Advantages of Herbal Lotion
Herbal Lotion
Often nature has just what we need for many different purposes, including treating and moisturizing our skin. There are many natural herbal lotion products on the market, many of them homemade and available for purchase online. Larger companies like Johnson & Johnson, The Body Shop, Bath and Body Works and Origins also offer fantastic organic and all natural lotions for those who want softer skin using natural ingredients. There are many herbs that can be added to lotions and creams to enhance their efforts.
For example, feverfew is added to many lotions to calm redness often experienced by those with sensitive skin. Aveeno is one type of lotion that has a variety for sensitive skin containing feverfew. Another calming herb is chamomile. It is also commonly taken as a tea and used as a hair rinse for blonde hair. Mint is an herb that can be combined with lotion for a tingling treat, often for the feet after a long hard day. Green tea is packed with antioxidants which is why it is so commonly included in lotions.
You can even make your own lotion with the right base and herbs appropriate for your skin type. For example a calming lotion might include chamomile and lavender, while a romantic lotion may include geranium and crushed rose petals. The first step is to crush the herbs and/or flowers. Add 1 cup of water to your herbs. Using a pot made from enamel or ceramic, add one more cup of water and the herbal mixture and bring to a slow boil. Turn the heat to low, cover the pot and simmer the mix for three to five minutes. Remove from heat.
After your herbal water mixture is cool, strain through cheesecloth and store the herbal water in your refrigerator for a few hours. In the meantime, use a double boiler to melt an ounce of cocoa butter and add three fluid ounces of your preferred humectant oil like olive, rapeseed, coconut, apricot or Jojo. After this mixture is well blended, remove from heat, stir in the herbal water and you will have your own herbal lotion to put in an empty bottle. You may want to keep the lotion in the refrigerator to prolong its shelf life as natural products degrade more quickly if preservatives are not used.
