SKIN CARE PLANET

,Manuka honey is said to be the most beneficial for acne-prone skin due to its highly antibacterial nature, but it’s okay to substitute regular honey if you can’t find manuka. Parsley is rich in vitamins and nutrients and has skin lightening properties, which help to fade acne scars and dark spots. This powerful herbal mask is beneficial for oily and acne-prone skin type it can be used one per week. YIELDS: 2–3 masks ⁄ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon manuka honey 1–2 teaspoons kaolin clay 1. To Make: Remove the parsley leaves from the stems to make ⁄ cup of the leaves. Place the parsley, lemon juice, and honey in the blender. Blend on low speed until you have a uniform mixture. Remove from the blender with a rubber spatula and place into a mixing bowl. Add the clay a little at a time, stirring to blend until you reach a spreadable paste. 2. To Store: This mask is best fresh. Store in a closed container in the refrigerator and use within 4 days. 3.

Gain the hydrating, nourishing, and regenerative benefits of vitamin-rich flax without any added oil. This gentle, skin-tightening, moisturizing facial mask will soften and replenish all skin types. YIELDS: 3–4 masks 1 cup water ⁄ cup flaxseeds 2 drops chamomile essential oil What you will need: saucepan, wire whisk, mixing bowl, tea strainer, tight-sealing container 1. To Make: Place the water and flaxseeds in the pan on medium high heat. Stirring occasionally, use the whisk to keep the seeds moving and not sticking to the pan. Once the mixture begins to boil, stir gently and constantly. When it starts to thicken slightly, turn down the heat to low and keep stirring until the seeds start suspending in the liquid instead of falling to the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat and strain liquid into the mixing bowl, discarding the seeds. Add the chamomile essential oil and whisk to blend. Allow to cool completely before use. 2. To Store: This mask is best fresh. Store in a closed containe

Amazing chia seeds are packed with vital nutrients, omega-3s, proteins, and antioxidants. In addition, the coconut found in this recipe is high in antioxidants and is hydrating and soothing for the skin. If you can, use fresh coconut water in this recipe and your skin will benefit from the naturally occurring electrolytes in this tropical elixir. This powerfully rejuvenating mask is also quite gentle and will benefit even the most sensitive of skin types. YIELDS: 1–2 masks ⁄ teaspoon chia seeds 1 ⁄ teaspoons coconut water ⁄ teaspoon coconut milk What you will need: mixing bowl, fork, tight-sealing container 1. To Make: Place the chia seeds, coconut water, and coconut milk in the mixing bowl and stir. Soak the chia seeds for 5–10 minutes until all of the liquid has been absorbed and a gel has formed. 2. To Store: This mask is best fresh. Store in a closed container in the refrigerator and use within 4 days. 3. To Use: To use, spread a thick layer onto clean skin. Leave on skin 15–25 min

This triple-berry blast of antioxidant superfruits rich in essential fatty acids helps nourish, soothe, and repair skin cells. These fruity antioxidants excel in scavenging free radicals and disarming them. Unchecked, free radicals attack and destroy your healthy cells. This mask is formulated to repair and regenerate while gently exfoliating for a fresh and radiant skin tone. This mask works wonders to improve environmentally damaged or maturing skin and is beneficial for normal, dry, oily, or combination skin types as well YIELDS: 1–2 masks 1 strawberry 2 blueberries 1 raspberry ⁄ teaspoon raw honey 1 teaspoon coconut flour 1. To Make: Place the berries in the mixing bowl and mash with the fork. Stir in the honey. Add the coconut flour a little at a time, stirring to moisten the powder until you have a thin, not drippy, spreadable paste. How much coconut flour you need will depend on how juicy your berries are. Coconut flour is highly absorbent, so start with a teaspoon and add more

This quick and easy facial mask works to increase the radiance and vitality of your skin. Since ancient times, the tiny chia seeds found in this recipe were revered as superfoods by indigenous Central and South American peoples, including the Aztecs and Mayans, for their high levels of vital nutrients, omega-3 fatty acids, proteins, and antioxidants, and the red wine has exceptional levels of antioxidants known for their anti-aging benefits. In addition, the alcohol in the red wine tightens and clarifies pores while the honey hydrates and increases circulation. YIELDS: 1 mask 1 teaspoons raw honey 1 ⁄ teaspoons red wine ⁄ teaspoon ground chia seeds What you will need: small mixing bowl, fork 1. To Make: Stir together the honey and red wine in a small mixing bowl. Add the ground chia seeds a little at a time, stirring to moisten all of the powder until you reach the desired consistency. 2. To Store: This mask should not be stored. Use immediately. 3. To Use: To use, spread a thick layer

Topically applied, carrots are known to stimulate cellular renewal, fortifying and repairing tissues, while they work to disarm free radicals, preventing premature aging. Packed with phytonutrients and beneficial moisture, this rejuvenating facial mask works to balance oil production and clarify pores for all skin types, especially dry, oily, and sensitive skin types. YIELDS: 2–3 masks 1 small carrot 2 teaspoons coconut oil ⁄ teaspoon coconut flour 1 teaspoon lemon juice, optional What you will need: mixing bowl, fork, saucepan with lid and steamer, small tight-sealing storage container 1. To Make: Cut the carrot into chunks and place in a vegetable steamer. Steam on medium heat until soft enough to mash with a fork. Remove from heat. Place the carrots in your mixing bowl. Add the coconut oil and begin mashing them together. The coconut oil will melt with the heat of the carrot. Once well blended, add the coconut flour and blend to a uniform consistency. Add lemon juice if desired and

Clay masks work wonders on the skin by soaking out excess oils and toxins and unclogging, clarifying, and refining pores for porcelain-soft skin. This recipe is designed so that you can make and store the dry portion ahead of time, mixing up a single-use fresh mask as desired by adding a little rosewater to make a spreadable paste. This mask is beneficial for oily, combination, normal, sensitive, congested, and acne prone skin types. YIELDS: 1 cup dry mask ⁄ cup green clay ⁄ cup kaolin clay ⁄ cup powdered milk (full-fat dairy, soy, or coconut)  Rosewater. 1. To Make: Before you begin, find a protective face mask, or tie a bandana to cover your nose and mouth, to avoid breathing the powders. Place the dry ingredients into the jar, place the lid on tightly, and shake to blend. Label with contents and date and store for up to a year. Right before you’re ready to use the mask, mix 2 teaspoons powdered mixture with rosewater in a small bowl. Add the rosewater a little at a time, stirring to

Oranges are rich in vitamin C, which encourages collagen production and improves the elasticity of your skin. Agave is a naturally antibacterial and humectant. Beneficial in lightening sunspots and acne scars, this invigorating Radiant Orange Mask works to unclog pores and improve circulation for a more radiant skin tone. YIELDS: 1–2 masks 1 teaspoon almond meal 1 teaspoon dried orange peel powder 1 teaspoon raw agave nectar 1 ⁄ teaspoons plain yogurt What you will need: mixing bowl, spoon, tight-sealing storage container 1. To Make: Place the almond meal and orange peel powder in a bowl. Add the agave nectar and yogurt and stir well to blend to a uniform consistency. 2. To Store: This mask is best fresh. Store in a closed container in the refrigerator and use within 5 days. 3. To Use: To use, spread a thick layer of the mask onto clean skin. Leave on skin 10–15 minutes and rinse off with warm water. Follow with toner and moisturizer Helpful hints If you can’t find orange peel powder,

Packed with nearly 200 beneficial bio-actives straight from the Amazon jungle, yerba mate packs a youthful punch in this superfood mask for radiant skin. Densely nutritious, this mask literally feeds your skin with beneficial moisture, reparative antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Anti-bacterial honey increases circulation to help carry the nutrients into your skin cells to do their good work. Using this mask once per week promotes radiant vitality for all skin types, especially damaged, overexposed, and maturing. YIELDS: 1–2 masks 1 tablespoon loose leaf yerba mate ⁄ cup water 1 tablespoon ground flax meal 1 teaspoon honey ⁄ teaspoon flaxseed oil What you will need: coffee grinder, saucepan, tea strainer, mixing bowl, fork, tight-sealing storage container 1. To Make: Grind the yerba mate into a coarse powder in your coffee grinder. Boil the water. Place the yerba mate and flax meal in the mixing bowl and add the boiling water. Stir to moisten and let stand 5–10 minutes

The experience of relaxing with a facial mask on the skin is like no other. This is why most women you know will have at least a few different facial masks in their bathroom cabinet. The subtleties of temperature and texture excite the senses. Will the texture be smooth or gooey? Thick and rich like Carrot-Coconut NutraMoist Mask or light and refreshing like the Fresh Petals Mask? The scents waft over you and can carry you on a sensory journey over glorious earthen clay with the Green Clay Rose Milk Mask, a fresh glint of citrus with the Radiant Orange Mask, or a soothing waft of florals with the Agave Rose Anti-Aging Mask. Enjoy the journey to beautiful skin as the treatment masks in this chapter improve your skin, visibly sucking the excess oil and toxins out of your pores or boosting your cells with vital nutrients and moisture. Removing the mask reveals fresh skin that’s smoother, plumper, clearer, and more radiant than before. You’ll be glowing from the inside, and your skin will 

Traditional Asian facial cleansing grains, like this one, use adzuki beans that gently exfoliate without damaging the surface of the skin. In addition, green tea is a powerful antioxidant that helps rejuvenate the skin, prevent and repair sun damage, and promote elasticity. And the healing powers of chamomile calm and soothe redness and irritation. YIELDS: 1 pint ⁄ cup adzuki beans ⁄ cup green tea leaves ⁄ cup chamomile flowers ⁄ cup brown rice flour ⁄ cup kaolin clay What you will need: coffee grinder, mixing bowl, fine-meshed sieve, pint-size canning jar with lid, spice jar with sifter cap, optional 1. To Make: Before you begin, find a protective face mask, or tie a bandana to cover your nose and mouth, to avoid breathing the powders. Next, put the adzuki beans, green tea, and chamomile into the jar, close the lid, and shake. Fill a coffee grinder with the mixture and grind to a very fine powder. Place the sieve over the mixing bowl. Empty the grinder into the sieve. Carefully sift t

Use this sensual lip smoother a couple times a week to help smooth out chapped lips. This intoxicatingly decadent lip scrub is completely edible as long as you use only food-grade ingredients, so use your favorite chocolate bar to make this recipe extra delectable. Needless to say, this one is great for Valentine’s Day and makes a great gift too! YIELDS: 2 ounces 1 tablespoon coconut oil ⁄ teaspoon raw honey ⁄ teaspoon raw cocoa powder ⁄ teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons fine granulated sugar 1 tablespoon grated chocolate 1. To Make: Create a mini double boiler by pouring boiling water in the bottom of a shallow bowl. Put the coconut oil into a glass measuring cup. Place the measuring cup into the bowl of hot water to melt and stir it a little to help it along. Once the oil is melted, remove the measuring cup from the hot water and wipe dry. Add the honey, cocoa powder, and vanilla and stir the ingredients together with a fork. Add the sugar and mix well. Grate the chocolate and s

Sitting and breathing a lovely herbal facial steam sets the stage for a deeply relaxing and thoroughly cleansing home spa facial experience. Chamomile’s sweet honey-apple aroma beautifully complements its soothing, regenerative properties. Relaxing lavender buds are an astringent, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial herb. Rose is a healing, nourishing, and gentle astringent. Comfrey is soothing, healing, and anti- inflammatory. This recipe is beneficial for all skin types, especially dry, maturing and sensitive. YIELDS: 1 pint ⁄ cup dried lavender flowers ⁄ cup dried chamomile flowers ⁄ cup dried rose petals ⁄ cup dried comfrey leaves 1. To Make: Place all of the herbs in the mixing bowl and toss like a salad until you have a uniform blend. I like to use my hand to blend herbs, but you can also use two spoons. Transfer to the jar, label, and cap tightly. 2. To Store: Store jar in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight and use within 2 years. 3. To Use: To use, bring 4 cups of wate

This Spa Facial Steam for Normal to Oily Skin works to soften your skin, open pores to loosen clogged debris, and release toxins. YIELDS: 1 pint ⁄ cup dried comfrey 5 tablespoons dried lavender flowers 3 tablespoons dried rosemary ⁄ cup dried parsley ⁄ cup dried peppermint ⁄ cup dried lemon peel What you will need: Mixing bowl, measuring cups, measuring spoons, 2 wooden spoons, pint-size canning jar with lid 1. To Make: Place all of the herbs in the mixing bowl and toss like a salad until you have a uniform blend. I like to use my hand to blend herbs, but you can also use two spoons. Transfer to the jar, label, and cap tightly. 2. To Store: Store in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight and use within 2 years. 3. To Use: To use, bring 4 cups of water to a boil, then remove from heat. Stir 2 tablespoons of the herbs into the water. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Carefully bring the pot to a table and make a tent over the pot with a bath towel to create a mini steam room. Clean

The active ingredients in this revitalizing under-eye cream help alleviate dark circles and puffy eyes while also reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. A little of this silky Green Tea Eye Cream will melt right into your skin for lovely results. YIELDS: ⁄ ounce 3 teaspoons Green Tea–Infused Oil 2 vitamin E capsules 2 drops carrot seed essential oil What you will need: boiling water, glass measuring cup, shallow bowl, chopstick, rubber spatula, jar with lid to hold ⁄ ounce of cream 1. To Make: Create a mini double boiler by pouring boiling water in the bottom of a shallow bowl. Put the Green Tea–Infused Oil into a glass measuring cup and place the cup into the bowl of boiling water to melt. Stir it a little to help it along. Once the oil has melted, remove the cup from the hot water and wipe dry. Pierce the vitamin E capsules and squeeze the liquid out into the melted oil, discarding the gel caps. Add the carrot seed essential oil and stir the ingredients together with a c

Silky and easily absorbed, this daily facial moisturizer is beneficial for all skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin. Grapeseed oil is ultra- light yet packed with nutrients and antioxidants, which give skin a regenerative boost and a healthy glow. With an exceptionally high vitamin E content, this moisturizer protects your skin cells from premature aging due to exposure to UV rays and environmental pollutants by effectively stopping free radical damage, promoting a healthy, glowing complexion. YIELDS: 1 ounce 2 teaspoons Green Tea–Infused Oil 1 teaspoon jojoba oil 2 vitamin E capsules 2 drops chamomile essential oil 3 drops rose geranium essential oil 6 drops lavender essential oil 3 teaspoons grapeseed oil What you will need: dark- colored 1-ounce bottle with a dropper or pump top, small funnel 1. To Make: Place the funnel over your bottle and add the Green Tea– Infused Oil and jojoba oil. Pierce the vitamin E capsules and squeeze the liquid out into the bottle, discardin

A richly moisturizing yet readily absorbed facial oil, this Vital Facial Moisturizer is perfect for dry, maturing, and environmentally damaged skin as well as sensitive and reactive skin types. It contains highly nutritious botanical oils that feed your skin the vitamins and nutrients it needs to fight premature aging. A veritable antioxidant powerhouse formulated to boost collagen production and condition, repair, and protect your skin, this moisturizer works hard to lessen the appearance and formation of fine lines and wrinkles. YIELDS: 1 ounce 1 ⁄ teaspoon jojoba oil 1 teaspoon avocado oil 1 ⁄ teaspoon grapeseed oil 2 vitamin E capsules 5 drops Australian sandalwood essential oil 5 drops rose geranium essential oil 2 drops patchouli essential oil 2 teaspoons Green Tea–Infused Oil What you will need: dark-colored 1-ounce bottle with a dropper top, small funnel 1. To Make: Place the funnel over your bottle and add the jojoba, avocado, and grapeseed oils. Pierce the vitamin E capsules

This Balancing Facial Moisturizer is an ultra-light, ultra-nourishing astringent facial oil that will benefit people of all skin types, but especially those who have oily, acne-prone, or combination skin. The hazelnut oil, with deeply penetrating astringent properties, is highly beneficial for acne and helps to tone and tighten the skin. Grapeseed oil is ultra-light yet packed with nutrients and antioxidants that give skin a regenerative boost and a healthy glow. Both hazelnut and grapeseed oils are extremely high in vitamin E, which helps condition, repair, and protect your skin from premature aging due to exposure to UV rays and environmental pollutants. These luxurious botanical oils are complemented with an astringent, antibacterial, and reparative essential oil blend. YIELDS: 1 ounce 1 teaspoon Green Tea–Infused Oil 2 teaspoons grapeseed oil 1 vitamin E capsule 4 drops tea tree essential oil 2 drops lemon essential oil 4 drops lavender essential oil 2 drops rosemary essential oil

Aloe Vera and Rosewater are soothing, hydrating, and conditioning. Rooibos is a powerful antioxidant that is high in vitamins and minerals including zinc and vitamin D. It also contains superoxide dismutase (SOD), an enzyme and amazingly effective antioxidant that attacks free radicals. This Rooibos Rose Toner balances your skin’s pH, removes built-up oil and grime, and closes and tightens pores, reducing size and appearance. This formula is beneficial for normal to dry, combination, acne-prone, rosacea-prone, and maturing skin types. YIELDS: 4 ounces ⁄ cup distilled water 1 tablespoon loose leaf rooibos 1 tablespoon aloe vera juice 2 tablespoons Old-Fashioned Rosewater or rose water hydroxide. 1. To Make: Boil ⁄ cup distilled water and brew a small, strong cup of rooibos. Let the infusion steep for 15–20 minutes. Strain the herbs from the brew and place in the fridge and cool completely, 10–15 minutes. Once the brew has cooled, use the funnel to add the aloe vera juice and rosewater t

This recipe is an advanced formulation for acne-prone skin that uses the basic principles of the oil cleansing method where the oil and dirt that are clogging your pores are drawn out, hardened plugs and all, and replaced with a healthy amount of beneficial botanical oils. You see, in the chemistry of skin care, oil dissolves oil. That may sound counterintuitive, but it’s true. Use this cleanser once per week for clean, clear pores and progressively fewer blemishes. YIELDS: 4 ounces 4 tablespoons hazelnut oil 2 vitamin E capsules 6 drops tea tree essential oil 4 drops lavender essential oil 2 drops chamomile essential oil 1 tablespoon castor oil 1 tablespoon Rosemary-Infused Jojoba Oil 4 tablespoons grapeseed oil What you will need: funnel, dark-colored 4-ounce bottle—one with a cap or pump top is ideal 1. To Make: Place the funnel over your bottle and add the hazelnut oil. Pierce the vitamin E capsules and squeeze them out into the bottle, discarding the gel caps. Add the essential oi

Apple cider vinegar contains natural alpha-hydroxy acids, which work to slough off dead skin cells and lighten discolorations, including sun and age spots. This Clarifying Toner balances your skin’s pH, removes built- up oil and grime, and closes and tightens pores, reducing their size. This formula is beneficial for normal to oily, combination, and acne-prone skin types. YIELDS: 4 ounces 2 tablespoons witch hazel 2 teaspoons raw apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons distilled water 3 tablespoons Layered Lavender Flower Water (see Chapter 7) or lavender hydrosol (flower water) What you will need: 4-ounce bottle and cap or mister top, funnel 1. To Make: Using the funnel, pour all of the ingredients into the bottle. Cap tightly and shake well. 2. To Store: Store in bottle and use within 1–2 months, or store in the refrigerator to extend the shelf life to 6 months. 3. To Use: Use twice per day after cleansing. Moisten a cotton pad and gently sweep over facial skin to remove the last traces of

This simple blend of soothing, moisturizing ingredients cleanses and exfoliates even the most sensitive skin. Oats are widely regarded as an ideal ingredient for sensitive and easily irritated skin because oatmeal nourishes, moisturizes, and gently exfoliates the skin, absorbing excess oil and dirt. YIELDS: 1 ⁄ cups ⁄ cup rose petal powder ⁄ cup oat flour ⁄ cup kaolin clay ⁄ cup powdered milk. 1. To Make: Before you begin, find a protective face mask, or tie a bandana to cover your nose and mouth, to avoid breathing the powders. Carefully place all of the powdered ingredients into the canning jar. You may want to consider sifting the oat flour, as there are usually some larger pieces of oats remaining, which can be a little rough on delicate facial skin. Close the lid tightly and shake well to blend to a uniform powder. Let stand for 5 minutes or so, letting the dust settle into the jar. 2. To Store: Store this dry facial scrub in a spice jar with a sifter cap. To fill the jar, make a

Facial cleansing grains are part of a centuries-old beauty regimen popular in India, Japan, and other Asian cultures. This powdered facial cleanser combines natural ingredients to gently exfoliate and remove excess oil and dirt without stripping your skin’s natural beneficial moisture. Just add water and your skin is left clean, smooth, radiant, and glowing. YIELDS: 1 quart ⁄ cup almond meal ⁄ cup rose petal powder 1 tablespoon turmeric 2 teaspoons orange peel powder ⁄ cup chickpea flour ⁄ cup kaolin clay ⁄ cup brown rice flour ⁄ teaspoon cinnamon What you will need: quart-size canning jar with lid, spice jar with sifter cap, optional 1. To Make: Before you begin, find a protective face mask, or tie a bandana to cover your nose and mouth, to avoid breathing the powders. Carefully place all of the powdered ingredients into the canning jar. You may want to consider sifting the brown rice flour, as there are usually some larger rice grains remaining, which can be a little rough on the ski

Give your skin a good dose of vitamins and antioxidants with this exfoliating blend of maca and cacao. Topically applied, these South American superfoods are high in regenerative essential fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals, which help improve the tone and texture of your skin. Use 1–2 times per week when your skin needs a vitamin- boosted exfoliation. YIELDS: about 1 pint ⁄ cup maca powder ⁄ cup coconut flour ⁄ cup kaolin clay ⁄ cup fine granulated sugar 1 tablespoon raw cocoa/cacao powder What you will need: face mask, pint-size canning jar with lid, spice jar with sifter cap optional 1. To Make: Before you begin, find a protective face mask, or tie a bandana to cover your nose and mouth, to avoid breathing the powders. Carefully place all of the powdered ingredients into the canning jar. Close the lid tightly and shake well to blend to a uniform powder. Let stand for 5 minutes or so, letting the dust settle into the jar. 2. To Store: Store this dry facial scrub in a spice

This positively luscious lip balm provides relief and a healing boost for dry, chapped lips. Shea butter, sweet almond, coconut oil, and beeswax form a perfect nurturing barrier to protect your lips against chapping, helping them stay super soft and super kissable. Find some cute containers and this recipe makes a fun gift too. To add some color, melt a pea-size amount—or more!—of your favorite lipstick in this balm. Enjoy! YIELDS: 1 ounce 1 teaspoon grated beeswax 2 teaspoons shea butter 1 teaspoon coconut oil 2 teaspoons sweet almond oil 10 drops of essential oils, optional Pinch of stevia, optional What you will need: measuring spoons, double boiler, tiny whisk, rubber spatula, lip balm tubes, jars or tins to hold a 1 ounce batch of lip balm 1. To Make: Start the double boiler on medium heat. Once it reaches a boil, reduce heat to simmer. Place the beeswax and shea butter in the top of the double boiler and cover. Simmer until melted, stirring occasionally. Add the coconut oil and s