Herbs in Skin Care

Herbs can be a wonderful natural addition to Skin Care Products. Whether you purchase already infused oils such as Calendula or Comfrey or Infuse your own with herbs and floras that are purchased or grown in your garden, it is very easy to make herbal oil infusions as well as decoctions or herbal teas to add to your recipes.

Herbal Oil Infusions: Herbal Oils are great incorporated into Salves, Lotions, Creams, Bath or Massage Oils.

Cold Technique: Fill a screw top, sterilized jar with fresh or dried herbs of your choice. Cover with an oil such as Sunflower, Almond, Olive etc. Place the lid on tight and place the jar in a warm place. Leave for approximately two weeks, shaking the jar every day. Strain with a muslin cloth and place oil in a clean, sterilized jar with a secure lid.

Hot Technique: Place 2 cups of your choice of oil in the top of a double boiler with approximately 1 cup of dried herbs or 2 cups of fresh herbs. Place this pot over another pot of hot water and heat gently for 3-4 hours. Strain with a muslin cloth and place oil in a clean, sterilized jar with a secure lid.

Herbal Water Infusions: This technique works best with the soft part of a plant, such as the leaves or flower petals.

Making an Herbal Infusion is just like making tea. Simply combine 1 Tbsp. of Dried or 3 Tbsp. of Fresh herbs with 2 cups of just boiled water. Cover and allow steeping for approximately 15 minutes. Stain with a muslin cloth and allow cooling. Place in a clean, sterilized jar, cover and use within a few days.

Herbal Water Decoctions: This technique works best with the hard, woody parts of the plant such as the Root, Stem, Seed or Bark. Because of the hardness of these parts, longer heating is required to release their active components.

Place around 1 Tbsp. of dried or 3 Tbsp. of Fresh herb together with 3 cups of cold water into the top section of a double boiler. Place this over the bottom section of the double boiler that has been filled with hot water. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and allow simmering until the liquid has been reduced to approximately 2 cups (30 minutes to 1 hour). Strain with a muslin cloth and allow cooling. Place in a clean, sterilized jar, cover and use within a few days.