12125_NaturalBeautyAtHomeHandbook

INTROD UCTION

I’ve been making my own beauty and body-care products most of my life. It started out as a fun activity with friends and a way to save money. Today, it has become much more than that. It’s now a lifestyle choice and an essential part of living a healthy life. My goal in sharing this new collection of recipes, treatments, and ideas is to inspire you to learn something new and to create your own basic body-care products. You don’t need anything extra just a willingness to try something new, some common kitchen equipment, and a few ingredients things you probably already have in your home. Creating your own products is fun, costeffective, and convenient, and I know it will make a difference in how you look and feel.

Natural beauty and body-care products are not a new concept. Throughout history, cosmetics have played a role in shaping people’s lives. Soap alone is said to have added years to the average lifespan by killing bacteria and reducing sickness and disease in the world. Many of these recipes have ancient roots. The original “Green Queen” Cleopatra was well-known for her milk baths and use of honey and herbs. I’m sure many of you have a recipe or two that has been passed down in your own family. My grandmother loved “bath tablets” what we call a “bath bomb” today and my mother used to set her hair at night with beer and bobby pins. She also liked to use mayonnaise straight from the jar as a hair conditioner. Many of these old-fashioned treatments and ingredients are

new again with the popularity of handmade and homemade products on the rise. All natural ingredients such as oils, butters, and dried herbs are now easy to shop for. When I started out, finding all-natural ingredients was one of my biggest challenges. Many local grocery stores today have natural-food aisles where you’ll find most everything you need.

I wanted this book to have blank pages at the end of each section to allow you a spot to make notes, add recipes or quotes, or whatever you like. I want you to really use this book. Nothing fills me up more than when readers come up to me at talks and workshops with one of my books written in and marked up. It shows they’re using my recipes and even coming up with new ones. Once you feel comfortable with a basic recipe, feel free to make it your own. I have tried to list variations where appropriate. The smaller size of this book makes it perfect for tucking it inside a tote or backpack to take your recipes and ideas out into the world with you.

We are all born with a natural beauty. It’s how we choose to use it that makes us truly beautiful have fun, be creative, and feel your best. You are beautiful!

Janice

Basic Equipment

You really don’t need any special equipment to create your own products. Common household kitchen tools work just fine. Here are a few I find helpful to have on hand.

• Measuring cups and spoons

• Cheese grater

• Strainer

• Heatproof glass containers

• Small bowls

• Muffin tins or ice cube trays

• Coffee grinder

• Hand blender or blender

• Small jars and bottles

Green Queens

So many great beauties have made an impact on this world, and you may discover some of their beauty secrets if you enjoy reading about history like I do. Here are just a few of my favorite queens and their skin-care practices:

Cleopatra: It’s difficult to think about ancient beauty and not bring up Cleopatra’s name. Many of us have heard of her famous milk baths, which were probably her greatest beauty secret. She also was known for her use of raw honey and fresh herbs to treat her skin and hair. Legend has it she scented the sails of her ship with rosewater to attract her love, Marc Antony.

Marie Antoinette: Though infamously (and wrongly) credited with the callous line “Let them eat cake,” Marie Antoinette was famous for her beautiful complexion. One of her favorite treatments was a facial made of cognac, milk, eggs, and lemon juice. This combination kept her skin clean and clear, which was important considering the heavy makeup and powders queens (and kings) wore back then.

Mary, Queen of Scots: Mary Stuart, the queen of Scotland, was well-known for bathing in sweet wine. I once toured her bathhouse in Edinburgh where a guide shared that this “bath wine” was rebottled and handed out to townspeople to drink. I’m not sure if that’s fact or legend, but it makes for a good story. Today the practice of “vinotherapy” is a popular spa offering that may have started with Mary.

Queen Victoria: During the Victorian era, lavender was a popular herb and scent. Queen Victoria was known to have a cup of lavender tea each evening before bed. She also cleaned her skin with rosewater and made beauty masks of oatmeal, honey, and egg whites to brighten her skin. This simple treatment added a natural glow to her skin. Nowadays many commercial product lines feature oatmeal.

10 Things You Can Do for Yourself to Look and Feel Your Best

Less really is more when it comes to beauty and feeling your best. We all know that inner and outer beauty are connected — so when you feel good, you look good too! Here are 10 practices I try to follow.

1. Healthy Diet: If you fill your body with junk, it will show in the condition of your skin and hair. Eating a diet full of whole foods is best. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants. Foods like salmon and walnuts are rich in essential fatty acids, which help keep our bodies resilient. Foods rich in calcium are good for healthy teeth and bones. You really are what you eat.

2. Practice Safe Sun: Sun damage is a major cause of wrinkles, sun spots, and pigment changes. Use a good sunscreen and wear protective clothing and hats when outdoors. Also, don’t forget to wear sunglasses; they are one of your best beauty tools.

3. Don’t Smoke: Smoking constricts your blood vessels and reduces blood flow to the skin. You are basically reducing and destroying the collagen in your skin, which will cause your complexion to droop, sag, and develop premature wrinkles.

4. Stay Hydrated: This is the most important thing you can do for your skin and overall health. It not only will help you avoid issues such as dizziness or heart problems but hydration also will do wonders for your hair and skin. In addition to drinking water, add water-dense foods to your diet such as cucumbers, watermelon, citrus fruits, grapes, and tomatoes.

5. Humidify Your Home: Add moisture to your home by using a humidifier or by placing more house plants and bowls of water near heat sources. Humidity will help your skin and hair, especially during the fall and winter when we tend to spend more time indoors.

6. Beauty Sleep: Nighttime is when our bodies rest and skin repairs itself. Getting a good night’s sleep is important, so aim for at least seven to nine hours each night, if you can. A good night’s sleep will make you feel good, and that always makes you look your best.

Skin Astringents & Toners

Astringents, toners, and skin fresheners

are important to healthy skin to help keep the surface clean and free of dirt, oils, and dead skin cells. The cleaner the surface of your skin, the more efficient it is at absorbing and retaining moisture. I like to use an astringent on my face after I wash with soap and water to remove all traces of the soap residue.

Toners and skin fresheners are great to use throughout the day, especially if you have oily skin. One of the best all-natural skin fresheners is pure, cold water. Splash your face with cold water 20 times for an instant refresh. If you have dry skin, limit the use of products with a high alcohol content; instead, use those with more water.

Natural Deodorant

Perspiration is a normal, healthy part of the human body’s cooling system. It helps regulate body temperature and releases salts and toxic substances from the body. Making your own simple deodorant is simple and also healthier for your body. Some people do a weekly clay mask under their arms to help rid the body of toxins and help regulate body odor. This simple recipe works for all skin types, male and female, and you can re-use your container. When it comes to deodorant products, less really is more in terms of ingredients and effectiveness. Yield: 8 ounces

1 cup coconut oil or shea butter

2 tablespoons baking soda

1 tablespoon arrowroot powder

3–4 drops lavender or tea tree essential oil (optional)

Place the coconut oil in a heat-resistant container and warm gently until the oil is melted. This can be done in the microwave, checking every 30 seconds; when the oil begins to melt, remove from heat and stir.

Stir in the remaining ingredients and mix well until you have a smooth, creamy mixture. Pour into a small mold or clean deodorant container. Let cool completely until solid.

To use: Spread onto clean skin under your arms.

Herb Infused Oil

A wonderful way to enjoy locally grown herbs and flowers is to infuse them in a favorite natural oil. The key to this is to make sure the plant material is completely dry. Pick your herbs and lay them on a large tray or cotton towel out in a warm, sunny spot. Slowly drying them is best as it will preserve the natural plant oils and keep the color nice and bright. Fill a glass dish or jar with the dried herbs and cover them with a natural oil. If using a solid oil such as coconut oil, it helps to warm it first so it’s easier to pour. Let the mixture sit for a few weeks, then strain and use your oil alone or as a base for making creams and skin balms.

Roll-On Scent Combinations to Try

If you want to experiment with other scents and create your own custom perfume blends, here are a few to try:

Energizing: Yarrow, dried citrus peel, and mint

Refreshing: Lemon balm, eucalyptus, and cedar

Relaxing: Lavender, chamomile, and cinnamon

When making scented oils, use only dried plant material. You don’t want to introduce any extra moisture into your product, which could encourage bacteria to grow. Vitamin E oil also will act as a natural preservative and make your products last longer.

Vitamin E Oil

Vitamin E (tocopherol) is found in many vegetable oils. It’s believed to protect body fat and tissues from breakdown and to slow down the aging process. It’s also a key ingredient in many commercial products, and you’ll often see it listed on the label by its chemical name, tocopherol. Vitamin E oil can be used alone as a moisturizer; it’s thick and sticky and is best used on small areas such as under your eyes. It also works well to help heal small cuts and fade scars. It can be purchased in capsule and oil form.