Ginger Skin Cream Made from Dried Ginger
Herbal cosmetics can be made at home using natural ingredients. Typically, these cosmetics begin with a base of herbal oil and incorporate beeswax, cocoa butter, or shea butter, to solidify the herbal oils. This can be done to make skin creams, lip balms, hair creams, lotions, and first aid creams. The herbs you choose should be selected for their individual herbal properties. The method used to prepare the cosmetics is determined by the area you are applying it. For example, lip balms would need to be prepared in a way to allow them to be stored in a tube and of the right consistency to be applied to the lips easily. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Herbal Oils
Herbal cosmetics usually begin with a base of herbal oil. Herbal oil is prepared by chopping or macerating the herb and putting it in oil to infuse in a sunny location for 2 weeks. Almond oil, apricot kernal oil, and many other oils can be used to prepare herbal infusions, but organic extra virgin olive oil is more economical and works well. After infusing the herb into the oil for 2 weeks, strain the herb and discard it.
2. Skin Cream
To make a skin cream add 1/2 cup coconut oil and 1/2 cup cocoa butter to 1 cup of herbal oil. Melt them into the oil over very low heat.
3. Lip Balm
Add 1/4 cup of grated beeswax to 1 cup of herbal oil. Over low heat, warm the oil until the beeswax melts. Allow it to cool completely. It may take some experimentation on your own to get the lip balm to the right consistency for you. You can add beet root powder, or henna to the mixture to add color also. (Red henna looks green until it is added to liquid)
4. More About Coconut Oil
Coconut oil can be purchased at most grocery stores and any health food stores. Coconut oil begins to turn to liquid at temperatures above 75 degrees. Because it turns liquid at relatively low temperatures, it is easy to melt and turns to a solid when refrigerated or kept in a cool area.
5. More About Cocoa Butter
Cocoa Butter is more solid than coconut oil, for this reason, it is more effective a solidifying herbal cosmetics. Cocoa butter is also easy to work with it is easy to crumble and measure in it's solid state unlike beeswax. Cocoa butter is available online at mountain rose herbs and can be purchased locally at most health food stores.
6. More About Beeswax
Beeswax is a very hard natural ingredient used to make homemade cosmetics. It will solidify herbal oils very quickly. It's drawback is that it is so hard it is difficult to use. Beeswax comes in large blocks that must be cut and grated for use. Cutting and grating beeswax is not easy process. You can purchase beeswax in large block form at MountainRoseHerbs.com. If you can find it in pre-grated form, it will be easier to work with.
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