Honey Recipes for Beauty

Honey and Vanilla Bath Oil

1 1/2 cups sweet almond oil
1/2 cup honey
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp lemon juice

Slightly warm the honey so it's easier to pour. Place oil in a bowl. Add other ingredients and mix. Place in a colored bottle with tight filling lid. Add a small amount to your bath.

Honey Conditioner

1 tsp honey
1 egg
2 tsp oilive oil

Mix ingredients together. Massage into hair. Wrap head with plastic wrap and a warm towel and leave for 30 minutes. Rinse, then shampoo as usual.

Oatmeal and Honey Facial Scrub

1/2 cup oatmeal
2 tbsp honey
1 ripe banana

Mix ingredient to form a paste. Massage over face avoiding eyes. Leave on for 5 minutes. Wash off with warm water and a soft cloth.

The Bonnie Bath Co.
Natural, handmade bath and body products

Soy Candles and Herbal Bath Teas

Sneak peek of some more of our products that we are finally getting listed on our Etsy shop. Soy candles in 6oz tins and herbal bath teas in a variety of scents.

The Bonnie Bath Co.
Natural, handmade bath and body products

Essential Oils, Absolutes, Resins & Hydrosols

Essential oils, absolutes, resins, and hydrosols can be found in many of our products. They have all undergone a process for extracting the essence of plant materials while maintaining the therapeutic properties of the plant. These are not methods that commonly can be used at home or in a small shop. These methods require vast amounts of plant substances, such as flowers and leaves, which are placed in large distillers, only to produce a small amount of oil. This explains why a bad crop or a rare plant will lead to extremely high prices for an essential oil or hydrosol.

Essential Oils
You may already be familiar with essential oils. An essential oil is a liquid that is distilled, typically by steam distillation, from the leaves, flowers, stems, roots, bark, or other parts of a plant. The distillation process allows the “essence” of the plant and its therapeutic qualities to remain intact. Essential oils are highly concentrated and should be used sparingly. Lavender and Tea Tree oil are safe for direct skin contact, but all other essential oils must be diluted before applying to the skin. They are used for both their aroma and their medicinal qualities and can be used in most of your products.

Fragrance oils are artificially created or contain synthetic substances and do not offer the therapeutic benefits that essential oils do. Either manner of scenting products is perfectly acceptable, but if you are looking for natural ingredients with therapeutic qualities, essential oils would be your choice.

Absolutes and Resins
Absolutes and resins are similar to essential oils. Absolute oils are extracted from flowers, leaves or bark. While essential oils are produced by steam distillation, flowers that are too delicate for this process, such as jasmine or vanilla, are extracted with a solvent, usually alcohol. Absolutes are very concentrated as well. While they do not maintain the qualities of the plant to the extent that essential oils do, they can be used to make perfumes and are soluble in alcohol.

Hydrosols (Floral Waters)
Hydrosols, or floral waters as they are sometimes called, are also produced from steam-distilling plants. They are similar to essential oils but less concentrated. Be careful when you look for hydrosols, as many companies sell essential oil diluted in water and call it a hydrosol or floral water. You want true steam-distilled hydrosols that contain all the beneficial components that essential oils possess, with less concentration. Hydrosols are usually a by-product of essential oil production, but some high quality distillers choose to specialize in making only hydrosols. Since hydrosols are not very concentrated, some can be used directly on the skin, such as rose hydrosol, which makes an excellent facial astringent. Their scent will not hold up well in cold-process soaps, but they are great in lotions and creams.

Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils

What's the difference between an essential oil and a fragrance oil?

An essential oil is a natural liquid that is distilled, typically by steam distillation, from the leaves, flowers, stems, roots, bark, or other parts of a plant. The distillation process allows the “essence” of the plant and its therapeutic qualities to remain intact. Essential oils are highly concentrated and should be used sparingly. They are used for both their aroma and their medicinal qualities. For example, Lavender is a calming, floral scent that is also good for psoriasis and eczema. They are sometimes very pricey, depending on how they are extracted and how much of the herbs or botanicals are needed. Not all plants are conducive to steam distillation and not all plant "essences" are worth collecting.

Fragrance oils are artificially created or contain synthetic substances and do not offer the therapeutic benefits that essential oils do. You can find a much wider range of scents since these fragrances are made in a lab, such as pumpkin pie and ocean breeze. They also tend to be more economical, which is why many store products contain fragrances rather than essential oils.

Our personal philosophy is that natural, skin-safe, therapeutic essential oils are best, and that is what we use in our products, but we also believe that the consumer should make their own choices based on their preferences, concerns, and convenience. Besides, there are some yummy fragrances out that that cannot be produced using essential oils.

What are your thoughts? Do you prefer to use products with essential oils or fragrance oils? Post your comment.

Herbal Skin Care Recipes to Try at Home

Recipes to Try:

Dry Skin Facial Mask
1 tablespoon colloidal oatmeal
1 tablespoon rose water (hydrosol)
1 teaspoon sweet almond oil
1 teaspoon honey
2 drops rose essential oil

Mix ingredients and apply to face. Leave on for 5-10 minutes. Rinse.

Facial Scrub for Oily Skin
1 tablespoon colloidal oatmeal
1 tablespoon bentonite clay
1 tablespoon rose petal powder
1/2 teaspoons powdered comfrey
1/4 teaspoon powdered peppermint
1/4 teaspoon powdered lemongrass

Mix ingredients with1 teaspoon water and massage into skin. Leave on for 5-10 minutes. Rinse.

Acne Toner
2 cups water
1 tablespoon yarrow
1 tablespoon calendula
2 drops rosemary essential oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil
2 drops frankincense essential oil

Bring water to a boil. Add herbs and allow to steep 30 minutes. Strain herbs and add essential oils. Apply to face with a cotton ball. Refrigerate. Discard after 1 week.

Firming Mask
1 egg white1 teaspoon cornstarch

Mix ingredients and apply to face. Lie down for 20 minutes (this step should not be skipped as it’s part of the process). Rinse.

Herbal Skin Care Part Two

Herbal Ingredients for Skin Care
This alphabetical list contains herbs, essential oils, and botanicals known for their beneficial properties in skin care and treatment of common skin problems. These are natural ingredients you should seek out in your skin care products. Everyone’s skin is different. If something causes irritation, it should be discontinued.

Aloe is a natural, antibacterial, antibiotic hydrant often used to heal cuts and burns, also known for its soothing properties for acne sufferers. Aloe can be applied directly to the skin.

Apple Cider Vinegar is one of the top acne herbal remedies, as wells as soothing got dry skin. It may be used internally and/or externally. Try to use unfiltered vinegar and apply a solution of 50% vinegar and 50% water to the face several times per day.

Basil possesses antibacterial properties and helps the active ingredients of other herbs more readily penetrate the skin.

Birch leaves are said to be disinfectant and aid in the reduction of anti-cellulite.

Burdock is an anti-inflammatory containing numerous antioxidants that protect the liver from toxic chemicals. Its liver support and digestion aid lends itself well to the treatment of acne. It helps remove toxins and cleans tissues.

Calendula is great for healing and tissue regenerating. It is antibacterial and stimulates the production of collagen while minimizing scarring.

Chamomile is used in skin care for its cleansing and soothing benefits, especially for sensitive and irritated skin. It is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral.

Comfrey is a skin rejuvenator having healing, soothing and moisture retaining properties. It is good for damaged skin and diminishes wrinkles as it enables skin tissue to regain elasticity. It promotes skin cell regeneration and new cell growth.

Cornflower is used for soothing inflamed and irritated skin. It is a gentle astringent with antibacterial and antioxidant properties. It is often included in eye washes and products.

Frankinsence benefits acne and oily skin and helps to clear up blemishes.

Lady’s Mantle soothes and cleanses dry or sensitive skin. It is often included in anti-wrinkle products.

Lavender is useful for normal and dry skin, although it is used for all types of skin. It is gentle and soothing.

Lemon balm is effective in cleansing mildly oily skin, helping to close pores. It is an astringent with a soothing effect for sensitive skin.

Neem has antibacterial, astringent and antiviral properties. It effectively treats skin conditions ranging from acne to eczema. It also soothes itchy skin.

Patchouli is used for inflamed and itching skin. It promotes cell rejuvenation and helps to tighten loose skin.

Peppermint stimulates and revitalizes. It restores elasticity to the skin, tones tissue, clarifies the skin. It is good for oily complexions.

Rose soothes dry, sensitive, and mature skin, although beneficial to all skin types, and helps to cleanse, tone, and moisturize.

Rosemary stimulates blood circulation and restores elasticity to the skin. Its antibacterial properties aid in the control and prevention of blemishes in oily skin.

Sage is great for oily skin and for mature, untoned complexions. It cleanses, stimulates blood circulation, closes pores and restores elasticity. It also slows oil production of the skin.

Tea Tree is antibacterial, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antiviral. It is great for acne sufferers. Although safe for direct skin contact, dilution is recommended to avoid drying out the skin.

Yarrow is used for its astringent and soothing effects on the skin. It helps to tone skin, reduce pores and diminish signs of wrinkles.

Recipes for homemade skin care products coming soon!