Oil Cleansing + a Simple Creamy Vanilla Bean Shower Oil Blend
I don’t know why it took me so long to think of trying this, but OMG y’all, I think I’m in love. My “skin twin” sebum mimicking oil trio makes a killer shower oil with a lovely “creamy” texture. The tallow thickens and gives a bit of body to the lighter jojoba and squalane oils and the result is a lovely creamy oil blend that resembles a cross between a lotion and an oil and is thick enough to dispense nicely from a pump bottle.
A Look at Squalane as a Solvent for Extracting Oil-Soluble Plant Constituents
This post is the result of a burning question I had about squalane’s effectiveness as a menstruum. Try as I might, squalane herbal infusions rarely had anywhere near the vibrance of color I would get from my other infusions using oils like olive oil or tallow. Sometimes they stubbornly remained crystal clear, begging the question(s): Is the squalane actually extracting anything? Can it be infused with plant constituents for use in skincare formulations? Inquiring minds want to know!
‘Winter Kiss’ Overnight Lip Rescue with Lanolin
Winter skin happens to everyone. Months of cold, dry air take their toll.
This time of year calls for a little extra TLC to help lock in precious moisture and add a protective barrier against the elements. A deeply hydrating overnight therapy can restore our lips natural moisture balance and help to smooth, soften and nourish the skin.
Honey-Mint Lip Butter
I’m one of those weird people who insists on having about 47 chapsticks or lip balms in strategic places around the house. And in the car, in my desk, in multiple purses, my gym bag, my pocket, melted in the dryer (oops)…
Making a Healing Scar Salve w/ Gotu Kola & Comfrey
It’s not such a coincidence that many of the same herbs that are beneficial to keeping aging skin healthy and happy are also useful for healing wounds and minimizing scarring — it’s all about skin repair!
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!)
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…