Today in the Herbal Kitchen: Making Sugar Scrub, Lip Balm and Lotion

I was a busy bee today. First, I explored lip balm territory. Since this was my first time, I was cautious with ingredients and made a very small batch. I used bee balm oil as my base and added an essential oil that made this balm tasty and sweet! Next time, I'll embellish it a bit more but must say I'm proud of this balm for my first time around.



Energized after the lip balm adventure, I made a new lotion. This is my seventh lotion creation so I'm dubbing this one "#7" until I find a suitable name for it. This lotion features chamomile, bee balm and calendula along with wondrous oils and vitamins for a recipe so tantalizing your skin will radiate with delight!


Here's a little bit about one of the featured ingredients: Chamomile (Matricaria recutita).
The flowers are so sweet smelling; it is as if honey dipped apples perfumed the air. Chamomile is often enjoyed in tea. People turn to this herb when they need help with digestive distress or when they need help calming the central nervous system so they can rest and sleep. The actions of chamomile are anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antiseptic. The tea can be swished in the mouth to soothe inflammation and has been used to assist with gingivitis. It can be gargled as well. Externally, people have used this to speed wound healing and reduce inflammation and swelling. The Spaniards refer to it as "Manzanillia" which stands for little apple. Chamomile was once heavily relied upon to scent shampoos and was sought after to add a golden tint to hair.

I wrapped up the day by creating another sugar scrub. This one features the lavender flowers I harvested last month along with citrus peels I dehydrated and powdered. The smell is fresh and clean and leaves skin soft and moisturized. This scrub is used in place of facial wash. It cleans, exfoliates and moisturizes your skin all in one step.

Now, I'm off to wrap up the weekend and get ready for the week ahead. Remember to take time and smell the herbs! ttfn ~