Making Herbal Oil Infusions
Infused oils are a foundational cornerstone of herbal-powered wellness products such as salves, creams, lotions, serums and other topical formulations. Oil acts as a solvent (aka menstruum) to capture oil-soluble plant constituents such as alkaloids, gums, resins, volatile oils, and certain oil-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), allowing the plant’s therapeutic compounds to be delivered to the skin.
Shades of “Natural”
Wellness products should never be toxic. Period. That being said, I also don’t believe you have to throw the baby out with the bathwater in the name of being “natural.” Natural is not black and white; it can be both good and bad.
Balm of Gilead Salve with Tallow & Infused Honey
Cottonwood buds are bursting with a wonderful, sticky red resin that many herbalists refer to as an “herbal band-aid.” Its anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain relieving) properties make it a top-notch first-aid salve that deserves a place in every herbalist’s medicine cabinet (and perhaps a place in their daily skincare routine!)
Gentle Yucca Root Shaving Gel
Move over marshmallow root, I have a new herbal obsession. Meet the yucca root. It’s an herbal surfactant. How cool is that? The possibilities of projects with this stuff – from facial cleansers to scrubs to household cleaning products – are endless!
Soothing Repair Gel with Marshmallow Root & Chamomile
Continuing my love affair with the miraculous, mucila-GENIUS marshmallow root, here’s a recipe for a lovely, soothing facial gel with chamomile. Thanks to marshmallow root’s healing polysaccharides and chamomile’s soothing, anti-inflammatory properties, it also works well on sunburns and exceptionally dry, chapped skin.
Mallow Mallow Tallow Lotion
The inspiration for this recipe came from its name. Say it with me: Mallow mallow tallow. Now a little faster: Mallowmallowtallow. It’s just so much fun to say out loud! ♥
“Healthy-Aging” Hyaluronic Acid Serum with Calendula
There’s a world of difference between anti aging and healthy aging. Healthy aging is not about seeking the Fountain of Youth, and is not afraid of a few wrinkles. The goal is simply to nourish and support the skin as we age, enabling it (and us) to look our best!
Nourishing Winter Barrier “Not-Petroleum” Jelly
Doesn’t it make sense that the ideal moisturizer should strive to mimic what is naturally produced by the body? This recipe uses a blend of three oils that come pretty darn close…
