Beauty Elixirs

or how you can imprison perfume in a box.. This is a really easy and tempting aromatic alchemy! Let's make a solid perfume. In fact it is about an aromatic balm using jojoba oil as carrier oil and beeswax. The addition of a floral wax will increase the quality of this solid fragrance. The trickiest part is the preparation of the aromatic blend: Of course, only essential oils will be used. Once the essential oils are mixed, then it will take only a few minutes to prepare your perfume. And don't forget: this kind of perfume is portable, easily used, long-lasting and makes a great gift. If there is still someone who hesitates to try this recipe, then I'll repeat what Janice Cox mentions in her book "Natural beauty at home": This is the kind of perfume used and loved by Nefertiti ,  Cleopatra , and Madame de Pompadour    This recipe was originally published in May, 2007.

Inspired by bee products.. Apis mellifera I am a big fun of bees and bee products, I consider them as miracles of the nature and I always use them in my homemade cosmetics. This time I used a combination of four fabulous bee products to make a super nutritious and regenerating night facial cream.  This recipe was originally published in March 2007, in Greek. some useful links were included. For the English version I selected this super blog which is full of valuable info. In Greece, since antiquity apiculture (honey production) has played an important role in society, economy and nutrition. Greek beekeepers and mainly the small-scale, local community ones produce honey of high quality. Honey from wild flowers & herbs, the famous thyme honey, honey from pine, fir, chestnut, oak, citrus & heather flowers are the main types of the Greek honey produce. Many of the Greek smal scale bee keppers are also bloggers with beautiful blogs. Ι select one for you, it'...

This recipe was originally published in February 2007 , the first hand cream recipe I shared. A friend of mine, obsessed with gardening, had asked me to create a protective herbal formula to treat his tired hands. For this formula I used two herbs well known for their healing properties: Calendula officinalis (pot marigold), which was analytically presented in this post  and  Symphytum officinale (known as comfrey plant) the properties of which are presented below. 

Calendula infused oil  sooths and moisturizes the sensitive lip skin. Combined with emolient cocoa butter and protective honey it produces a rich soothing lip balm. It makes also a super gift! Let's go for it.

This post was originally published in Greek in August 2007. The reason for this article was the high price of the calendula creams sold by strong brands of natural cosmetics. Since I consider this cream as an all-time classic preparation, ideal for after-sun usage, suitable for all skin types and especially the sensitive ones, I decided to share my all natural calendula cream recipe. The herbal oils and extracts as well as the active ingredients included in this recipe will make a soothing, nourishing & protective cream. There you go!

St John's-wort is one of the most popular and commonly used herbs. Herbalists adore to use its oily extract which has been   traditionally recommended for a wide range of medical conditions, in particular mild-to-moderate depression.

This recipe has been provided to me by an e-friend of mine. I found it in my mailbox and made it asap. It's very effective, easy to make and  as sweet as my e-friend! Voila:

Balms & salves are beginners’ favorite preparations. They are easy to make as they consist of only 2 main ingredients: herbal infused oils  and beeswax: really difficult to fail! Herbalists adore these preparations since it is the easiest and more efficient way to receive the benefits of herbs and create homemade natural "remedies". Balms & salves do not contain water, so no worries for fungi and bacteria growth, no need for preservatives. Still, due to their structure they have two disadvantages:

You know that you can make a luxurious face mask with only a few ingredients?  This mask contains:  almond oil, rich in omega 6 essential fatty acids which protects and rejuvenates the skin honey which is a natural humectant full of vitamins and oligoelements  vitamin E, a strong anti- oxidant  and luscious rose essential oil which has anti- aging properties.  Let's go for the recipe!

Calendula (pot marigold) is considered as a super herb that has excellent healing and cosmetic properties. These properties are due to the potent active ingredients contained within its petals and leaves: essential oil (0.2%-).4%), saponins, flavonoids, vitamin C, calcium, carotenoids (precursors of vitamin A), chinones. All these substances make calendula a strong antioxidant.  It also containes salicylic acid which has an analgesic effect,  significant amounts of  soothing mucilage and  a bitter principle, calenduline, that has anti-inflammatory properties.  The combination of the above active ingredients makes calendula one of the most popular herbs in skin care. Calendula is used to treat wounds and skin irritations, burns, and eczema. It promotes skin elasticity and is used in stretch marks' treatment.

Just another easy recipe for a relaxing bath.. This recipe makes also a great gift!

A super easy recipe, ideal for a relaxing massage at the end of a tiring day...  It makes also a super gift !

Lavender is a valuable herb with strong healing properties. It is used against stress and anxiety as is is a natural toner. Its essential oil has potent antiseptic and healing properties, it soothes, balances and refreshes the skin and is also useful for wasp or bee stings. It is also analgesic and antiseptic, suitable for treatment of small burns and acne. Its aroma is one of the noblest scents in nature providing a feeling of purity, freshness and relaxation.

Let's spoil a bit ourselves.. This is a super recipe for a nutritious facial oil suitable for all types of skin but it's excellent especially for dry skin or for all skin types during extreme weather conditions. You can prepare it within two minutes, it is easily absorbed and its scent is superb!

a basket full of gifts for babies, prepared with simple & innocent materials!

A cosmetic cream is an emulsion, a mixture of its two basic liquid components,  of water and  oil, that normally cannot be mixed due to their different chemical composition. In order for these two basic components to become homogenous (to be emulsified) the addition of a third component is mandatory. This third component is called emulsifier. Let's see now the main components of a cosmetic cream: 

To extract the healing substances from herbs, solvents such as water, alcohol, glycerin, vinegars or vegetable oils are used. This kind of extractions are utilised as raw materials for the preparation of natural cosmetics and herbal remedies.