Skin

Sun protection

1 small Cucumber
1⁄2 tsp of glycerin
1⁄2 tsp of Rose water

Peel the Cucumber and crush it, press the juice out of it and mix it with rose water and glycerin.

Sun oil I

3⁄4 dl (~2.5 fl oz) of water free lanolin
3⁄4 dl (~2.5 fl oz) of Sesame oil
2 1⁄4; dl (~7.6 fl oz) of water

Melt the lanolin over a water bath and mix in the rest immediately. Pour it in a dark box and keep it in the refrigerator. If you're planning on bathing, it's better to only use Sesame oil because it's water resistant.

Sun oil II

1 1⁄2 dl (~5.1 fl oz) of Sesame seed oil
1 dl (~3.4 fl oz) of Olive oil
1⁄2 dl (~1.7 fl oz) of Apple vinegar
10 drops of Lavender oil

Shake well.

Sun oil III

2 dl (~6.8 fl oz) of Sesame seed oil
1⁄2 dl (~1.7 fl oz) of Nettle
1⁄2 dl (~1.7 fl oz) of Lavender
1⁄2 dl (~1.7 fl oz) of Sage
1⁄2 dl (~1.7 fl oz) of High Mallow

Place the herbs in a bottle and pour the oil over. Let it sit in a warm place for 7-14 days. Strain through gauze, squeeze to get the most out of it.

Sun oil IV

1 1⁄2 dl (~5.1 fl oz) of Sunflower oil
1 dl (~3.4 fl oz) of Almond oil
3 tbsp of Apple vinegar
10-15 drops of your favorite aroma oil.

Mix it all together. This oil is silky smooth, it's easy to apply and gets absorbed quickly.

Body oil I

1 1⁄2 dl (~5.1 fl oz) of Almond oil
1⁄2 dl (~1.7 fl oz) of Sunflower oil
4 drops of Jasmine oil
8 drops of Rose oil

Body oil II

1 1⁄2 dl (~5.1 fl oz) of Safflor oil
1⁄2 dl (~1.7 fl oz) of Sunflower oil
10 drops of Lavender oil
2 drops of Camphor

Flower oil

1 1⁄2 dl (~5.1 fl oz) of Almond oil
1⁄2 dl (~1.7 fl oz) of Olive oil
1 dl (~3.4 fl oz) of Rose petals
1 dl (~3.4 fl oz) of Heather flowers

Strawberry agent for the whole body

2 tbsp of Cocoa butter
6 tbsp of Sesame seed oil
2 tbsp of Strawberry juice (directly from the berries)
5 drops of Benzoic tincture

Shake well before use.

Fragrant massage oil

1 tsp of Avocado oil
1 tsp of Wheat germ oil
5 tbsp of Sunflower oil
5 drops of Lavender oil
5 drops of Jasmine oil
5 drops of Eucalyptus oil

Massage oil against nervous tensions I

1 tsp of Avocado oil
1 tsp of Wheat germ oil
5 tbsp of Sunflower oil
5 drops of Lavender oil
5 drops of Sandal Wood oil
5 drops of Neroli oil

Massage oil against nervous tensions II

1 tsp of Avocado oil
1 tsp of Wheat germ oil
5 tbsp of Sunflower oil
5 drops of Bergamot oil
5 drops of Sandal Wood oil
5 drops of Cedar oil

Refreshing and strengthening massage oil

1 tsp of Avocado oil
1 tsp of Wheat germ oil
5 tbsp of Sunflower oil
8 drops of Bergamot oil
4 drops of Jasmine oil
4 drops of Rose oil

Cleansing cream I

This kind of crème was used over 2000 years ago in Greece .

1 tbsp of white bees wax
2 tbsp of lanolin
6 tbsp of Almond/Avocado oil or 3 tbsp of each
2 tbsp of Rose water
(2 drops of aroma oil to your own taste)

If you're allergic you should exclude the aroma oil. Pour the cream in a ceramic box. Appropriate for dry skin.

Relaxing massage oil

1 tsp of Avocado oil
1 tsp of Wheat germ oil
5 tbsp of Sunflower oil
5 drops of Rose oil
5 drops of Chamomile oil
5 drops of Geranium oil

Romanian cleansing emulsion

2 1⁄2 dl (~8.5 fl oz) of natural yoghurt
5 tbsp of dried Elder flowers
2 tbsp of honey

Warm the yoghurt slowly and mix in the flowers. Let it boil gently for about 30 minutes. Take it off the heat and let it sit under a lid for 3 hours. Warm it up again, strain and add honey. Keep chilled.

Cleansing cream II

1 tbsp of Cocoa butter
1 tbsp of lanolin
1 dl (~3.4 fl oz) of Avocado, Almond or Sunflower oil

Cleansing lotion with milk and honey

2 tsp of honey
2 tbsp of milk

Warm milk and honey to approx. 37 degrees Celsius, mix thoroughly. Use your fingertips to massage it in over your face and neck with light circular motions. Avoid the area around the eyes. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.

Cleansing cream III

1 tbsp of white bees wax
2 tbsp of water free lanolin
Scarcely 1 dl (~3.4 fl oz) of Almond- or Avocado oil
2 tbsp of Rose water.
2 drops of aroma oil

Melt the wax over a water bath, carefully add the Almond oil, bit by bit and then mix inn the Rose water while you stir continuously. Remove it from the heat and add any aroma oil. Pour the cream into a transparent box, and label it.

Liquid cleansing agent with coconut fat

1 tbsp of coconut fat
1 tbsp of water free lanolin
1 1⁄2 dl (~5.1 fl oz) of Avocado, Almond or Sunflower oil

Melt the coconut fat, lanolin and oil until they're completely dissolved and blended. Use an electric hand mixer until it's cooled off. Pour the liquid in a box and label it.

Cleansing with honey

Warm 4 tbsp of honey and pat it gently on your skin, either only where you have blackheads, or over the entire facial area. If you have a lot of spots, you can add a couple of wheat germs, they draw the spots to the surface. A mask with wheat germs is antiseptic and gives you good-looking skin. Leave it on for fifteen minutes or a bit longer, relax. Wash it off with lukewarm water and close the pores with an astringent agent.

Nourishing cream with Avocado

2 whole eggs
1 tsp of glycerin
1⁄2 tsp of lemon juice
Avocado oil (enough to thicken the mixture)
1 pinch of sea salt
A few drops of apple cider vinegar
3 egg yolks
2 tbsp of water

Mix eggs, glycerin and lemon juice, add the Avocado oil one drop at a time until the mixture thickens, and then the salt and vinegar. When it's thickened to a cream, add the whisked egg yolks and the water. Pour in a labeled box and keep refrigerated.

Nourishing cream with Orris-root and lanoline

3 dl (~10.1 fl oz) of water
2 tbsp of powdered Orris-root
1 tbsp of honey
2 tbsp of water free lanolin
1⁄2 tsp of Rose water

Put the powder in the water and let it sit under a lid for half an hour. Strain and add honey. Warm the lanolin over a water bath and add it. Add the Rose water.

Face-lotion I

Take some thin slices of Cucumber, rub them gently over your face. Avoid the area around the eyes. Cucumber tightens the skin and stimulates the circulation.

Face-lotion II

1 small, fresh Cucumber
2 tsp of strained Lemon juice or Witch Hazel

Press the juice out of the Cucumber, mix it with Lemon juice/Witch Hazel. Shake and use cotton to apply it with.

Flower face-lotion for all skin types

1 tsp of Marigold
1 tsp of Roman Chamomile
1 tsp of Red Clover flowers
1 dl (~3.4 fl oz) of distilled water or spring water
5 drops of Almond oil

Face-lotion with Roses

2 tsp of Rose petals
1 tsp of Violet
1 dl (~3.4 fl oz) of distilled water or spring water
5 drops of Almond oil
(3 drops of Rose oil)

Astringent face-lotion I

1 tsp of Lavender
1 tsp of Lady's Mantle
1 tsp of Mint
1 dl (~3.4 fl oz) of distilled water or spring water
5 drops of Almond oil
(2 drops of Peppermint oil)

Pour boiling water over the herbs and let them sit for about 30 minutes. Strain the mixture and add the Almond oil. If you want more fragrance, add the Peppermint oil. Appropriate for impure skin with large pores.

Astringent face-lotion II

1 tsp of Yarrow
1 tsp of Colt's Foot
1 tsp of Horsetail
1 dl (~3.4 fl oz) of distilled water or spring water
5 drops of Almond oil
5 drops of apple cider vinegar

Pour boiling water over the herbs and let them sit for about 30 minutes. Strain the mixture and add the Almond oil and the vinegar. Appropriate for oily and impure skin.

Face-lotion III

1 tsp of Lemon juice
2 tbsp of water

Pat gently into the skin, avoid the area around the eyes. Let it work for 1 minute, rinse with lukewarm water or let it be if you want.

Tonic I

1 tsp of dried Parsley
1 tsp of Fennel seeds
1 tsp of Roman Chamomile
6 dl (~20.3 fl oz) of water

Boil the water in a rust free kettle, place the herbs in a bowl and pour the water over them. Cover with a lid and leave for 10-20 minutes, strain. Lasts for 1-2 days in the refrigerator. Rinse the cleansed skin with the herbal water, or use a piece of cotton. Let it dry.

Tonic II

1 tsp of Mint
1 tsp of Thyme
1 tsp of Fennel seeds
6 dl (~20.3 fl oz) of water

Boil the water in a rust free kettle, place the herbs in a bowl and pour the water over them. Cover with a lid and leave for 10-20 minutes, strain. Lasts for 1-2 days in the refrigerator. Rinse the cleansed skin with the herbal water, or use a piece of cotton. Let it dry. Perfect to use if you have problems with blackheads or acne.

Vinegar

If you dilute apple cider vinegar with 8 part of water, you can use it as a face-lotion

Fragrant face-lotion with vinegar

30 g (~1.1 oz) fragrant Rose petals
1 1⁄2 dl (~5.1 fl oz) of white wine vinegar

Let the petals and the vinegar sit over a boiling water bath. Pour it in a box and cover with a cloth or paper, leave warm for 2 weeks. Strain and store the liquid in a bottle with a tight top.

Witch Hazel foam

1 tsp of honey
2 1⁄2 dl (~8.5 fl oz) of Rose water
3⁄4 dl (~2.5 fl oz) of Witch Hazel water
1⁄2 tsp of apple cider vinegar
1⁄2 tsp of glycerin
1⁄2 tsp of camphor alcohol
1 tsp of Mint extract or 5-10 drops of Peppermint oil
5 drops of simple Benzoic tincture or 1 pinch of Alum
A few drops of green color

Mix honey and Rose water well, add de other ingredients, the green color last. The mixture won't get completely smooth. This is a good astringent agent that can be used on a daily basis, especially on winter tired skin. Avoid the area around the eyes. Can be used instead of shaving water. It works best if it's ice cold.

Flower steam bath for dry and sensitive skin

a handful of Roman Chamomile
a handful of Marigold
a handful of Red Clover

Super steam bath for oily skin

a handful of Lavender
a handful of Yarrow
a handful of Thyme

Steam bath for all skin types

a handful of Roman Chamomile
a handful of Rosemary
a handful of Lavender
a handful of Comfrey leaves

Green steam bath for gray and tired skin

a handful of Rosemary
a handful of Mint
a handful of Nettle

Refreshing steam bath

1 tsp of dried Parsley
1 tsp of dried Rosemary
1 tsp of dried Mint
1 tsp of dried Marigold leaves
1 tsp of dried Roman Chamomile
1 1⁄2 l (~50.7 fl oz) of boiling water

Steam bath with hips

1 tsp of Marjoram
1 tsp of dried hips
1 tsp of dried Laurel
1 tsp of Roman Chamomile
1 tsp of Linden tea or Linden flowers
1 thin slice of Lemon
1 thin slice of Orange
1 1⁄4 l (~47.3 fl oz) of boiling water

Face mask for hot days

1 peeled Cucumber
1 ice cube
1⁄2 tsp of honey
2 tbsp of milk (if you want it thicker, you can add 1⁄2 tsp of dry milk)
5 drops of Peppermint extract or 2 drops of Peppermint oil

Crush the ice and mix it with the other ingredients. Pat the mask onto your face, let it work for 15 minutes or longer. Wash it off with lukewarm water. Pat your skin dry with a towel and use an astringent face-lotion to close the pores.

Nourishing face mask

1 egg
1 tsp of warmed honey
1⁄2 tsp of beer yeast (3 crushed tablets)

Whisk the egg and mix it with the rest. Use a brush to apply the mask evenly over the face. Avoid the area around the eyes. Let it work for 15 minutes. Rinse it off with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.

Apple face mask

You can either put a large compress wet in apple juice over your face, or spread crushed apple over a wet face. Avoid the area around the eyes. Let it work for 15 minutes.

Papaya face mask

This mask has a lot of minerals, removes dead skin and is astringent.

30 g (~1.1 oz) of crushed Papaya
1 tsp of natural yoghurt

Mix until even, pat onto your face and neck. Avoid the area around the eyes. Let it work for 10-15 minutes, rinse with lukewarm water and let the skin dry.

Herbal flour face mask

1⁄2 tbsp of herbal flour
1 tbsp of China clay, Arrowroot flour, corn flour or oatmeal
ca. 1 tbsp of natural yoghurt, cream or similar
(1 tsp of honey or 2 drops of Almond oil)

Mix the ingredients to a thick gruel, that doesn't run, and spread it over your clean face, except around the eyes. Let it work for 10-20 minutes or until the mask has dried. Rinse it off with lukewarm water and close the pores with a face-lotion that is appropriate for your skin type.

Strawberry face mask for normal skin

4 strawberries
1 tbsp of oatmeal

Aloe Vera face mask against spots

1 tbsp of China clay
1 tbsp of aloe gel

Peeling mask

Rub some of the aroma oil you like best on your face and neck. Immediately after, pat in some drops of warm water, and then a layer of pure Lemon juice. Wait a couple of minutes, but not so long that it dries. Use your fingertips to work the emulsion with circular motions until you get a small ball that you throw away. Continue until the skin looks fresh and "peeled". Cool the skin with 1⁄2 tsp of Witch Hazel water.

Astringent face mask

Whisk an egg white and pat it on your face, it stiffens right away. Let it dry for 15 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water and a piece of cotton.

Face mask against big pores

Yarrow, Horsetail and Sage helps against big pores. For a face mask you boil 3 dl (~10.1 fl oz) of water and pour it over 2 tbsp of dried herbs. Let it sit 15 minutes and strain. The infusion can be combined with milk, honey, Lemon or apple cider vinegar.

Deep cleansing

1 tbsp of semi-coarsely ground Sunflower seeds
1 tbsp of semi-coarsely ground Oats
1 tbsp of Elder flowers or Yarrow
1 tbsp of Wheat germs
1 tbsp of Almond flour
1 tbsp of Bran
1 tbsp of China clay

Deep cleansing mask I

4 tbsp of honey
1 tbsp of Wheat germs
1⁄2 tbsp of Almond flour
1⁄2 tbsp of China clay

Warm the honey so that it's lukewarm and mix in the rest of the ingredients.

Deep cleansing mask II

1 tbsp of semi-coarse Oats
1 tbsp of dried Orange peel
1 tbsp of Almond flour
natural yoghurt

Mix the dry ingredients and add yoghurt so that it gets the right consistency.

Clay mask

1⁄2 tsp of bees wax
2 tbsp of lanolin
5 tbsp of Rose water
120 g (~4.2 oz) of China clay

If you want, you can add 1 tsp of soaked linseed, Quince seeds (Cydonia oblonga/vulgaris), Carragen Moss (Chondrus crispus) or 1 tsp of odorless gelatin.

Aloe Vera cream

6 capsules of vitamin E oil or 1⁄2 tsp of Wheat germ oil
4 tsp of Aloe Vera gel
125 ml (~4.2 fl oz) of Almond oil
1 tbsp of lanolin

Pierce the capsules, mix the oil with Aloe Vera and Almond oil. Whisk hard or use an electric hand mixer, pour in a small bowl. Melt the lanolin over a water bath, add the oil mixture while you whisk the lanolin, and continue whisking until it's cooled off. Store in jars.

Quickly made moisturizing cream

2 tbsp of Almond oil
2 tbsp of Rose water

Whisk or use a blender. Shake before use.

Peppermint cream

2 tbsp of Coconut oil
1 tbsp of Almond oil
2 drops of apple cider vinegar
1 drop of Peppermint oil

Has a fresh smell and refreshes the skin. Appropriate for all skin types.

Chamomile cream

1 1⁄2 tbsp of yellow bees wax
1 tbsp of white bees wax
1 tbsp of lanolin
6 tbsp of Almond oil
2 tbsp of distilled water
1⁄2 tsp of borax ([[Herbs/Warnings#borax|Warning!]])
2 tbsp of Roman Chamomile extract
3 drops of benzoic tincture

Warm the distilled water and borax in a separate kettle until the borax is completely dissolved. Finally, add the extract and the benzoic tincture. Appropriate for dry, sensitive and aging skin.

Rose cream I

1 tbsp of bees wax
4 tbsp of Olive oil
1 tbsp of Almond oil
1 tbsp of Rose water
(1 drop of Rose oil)
Appropriate for dry and normal skin.

Rose cream II

1⁄2 tsp of bees wax
2 tsp of Cocoa butter
2 tsp of Apricot kernel oil
1 tbsp of Almond oil
1⁄2 tsp of honey
1 tbsp of Rose extract or Rose water
(1 drop of Rose oil or similar)
Appropriate for dry skin.

Acne tea

30 g (~1.1 oz) of finely cut Nettle
30 g (~1.1 oz) of finely cut Horsetail
30 g (~1.1 oz) of finely cut Quince root

Pour 2 1⁄2 dl (~8.5 fl oz) of boiling water over 2 tsp of the mixture. Let it sit for 10 minutes, strain. Drink 1 cup 3 times a day.

Prevents spots

Take the juice of one red onion and rub it on the areas where the spots occur.

Remove wrinkles with cream

On well cleansed skin. Pat in a mixture of one whisked egg white and 1 tsp of cream. Let it work for 20 minutes, wash it off with lukewarm water.

Wrinkle cream with red onion

The juice of 1 red onion
2 tsp of honey
1 tbsp of white bees wax

Bleach freckles

Freckles can be bleached with either a mixture of equal parts of Lemon juice and Rose water or 2 tbsp of grated Horse Radish and some apple cider vinegar mixed to a paste.

Smoother skin with Cabbage

Cabbage is rich in minerals and vitamins. Next time you're boiling cabbage, don't throw away the left over water. Wash your face with it and you will feel your skin growing smoother.

Face mask for oily skin and enlarged pores

Cabbage, cranberry or red currant

Clean the skin first. Soak a piece of cheesecloth in mashed fruit/vegetable or juice and leave it on your face for 10-15 minutes (cut out holes for eyes in the cheesecloth to avoid eye irritation caused by fruit acids). The mask can also be made with egg yolks, powdered oatmeal, or sour cream. For oily skin you mix fruits/vegetables with egg whites. If your mask has a thick consistency, you may not need cheesecloth.

Plantain leaf salve

3 cups of fresh plantain leaves finely chopped
4 ounces olive oil
1⁄2 ounce of vitamin E
2-4 ounces in beeswax

Antifungal/Antibacterial Salve

Use this for cuts, athlete's foot, diaper rash, infections, everything.

1⁄2 cup Comfrey root (healing and soothing)
2 cups Plantain leaf (healing and soothing)
2-3 Tablespoons Goldenseal Root powder (antibacterial/antifungal)

Make this into herbal oil. Then add to this oil:

2 Tablespoons Grapefruit seed extract (strong antibacterial/antifungal properties)
2 Tablespoons Tea Tree Oil (strong antifungal/antibacterial properties)

Now make the salve by melting beeswax into the warmed oil and pour into containers.

Baby Salve

2 part Calendula flowers
1 part Comfrey leaf
1 part Comfrey root
1 part Plantain
1 400 IU Vitamin E oil capsule (optional)
Lavender essential oil

Make an infused oil using the above herbs. Proceed as directed above, adding the lavender oil and vitamin E oil, if used, after removing from heat. To do this, poke the capsule with a sterile needle and squeeze the oil out. Adding the lavender oil gives additional healing benefits, but omit if an unscented salve is desired.

Lotion

Melt 2 tsp carrageen moss in hot water; add 2 tbsp glycerin, 4 tbsp alcohol, 2 tbsp strong infusion of Lady's Mantle; blend all ingredients well; pour into jar with a few drops of herb oil to scent.

Chickweed Salve

2 parts Chickweed
2 parts Plantain
1 part Comfrey Leaf
Olive oil
Beeswax
Vitamin E

Notes - If 1 part equals 1⁄3 cup then you will need 12 - 14 ounces of oil and about 1 ounce of beeswax.

Use this salve to soothe itching caused by insect bites and rashes, and to aid healing of minor skin irritations
If you want a small amount of salve you can choose one tablespoon as your part, if you want a large amount of salve you might choose 1⁄2 - 1 cup as your part. The amount of oil needed is enough to completely cover the herbs, plus an inch of oil above the level of the herbs. The tricky part of this is determining exactly how much beeswax is needed to harden the salve. You can approximate the proportions based on the following equivalents. One pint of oil will need about 1 1⁄2 ounces of beeswax, or one ounce of oil will need about 1⁄2 teaspoon of beeswax. There are about 5 teaspoons of beeswax in an ounce.

If you intend to make your salve using freshly collected plants, you will want to clean them. Do this by shaking them to remove dirt then spread the herbs out to allow them to air dry for several hours ( until wilted ) to reduce the moisture content. Fresh chickweed, for example, contains a lot of moisture and this water content could cause your salve to spoil quickly.

To begin your salve, measure the desired amount of herbs into an enamel or stainless steel pan, or into a crock pot.

Cover the herbs with oil. Use enough oil to cover the herbs plus another inch of oil above the level of herbs.

Heat the herbs and oil over a low heat for several hours ( about 3 hours). If you are using roots you should heat the oil longer( about 5 hours). I strongly encourage you to use a crock pot for heating your oil because it operates at a controlled low temperature which is less likely to be a fire hazard. If you don't use a crock pot then use a double boiler.

After heating, cool your oil for awhile. Set up a strainer lined with cheesecloth then pour the oil through to strain. When most of the oil has filtered through the cheesecloth, pick up the cheesecloth, keeping the herbs enclosed, and squeeze as much oil as possible from the herbs and cloth.

Add beeswax to the oil and heat it until all the wax is melted. To test to see if your salve is hard enough, put some on a spoon and set it in a cool place for a few minutes. If your salve is too soft, add more beeswax. If you are using essential oils or Vitamin E you can blend them in now. Finally, pour your salve into containers and label.

Acne

Mix mint juice with turmeric powder and apply on affected area. Leave for 15-30 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water.

Turmeric face mask

Take gram flour (besan) and mix it with milk cream with a pinch of turmeric, make it into a paste. Apply this on face and wait till it dries. Scrub it off rubbing in circulation movements and then wash.