Green Tea–Infused Oil

 Green tea has tremendous benefits as a skincare ingredient. It has been

shown to reactivate dying skin cells, thereby improving the condition of

the skin. This nourishing antioxidant-rich all-purpose oil is used as a base

ingredient in several recipes throughout the book, but you can also use it

on its own as an anti-aging oil for your face and body.

YIELDS: 8 ounces

⁄ cup loose leaf green tea

1 cup jojoba oil or coconut oil (coconut oil is solid at 76°F (24.4°C);

use coconut oil for this infusion as a stand-alone body butter in

cooler climates)

What you will need: double boiler, measuring cups, rubber spatula,

strainer (cheesecloth or tea strainer), 8-ounce bottle or jar, funnel

1. To Make: Start a double boiler on medium heat. Once boiling, reduce heat

to a simmer. Place the green tea into the pan. If using jojoba oil, pour it over

the tea leaves, saturating them. If using coconut oil, melt it first in the

double boiler and then add the green tea, stirring to saturate the leaves.

Cover and simmer on low heat for 1 hour. Check back every 20 minutes or

so to make sure there is enough water in the double boiler. Remove from

heat, take the top pot off the double boiler, and let cool.

2. To Store: Strain tea from oil into a storage jar. The jojoba will remain

liquid. Place the coconut oil in the refrigerator to cool and solidify back to a

solid butter form. Will keep 2 years or longer if stored in a cool dark place.

3. To Use: For use as a facial moisturizing oil: Mist your face with Old-

Fashioned Rosewater or your favorite toner. Place a few drops onto the tips

of your fingers and gently massage the oil into your facial skin.

HELPFUL HINTS

Jojoba oil and coconut oil are specified for this recipe because both

of these oils have a relatively long shelf life and are particularly

beneficial for facial care use. However, they are not interchangeable

when specified in the recipes throughout this book due to the drastic

difference in consistency. Jojoba oil is liquid and coconut oil is solid

at 76°F (24.4°C). For example, the green tea–infused jojoba is used

in the Vital Facial Moisturizer and coconut oil is called for in the

Green Tea Eye Cream. Keeping this in mind, you can also substitute

your favorite carrier oil to suit your needs.