This bath powder recipe is ideal for calming a bad sunburn or even insect bites. The oatmeal and baking soda, help soothe skin, and the lavender contains relaxing qualities, says Cox.
English Lavender Bath
Ingredients:
1 cup lavender flowers (fresh or dried)
2 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup baking soda
Directions:
Place ingredients inside a food processor or blender. Grind until you have a smooth, fine powder. The powder should have the consistency of whole grain flower. Pour into a clean, airtight container. To use, pour 1/2 cup into your bath as you fill the tub. Yields 28 ounces -- enough for seven baths.
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Inflamed Skin
Apples have been used for centuries in food and beauty recipes. They are 85 percent water, and high in potassium and Vitamins A and C. When used as a facial toner, apple pectin helps soothe skin, says Cox.
Apple Pectin Toner
Ingredients:
1 apple, cut up with peel, seeds removed
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup witch hazel
Directions:
Place the cut-up apple in a small saucepan with the water. Bring to a boil and remove from the heat. Allow the mixture to cool completely, then strain out the apple chunks. Stir in the witch hazel and pour into a clean container. To use, spritz on your face or apply to skin using a clean cotton ball.
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Flaky, Dry Skin
Women have used egg masks for centuries, says Cox. This particular recipe helps relieve dry skin and will become your at-home beauty staple.
Egg Mask
Ingredients:
1 raw egg
1 tablespoon honey
Directions:
Mix together egg and honey. Spread onto your face and neck and let sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse well with tepid water.
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Puffy, Tired Eyes
Chamomile flowers can be added to witch hazel for relaxing and rejuvenating the eyes, says Miller.
Chamomile Eye Calmer
Ingredients:
2 cups of witch hazel
1/2 cup chamomile flowers
1 aloe leaf
Directions:
Combine witch hazel with flowers. Steep for one day in the sun. Strain out flowers from the liquid and pour into a clean glass jar. Add the gel from aloe leaf. Store in the refrigerator. To use, pour onto two cotton balls, lie down, place on your eyelids, and listen to some soothing music for the next 15 minutes.
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Insect Bites
Aloe is a wonderful remedy for soothing a bug bite, too much sun, or an itch from a walk in the woods, says Miller. This remedy doesn't require a list of ingredients or directions. Just rub aloe directly from the plant onto the itchy area. See, we told you some of these remedies were easy.
When you're struck with things like zit flare-ups, bug bites and puffy eyes, your knee-jerk reaction is to grab a product from your medicine cabinet (or wherever you keep that kind of stuff), right? But, have you considered that maybe the herbs, plants and flowers growing in your backyard (or the ones you bought at the store) could remedy some of your skin care woes with the same -- if not better -- results? In our busy, fast-paced lives, we know you're thinking, "Yeah, right. Like I'll ever have time to whip up a skin care recipe. Ever." Stick with us � while some of these skin care recipes are a bit more labor intensive, most of them only require a few easy-to-locate, purse-friendly ingredients.
We called on the expertise of Melinda Joy Miller, author of "Shamanic Gardening: Timeless Techniques for the Modern Sustainable Garden" and Janice Cox, author of "Natural Beauty for All Seasons: 250 Simple Recipes and Gift Giving Ideas for Year-Round Beauty". They share recipes for skin and eye remedies that'll help clear blemishes and zap zits; ones that'll help soothe facial irritation, bring pH balance to the skin, calm insect bites and sunburns, and soothe red, itchy skin; and ones that rejuvenate and condition tired-looking eyes.
In case you weren't blessed with a green thumb, Miller has a tip for you: "The best time of day to pick herbs or flowers is in the early morning just as the sun is coming up. The energy of the day is very high then and the plant is at a rested, healed-by-the-dew state." On the other hand, if you're not a morning person or don't have a garden, you can improvise by picking them up at your local market at your leisure.
