By Eryn Cook, RN, LE

Making your own body care products is fun and easy! Not only is it more economical, but you will be in full control of the ingredients that go into your creation. Many commercially prepared products on the market have can cause severe allergic reactions in some individuals, so this way, you will be able to customize your products to suit your particular needs.

To get started, gather your equipment and the ingredients needed for your preparation. Be sure to have a clean and sanitized or new glass jar, stickers and ribbons for decorating, if you wish, and a label to write down your product name, date made and instructions for use.

It’s a good idea to go to garage sales or secondhand stores to purchase your equipment, such as a blender, coffee mill, saucepans, funnels, whisks, etc., and put these aside for your creations only. And try to use only stainless steel, glass or enamel, as these will not interfere with your products.

Some of the more common ingredients you will be using in your homemade beauty products include: oatmeal, corn meal, cornstarch, baking soda, lavender flowers, powdered milk and paraffin wax. Others are easily located at Natural Health Products retail stores, some grocery stores and online. You will need “carrier” oils, such as grapeseed oil, apricot kernel oil, sweet almond oil, borage oil and jojoba oil. Dried herbals and teas, as well as pure essential oils, will provide aromatic and healing properties to your personalized concoctions. These may be brewed first or used dry, as in the recipes here.

Fresh fruits and vegetables, such as avocados, bananas, mangos, papayas, strawberries and cucumbers, may be mashed and used for masks. Any number of different seeds may be used for scrubs, and larger seeds, such as avocado, will need to be pulverized in a blender or coffee mill first. Fresh egg can be used for facial masks as well as hair treatments. The good news is there’s no right or wrong ingredient!

ESSENTIAL OILS

In addition to simply smelling wonderful, essential oils can be therapeutic and play a part in enhancing your emotional outlook.

Chamomile: relaxing and calming

Clary Sage: warming; promotes feelings of well-being

Basil: relieves mental fatigue and nervousness

Eucalyptus: promotes clear breathing

Lavender: soothing

Orange: cheering

Jasmine: antidepressant; supports feeling of confidence

Peppermint: stimulating, increases energy (this makes an excellent foot scrub!)

Pine: alleviates fatigue

Just have fun…experiment and make your very own blends!

Following are simple recipes to start with. Salts are used to stimulate circulation and remove dead skin cells, leaving your skin soft and smooth. This treatment will stimulate secretion of your own natural skin oils which is especially helpful during dry winter months. You can customize your salts with the essential oil of your choice, depending on the therapeutic benefits you would like to achieve.

SALT GLOW SCRUB

2 cups coarse sea salt

(dead sea salts are wonderful!)

1/2 cup grapeseed oil

(or almond or apricot kernel)

6-8 drops essential oil

Place salt in a clean jar and pour oil over to cover. Add desired essential oil to mixture, one drop at a time. Cover and gently rotate to mix. To use, apply salt scrub to moist skin in a gentle, upward movement. Apply to whole body, one part at a time avoiding the face and any open cuts. Rinse off in a tepid shower and blot dry with a clean towel. Your skin will glow and feel smooth as butter!

CAUTION: Be careful when getting in and out of the shower, as the oil may make your feet slippery.

HEALING SALT CRYSTALS

1 cup borax

2 cup epsom salts

1/2 cup coarse sea salt (dead sea salts preferred)

1/4 cup baking soda

1/4 cup white clay

1/2 cup dried herb of your choice

10 drops essential oils

In a large bowl, mix together the borax, salts, baking soda and clay. Prepare the dried herb by powdering in a spice mill, crumbling by hand or leaving whole, if you prefer. Add the dried herbs to the salt mix, stirring with a wire whisk. Scent the mix using the essential oil of your choice. Take care not to not overscent. Mix well with a wire whisk, then cover with a towel. Leave overnight to fix the scent. In the morning, thoroughly mix again and package. To use: Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of crystals to a tub of warm water, sink down into the water and relax!

LAVENDER MASSAGE OIL

2/3 cup grapeseed oil

1/3 cup wheatgerm oil

10 drops Vitamin E oil

6 drops lavender essential oil

Pour all ingredients into a dark bottle that has a spout. Shake well before each use. Pour the oil into your hands to warm before putting on the body. Massage using circular motion. May also be used as a bath oil by pouring under spout while filling tub. Be careful of slipping!

There’s no end to the wonderful products you can create in your own kitchen! So set aside some time, turn on some relaxing music, turn off your phone and try your hand at a new creation! Wouldn’t someone love to receive a custom-blended homemade gift from you this year?

Eryn Cook is a Registered Nurse of almost 30 years and a Licensed Esthetician since 2002. She has been a practicing herbalist since 1971 and has always used natural healing modalities to raise her family. She currently owns and operates a local Herb & Tea shop as well as a Skin Care Salon & Wellness Center in Riverside. She can be reached at (951) 682-5233 or by email at BambooGardenTea@yahoo.com. For more information about products and services, go to www.BambooGardenOnline.com or check out www.EpicEsthetics.com.