Decollete Mask Recipe
In North America, we seem to forget about the decollete for one reason or another. Perhaps it is simply because the area is covered up for so many months... but it's time to change that thinking. It's time to start caring for that area of our body as much as we do our face.
-1 egg white
-1 fresh lemon or lemon juice

Whip up an egg white with a few drops of lemon juice, and then apply to the chest area. Leave it in place for 8-10 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Apply a moisturizing cream and your skin should look 100 times better.

Avocado Carrot Cream Mask
Courtesy of www.Spaindex.com

This mask combines avocados, which are rich in Vitamin E, with carrots, which are high in beta-carotene and antioxidants, and cream, which is high in calcium and protein. These ingredients will rebuild skin collagen, improve tone and texture, and fade age spots.
1 avocado, mashed
1 carrot, cooked and mashed
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons honey
Combine all ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Spread gently over your face and neck, and leave in place 10-15 minutes. Rinse with cool water and follow with your favorite toner.

Banana Moon Face Mask
Courtesy of sweetbabymedia.com

1 banana, just ripe
1 tablespoon honey
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon wheat germ oil
1 tablespoon finely powdered oats
1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional, if mask will not be used immediately)
1 drop rose essential oils (optional)

Instructions:
Peel and mash banana. Add honey, egg yolk, wheat germ oil, oats, and lemon juice, if used, and mash further to form a smooth, creamy paste. If mask is too thick, add a bit of distilled water, and stir until smooth. Add essential oils last, and stir to mix well. To use, apply to clean face and neck, avoiding eye and mouth areas. Rest for 10 minutes, or longer if your skin is very dry. Rinse with warm water, and follow with toner and moisturizer, if desired. Use mask within a few hours of making.

Bessie Buttermilk's bath powder
Buttermilk is high in fat and lactic acid, and both help soften and hydrate skin. Makes 1/2 cup

1/4 cup dry buttermilk (or dry milk)
1/4 cup Nonfat Dry Milk
1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
1/8 teaspoons essential oil

Mix all the ingredients together with a wire whisk and pour into an airtight jar or sealable plastic bag. Pour 1/4 of the buttermilk bath powder in tub as you add hot water

Foot Soothin Butter/Balm
by: Dan Lee
www.bathsoapworks.com
Ingredients:
3 oz Beeswax
2 oz Tapioca Starch (or corn starch)
2 oz Apricot Kernel
1 oz Jojoba
3 oz Mango Butter
3 oz Shea Butter
.15 oz Peppermint EO
.15 oz Camphor

Directions: Melt the beewax, oils and butters in a double boiler. Don't get too hot! Shea can sometimes go grainy tho I have never had the problem. Once all melted add the Tapioca Starch. I use tapioca starch cause it seems to me to be more silky, you can use Corn Starch if you want. Blend until smooth. Add the EO's. you can use whatever you want but the combination of Peppermint and Camphor is soooo soothing to the footsies! Some people don't like the smell of camphor.. that is ok,this isn't suppose to be a smell good thing, but a feel good thing. Pour into your containers.

Rosewater and Witch Hazel Toner
According to skin type:
DRY
1/4 cup witch hazel 3/4 cup rosewater
1 teaspoon glycerine
NORMAL
1/2 cup witch hazel 1/2 cup rosewater
3/4 teaspoon glycerine
OILY
3/4 cup witch hazel 1/4 cup rosewater
1/2 teaspoon glycerine.

Add together & shake well into a sterilized glass bottle. The glycerine always rises to the top, so you will need to shake well each time you use it. If you want to add rose geranium oil to the mix for extra nourishment, add to the witch hazel first, then mix. Again the E/O is never really dispersed & needs shaking well each time you use it. Wipe it onto your skin with cotton balls, if you are always in a hurry like me, just shake first, splash some into your hands & gently apply to your face.

Stretch Mark Oil
Submitted by: tina
Ingredients:
1/4 cup coconut oil
2 tbls. cocoa butter
2 tsp. sweet almond oil

Directions: Combine these ingredients over low heat until it has turned into a clear liquid.remove from the heat and let it cool for a while.once it is coo to the touch you can pour it in a tightly sealed container.you can also add your favorite essential oil.

"Your the Bomb" Bath Bombs - Make a great gift!!!
Ingredients:
2 parts baking soda
1 part citric acid
1 part cornstarch or arrowroot powder

Instructions:
Color and scent 2 parts salt. Mix the dry powders with the scented salts. Melt a small amount of virgin coconut oil, shea, cocoa or mango butter and use it to bind the dry ingredients together without making them too wet. Form into balls or pack into molds. Let dry and package.

Ginger Skin Creme
Recipe compliments of Spa Index.
Ginger invigorates, and oil soothes. Try this double dose for dry skin.

Ingredients:
2-inch piece of fresh ginger
2 teaspoons light sesame oil
2 teaspoons apricot kernel oil
2 teaspoons vitamin E oil
½ cup cocoa butter

Instructions:
Preheat oven on lowest setting. Finely grate the ginger just enough so that you have about an 1/8 teaspoon of ginger "juice." To obtain the juice, squeeze the freshly grated ginger over a small bowl. Place the ingredients (including the ginger) in a glass container and heat just until the cocoa butter is melted and the oils are blended. Pour into a clean, dry container and store in a cool dry place. You can add a few drops of orange or other essential oil for a nice twist.

Soothing Cucumber & Aloe Cream
Recipe courtesty of Rosewave Recipes.

The juice from the fleshy leaves of the aloe plant has long been recognized for its soothing properties, and cucumber is noted for refreshing and toning the skin. The oils are included for their moisturizing and smoothing properties; beeswax and honey provide heavy smoothing and softening. This cream is great for both hands and body.

Ingredients:
2-tbsp (30 ml) aloe vera gel
1-cucumber, peeled
2-tbsp (30 ml) apricot kernel oil
1-tbsp (15 ml) coconut oil
4-tbsp (59 ml) melted beeswax
1-tsp (5 ml) honey

Instructions:
Cut the cucumber into several pieces and purée it in your food processor or blender. Strain out the liquid and add the aloe vera gel to the strained cucumber and mix well. Melt the beeswax with the honey in a double boiler on the stove. When the wax is melted, slowly add both oils while stirring; then slowly stir in the cucumber and aloe combination. Remove the mixture from the heat and cover it; then stir slowly about every 4 to 5 minutes until it's cool. When the mixture is completely cool, store it in the refrigerator. Shelf life, when kept refrigerated, is 60 to 90 days.

Eau de Rose body butter
2 tsps olive oil
4 tsps sunflower oil
2 tsps cocoa butter
2 tsps coconut oil
2 tsps beeswax
2 tsps stearic acid
4 drops tea rose essential oil
a few drops of grapefruit seed extract, vitamin E oil, or preservative of your choice.

Instructions:
Place the first 6 ingredients in a pyrex measuring cup. Place in microwave and heat slowly until all ingredients are melted. Try to take the mixture out every 30 seconds and stir. Let mix cool for about 10 minutes, then add preservative and
essential oil. Place in a clean container. Stir every 1/2 hour till mixture has a creamy consistency. Other essential oils or fragrance oils can be subsitituted for lavander.

Salt Glow (Scrub)
Clears the skin of dead cells and toxins while leaving a healthy glow.

1/4 cup sea salt
1/4 cup epsom salts
1/4 cup almond oil
1 T baking soda
1 T borax
12 drops essential oil or blend

Instructions:
In a wide mouth container (preferably plastic for safety in the bathroom) mix salts well. Add baking soda and borax, mix. Add essential oils to the almond oil. Add oils to salts and mix and store. Before bathing or showering, use ample amount and rub skin vigorously in circular motion. Rinse off.

Massage Balm
From www.pvsoap.com: This massage balm is similar to those selling for $36 by L'Occitane. It is wonderful for full body massage and stress areas such as the neck and shoulders. It is not as strong as a Tiger Balm.

Makes approx. 10 ozs.

Ingredients:
5 ozs. Ultra Shea Butter
2-3 ozs. Beeswax Pearls (for consistency)
1 Tblsp. Coconut Oil
1/2 Tblsp. Vegetable Oil (sesame or any light oil)
1/2 Tblsp. Menthol Crystals (melted)
1 tsp. Glycerin liquid
Drops of the following essential oils: Eucalyptus 20 drops, Camphor 10 drops, Pine 10 drops.
1 Container

Over low heat melt the shea butter and beeswax. Melt the menthol crystals in the microwave or over low heat in another pan. Add the remaining ingredients, the menthol crystals and essential oils, stirring until incorporated. Pour into tin or plastic container and let cool completely. The balm may look oily for the first day, but will dry further by the next day.

New Mommy Belly Butter
Ingredients:
2 parts cocoa butter
1 part shea butter
1 part mango butter
2 parts virgin coconut oil

Instructions:
Melt butters and oil in a double boiler or microwave ( in non-plastic/microwave safe container, until butters turn to oil). Let cool for 3-5 min if using glass container. Add essential oil or fragrance oil and stir. Add mica if you want to color the butter. Pour into deodorant containers or small jar.

Basic Body Spray
1/2 oz glycerin
10 drops of vitamin E
3 oz. hydrosol of your choice
20 drops essential oil or oil blend

Instructions:
Combine all in a 4 oz plastic spray bottle. Shake well, spray over skin to retain moisture and add fragrance!!