This is the last in the "Tips For Luscious Lips" natural lip care recipe series and it is one of my favorite, thick yummy lip balms. Children and men really love this one and if you create a big batch, makes fabulous stocking stuffers for the Holiday Season. Makes lips super soft and conditioned!
Vanilla Velvet Honey Lip Balm
This rich and soothing balm can be used year-round. It doubles as a mild antibacterial ointment when applied to cuts and scrapes and helps prevent scarring.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon organic soybean or almond base oil (not essential oil)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons beeswax
- 5 drops vanilla essential oil
Directions:
In a very small saucepan, over low heat or in a small double boiler, warm oil, honey, and beeswax, until the wax is just melted. Remove from heat, add the essential oil, and stir to blend. Now, do these next steps very quickly or the mixture will set up oddly and the water-based honey will separate out from the balm . . . Set the pan in a shallow ice-water bath. Using a tiny whisk or spoon, stir rapidly for 30 to 60 seconds until the honey is incorporated and the formula is like thick peanut butter. It will be a pale yellow-brown color and taste very sweet.
Spoon the mixture into storage containers and cap. Let the mixture set for 2 hours before use. No refrigeration is required, but for maximum freshness and taste, please use within 1 year.
Recommended For: everyone, especially children (flavor & texture are like vanilla honey fudge)
Use: as desired
Prep Time: approx. 30 minutes, plus 2 hours for flavor & consistency to synergize & set
Blending Tools: small whisk or spoon
Store In: small plastic or glass jars or tins
Yield: approx. 5, 1/4 oz. containers or 2.5 tablespoons total balm
NOTE: This article was adapted from the book, "Organic Body Care Recipes" by Stephanie Tourles, Storey Publishing, 2007. The information is true and complete to the best of Ms. Tourles' knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of Ms. Tourles. The author disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information and rcommends that the reader use their common sense when trying new products on their skin. This information is for educational purposes only.
Showing posts with label natural lip care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label natural lip care. Show all posts
Friday, August 6, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Tips For Luscious Lips - Part IV
Summer in northern New England has been a real scorcher lately! Thank goodness for the cool evening fog that rolls in off the ocean. That mist really soothes my garden plants and gives the veggie leaves and flowers a good drink at night.
This time of year, or even in the less humid fall and winter seasons, my lips can become rough and dry. The natural lip care recipe I'm going to share with you today is very, very simple to make using just one ingredient from your kitchen cupboard: baking soda. Won't you please give it a try? I'm sure your lips will be most grateful for the pampering!
Rough Lip Scuff
This simple, lip-scuffing method quickly loosens flaky, dead skin, leaving lips smoother, softer, and healthier-looking. The brushing action stimulates circulation and actually causes the lip tissue to plump temporarily, improving the look of your sultry pout!
Recommended for: everyone, especially those who have chapped, rough, and weather-beaten lips
Use: twice per week
Prep Time: mere seconds
Blending Tools: toothbrush
Store In: do not store; mix as needed
Yield: 1 treatment
Ingredients:
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- Premoistened toothbrush
Directions:
Place baking soda into the palm of one hand and dip damp toothbrush bristles into the soda. Gently brush premoistened lips back and forth for approximately 20 seconds. Be careful not to brush too hard to avoid causing further irritation. Rinse.
NOTE: This article was adapted from the book, "Organic Body Care Recipes", by Stephanie Tourles, Storey Publishing, 2007. The information is true and complete to the best of the author's knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the author. She disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only.
This time of year, or even in the less humid fall and winter seasons, my lips can become rough and dry. The natural lip care recipe I'm going to share with you today is very, very simple to make using just one ingredient from your kitchen cupboard: baking soda. Won't you please give it a try? I'm sure your lips will be most grateful for the pampering!
Rough Lip Scuff
This simple, lip-scuffing method quickly loosens flaky, dead skin, leaving lips smoother, softer, and healthier-looking. The brushing action stimulates circulation and actually causes the lip tissue to plump temporarily, improving the look of your sultry pout!
Recommended for: everyone, especially those who have chapped, rough, and weather-beaten lips
Use: twice per week
Prep Time: mere seconds
Blending Tools: toothbrush
Store In: do not store; mix as needed
Yield: 1 treatment
Ingredients:
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- Premoistened toothbrush
Directions:
Place baking soda into the palm of one hand and dip damp toothbrush bristles into the soda. Gently brush premoistened lips back and forth for approximately 20 seconds. Be careful not to brush too hard to avoid causing further irritation. Rinse.
NOTE: This article was adapted from the book, "Organic Body Care Recipes", by Stephanie Tourles, Storey Publishing, 2007. The information is true and complete to the best of the author's knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the author. She disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Tips For Luscious Lips - Part III
The heat is definitely on here in Maine! July ushered in plenty of high temps, hazy skies, and tons of hair-frizzing humidity, plus lots of lip-frying and drying sunshine. Luckily, I have just the lip-pampering balm recipe to keep your smoocher soft, moist, and protected. Hope you take the time to give it a try. Enjoy!
Honey Fruit-Flavored Lip Balm
This balm is rich and soothing for year-round use. For great taste that appeals to children, you can flavor this balm with synthetic, food-grade flavoring oils such as apple, apricot, peach, or cherry. Essential oils such as anise, fennel, or vanilla also add flavor - if you wish to avoid the synthetics. For the shiniest gloss, use castor oil as the base oil.
Ingredients:
7-8 teaspoons almond, jojoba, organic soybean, or castor base oil
2 teaspoons beeswax
1 teaspoon honey
10 drops lemon, orange, lime, or tangerine essential oil (or food flavoring oil of your choice)
1/4 tube or less of your favorite natural, synthetic-free, colored lipstick (optional)
Directions:
In a very small saucepan over low heat or in a double-boiler, warm oil, beeswax, and honey until the wax is just melted. Use 8 teaspoons of oil for a softer consistency; use 7 teaspoons for a firmer balm.
Remove from heat. Add the essential or flavoring oil and the colored lipstick (if desired), and stir until the lipstick is melted. Set the pan in a shallow ice-water bath. Using a tiny whisk or skinny ice-tea spoon, stir rapidly for 30 to 60 seconds until the honey is completely incorporated and the formula is like thick frosting. It will be a pale yellow color unless you've added colored lipstick.
Spoon the mixture into storage containers, and cap. Let the mixture set for 2 hours before use. No refrigeration is required, but for maximum freshness and taste, please use within 1 year.
Recommended for: everyone, especially children
Use: as desired
Prep Time: approx. 30 minutes plus 2 hours for flavor and consistency to synergize & set
Blending Tools: small whisk or spoon
Store in: small plastic or glass jars or tins
Yield: approx. 6-7, 1/4 ounce containers or 3 heaping tablespoons
NOTE: This article was adapted from the book, "Organic Body Care Recipes", by Stephanie Tourles, Storey Publishing, 2007. The information is true and complete to the best of the author's knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the author. She disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only.
Honey Fruit-Flavored Lip Balm
This balm is rich and soothing for year-round use. For great taste that appeals to children, you can flavor this balm with synthetic, food-grade flavoring oils such as apple, apricot, peach, or cherry. Essential oils such as anise, fennel, or vanilla also add flavor - if you wish to avoid the synthetics. For the shiniest gloss, use castor oil as the base oil.
Ingredients:
7-8 teaspoons almond, jojoba, organic soybean, or castor base oil
2 teaspoons beeswax
1 teaspoon honey
10 drops lemon, orange, lime, or tangerine essential oil (or food flavoring oil of your choice)
1/4 tube or less of your favorite natural, synthetic-free, colored lipstick (optional)
Directions:
In a very small saucepan over low heat or in a double-boiler, warm oil, beeswax, and honey until the wax is just melted. Use 8 teaspoons of oil for a softer consistency; use 7 teaspoons for a firmer balm.
Remove from heat. Add the essential or flavoring oil and the colored lipstick (if desired), and stir until the lipstick is melted. Set the pan in a shallow ice-water bath. Using a tiny whisk or skinny ice-tea spoon, stir rapidly for 30 to 60 seconds until the honey is completely incorporated and the formula is like thick frosting. It will be a pale yellow color unless you've added colored lipstick.
Spoon the mixture into storage containers, and cap. Let the mixture set for 2 hours before use. No refrigeration is required, but for maximum freshness and taste, please use within 1 year.
Recommended for: everyone, especially children
Use: as desired
Prep Time: approx. 30 minutes plus 2 hours for flavor and consistency to synergize & set
Blending Tools: small whisk or spoon
Store in: small plastic or glass jars or tins
Yield: approx. 6-7, 1/4 ounce containers or 3 heaping tablespoons
NOTE: This article was adapted from the book, "Organic Body Care Recipes", by Stephanie Tourles, Storey Publishing, 2007. The information is true and complete to the best of the author's knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the author. She disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Tips For Luscious Lips - Part 2
Welcome Summer Solstice! To commemorate the day, at about 7am this morning, I went for a 2.5 mile speed walk along the dirt road that meanders through my woods. Simply glorious. At the ocean-view vista at the top of our hill, I paid homage to the summer sun and her warm energy that she sends coarsing through my body and the flowers, herbs, and veggies in my garden. Ahh . . . summer!
As promised in the last blog, I will be sharing some natural lip care recipes that you can make at home and customize to your liking and/or needs. There will be three recipes in total. I'll give you the first one today.
The colorless versions of these lip treatments can be worn alone or as a base or top coat with your favorite commercial lipstick. The colored versions contain no added drying chemicals or mica or fish scales for shimmer; nor do they have that metallic lipstick taste that can linger in your mouth for hours. These beeswax and honey formulas provide only a sheer wash of color.
Using these recipes, you can create a basic, nourishing lip balm or gloss that smells and tastes good, not synthetic or manufactured. Your children will enjoy these lip treats, too!
Healing & Cooling Lip Balm & Gloss
This lip treatment is rich, soothing, ultracooling, and especially good for lips that are weather-beaten or chapped and tender.
Ingredients:
4-5 tablespoons almond, jojoba, or castor base oil (castor oil is preferred if you want a super- shiny gloss)
1 tablespoon beeswax
2 teaspoons honey
20 drops peppermint or spearmint essential oil or tea tree essential oil (optional medicinal choice if you suffer from ultra-chapped or bleeding lips, or have fever blisters)
1/2 tube of your favorite natural, synthetic-free, colored lipstick (optional)
Directions:
In a very small saucepan, over low heat or double boiler, warm oil, beeswax, and honey until the wax is just melted. DO NOT allow this mixture to get too hot . . . no simmering allowed! Do not walk away from the pan. Use 5 tablespoons of oil for a softer consistency; use 4 tablespoons for a firmer balm.
Remove from heat. Add the essential oil (if desired) and colored lipstick (if desired) at this time, and stir until the lipstick is melted. Set the pan in a shallow ice-water bath. Using a tiny whisk or iced-tea spoon, stir rapidly for 30-60 seconds until the honey is completely incorporated and the formula is like thick frosting. If you don't stir rapidly enough, the honey (which is water-based) will tend to separate out of the formula and settle to the bottom. The final product will be a pale yellow color unless you've added colored lipstick.
Spoon the mixture into storage containers and cap. Let the mixture set for 2 hours before use. No refrigeration is required, but for maximum freshness and taste, please use within 1 year.
Important Recipe Information:
Recommended for: everyone
Use: as desired
Prep Time: approx. 30 minutes plus 2 hours for flavor & consistency to synergize & set
Blending Tools: small whisk or spoon
Store in: very small plastic or glass jars or tins
Yield: approx. 12 - 14, 1/4-ounce containers or 6-7 tablespoons
NOTE: This article was written by Stephanie Tourles and adapted from her book, "Organic Body Care Recipes", Storey Publishing, 2007. The information is true and complete to the best of the author's knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the author. The author disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only.
As promised in the last blog, I will be sharing some natural lip care recipes that you can make at home and customize to your liking and/or needs. There will be three recipes in total. I'll give you the first one today.
The colorless versions of these lip treatments can be worn alone or as a base or top coat with your favorite commercial lipstick. The colored versions contain no added drying chemicals or mica or fish scales for shimmer; nor do they have that metallic lipstick taste that can linger in your mouth for hours. These beeswax and honey formulas provide only a sheer wash of color.
Using these recipes, you can create a basic, nourishing lip balm or gloss that smells and tastes good, not synthetic or manufactured. Your children will enjoy these lip treats, too!
Healing & Cooling Lip Balm & Gloss
This lip treatment is rich, soothing, ultracooling, and especially good for lips that are weather-beaten or chapped and tender.
Ingredients:
4-5 tablespoons almond, jojoba, or castor base oil (castor oil is preferred if you want a super- shiny gloss)
1 tablespoon beeswax
2 teaspoons honey
20 drops peppermint or spearmint essential oil or tea tree essential oil (optional medicinal choice if you suffer from ultra-chapped or bleeding lips, or have fever blisters)
1/2 tube of your favorite natural, synthetic-free, colored lipstick (optional)
Directions:
In a very small saucepan, over low heat or double boiler, warm oil, beeswax, and honey until the wax is just melted. DO NOT allow this mixture to get too hot . . . no simmering allowed! Do not walk away from the pan. Use 5 tablespoons of oil for a softer consistency; use 4 tablespoons for a firmer balm.
Remove from heat. Add the essential oil (if desired) and colored lipstick (if desired) at this time, and stir until the lipstick is melted. Set the pan in a shallow ice-water bath. Using a tiny whisk or iced-tea spoon, stir rapidly for 30-60 seconds until the honey is completely incorporated and the formula is like thick frosting. If you don't stir rapidly enough, the honey (which is water-based) will tend to separate out of the formula and settle to the bottom. The final product will be a pale yellow color unless you've added colored lipstick.
Spoon the mixture into storage containers and cap. Let the mixture set for 2 hours before use. No refrigeration is required, but for maximum freshness and taste, please use within 1 year.
Important Recipe Information:
Recommended for: everyone
Use: as desired
Prep Time: approx. 30 minutes plus 2 hours for flavor & consistency to synergize & set
Blending Tools: small whisk or spoon
Store in: very small plastic or glass jars or tins
Yield: approx. 12 - 14, 1/4-ounce containers or 6-7 tablespoons
NOTE: This article was written by Stephanie Tourles and adapted from her book, "Organic Body Care Recipes", Storey Publishing, 2007. The information is true and complete to the best of the author's knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the author. The author disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Tips For Luscioius Lips - Part 1
Howdy everyone . . . I'm discussing "natural lip care" today and I'll show you ways to nourish and pamper those delicate lips to keep them soft, luscious, plump, and always comfortable, no matter what the season.
Unlike the rest of your skin, your lips do not contain any sebaceous glands (oil glands) or sweat glands to keep them moisturized and lubricated. If lip tissue is damaged by heat, cold, drying lipsticks, smoking, too many happy-hour beverages, herpes, or other agents such as some prescription medications or anti-aging creams containing glycolic acid or salicylic acid, the small amount of saliva that reaches your lips via the tip of the tongue will not be sufficient to prevent your lips from becoming dehydrated. Thus, many of us constantly slather them with lipsticks, glosses, balms, and ointments of various kinds in an attempt to prevent drying and cracking and simultaneously keep them kissably soft and supple.
If you're a woman, you probably know from first hand experience that many brands of lipstick tend to be drying instead of moisturizing (regardless of the advertising hype). Some can even cause your lips to flake, peel, and become unsightly. What's more, I have yet to see an "all-day formula" that lasts past midmorning without becoming unattractively cakey. Yet take heart! Over the next 4 blogs (this one included), I'll share tips and 4 chemical-free lip balm and gloss recipes that you can make at home and even customize with essential oil fragrance and color, if desired. All of the ingredients in the recipes are actually edible - which is a good thing considering women tend to ingest several pounds of lipstick over a lifetime.
PUCKER UP With These Lip Pampering Tips!
1. When venturing out into the sun, be it the beach or bright ski slope or back yard garden, don't forget to apply a lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher. Find a natural balm containing micronized zinc oxide which blocks the sun's rays. Today's modern zinc oxide-based balms won't give you white lips like a 1960's lifeguard!
2. Thick castor oil, the main ingredient in most commercial lipsticks, can be applied straight out of the bottle for a natural glossy look sans color.
3. Slick on a bit of cocoa butter for a moisturizing chocolate-flavored lip treat. Great for men and boys because it's colorless and not too shiny.
4. After brushing your teeth, gently brush your lips as well. "Not only does it take away any chapping, but it plumps up the lip temporarily for that sought-after 'pouty' look," says Diane Irons, author of The World's Best-Kept Beauty Secrets.
5. Apply a lip balm frequently throughout the day to create a moisture-resistant barrier on your lips that will help prevent moisture loss.
6. Keep hydrated! Make sure to drink lots of water or herb tea throughout the day.
7. A dab of honey on your lips will act as a humectant, drawing moisture from the air to your skin, keeping your lips soft, plump, and kissably sweet.
8. A dab of vegetable glycerin mixed with vitamin E or wheat germ oil makes an effective, nourishing moisture barrier. Tastes good, too!
NOTE: The above article was written by Stephanie Tourles, lic. holistic esthetician, herbalist, aromatherapist, nutritionist, and author of 9 books on natural skin / body care. It was adapted from her book, "Organic Body Care Recipes", Storey Publishing, 2007. The information is true and complete to the best of Ms. Tourles' knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of Ms. Tourles. She disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only.
Unlike the rest of your skin, your lips do not contain any sebaceous glands (oil glands) or sweat glands to keep them moisturized and lubricated. If lip tissue is damaged by heat, cold, drying lipsticks, smoking, too many happy-hour beverages, herpes, or other agents such as some prescription medications or anti-aging creams containing glycolic acid or salicylic acid, the small amount of saliva that reaches your lips via the tip of the tongue will not be sufficient to prevent your lips from becoming dehydrated. Thus, many of us constantly slather them with lipsticks, glosses, balms, and ointments of various kinds in an attempt to prevent drying and cracking and simultaneously keep them kissably soft and supple.
If you're a woman, you probably know from first hand experience that many brands of lipstick tend to be drying instead of moisturizing (regardless of the advertising hype). Some can even cause your lips to flake, peel, and become unsightly. What's more, I have yet to see an "all-day formula" that lasts past midmorning without becoming unattractively cakey. Yet take heart! Over the next 4 blogs (this one included), I'll share tips and 4 chemical-free lip balm and gloss recipes that you can make at home and even customize with essential oil fragrance and color, if desired. All of the ingredients in the recipes are actually edible - which is a good thing considering women tend to ingest several pounds of lipstick over a lifetime.
PUCKER UP With These Lip Pampering Tips!
1. When venturing out into the sun, be it the beach or bright ski slope or back yard garden, don't forget to apply a lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher. Find a natural balm containing micronized zinc oxide which blocks the sun's rays. Today's modern zinc oxide-based balms won't give you white lips like a 1960's lifeguard!
2. Thick castor oil, the main ingredient in most commercial lipsticks, can be applied straight out of the bottle for a natural glossy look sans color.
3. Slick on a bit of cocoa butter for a moisturizing chocolate-flavored lip treat. Great for men and boys because it's colorless and not too shiny.
4. After brushing your teeth, gently brush your lips as well. "Not only does it take away any chapping, but it plumps up the lip temporarily for that sought-after 'pouty' look," says Diane Irons, author of The World's Best-Kept Beauty Secrets.
5. Apply a lip balm frequently throughout the day to create a moisture-resistant barrier on your lips that will help prevent moisture loss.
6. Keep hydrated! Make sure to drink lots of water or herb tea throughout the day.
7. A dab of honey on your lips will act as a humectant, drawing moisture from the air to your skin, keeping your lips soft, plump, and kissably sweet.
8. A dab of vegetable glycerin mixed with vitamin E or wheat germ oil makes an effective, nourishing moisture barrier. Tastes good, too!
NOTE: The above article was written by Stephanie Tourles, lic. holistic esthetician, herbalist, aromatherapist, nutritionist, and author of 9 books on natural skin / body care. It was adapted from her book, "Organic Body Care Recipes", Storey Publishing, 2007. The information is true and complete to the best of Ms. Tourles' knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of Ms. Tourles. She disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only.
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