Saturday, May 12, 2007

Lavender Salve for Cracked Hands and Feet

You can try this healing Lavender salve if you have the hand & foot skin problems, especially in dry seasons. Olive oil and vitamin E make this salve smoothing and moisturizing

Ingredients:

1 oz Beeswax
1 oz Calendula infused olive oil
2 oz infused olive oil
6 drops Vit E oil
5 drops Pine needle essential oil
5 drops Chamomile (German) essential oil
5 drops Lavender essential oil
5 drops Tea tree essential oil

Instructions:

Melt beeswax and olive oils together over low heat. Once melted, remove from heat. Then stir in the Vitamin E and essential oils. Pour into containers and allow cooling completely before sealing.

Lavender Foot Balm

Ingredients:

1/2 oz. beeswax
1/2 oz. cocoa butter
2 fluid oz. sweet almond oil
2 fluid oz. apricot kernel oil
1/2 fluid oz. avocado oil or jojoba oil
1/2 fluid oz. rose water
5 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops peppermint essential oil
5 drops tea tree oil

Instructions:
Heat beeswax and cocoa butter on stove, just until melted. Stir in oils and rosewater. Mix well. Remove from heat, and allow cooling slightly. Stir in essential oils. Pour into a container. Allow to cool before closing container

Monday, May 7, 2007

Rose and Lavender Oil in Hand and Nail Care

Rose oil is is non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitizing but should not be used during pregnancy. It gives a feeling of wellbeing and happiness, it helps a nervous mind, can be helpful on the respiratory tract, for digestive problems, for menstrual problems and as skin care.

While Lavender is considered the most useful of all essential oils. Lavender is known to help relieve headaches, insomnia, tension and stress. Its therapeutic properties have been well chronicled all over the world. Originally an inhabitant of the Mediterranean countries, this perennial herb has long been recognized for its exotic perfume and medicinal properties.
Try a few of these recipes for soft and beautiful hands. Daily moisturizing and a weekly manicure are essential to keep hands looking their best!

Basic Manicure Instructions

1. Remove any old nail polish.
2. Shape nails. Remember to only file in one direction towards the center of the nail.
3. Soften cuticle. Soak nails in a cleansing bath made from a 1/4 teaspoon of liquid castile soap and warm water.
4. Dry fingertips.
5. Apply cuticle remover.
6. Loosen cuticle. Use a cuticle pusher to remove any dead cuticle on the nail without scratching the nail plate. Push the cuticle back with a wet wash cloth.
7. Clean under free edge of nail. Use an orange wood stick or cuticle pusher. Wrap a small amount of cotton from a cotton ball onto the end. Dip it into the cleansing bath and clean under the nail.
8. Bleach under free edges of nails. With cotton tipped orangewood stick. Apply hydrogen peroxide under nails.
9. Apply cuticle oil or cream around the sides and base of the nail-massage in gently.
10. Cleanse nails again, using a nail brush and dry thoroughly.
11. If desired, polish. Apply one coat of base, two coats of polish, and top coat.
12. After nail polish is dry or if not used, apply hand lotion from fingertips to wrist.
With practice, your hands and nails will be as good as any professional manicurist could do for you.

Basic Hand Cream

Ingredients

2 tablespoons beeswax
3 teaspoons cocoa butter
2 teaspoons coconut oil
2 tablespoons liquid paraffin
2 teaspoons glycerin
1/2 teaspoon borax
2 tablespoons boiling water
5 drops Rose or Lavender essential oil
You will also need...
3 small heatproof containers
heatproof mixing bowl
metal spoon
sieve
lidded glass jar

Instructions

Put wax, cocoa butter, and coconut oil into the three heatproof containers (glass custard cups would work). Cover bottom of pan with a shallow amount of water and bring to a boil. Put the containers into same and lower heat. Simmer for 5 minutes until melted.
Pour these ingredients into the mixing bowl. Simmer in water also. Add the paraffin and glycerin. Stir until creamy.
Mix the borax into the two tablespoons of boiling water to dissolve. Add this to the creamy mixture and stir.
Remove from heat and stir in 5 drops of Rose or Lavender essential oil.
Push mixture through sieve for smoother texture. Cool.
Spoon it into a glass jar. Store in a wide mouthed jar for easier access to the cream

Nail Whitener

Ingredients

1 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide
1 cup warm water
2 drops Rose or Lavender essential oil

Instructions

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Dangle nails in solution for 15 minutes and pat dry. Use this twice a week until nails are white, then once a week for maintenance.


Soft Hands Cream

You may try this unique recipe. You use both Rose and Lavender Oil in this soft hand cream.

Ingredients

1 teaspoon coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon wheat germ oil
1 tablespoon shea butter
1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
15 drops grapefruit seed extract
2 capsules of vitamin E or 1/2 teaspoon
6 drops Lavender essential oil
6 drops Rose essential oil

Instructions

Melt coconut and wheat germ oils with shea butter and remove from the heat. Mix glycerin and grapefruit seed extract and set aside. Whisk vitamin E into glycerin mixture. Whisk all ingredients together until cooled.
Mango butter can be used in place of shea butter.