I will be talking to you about natural baby care.
