Flower Power

A Guide to Plant-Based Body Care

By Callah Racine

Photos by Teresa Johnson

Late spring is my favorite time of year. There is so much hope for the coming summer, so much sprouting, budding, and blooming. If you’re anything like me, you have dirt under your fingernails and cracked soles from prepping the garden. This year, while you’re planting veggies and culinary herbs to nourish you on the inside, why not plant a few medicinal herbs and flowers to nourish you on the outside as well?

There are a number of common herbs, spices, oils, flowers, and foraged plants that provide a wealth of skin-loving nutrients. Plant-based skin care and first aid remedies are not a new trend; Ancient Egyptians used olive oil and clay to cleanse their skin, and medieval Europeans used seeds and leaves mixed with honey to create facial masks.

Modern over-the-counter body care products are loaded with artificial preservatives and dyes, synthetic fragrances, harmful chemicals, pesticides, and more. The difficulty of finding

true all-natural body care products is what inspired my DIY approach of using organic oils, local beeswax, fair trade spices, and flowers and herbs from my own farm. When I know where all the ingredients are coming from, I know exactly what I’m putting on my skin. This is important because your skin absorbs more than 50 percent of what you put on it (possibly even as high as 100 percent, according to some studies). If you use only the highest quality ingredients, your skin will thank you tenfold—now and 20 years from now. Take a lesson from our ancestors and get back to the good stuff, plucked right from the ground or tree or bush.

I could write a book about all the plants that contain healing and nourishing properties for our body, but for now, let’s focus on some of the more common garden, field, and forest plants.

Not only is farm-fresh skin care good for you. But it's also super fun to make and will save tons of money in the long run.

Lavender has antiseptic, soothing, and anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it beneficial for those with skin irritation, and it can even help speed the healing process of cuts, burns, and abrasions.

Calendula is a personal favorite of mine. Extracts from the golden petals of this pot marigold can soothe skin, reduce inflammation, and heal burns, acne, and eczema. It turns oils into a beautiful golden orange color if left to infuse for a while, making sun-hued balms and salves.

Much like calendula and lavender, chamomile is calming, soothing, and antiinflammatory, so it’s great for all manners of healing. It also has a sweet and fruity scent; blend with lavender for a real aromatic treat and healing powerhouse.

All of the garden mints are refreshing and cooling. They can help relieve muscle pain and stimulate blood flow, making them a prime choice for muscle rubs. In the winter, I love using mint in lip balms to cool and refresh dried, cracked skin.

Being mucilaginous, comfrey is commonly used for helping to heal wounds, decrease dryness and flaking of skin, and prevent scars and treat existing ones. An oil infusion can work as an anti-inflammatory, an analgesic, and an aid in the healing of sprains and broken bones.

You’ve probably thought of common plantain, which happily grows in most gardens, as “weeds,” but their leaves contain moisturizing mucilage. They’re also an effective skin healer and can be used in the same way as comfrey to help heal wounds and bruises.

Fragrant and only slightly astringent, violet leaf and flower extract is juicy and moisturizing. Violets are perfect for dry skin, and also anti-inflammatory to help heal cuts and wounds.

Take a lesson from our ancestors and get back to the good stuff, plucked right from the ground or tree or bush.

Chickweed is another very common “weed.” A highly effective antiinflammatory, chickweed reduces redness, irritation, and can soothe chronic itching, making it my choice to use in treatments for poison ivy.

Yarrow is my go-to for facial toners. Very astringent, yarrow helps remove oil from pores, improve uneven skin tone, and reduce redness.

Rosemary’s potent antiseptic properties make it a superior disinfectant for the skin and hair. It promotes circulation when rubbed into the scalp, which can help reduce dandruff and help stimulate blood flow and hair growth.

Although raw honey isn’t an herb, I would be remiss to not mention the benefits of using it on your skin and hair. The enzymes in the honey clarify skin and keep pores clear and clean. Honey can also prevent bacterial buildup that can lead to skin imbalances and breakouts. Its anti-inflammatory properties will calm redness and irritation. It’s also a natural humectant, meaning it draws moisture into the skin and hair, making it ideal for face and hair masks.

My favorite way to use most medicinal herbs is to dry them and make an oil infusion to then use in various recipes. It’s important to dry your herbs, as fresh herbs that still have some water content can significantly reduce the shelf life of your products and develop harmful molds and bacteria. Once your herbs are dry to the touch, add them to a Mason jar until half full and pour the carrier oil of your choice over the top to fill the jar. My favorite oils are sweet almond oil, avocado oil, and golden jojoba oil, but there are dozens to choose from, all with their own benefits. Let the jar sit in a cool, dark place for at least four weeks. Once your oil has been infusing for a month, strain it out (try using a coffee filter) and your oil is ready to use in all sorts of recipes!

Not only is farm-fresh skin care good for you, but it’s also super fun to make and will save tons of money in the long run. You can grow many herbs and medicinal flowers yourself or source them from a local farm. Buy the other ingredients (oils, clays, plant-butters, essential oils, etc.) in bulk and have them on hand whenever you need them. My favorite websites for organic ingredients are bulkapothecary.com and mountainroseherbs.com. You can also purchase containers from these websites, but I love the old-fashioned Mason jar, especially for gifts.

All-natural body care products should be used within six months, as they do not contain preservatives. Oils can go rancid if exposed to bacteria or left in a sunny or warm spot. If the products develop mold or an unpleasant odor, discard immediately. To extend the shelf life, store products in a cool, dark place (or even the fridge) and always apply with dry, clean hands.

All-Purpose Salve

I love this salve recipe because you can swap the herb infusion out for whatever you may need. I keep one with chamomile, calendula, lavender, and plantain in my bag and bathroom for any time I have dry hands or rashes, or any time I need a cuticle cream. I have another with peppermint, rosemary, and eucalyptus to use as an all-natural version of Vick’s VapoRub for when I’m feeling under the weather. My favorite warming muscle rub includes peppermint, comfrey, cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne. The options are endless. This is a must-have base recipe if you’re interested in trying your own herbal infusions. You can also double the beeswax and even add some shea butter to make a great lip balm.

What You'll Need

• 3 ounces infused oil of choice

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

• 2 tablespoons beeswax

Directions

1. Combine ingredients in a double boiler (or a metal or glass pan sitting on top of a pot of water) over low heat.

2. Gently stir until completely melted.

3. Remove from heat once melted and add essential oils if desired.

4. Pour into a glass jar and let sit at room temperature until fully cooled and hardened.

Makes roughly 4 ounces.