Everyday, all the woman I know use a cosmetic of some kind to beautify their skin, facial features, and body.  With so many cosmetics on the market, it is difficult to choose those products that contain the best ingredients at the best prices.  Two teachers have guided me in learning how to use the right cosmetics - the ones that are made from natural products with no preservatives, and the ones that are made without inhumane, animal testing.  These teachers are my mentor, Rosemary Gladstar, and the Greek Goddess, Cosmeos.  Cosmeos teaches us about the beauty of the flowers and the fragrance of the hillsides, and that enhancing your outer beauty naturally follows from enhancing your inner beauty through loving nature, and  loving and respecting  your fellow human beings.

 

There are many herbs that are beneficial to the care and conditioning of our skin.   Chamomile is helpful as an anti-inflammatory when there may be swelling or puffiness.  Calendula is nourishing, soothing, and anti-bacterial.  Roses are emollient and moisturizing, and replenish the tone of the skin.  Comfrey can help heal scars, wounds, and old blemishes.  The herbs and flowers that grow naturally all around us are just waiting for the right person to come along, appreciate their uniqueness and willingness to give, and begin to use them for their enjoyment and to enhance their beauty.

 

I teach a class on Creating Cosmetics, where we first meet some of the plants and flowers in the garden, and get to see and experience their unique beauty first-hand.  Then these beautiful women get together and scrub their faces with a natural cleanser, followed by an old- fashioned, facial steam. The cleanser, which is called “Miracle Grains,” is made from white clay, ground rolled oats, ground almonds, roses, and lavender.  These grains make an exceptional facial scrub, leaving your face feeling clean, soft, and smooth.

 

 The steam is created by heating up water just to boiling, while adding several herbs that are wonderfully beneficial for the skin.  These herbs include roses, chamomile, lavender, calendula, and a bit of comfrey, and for those with oily skin, I add sage and rosemary.  These herbs, along with the fresh flower petals from my garden, are tossed into the hot water.  One by one, the eager participants bend their heads over the steaming pot, fold a large towel over their heads, and breathe in the facial steam, allowing the earthy mixture to open the pores of their skin, nourishing and toning their faces. The mixture looks and feels heavenly.  You are really supposed to stay under the towel for just five minutes, but I often have a hard time getting each student to relinquish her spot. Later in the class, during our masks, I use the same water for footbaths.  How relaxing and special!!!  This month I am inviting a certified reflexologist to the class, where she will offer ten-minute reflexology treatments right after your footbath.  What a glorious treat!!

 

After everyone is finished steaming, we partner up and put a facial mask on one another.  If your skin is normal, a mask made from green clay, warm water and local honey is mixed and applied by your partner.  If you tend to have dry skin, you may want to use a straight honey mask.  Most women seem to choose the mixture of green clay and honey.  We let the mask dry on our faces for about twenty minutes, while relaxing to the sounds of soothing music, as our feet soak delightfully in a footbath.

 

While we are waiting for our masks to dry, I teach the class how to make herbal, facial astringents.  The common astringents I usually recommend are Rosewater, Lavender Toner, and an old gypsy recipe called, Queen of Hungary’s Water.  These toners are made from soaking fresh rose petals, or lemongrass stems, or lavender blossoms in a mixture of witch hazel and distilled water.  The Queen of Hungary’s Water contains a combination of many fragrant, moisturizing, and healing herbs that are particularly good for the skin.  The toners, or astringents, are sprayed on to the face after the mask to close your pores.  The fragrance is wonderful; the spray is refreshing and calming.

 

Finally we are ready to learn how to prepare and then use a glorious natural moisturizer called “Perfect Cream”.  This lovely moisturizer is made from almond and /or apricot oil, rosewater, aloe vera gel, lanolin, beeswax, vitamin E oil, cocoa butter and any fragrant essential oils you may choose, such as rose or lavender.  After creating the moisturizer, each participant applies a dab of this incredible cream to their faces and assuredly feels pampered and beautiful.  In addition, each participant receives a small jar of “Perfect Cream” to take home for their personal use. Participants also receive a sample of Miracle Grains, the facial cleanser, to take home as well.

 

Creating cosmetics from natural products is a wise, practical, and economical pursuit.  First of all, you know exactly what is in your product, because you’ve put it there.  You can be assured that each ingredient is fresh, and contains no chemicals or additives.  Also, the process in making the products is an ethical one.  Most importantly, it is made with the love and concern for each human being who will be using it.  Making natural products is an expression of appreciation for the plants and their ingredients.

 

An afternoon of pampering one’s self by relaxing with others, using cleansers and steams, and masks and moisturizers, is a fun, enchanting way of caring for yourself and communing with friends. 

 

If you would like to join a group of women and learn more about this class and others, please contact me, Ellen Zimmermann, Certified Herbalist at www.ezherbs.net or 512-301-5838.