Teaching Tuesdays -Rose Water Bath

It's Tuesday and I am still in a deep freeze, still thinking of warm beaches, and am left with the {poor} substitution of a hot bath for fun in the sun. So, as I continue to hit the tub instead of the beach, I refuse to allow it to be anything less than a spectacular treat, which means that I hit the mixing room before the bath. Last night I took some dried eucalyptus, ground orange peels, and dried lavender buds, placed them into an organza bag (I prefer a natural fiber but this was a recycle situation). I then took some powdered milk and  an equal amount of powdered buttermilk, placed it in a container and to that added a few some lavender, orange x10, and some eucalyptus essential oils. I should say that I ran the powder through the sifter a few times, or, at the very least, used the mortar on it, but, alas, I did not. Lol. I am afraid that I take less care when something is for me than I do when it is for someone else! At any rate, I covered the milk powder and shook it some, then headed for the bath, where I hung the bag over the drain stopper so that the hot water would hit the bag as it filled the tub. I tossed about 3/4 of a cup of milk powder into the bathtub after the water became hot, turned on the space heater, shut the door, and left to impatiently wait while the tub filled. The fragrance that filled the air when I opened the door was awesome! I hit the tub with a book and I can't tell you when I came out! The oil combination was uplifting, reviving, relaxing, and helped my chest and nose to open, improving the congestion that I had (due to a cold). While the oils worked on my mood and my lungs, the milk was moisturizing my body. Amazingly, there was NO prune skin when I got out!


If  this sounds good to you but you don't have the ingredients, check out the Cleo's Bath Soak blend in my shop, it is very similar. While the Cleo's doesn't contain any essential oils, it does have dried herbs mixed in a milk powder. Of course, if you need an essential oil blend, I have plenty of those too!


Do you remember your Mom or your Grandmother filling the bathroom with the scent of roses when you were young? I sure do, and it is probably the reason I planted roses in my first garden, and every one since then. Back in the day, a glycerin rose water bath was the quintessential bathing experience! Admittedly, I just may not know where to look, but I can't recall seeing this product for many years. I can, however, tell you how to easily make some for yourself. Whether for a trip down memory lane, or a new experience, the glycerin rose water bath is one that you will love!

Glycerin is a wonderful moisturizer because it can actually attract moisture (from the air), drawing it to the skin. Glycerin can either be of plant origin or from animals. Guess which one I prefer? LOL! You know it's the plant type, naturally. But, actually, the plant form is more readily absorbed by human skin, so it is really the best choice. If you don't happen to have any glycerin in your cabinet, you can usually find it in the pharmacy department of the local big chain, or your pharmacy. It usually comes in an 8oz, brown, bottle, and is a clear, viscous (meaning thick) liquid. It is not very expensive, and the benefits certainly outweigh the cost.

Once you have the glycerin, simply add 4-5 drops of rose essential oil  to 8 ounces of glycerin. Shake it well and use it when you are ready. You can add the EO right to the bottle that the glycerin comes in, and then use it to store the unused portion of your glycerin rose water. It generally stays good for about seven to eight months, as long as you follow a few simple storage tips; First and foremost, you must be exceeding cautious and diligent to NOT allow ANY water to get into the bottle (the water could introduce bacteria that would turn the product rancid) and Store the bottle out of direct sunlight. That's it! Not difficult at all, and the benefits are tremendous. Not only will your skin feel baby smooth when your finished, but the moisturizing effect will continue as the glycerin reaches out and grabs that moisture and draws it to you!

At this point I am going to stop writing because I have been writing a bit about roses, which ended up taking on a life of its own. SO I didn't get this posted last night, and am still writing today! I told you before that I had a tendency to be long winded, LOL. Soooooo, I am going to save you and me both, and make the history and indications of roses the Frankly Friday post. I hope that you will return then to read all about the use of roses, I think you will be surprised by some of it!

Until then, enjoy your fragrant bath!  

Face Off and Put This On.....

Now you are the final step of a perfect face care regimen. You've cleansed, steamed, masked or peeled, and toned, so now it is time for the final step of moisturizing. Moisturizing is important in order to replenish the skin with fluid, and to finely coat it with a protective film barrier. *ROSE MOISTURIZER* Rosewater is the byproduct of rose essential oil. It takes 5,000 pounds of rose petals, as many as 100 million, to produce one pound of rose oil. The rose, its steam distilled oil, and the byproduct rose water, have many therapeutic properties. They are used in treating respiratory coughs to ulcers. In beauty treatments rose oil is effective for treating wrinkles, puffiness and dry skin. Rosewater has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and toning properties. Combined with the aloe gel, this lotion will leave skin moist and supple. 1/2 cup virgin olive oil 2 Tbs. aloe vera gel 3 Tbs. lanolin 4 Tbs. beeswax, grated 4 Tbs. rosewater (see previous posts for recipe) Blend the olive oil and the aloe vera gel together in a small bowl and set aside. Melt the beeswax and the lanolin together, over low heat, in a small saucepan, stirring constantly. When melted remove from heat. Gradually pour in the olive oil lanolin blend, while continuing to stir. Then pour this mixture and the rosewater into a blender and blend until very smooth. Once blended, pour into a glass or plastic jar and place into the refrigerator. This blend will solidify as it cools. After it sets it is ready for use. *SENSITIVE SKIN COLD CREAM* This recipe has cucumber juice which is excellent for cleansing sensitive skin. It is a mild astringent and is very soothing. The lanolin absorbs water and holds holds it next to the skin. 2 small cucumbers peeled and halved 1 cup lanolin 1/4 cup almond oil 1/2 cup boiling water Using a blender thoroughly liquefy the cucumber halves, then slowly add the boiling water to the cucumber liquid. When added, set aside to cool. In a saucepan melt the lanolin over low heat. After it is melted, remove from heat and, while stirring continuously, add the almond oil to it gradually. Now strain the cucumber pulp through a piece of cheesecloth or a strainer (you can also use a coffee filter if you don't have cheesecloth). Throw away the pulp and preserve the juice. Gradually add the cucumber juice to the lanolin and oil mixture, all the while stirring. When completely mixed, put into a jar (can be glass or plastic) and store in the refrigerator. *DRY SKIN NIGHT CREAM* This skin cream contains ingredients with properties to rebuild and regenerate cell tissue, while killing bacteria on the skin surface. They also offer some sun-screen properties, and will help seal in the skin's moisture, leaving the face feeling incredibly smooth. 1 egg 1/4 cup sesame oil 1/4 cup sunflower oil 1 Tbs. liquid lecithin 1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice 1/2 cup coconut oil Crack the egg and drop the white and yolk into a blender. Add the sesame oil and blend. While the blender is still running, slowly add the sunflower oil, lecithin and lemon juice. Add in the coconut oil gradually, until the mixture is thick. Refrigerate the mixture fro one hour, then blend again, on low speed. You may now apply the cream to your face and neck. Store the remainder in a jar, plastic or glass, in the refrigerator. Because of the egg, this cream will only be good for approx. 2 weeks. *EYELASH CONDITIONER* If you frequently wear mascara, your eyelashes will get dried out. The tiny hairs of your eyelashes look best when they are not brittle and broken. Natural oils can be used to lubricate and condition your eyelashes. Just take a 50/50 blend of apricot kernel oil and sweet oil (sweet oil is extra, extra virgin olive oil. Ask your pharmacist for some). After mixing the two oils, lightly coat your eyelashes with it, using a clean eye wand. Leave it on overnight. In the morning, wash it off before applying your mascara.

Getting into Hot Water

Step Two to Facial Care is the STEAM. Steam opens and cleanses the pores, while increasing blood circulation to facial capillaries. Steam deep cleanses the skin. You should steam cleanse at least one time per week. Make sure that you clean your face prior to steaming. In other words,
there is a reason that steaming is step TWO. You want the steam to work on the deep pore grime, not surface dirt! If you are going to skip steps in your facial routine, make sure you at least moisturize after the steam.

***All steams, unless otherwise noted, require 1 gallon of ALMOST boiling water. Once the recipe is prepared, you will need to place a towel over your head and lean your face over the bowl, about 12 inches away, to absorb the steam and vapors. Don't forget to exercise extreme caution so that you don't scald your skin. If the inside of your nose feels like it is burning, wait a few minutes for the water to cool down before you try again.
Heat breaks down some essential oils, therefore you may need to allow the water to cool slightly before mixing in certain oils in order to maintain their full therapeutic value.***

*Rose Petal Facial Steam, for normal skin:

• Put 1 cup of fresh rose petals (roses are often treated to enhance color and increase longevity, so make sure that the ones you use are not chemically treated in any way) into a large bowl and pour 1 gallon of almost boiling water over them. Steam, breathing in the vapors, for 15 minutes, then gently pat dry.
  

Once you are done with the steam, you can use the left over ingredients to make rosewater. Simply strain the liquid from your steam and save the petals and water separately. Pour water into a medium saucepan and simmer over a low heat for about 30 minutes, or until there is about one cup of liquid left. Once it is reduced, pour this over the saved petals and steep for another 20 minutes, then strain liquid again. Discard the petals and pour the liquid into a glass bottle and allow to cool. You now have rosewater! Rosewater, a by-product of rose essential oil, has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and toning qualities. It is a natural astringent that can be applied by cotton ball to the face.

*Rosemary Peppermint Facial Steam
This steam is not only helpful in opening the pores and extracting the skin's impurities, it is also known to clear sinuses and alleviate headaches.

• After the almost boiling (1 gallon) water cools slightly, add 4 drops of peppermint and 4 drops of rosemary essential oils. Steam for 10 minutes, pat dry.

*Oily Skin Sauna

• Add 6 drops of lavender essential oil to a gallon of almost boiling water. Steam for 10 minutes, pat dry.

Lavender is very beneficial for acne-prone skin, as it normalizes the secretions of sebaceous glands.

*Sauna for Blemished Skin

• Add 12 drops of bergamot essential oil to a gallon of almost boiling water. Blemished skin should not steam for longer than 5 minutes. Pat dry.

Bergamot oil is primarily used for its antiseptic properties. In a facial steam it reduces redness, irritations and puffiness.

*Ultimate Spa-Type Facial Steam for all skin types

• Add 2 drops each of bergamot, geranium, lavender and clary sage essential oils. Steam for 3 minutes, then pat dry.

This steam will promote peace of mind and relaxation, while cleaning and toning the skin.