Part 2 of Kiwi-Jo’s guest post!

Here it is! Part 2 of the lovely Kiwi-Jo’s guest post she very kindly did for me on making your own toiletries and cleaning products!

You can read part 1 here, and more about the lovely Jo, on her blog Crafty Kiwi.

Over to Jo!

My favourite beauty recipe is for Honey Lip Balm. I go through loads of lip balm and this is very quick and easy (but is tempting to keep licking your lips as it tastes yummy!).

•  2 teaspoons beeswax granules
• 30ml jojoba oil
• 1 teaspoon honey

Heat the wax and oil in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water until they melt into a clear liquid. Heat the honey to 30C / 86F (use a sweet thermometer to check). Add the honey to the wax mixture and cool, stirring continuously. Pour the balm into a screw-top jar.

 Another nice one to make (and use) is Nourishing Lavender Hand Cream. This is great for chapped, hard-working hands.

•  3 tablespoons beeswax granules
• 4 tablespoons almond oil
• 4 tablespoons coconut oil
• 6 tablespoons glycerine
• 6 drops lavender oil

Mix the beeswax granules with the almond and coconut oils in a bowl and place over a pan of simmering water until the wax melts. Stir thoroughly and add the glycerine drop by drop. Remove the mixture from the heat and continue stirring until the mixture become creamy. Stir in the lavender oil and transfer to a small pot with a lid. Seal and store in a cool place.

Lastly, as Jen was wanting to try making her own shampoo, here is one for Herbal Shampoo.

As a precaution, (especially if you are prone to allergies or have a sensitive scalp) it is well worth patch testing the individual ingredients first to make sure you wont have a reaction, before making this up). Also remember, this may not foam the same way as shampoos you are used to.

This recipe is for fair hair, if yours is dark, substitute the chamomile flowers for sage leaves. The soap used is French Olive Oil soap which contains olive oil and other natural ingredients and will be available at health shops.

• 8 tablespoons dried chamomile flowers (or dried sage leaves for dark hair)
• 1 tablespoon dried peppermint leaves
• 2 tablespoons dried rosemary leaves
• 600ml water
• 55g grated olive oil soap or 55g soap flakes
• 3 drops peppermint oil or 3 drops eucalyptus oil
• 2 tablespoons vodka

Put the herbs and water in a pan, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 mins. Remove from the heat and leave to infuse for 30 mins. Strain the liquid through and fine sieve and pour into another pan. Add the soap and set the pan over a low heat, stirring continuously, until the soap has dissolved. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. Mix the essential oil with the vodka and add to the soapy mixture. Pour the shampoo into a screw-top jar and leave in a warm place for 3 – 4 days before using.

 So, there you have just a few recipes for some great products to try.

It’s a great feeling to have a go at making your own and to know exactly what is going into your products.

Why not give them a try?!

NB: I am not a practising Herbalist and these recipes are not intended as treatments for any medical conditions. Use with caution, if you have a reaction to a product stop using it. If you have a medical condition, consult your Doctor or Healthcare Professional.

Thankyou so much Jo!