Recycling, Barter & Self-production
Recipes for home made cosmetic products
(Very good with Eczema condition)
Full Husk Oatmeal or Large flaked Oatmeal
Popsock
Pour a couple of handfuls of the oatmeal into a popsock and tie the end. Use in the bath to wash both body and face.
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
1 tablespoon Coconut Oil
1 tablespoon Vegetable Oil
2 tablespoons mashed Strawberries
1 – 2 drops Vitemin E Oil (Optional)
Mix oils in bowl – stir in strawberries & add vitamin E oil – transfer to container with lid. Can be stored in fridge for up to 7 weeks.
Half cup cream or full milk
Lemon juice
Add few drops lemon juice to the cream/milk – it will begin to curdle into lumps after about 2/3 minutes – drain liquid and use the creamy remainder on hands and face – use fresh.
2 tablespoons Vodka
1 tablespoon Fennel seeds
1 ½ teaspoons Honey
Mix together – allow to sit for 3 days – strain – use full strength or add 2 tablespoons water to dilute.
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
1 tablespoon Glycerine
2 tablespoons Honey
Mix together and refrigerate in a jar
1 ¾ Pint/1 Litre filtered water
8 tablespoons chopped fresh mint or 2 tablespoons dried mint
2 tablespoons dried chamomile flowers, crumbled
Boil for 10min. Stain after 5min. Keep in lidded jar up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
(removes excess oil)
Half lemon, thinly sliced
Half orange, thinly sliced
6 oz rubbing alcohol
Blend in blender for about 1 minute. Strain mixture into a jar. Keep up to 6 months in the fridge.
1 teaspoon milk
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon ground almonds
Combine mixture in bowl. Use hands or face cloth to scrub face lightly. Rinse clean. NB. Use fresh.
Handfull of Salt
Olive Oil
Mix and put on face. Leave for 15 – 20 minutes. Peel off in circular movements. Takes away dead skin.
2 capsules vitamin E
1 tablespoon Honey
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 tablespoon rose water
1 tablespoon olive oil
Pour vitamin E oil from capsule into bowl and mix with the rest of the ingredients. Transfer to jar. Keep covered in fridge for up to 3 months.
(Can be used as an astringent or to apply as cold compress to a fevered brow)
4 tablespoons of witch hazel leaves or bark
450ml filtered water
225ml rubbing alcohol
Rinse leaves and chop coarsely. Bring the water to the boil in an enamelled saucepan. Add the leaves and simmer for 15 minutes. Leave to infuse until cool. Strain and stir in alcohol. Keeps for 4 –5 days if covered tightly and refrigerated.
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
4 fl. Oz/115 ml olive oil
4fl. Oz/115 ml vegetable oil
Beat egg yolk and lemon juice in mixing bowl. Gradually add both oils stirring constantly with a wire whisk until it thickens. If too thick, add more lemon juice. The cream keeps for up to 2 weeks if tightly sealed in a fridge.
1 teaspoon gelatine
½ cup warm water
Dissolve the gelatine in the water. Once dissolved use as hair gel
(softens dry hair and helps prevent split ends)
3fl oz/85ml Olive Oil
2 ½ fl oz/70ml Vegetable Oil
2 ½ fl oz./70ml Honey
Heat in saucepan until just boiling. Allow to cool fro 5min., then transfer to 1pint/570ml plastic spray bottle. Spray some onto your hair and rub in thoroughly. Wrap head in a warm towel and leave for 1 hr. Shampoo and wash hair as normal.
(for oily hair)
2 tablespoons dried peppermint
2 tablespoons dried spearmint
1 tablespoon dried sage
8 fl oz/225 ml filtered water
2 ½ oz/70 ml baby shampoo
1 egg, beaten (optional if hair needs conditioning)
2 ½ fl oz/70 ml milk (optional)
Place herbs in the water and bring to boil. Remove from the heat and allow to steep for 20min. Strain liquid and discard the herbs. Mix baby shampoo with 2 oz/60 ml of the herbal water. Shampoo as usual. The mixture will keep for 6mths unless using the egg and/or milk in which case you will have to make up fresh each time.
(best to use over a sink or bath)
2 tablespoon Cornmeal
1 tablespoon Ground Almonds
1 ½ tablespoon Orris Root
Mix in a bowl. Massage 1 teaspoon of mixture into scalp. Brush out thoroughly. If hair is still greasy, repeat the procedure.
(Egg conditions normal to dry hair, while lemon juice makes it shine)
1 Egg
1 teaspoon lemon juice or cider vinegar
3 tablespoons mild, unscented shampoo
Mix in a bowl. Use fresh each time.
1 lemon or orange
2 cups water
1 oz rubbing alcohol
Chop lemon (or orange for dry hair). Place in a pot with the water and boil until the amount halves. Cool, strain, add the rubbing alcohol as a preservative and place in a spray bottle. Keep in the fridge up to two weeks. (If the mixture is too sticky, add more water.)
(using left over soaps)
1 lb/450g grated left over soap
6 ½ pints/3.7ltrs water
2 tablespoons glycerine
Mix together in pot and place over a low heat, stirring occasionally. When dissolved, cool slightly and transfer to storage container. Cover tightly and label.
Gel variation – for thicker soap, just ½ the amount of water.
6 teaspoons baking soda
1/3 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons glycerine
14 drops peppermint
Mix and store in wide container.
4 teaspoons Alum
2 teaspoons baking soda
8 fl oz/225 ml rubbing alcohol
Mix ingredients. Transfer to spray bottle and use as deodorant or all over spray.
8 fl oz/225 ml filtered water
8 fl oz/225 ml rubbing alcohol
2 tablespoons Alum
3 tablespoons rose water
Mix together and transfer to spray bottle. Use as normal.
16 fl oz.450 ml rubbing alcohol
1 tablespoon glycerine
1 tablespoon dried lavender
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon ground cloves
Mix ingredients and transfer to lidded jar. Refrigerate for 3 – 4 days, shaking occasionally to mix ingredients. Strain, before using. Will keep up to 12 months if tightly covered and refrigerated
3 tablespoons witch hazel
5 tablespoon cider vinegar
5 tablespoons orange flower water
15 drops bergamot essential oil
10 drops lemon essential oil
8 drops neroli essential oil
Mix in bottle and shake well. Set aside for 1 week. Shake once a day. Store in a cool dark area.
4 tablespoons baby oil
1 tablespoon Dettol
Mix and apply to skin.
