Weekend Recipe - Orange Mint Skin Toner

Mint Orange Toner

It is getting that time of year to harvest and the recent rain has really made the herbs sprout.  This skin toner recipe is quick to make with some fresh mint and left over orange peel.  Orange is high in vitamin C which helps protect your complexion.  Mint leaves are high in iron and menthol which will tighten your pores after cleansing.  And while the temps are still warm, you can keep it in the refrigerator for a cooling effect.  Use this after cleansing to rid your skin of surface residue and dead skin cells.

3 Tbls. fresh mint leaves

1 orange peel

2 cups boiling water

1 Tbls. witch hazel

Place mint leaves and orange in a ceramic bowl and pour boiling water over them.  Allow mixture to steep and cool completely.  Strain out mint leaves and peels and stir in witch hazel.  Pour into a clean container with a tight-fitting lid. 

To Use: Apply Mint Orange Toner to your skin after cleansing with a clean cotton pad.  You can also use in a spray bottle after bathing or a freshner throughout the day.

Whitening Stained Finger Nails

This time of year I have been gardening and weeding outdoors for several months. And even though I wear gloves, my nails tend to get darkened from the soil.  I found this recipe in the Herb Companion Magazine.  

It is a simple Nail Whitener that you can apply to your nails to remove stains and discolorations.  If your stains come from nail polish, rather than dirt, it works on that too!  The main ingredient is orange flower water, like rose water, you can pick up this at a gourmet stores as it is normally used to make fragrant drinks or orange flavored desserts.  Be aware that you should moisturize your hands if you use lemon juice near them as it is very drying.

Nail Whitener

2 Tbls. orange flower water

1 tsp. lemon juice, fresh

Blend ingredients and place in a clean lidded container.

To Use: Apply with a cotton swap or pad and apply to clean, dry nails.  Allow to dry.  Repeat two or three times.  You do this over and over until your nails are back to their natural color.  

How Tuesday - Making an Herbal Serum

This is a treatment for all skin types that works very well on oily skin.  Even oily skin needs some light moisturizing.  The spices in this mixture help with counteracting bacteria and toxins on skin’s surface which collect more easily if your skin is oily.  I made this for my husband to use around his beard where his skin would be dry while the rest of his skin was always oily.

This is a quick and easy item to make and very easy to complete. 

All you need is:

1 small cinnamon stick

2 Tbls. jojoba oil

2 drops tea-tree oil

2 drops cedarwood essential oil

2 drops grapefruit essential oil

Along with a mortar and pestle, a jar with a tight fitting lid and a final product jar, preferably with dropper.

Lightly crush the cinnamon into small chips using a mortar and pestle.  Place the pieces in a small container with a lid.  Add the jojoba oil and steep for 10 days. 

Strain out the cinnamon using a funnel and a coffee filter. 

Squeeze out as much oil from the pieces of cinnamon as possible.  This will give you a nicely clear oil.  Place this oil in a smaller lidded container.

Add the essential oils.

Tea Tree essential oil will give you many anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties.  it is considered a healing and disinfectant wonder-drug. It also boosts up immunity.  It has a very robust aroma. 

Cedarwood essential oil in aromatherapy skin care extends to acne, dandruff, dermatitis, eczema, fungal infections, greasy skin, and ulcer.

Grapefruit essential oil handles cellulitis, dull skin, toxin build-up, and water retention. this oil has a sweet and tangy aroma which off sets the stronger Tea tree oil.

Once you have all the oils in the infused jojoba oil, shake vigorously.

Keeping the mixture in a small bottle with a dropper makes it easy to use.  Place a few drops on your fingers and allow it to warm between your fingertips and lightly massage into clean slightly damp skin.

This stuff is great for extra dry spots, like elbows, ankles, heels and such as well as an all over moisturizer for those with oily skin as a little goes a long way.

The Backyard Patch is thinking about offering this item for sale.  Is it something you might be interested in?
We have many other Bath / Spa items available on our Etsy site.

Winter Skin Remedies

Recently I was researching a few new recipes to try out for a program called Winter Skin Recovery, that  I will be presenting at the Wauconda Area Public Library in February.   They wanted a Bath and Beauty program with an emphasis on dry skin formulas since it will be happening in the middle of dry skin season.  I wanted to include a few new recipes so I have been experimenting and researching and now that the heat is on and my skin is drying out it is a useful experiment. 

One of the recipes I am testing is a cleanser using Lavender and Rose.  Rose if very softening and Lavender is a gentle antiseptic so as a skin cleanser they are a good combination.  Since this is not made with soap, it eliminates the drying effect soap can have.  You actually make the blend and leave it dry, adding liquid just before you use it.  That gives you a 3 to 6 month shelf life and the ability to keep from wasting it.

Here is the recipe for you to try too!  Let me know if you enjoy it.

Lavender and Rose Cleanser

½ cup white clay, finely ground

1/3 cup ground oatmeal or oat flour

1 Tbls. Powdered lavender flowers

1 Tbls. Powdered rose petals

5 drops lavender essential oil

2 drop rose geranium essential oil

Mix dry ingredients, add essential oils and mix carefully and completely.  Store in a zip seal bag or tightly lidded jar.

Directions for use: Place 2 teaspoons of powdered cleanser into a small bowl or the palm of your hand and add 2 tsp. of water, milk or cream.  Stir to blend until a spreadable paste forms.  Allow this paste to thicken for 1 minute.  Using a soft cloth, cleansing pad or your fingers, apply entire mixture to cover face, throat and upper chest (avoiding eye areas) and massage in a circular motion for 1 minute.  Rinse.

You can also use this as a face mask by spreading it on cleansed skin and letting it dry for 20 minutes before removing.

Although this is a bath theme post, I just wanted to remind everyone that there is a SOUP MIX sale going on in our Etsy Store.  Use the code JANSALE25 to get 25% off all out Soup Mixes.