Herbal Recipe & Tips for a Great Complexion

Today I am going to give you my recipe for my facial cleansing oil and give you some great tips and pointers on how to keep your facial routine as natural as possible. Then I will be telling you about the herbs that go into the facial routine and why they are so great for your complexion.
  Usually cleansing oils are used for removing water-proof make-up,but not so with this oil. This oil is great for removing makeup, as well as cleaning out your pores, moisturizing your skin and helping to heal acne and acne scars.

What you will need:
- A Carrier Oil (I suggest Grapeseed or Almond Oil)
- Tea Tree Oil (this can usually be found at your local drug store in the vitamin department, it's around $8-9)
- Vitamin E Oil (this also can be found in the drug store, same department. Usually about $5)
- Peppermint Extract (Optional) - not to be confused with peppermint oil
- 4 oz bottle (these can be bought here, or you can probably find something about the same size at a thrift store)
- Funnel (make sure the funnel fits the mouth of the jar before getting started)
- rubbing alcohol

What to do:
To start out you want to use the rubbing alcohol to clean your bottle, funnel and any other utensil you will be using. This insures that everything is clean. Let the utensils sit for at least 10 min (or more) to dry (you don't want the alcohol to get into the mixture of oils). Fill bottle with Carrier Oil to the halfway point, then fill it with the following mixture: 1 teaspoon of Tea Tree Oil 1/2 teaspoon of Vitamin E Oil 1/8 teaspoon of Peppermint Extract (Optional) - not to be confused with peppermint oil After mixing these together in the bottle, add more Carrier Oil bottle is full. Label and store in a cool dark place.Shake before every use.


Finished Product


How to use this product and tips on how to have a natural and refreshing complexion:

Step One - Opening the Pores: Take a cloth and wet it in hot water, lay over your face breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth, do this for about 10-15 seconds (or until cloth becomes cold). This process opens the pores as well as clears the nasal passages.


Step Two - Cleansing with Oil: Take a medium sized cotton ball (or pad) and add a little oil. Clean your face with the oil always using a light upward/outward motion, meaning always going up from the to the forehead and always going outward towards the hair line. The upward and outward motion keeps you from pulling your skin down, which means you could have less wrinkles later on in life by using this motion.


Step Three - Cleansing with Water : After you have removed all foreign matter from your face with the oil repeat step one. Wipe face with warm cloth to remove excess oil.


Step Four - Toning with Astringent: Wet a cotton ball with Witch Hazel*and use the same upward/outward motion until. Let face dry. *found in the drug store, usually next to the alcohol or you make your own.


Step Five - Moisturizing: Apply Aloe Gel* all over face, be careful not to get it in your eyes.


Step Six - Spot Treatment: For spot treat ment try my Cool Mint Balm or In 'Mint' Condition Salve, leave on overnight. Usually for small acne spots it can take up to 2-4 days for them to disappear, for larger spots 4-8 days...but on occasion they can disappear overnight.


Step Seven - Diet, Exercise & Sunning: The best thing you can do for your complexion is to eat lots of fruit and veggies, drink plenty of water, exercise at least three to five times a week, and get out in the sun for at least 10-20 minutes a day (just don't over do it), vitamin D is very good for acne and your complexion.


What Are These Things?

Tea Tree Oil - The leaves from this tree were once used by early colonials of Australia and New Zealand for tea, this is probably how it got it's name, Tea Tree. This oil is antiseptic, antibacterial, skin healing and also a decongestant.

Peppermint Extract - This plant is used all over the world for several medicinal reasons, our use of the extract is for it antiseptic properties and for it's great smell.

Witch Hazel - This plant is a natural astringent, and is great to use on both oily and dry skin. It's also great for other skin problems such as bug bites, cuts, poison ivy rash, and sunburn. You may be surprised at what this simple and natural astringent will do for you. If you'd rather use it without the alcohol content why not make your own? Just boil a cup of water and pour it over about 1/4 c. witch hazel, cover and let sit for about 20-30 minutes. Keeps in the fridge up to 4 weeks.

Aloe Gel - Although the gel is not as "good" as the fresh plant gel, the gel will do if you don't have a fresh plant. Aloe is a natural moisturizer, it has antibacterial properties as well as anti-inflammatory so you can see why it's good for your complexion. Aloe can reduce the swelling caused by acne and also over time reduce acne scarring.





Why is this better than store bought? Store bought items have harsh cleaners in them that most of us can't even pronounce, when you make your own products and use pure and naturally grown plants you know where they came from. Plus when using these kind of products you are being better to the planet and yorself by not using all these harsh chemicals. If you have any questions please leave a comment here, on my blog or on my contact page here.

If you have any questions please leave a comment or contact me here