Comments on: Winter skin care: green tea moisturizing cream.

By: darcey blue

darcey blue — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 15:11:52 +0000

I’ve done something similar with other herb infusions (elder, calendula for example) but found they grow mold really quickly (within about a month) I suppose one could freeze them for long term, but that seems to make it separate. how long does yours last??
That does sound devine though! Homemade creams are so much fun! Last summer I did up a white sage tulsi cream with shea butter.

By: crabappleherbs

crabappleherbs — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 18:07:48 +0000

White sage and tulsi sound great!

My creams generally last about a month too. I use a lot and give some away… I haven’t tried freezing, but I imagine you’re right, it might separate.

By: The Herbwife’s Kitchen » Oh my goodness.

The Herbwife’s Kitchen » Oh my goodness. — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 23:26:32 +0000

[…] Coming soon: Homemade herbal lotions for winter skin. Bookmark to: […]

By: Persephone

Persephone — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 01:44:50 +0000

Sounds great! I haven’t tried my hand at lotions or creams yet- mental block- but we’re almost out of lotion, and I’m ready to try it! Can’t wait for the next installment! (I have a vanilla lotion from Victoria’s Secret that I LOVE the smell of. But it’s loaded with synthetics, and so I’m gonna try to make one that smells like it. Do you think vanilla extract would be a good thing to add, since it’s an alcohol? If not, what would you suggest? Should I post this on herbwifery.com instead?

By: crabappleherbs

crabappleherbs — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 01:57:51 +0000

You could use vanilla extract… I don’t think it would add too much alcohol. If you want the vanilla to come through more than the coconut, you could try using the more usual proportions of 1/4 cup of coconut oil to 3/4 cup grapeseed (I used extra coconut in mine this time). There is vanilla essential oil out there too, but it’s really expensive, even diluted.

Sure, we could start a thread on the herbwifery forum for skin care.

By: rebekka

rebekka — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 20:56:00 +0000

Great recipe…I must try it!

I have very oily, acne-prone skin, and I’ve been using only pure coconut oil as a moisturizer for the past month…it has COMPLETELY cleared up my skin. Maybe because of the anti-bacterial properties of the lauric acid? I don’t know, but I feel like I have discovered a huge secret!

By: Rose Garbien

Rose Garbien — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 03:35:59 +0000

How long does your green tea cream last? Rose

By: David Essig-Beatty

David Essig-Beatty — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 19:27:30 +0000

On new year’s eve I discovered club moss (Lyocopodium) fruiting bodies poking up from the leaf litter into the waxing sun. Now that I’ve picked and dried them, I plan to grind some for use as a desiccant powder. Do you know if the drying properties are retained in a tincture? If so, it could contribute an antiperspirant component to an herbal deodorant.

None of my reference books give details on ground pine as it’s known here in the Alleghenies. The web says that the leaves,stems, and roots are toxic and best left for homeopathic application. The spores in the fruiting bodies, however, can be used internally as a diuretic. Does anyone have experience using club moss internally?

By: Henriette

Henriette — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 20:02:52 +0000

The usual way to get the powder is to dry unripe seedheads and shake the spores out of them. Here’s a pic.

I don’t think the water repellant quality will come through in a tincture. Also, I’d be interested to know if your grinding of the seedheads produces anything but ground up seedheads.

Green parts have been used as diuretics and more (herbally) - Madaus tells quite a lot about it.

By: crabappleherbs

crabappleherbs — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 23:51:02 +0000

Thanks, Henriette!

David, I don’t think many people are likely to see your question here, as this is an old post, and on a different topic. If it’s OK with you, I’ll post your question on the herbwifery forum — a place that’s built for such conversations.

By: crabappleherbs

crabappleherbs — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 23:55:15 +0000

Rose, the cream usually lasts me a few weeks if it’s kept in the refrigerator. It won’t last very long if it’s kept in a warm place.

By: Karen

Karen — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 11:24:54 +0000

Hallo,
I’ve been making my own creams for a while now, but have always used an emulsifyer (alcohol based), as I thought the oils and waters wouldn’t combine without one. I am thrilled to read about your gorgeous cream with no emulsifyer. Do you find that the cream separates later on? How well and long does it hold together?
Thank you for opening my eyes to new possibilites.
Cheers,
Karen.

By: crabappleherbs

crabappleherbs — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:46:29 +0000

Hi Karen!

They key to the emulsification is having the oils and waters at the same temperature, and pouring really slowly and evenly — as if you were making mayonnaise.

(The beeswax also has some emulsifying properties, but not enough to keep the cream together without these precautions.)

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:12:45 +0000

Rebekah mentioned coconut oil, of all the vegetable oils I think coconut is the most drying, which is why it’s great for oily skin Another one to try would be soy oil. If you’re putting them into a cream you probably wouldn’t need as much beeswax to thicken it up, they thicken when they make contact with air… Hope someone finds this interesting! Great page, really enjoying it!