Eucalyptus Essential Oil Moisturizer

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Eucalyptus essential oil is known for its health benefits that include; anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiseptic, and antibacterial. When combined with the high magnesium content of the Epsom salt, eucalyptus essential oil makes a great addition to any moisturizer or body care product that will be used by active people and sportspeople. This moisturizer also uses pure aqueous cream as a base, so it won’t cause any irritation to sensitive skin.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups (500ml) Pure aqueous cream
  • 2 Cups (500ml) Epsom Salt
  • ¼ Cup (60ml) Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Instructions:

  • Using a glass jar or a recycled aqueous cream tub, place the aqueous cream into the jar or tub
  • Add the Epsom salt
  • Add the eucalyptus essential oil
  • Mix together well
  • Use as desired on hands and body, preferably after cleansing

Homemade Body Scrubs

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All the recipes in this section use either Epsom salt or organic sea salt as a base. Epsom salt is a wonderful, cost effective addition to any beauty routine and has so many health benefits due to its high magnesium and sulfate content. Organic sea salt is high in sodium and is one of nature’s most simple and effective disinfectants and cleansers. The addition of essential oils to these body scrubs not only adds a hint of gentle fragrance but also brings with it the therapeutic benefits of the essential oils. In some instances, food oils such as coconut or olive oil have been added to the mix to boost the moisturizing properties of the body scrub. One of the most efficient uses for a body scrub is to exfoliate the skin; exfoliation of the skin removes any excess dead skin cells that may be resting on the skin’s surface, paving the way for a more efficient absorption of your moisturizing cream. As with all the products and chapters within this book, it is incredibly necessary to stress the fact that if any irritation or sensitivity to the skin is experienced after using any of the following product use of that product must be discontinued immediately, and if any reaction that may be experienced does not clear up within three days of using the product then it is strongly advised that you consult with your doctor or dermatologist.

 

Homemade Facial Masks

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The homemade facial masks in this chapter are all made with natural food-based products that not only have benefits for the body from within, but can also benefit the body from without. Since most of these recipes use fresh food sources it is recommended that you use these masks as you make them; however, when it comes to the necessity of performing a sensitivity test on your skin it is possible to make these masks and then keep them in the refrigerator for the required twenty-four hours that it will take to fully complete the sensitivity test. When storing these masks in the refrigerator it is recommended that you store them in an airtight container such as a recycled glass jar. As with all the recipes and chapters in this book it is important and necessary to once again stress the fact that if any irritation or sensitivity occurs through use of the products that these recipes make, use of the product must be discontinued immediately; furthermore, if there is any reaction to the product or any of its ingredients that does not clear up within three days of the initial reaction, it is strongly advised that you consult your doctor or dermatologist.

 

Honey, Ginger and Coconut Oil Facial Mask

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Honey is another of those super food ingredients that has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, particularly within the Chinese culture, and it is renowned and celebrated for its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. The naturally occurring ingredient found in honey called populous is known for its cleansing properties which are the reason why honey is an ingredient in so many cleansing products. Ginger is well known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties as well. The combination of honey and ginger provides a good dose of age fighting anti-oxidants to this facial mask. By using coconut oil as a base for this recipe you are providing your skin with a moisturizing mask that is both anti-aging and deep cleansing at the same time, making this facial mask a wonderful addition to any make-up removing beauty routine.

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tablespoon (15ml) Extra virgin coconut oil, preferably in its solid state
  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) Raw organic honey
  • ½ teaspoon (2.5ml) Fresh ginger root, finely grated

Instructions:

  • Place the coconut oil, honey and ginger into a mixing bowl and mix well
  • Cleanse your face and neck by means of your usual cleansing routine
  • Apply the honey, ginger and coconut oil facial mask to your face and neck, extending down to your décolletage.
  • Leave the mask on for approximately fifteen minutes
  • Gently remove the mask by wiping away at it with a dampened cotton wool pad
  • Follow with your usual cleansing and moisturizing routine.

Home Made Beauty Products

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The commercial cosmetic industry is one of the largest and wealthiest industries in the world and it provides us with products to suit all different skin types, cosmetic needs and wants. There are many benefits to these products that range from ant-aging properties; skin nourishing properties; hair nourishing properties; moisturizing properties; cleansing properties and toning properties. All of these properties and benefits provided by products that are manufactured by the commercial cosmetic industry have become a necessity to our daily lives and beauty routines; not only because we are all searching for that magic elixir that will ensure us eternal youth, but also because the environmental factors of the world we live in today are unavoidable and many of these factors can cause harm to our skin. We therefore need to make sure that we take care of our skin and hair in as many ways as we possibly can.

 

Unfortunately, beauty products that are provided by the commercial cosmetic industry have many draw backs. The first of these draw backs is their cost; many of these products, although they are of top quality, can be very expensive and therefore cost-prohibitive for many of us. Another of these draw backs is that commercially produced cosmetics are generally chemically derived and therefore contain a list of ingredients that most of us can’t even pronounce let alone know what they are.  Then there is the fact that so many of these commercially produced cosmetics are high in synthetic fragrances that are added to the products in order to mask the harsh and unpleasant fragrance of the chemicals from which they are derived. These chemicals and synthetic fragrances can cause serious irritation to sensitive skins and have been known to cause irritation and sensitivity to skin types that are not normally prone to such reactions.

 

One of the most important and sensitive issues surrounding the production of commercial cosmetic products is the fact that many of the huge worldwide cosmetic corporations are known to test their products on live animals in order to make sure that they are aware of any potential reactions that the consumer may have to the use of a particular product. This is a very sore point the world over and many women are beginning to seek alternative options when it comes to beauty products and cosmetics as they do not want to in any way promote such cruel and unnecessary practices.

 

The good news is that there is an alternative option to the cosmetics and beauty products that are produced by the commercial industry, and therefore a means of avoiding all their previously mentioned draw backs. It is very easy, cost-effective and rewarding to make your own beauty products within the comfort of your own home and by doing so not only are you taking complete control of exactly what you are putting onto your skin and into your hair, but you are also providing your skin and hair with naturally derived ingredients that won’t cause harm or irritation.

The aim of this book is to provide you with cost-effective, natural and creative alternatives to the everyday commercially produced cosmetics that we are so used to using, but don’t necessarily have to. The recipes for homemade beauty products in this book will provide you with a number of options for moisturizing, cleansing and exfoliating your skin; as well as a number of options for moisturizing, cleansing and treating your hair. All the ingredients in these recipes are naturally sourced with the exception of the moisturizers which use plain, basic aqueous cream as a base; however, some would argue that aqueous cream is derived from natural products, especially when it is in its most basic and clean form.

 

As far as fragrances are concerned, the recipes in this book use essential oils as a means of adding fragrance to the products; this not only takes away the risk of causing irritation to the skin that would be done by the use of synthetic fragrance, but it also adds to the products all the benefits that come with the use of the essential oils.

Some of the products in this book will need to be made and used immediately, particularly in the case of some of the face masks; otherwise many of them can be stored in airtight glass jars and used when, and as often, as desired.

 

The following chapters of will provide you with creative, cost-effective and easy to make recipes for moisturizers, face masks, body scrubs, hair treatments as well as cleansing products for both skin and hair.

 

It is important to note that although all the ingredients in the recipes to follow are natural and non-chemical, it is still known that some skin types may have allergic reactions to some of the ingredients so it is always important to perform a sensitivity test before using the homemade product. To perform this sensitivity test, place a small amount of the completely made-up product on the inside of your forearm and allow it to sit there for approximately twenty minutes before washing off. Even if an allergic reaction does not occur immediately there is still a chance that it can develop, therefore it is advised that you wait at least twenty-four hours before using the product again in order to completely ensure that you will not develop any potential allergic reactions or sensitivities to the product or its ingredients. 

It is also important to note that if you are already aware that you may have, or do have, a sensitivity to any of the ingredients in the recipes that follow then it would be advisable to avoid the use of the recipe completely.

 

In the event of an allergic reaction or sensitivity occurring to any of the products within the recipes that does not clear up or heal within at least three days of use, then it is strongly advised that you consult with your doctor or dermatologist regarding the reaction and completely discontinue use of the homemade product.

 

Juniper Berry Essential Oil Moisturizer

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Juniper berry essential oil is known for its health benefiting properties such as; it is an antiseptic, anti-rheumatic, antispasmodic, calmative, and a diuretic. With its anti-rheumatic properties juniper berry oil will be a great addition to aqueous cream to make a moisturizing mixture that will help relieve aching, tired joints and muscles making this moisturizer combination a great way to round off your after-training shower or bath. Juniper Berry Essential oil has a woody fragrance that is known and believed to promote a calm state of mind.

Ingredients:

  • 2 Cups (500ml) Plain aqueous cream
  • 2 Tablespoons (30ml) Juniper Berry essential oil

Instructions:

  • In a mixing bowl that you have set aside for using with non-food products, place the plain aqueous cream
  • Add the Juniper Berry essential oil and mix well.

Place the mixture into a recycled glass jar and use as and when desired for the body. Due to the anti-rheumatic properties of the juniper berry oil, this moisturizer is a wonderful remedy to stiff, tired muscles so it will make a great rub for the releasing of muscles after intense exercise and when used in this instance it will be most effective after a hot bath.

Organic Sea Salt, Ginger and Lemongrass Essential Oil Body Scrub

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The combination of ingredients in this body scrub makes it a really wonderful option when looking to exfoliate and disinfect the skin at the same time. The anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties of the ginger together with the same properties that are found in the lemongrass essential oil make this body scrub very useful when diluted in warm water as means of cleansing wounds. Once again it is important to note that as with all the organic sea salt based body scrubs found in this book, this body scrub should not be used on sensitive skin nor should it be used as a facial exfoliator.

Ingredients:

  • 1 Cup (250ml) Organic Sea Salt
  • ½ Cup (125ml) Fresh Ginger root, finely grated
  • 1 Tablespoon (15ml) Lemongrass essential oil

Instructions:

1       Place the organic sea salt and finely grated ginger into a mixing bowl

2    Mix in the lemongrass essential oil, making sure that all the salt crystals are well covered with the olive oil and finely grated ginger root

3       To use this body scrub on your body take a handful of body scrub and rub over damp skin while in the shower. Make sure that you rinse all the body scrub off of your skin thoroughly before continuing with your usual body cleansing routine.

4       This body scrub can be stored in a recycled glass jar and used as when desired. It is recommended that this particular body scrub combination be stored in the refrigerator when not in use in order to prevent the fresh ginger root from turning bad.

 

Pomegranate Juice and Olive Oil Facial Mask

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Pomegranates are another super fruit that has become widely known and celebrated for their incredibly high anti-oxidant and anti-aging properties and benefits, so much so that there are many schools of thought who refer to the pomegranate tree as the tree of life. There are a number of commercial cosmetic manufacturers that have begun including pomegranate as an ingredient in their skin care products due to these facts. Olive oil is another super food ingredient that is known in the culinary world for its high content of heart-healthy and cholesterol fighting benefits, however it also has a number of benefits for the skin by both consuming it and applying it topically; olive oil is a wonderful natural moisturizer and will help hydrate the skin without leaving an oily residue. This mask is a wonderful option when looking at fighting the signs of aging.

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tablespoon (15ml) Extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons (10ml) Fresh organic pure pomegranate juice

Instructions:

  • Place the extra virgin olive oil and pomegranate juice into a mixing bowl and mix well
  • Cleanse your face and neck by means of your usual cleansing routine
  • Apply the olive oil and pomegranate juice facial mask to your face and neck, extending down to your décolletage. You may need to use a brush such as a foundation brush or a pastry brush in order to efficiently apply this mask to your skin.
  • Leave the mask on for approximately fifteen minutes
  • Gently remove the mask by wiping away at it with a dampened cotton wool pad
  • Follow with your usual cleansing and moisturizing routine.

 

Sage Essential Oil Moisturizer

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Sage essential oil is known for its health benefiting properties such as; it is an antifungal, antimicrobial, anti-oxidant, antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Due to its natural cleansing properties that won’t be harsh and irritating to the skin, the addition of sage essential oil to this moisturizer makes it a great handbag essential for use as a hand cream. This is a very useful hand and body moisturizer for active and sportspeople as it will help ensure that you are cleansing your skin of any bacteria that is caused by sweating, without stripping the skin of its natural oils or being too abrasive. When using this moisturizer after a bath or shower you are further ensuring that your skin is well cleansed without any concern of having been to abrasive in the process.

Ingredients:

  • 2 Cups (500ml) Plain aqueous cream
  • 2 Tablespoons (30ml) Sage essential oil

Instructions:

  • In a mixing bowl that you have set aside for using with non-food products, place the plain aqueous cream
  • Add the Sage essential oil and mix well.
  • Place the mixture into a recycled glass jar and use as and when desired for the body, preferably after a bath or shower.

Apple Cider Vinegar Volumizing Hair Treatment

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A beautiful shiny and soft main of hair that is full of body and bounce is something that is sure to put a spring in our step should we be able to achieve such a thing on any given day. Many of the products made available to us by the cosmetic industry are chemical-based and highly fragranced, which can lead to irritations for people with sensitive skin. Also, the extended use of styling products can lead to a build-up of these products in our hair causing it to be weighed down and look dull and lifeless.

Apple cider vinegar contains a high acetic acid content and is a natural alternative to the products made available by the cosmetic industry for such concern. The use of apple cider vinegar on your hair will naturally remove the build-up of styling products and at the same time strengthen the hair shaft, resulting in a healthy hair follicle that will in turn produce and grow a healthier, shinier strand of hair. Apple cider vinegar will also help to restore the natural pH balance of the scalp and hair shafts resulting in an increase in hair growth and volume. 

Ingredients for this hair treatment:

  • ¼ Cup (60ml) Organic apple cider vinegar
  • 4 Cups (1litre) Pure spring water, at a lukewarm temperature

Instructions:

1       In a large jug, mix the organic apple cider vinegar with the pure spring water

2       Transfer the apple cider vinegar and water solution into a spray bottle.

To use this hair treatment:

1       Wash your hair as per your normal shampooing method, but leave out the conditioning step

2       Once you have dried off from your shower, comb out your hair

3       Spray the apple cider vinegar generously over your damp hair, making sure that you apply a good amount of the solution to your scalp working down the hair shaft

4       Allow this solution to sit in your hair for approximately five minutes before rinsing off thoroughly with cold water. It is necessary to use cold water to rinse this solution off your hair is the cold temperature will help seal the hair shaft resulting in the shine and bounce that you are wanting to achieve for your hair by using this particular treatment.