Herbal Beauty Products

© Jean Railla of Get Crafty.com

Are you burned out and broke? Do you loath and envy your wealthy friends as they fly off to week-long spa retreats? Despair no longer. With just a few dollars and a little prep time you can turn your home into an herbal

palace to rival any Aveda salon.

Buying the Supplies:

You can find all of the herbs used in these recipes at your local health food store, or from any number of mail-order or online herb suppliers (try herbco.com). Once you have these few simple herbs on hand, you can whip up a remedy at the first sign of emotional or beauty emergency.

Creating the Mood:

Relaxing music and candles can transform even the dirtiest apartment into a restful abode. Put excess crap away (even if you just toss it under the bed) and turn off the ringer — you don't want an annoying phone call from some ex-lover to break your mood. Now light the candles (the more the merrier but don't burn down the house), turn out the lights, put on the tunes, and get ready to relax.

Some Recipes:

Here are a few tried-and-true formulas that I have developed and enjoyed over the years. My spa days have helped me through many a heart-break, as well as a few bad hangovers — not to mention the day-to-day stress of being a woman in the world. Have fun!

Clear-Your-Conscience-And-Your-Face Steam

This simple steam is especially good if you have a cold or stayed up all night drinking and smoking a million cigarettes. Chamomile is very soothing for your skin and the nettle draws out toxins while the steam moisturizes your throat and lungs, and the sage clears out phlegm.

1 tablespoon dried nettle
1 tablespoon dried chamomile flowers
1 tablespoon dried sage leaves

Place herbs in a large bowl, and pour from three to five cups of boiling water over the herbs. Place your face about six inches over the bowl, and cover both your head and bowl with a large towel. The towel should create a tent so that the steam does not escape. Breathe deeply into the steam for three minute increments, resting in between, for a total of 15 minutes. Follow with a gentle cleanser and apply moisturizer. You glow, girl!

Morning Mush Mask

The other day, while combing the isles of my favorite pharmacy, I came across an organic oatmeal mask that cost ten dollars! This is outrageous given the fact that plain old oatmeal and water is the easiest and most effective mask there is. And a box of organic oatmeal from even an over-priced health food store in Manhattan is only two bucks and some change. Forget all other face masks — you cannot get anything better for your skin than this easy oatmeal mask. Oatmeal is your friend because it draws out the dirt and oil from your skin, but doesn't over-dry.

2 tablespoons old-fashioned oatmeal
1 cup of water

Cook the oatmeal and water in a pan. When the oatmeal is tender and well-cooked (about five minutes), drain the excess water and cool the oatmeal. Once at room temperature, place the oatmeal on your face and relax for 25 minutes. This is a good time to read trashy women's magazines. Rinse off with warm water, and pat skin dry.

Get-Out-The-Gunk Toothpowder

Once upon a time my teeth resembled cafe con leche. I am talking dirty, kitchen-water brown. After years of smoking and drinking coffee, my pearly-whites weren't so pearly, even after I stopped smoking. For months I sought solutions. I've tried $10 tubes of toothpaste and even talked to my dentist who told me he could easily supply the results I needed — for $300. Listen, if I had an extra $300 I would take a vacation, not brighten my teeth. Finally, I found this recipe from The Natural Beauty Book by Anita Guyton. My teeth are not perfect, but they do just fine — and it only set me back a buck.

2 tablespoons fresh sage leaves
2 tablespoons sea salt

Put the ingredients into a bowl. With a pestle or some other heavy, smooth tool (such as a wooden spoon), crush the sage and salt into a paste. Take this opportunity to get out your aggression and include a few "hee-yahs!" for good measure. Once the sage and salt have formed a smooth paste, spread the mixture onto a cookie sheet and place in a warm oven (about 250 degrees) for 15 minutes, or until the mixture has hardened. Once finished, remove from oven and place mixture back into the bowl. You will want to crush the baked mixture into a fine powder with the pestle or whatever utensil you have chosen. Once ground, apply to a wet toothbrush and scrub away. Store in an airtight container, and use once a week for six weeks, or whenever you need a little shine.
 

 ................................................................................................................
 © Copyright Jean Railla

Editor and publisher of popular Get Crafty.com 

..............................................................................................................