Milk Bath
Recipes
Milk baths are
luxurious and a nice treat to pamper yourself, makes skin silky
soft.
These can also be made in bulk and given as
gifts in a jar–just omit the water and include directions with
each jar.
You can adjust
the recipes below to suit your own preferences,
simply increase or decrease the scented items as you like.
Peppermint Milk
Bath Recipe
1 cup powdered
milk
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 cups hot water
1/2 teaspoon peppermint oil
~
Herbal Milk Bath
Recipe
1 cup powdered
milk
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 TBS dried herbs of choice
2 cups hot water
~
Almond Honey Milk
Bath
1 TBS Almond
Oil
1/4 cup honey
(*omit honey if mixing ahead, add when using)
1 cup powdered milk
2 cups hot water
~
Lavender Milk Bath
1 cup powdered
milk
1/8 cup dried lavender
2 cups hot water
~
Directions For
Each Recipe:
Mix
ingredients together with a whisk until powdered
milk is dissolved then pour into running bath.
Homemade
Bath Salts & Soaks
Before
mixing the recipes, make sure that any herbs
or oatmeal added are first ground finely (use a
food processor if possible).
This helps keep the bath “clump free”.
Mix the
ingredients well, store in airtight plastic
containers
or sterilized jars (such as mason jars or small &
pretty jam jars).
Shake the jar well before using.
You can
add as little or as much as you like to the bath,
anywhere from 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup should be plenty.
Cinnamon
Soak
1 cup
powdered milk
1 cup baking soda
3 TBS cornstarch
2 TBS cream of tartar
1 1/2 TBS cinnamon
~
Soothing
Bath Soak
4 cups
Epsom salts
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup sea salt
2 TBS dried herbs (finely ground)
~
Herbal
Milk Bath
2 cups
powdered milk
1 cup cornstarch
2 TBS dried herbs (finely ground)
~
Oatmeal
& Cinnamon Milk Soak
1 1/2
cups powdered milk
3/4 cup baking soda
3/4 cup oatmeal (finely grind it first)
3 TBS cornstarch
2 tsp cream of tartar
2 tsp cinnamon
~
Herbal
Salts
1 1/2
cups Epsom salts
3/4 cup baking soda
as much essential oil as you like in your favorite scent
~
More
Tips:
If
you like fragrant bath soaks, try mixing in a few
drops of your essential oils or perfumes. I wouldn’t
do this with bath soaks that contain dried herbs or
spices already.
For
pretty colors, try adding a few drops of food
coloring then shaking the jar really well. Don’t
add too much though in case your bath tub gets
stained.
Bath
salts and soaks make great gifts in a jar, decorate
the lids and jars, maybe add a few bath beads. For a
nice touch include the recipe too so the recipient
can make some more if they like.
|
Homemade Herbal
Bath Bag Recipes
Herbal
bath bags (also known as bath tea bags)
make a lovely soaking bath that can be beneficial
to your skin, ease stress and help soothe aches
and pains.
They’re
similar to the shower spa bags except these soak in the
tub with you,
making the bath a luxurious tea spa.
If you just need some tender foot therapy to ease
sore feet,
these can be added to foot baths.
Basic
Instructions:
Make
drawstring bags out of cheesecloth, organza or
muslin,
enough to hold anywhere from 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of your
favorite herbal bath recipe.
Tie them tightly shut so the loose herbs won’t float
out into the bath water.
After use the contents can be emptied, the bags
rinsed out then washed to be refilled and reused.
~
Bath
Preparation Directions:
Two
ways you can enjoy these, either hang the bags on
the tap while the hot water is running to fill the
bath, making sure the water is running through the
bags. Once the tub is filled, let the bag float in
the tub with you.
~
Infusion
Method:
Boil a quart of water, turn off heat, add herbal
bath bag to water, cover, then steep (let it steep
at least 20 minutes for best results). Add all of
this piping hot infused water to your bath (be
careful not to burn yourself) and plop the herbal
bag in the bath to soak while you’re in it
too.
Note: Do not steep the herbs in an aluminum pot.
~
Herbal
Bath Tea Recipes:
These
amounts will make a batch at a time to be stored
in an airtight container until you use them.
For convenience, fill up your drawstring bags then
store.
~
Basic Milk
Bath Starter Recipe
1 1/2
cup powdered milk
1/2 cup Epsom salt
1/8 cup baking soda
2 TBS cornstarch
~
Use
this as the base for herbal milk bath bags,
add whatever dried flowers and herbs you like.
Lavender
Bath Soak:
1/2
cup dried lavender
1 cup Epsom Salts
~
Lavender
Oatmeal Bath:
1
cup oatmeal
1/2 cup dried lavender
~
Lavender
Oatmeal Milk Bath:
1/2
cup powdered milk (or the milk bath starter recipe
above)
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup dried lavender
~
Rosemary
Oatmeal Bath Tea
1/2
cup Oatmeal
1/4 cup Rosemary (dried)
1/4 cup Chamomile (tea is fine)
~
Lavender
Chamomile Soak:
1/2
cup each:
Epsom salt, lavender, chamomile
~
Herbal
Splendor:
1/2
cup each:
thyme, sage, lavender, mint, bay leaves, rosemary
~
Herbal
Soother Bath Soak:
1/2
cup each:
Lavender, Rose Petals, Sage, Rosemary
~
Rosemary
Basil Soak:
1/2
cup rosemary
1/2 cup basil
1 cup oatmeal
~
Homemade
Bath Spa Bonus:
Along
with the herbal bath bags, you can add 1/2 cup of honey
to your bath while the water is running.
Or you could use the milk bath starter recipe with the
honey
for a homemade milk and honey bath.
|
Easy Food Facials
When
mixing food items for facials, make sure to use sterile
utensils and containers.
Wash hands really well so they’re clean before
applying the skin treatment.
The first
time using a recipe
Apply a bit of the prepared mask to the inside of
your wrist
before using on your face. You want to make sure
your skin won’t have
a bad reaction to it (allergies).
If your skin begins to feel irritated or burning, remove
mask immediately.
First
step is to apply a warm cloth to your face to open
pores,
then apply the facial mask. Wash the mask off with
warm water
and rinse with cool water (to close pores).
~
Simple
& Easy Food Facials
Honey–
apply it directly to skin and remove after 15 minutes
~
Oatmeal
& Water to make a paste–
apply directly to skin and remove after it’s hard
~
Avocado
(mashed)–
apply to face and remove after 20 minutes
~
Strawberries
(mashed) and honey (about 1 TBS)–
apply to face and remove after 10 minutes
~
Strawberries
(mashed), plain yogurt (to make a paste)–
remove after 15 minutes
~
Strawberries
& Cornstarch (2 to 1 ratio)–
mash strawberries very well and mix in
cornstarch.
When you have a paste, apply to skin and remove after
30 minutes
~
Bananas
(ripe, mashed)–
apply directly to skin and remove after 15
minutes.
You could also add 1 or 2 TBS of honey to the banana
before applying if you like.
~
Papaya
(mashed)–
apply to skin and remove after 5 minutes
~
Grapes
(mashed) and honey to make a paste–
apply to skin and remove after 25 minutes
~
Kiwi
(mashed), 2 TBS yogurt (plain), 1 TBS fresh orange
juice–
apply and remove after 15 minute
~
Yogurt
(plain)–
apply directly to skin and remove after 20 minutes
~
Blackhead
Remover Recipe
50/50
Baking Soda & Water.
Use gently on your skin as an defoliator.
|
Herbal Steam
Facial Recipes
Home steam facials not only hydrate your
skin and help clean pores,
they’re wonderfully relaxing and a great way to
de-stress.
It’s a good idea to not overdo steam facials, too many can be
harsh for your skin.
Limit yourself to 1 or 2 steam facials a week (maximum), less if
your skin is sensitive.
If you feel light headed or woozy during the steaming, stop the
facial at once.
Home Facials
Preparation
Clean face
thoroughly before giving yourself a steam facial and tie hair
back so it won’t hang loose around your face.
Boil a kettle
or pot full of water then add the herbs and fruity ingredients
(about 1/3 cup fresh or dried herbs and fruit slices per 4
cups of water). Boil for a minute or two then remove from
heat. Cover and let steep for about 5 minutes.
Place pot on
counter or table (on top of a towel to protect the table
surface) and remove lid. Cover your head with a large clean
towel and position your face over the steaming water (with the
towel acting as a tent over the bowl to capture the steam).
Keep your
eyes closed and your face at least 10 to 12 inches from the
boiling water during the facial. Enjoy the fragrant steam and
relax, but don’t overdo it–keep the facial time between 5
to 7 minutes.
Once the
facial is over, splash face with slightly cool water and pat
dry.
You can use a
few drops of your favorite essential oils instead of fresh or
dried herbs.
~
Herbal Steam
Facial Recipes
Spearmint,
Lemon Balm, Lemon or Orange Slices
Chamomile,
Rosemary, Peppermint
Green Tea,
Rose Petals, Chamomile
Rosemary,
Lemon, Honey
Lemon Slices,
Peppermint
Lavender,
Calendula, Rose Petals
Lemon balm,
Lavender
Fennel Seeds,
Peppermint
Chamomile,
Fennel Seeds, Rose Petals
Thyme,
Peppermint, Lavender
Parsley,
Lavender, Lemon balm
Sage,
Lavender, Rosemary, Thyme
Cinnamon,
Orange Slices
Peppermint,
Cloves, Rosemary
~
If you love the
aroma from a fragrant herb, try that alone for a pleasing steam
facial.
Experiment with different citrus fruit slices, herbs, and even a
spice or two.
If you don’t
have fresh or dried herbs on hand,
you could try some of the herbal vinegars

|