Organic Body Care Recipes: 175 Homeade Herbal Formulas for Glowing Skin & a Vibrant Self
by Stephanie Tourles
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Book Reviews of Organic Body Care Recipes: 175 Homeade Herbal Formulas for Glowing Skin & a Vibrant Self
Book Review: Your Skin Will Glow For The Wrong Reasons
Summary: 2 Stars
Looking at this book from a cosmetic chemist's eyes, I can see how it will make your skin glow - by irritating it.
The amount of essential oils, the types of essential oils the author recommends and the poor preservation of the products are dangerous to skin.
Essential oils such as lemon, orange and mint can irritate the skin, cause photosensitivity and rashes - even in small amounts. Using only vitamin E as a preservative is irresponsible. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, not a preservative. Food grade home made skin care (that has water) that aren't used up within a few days (or refridgerated and used within two weeks) can harbor unsafe levels of bacteria that can cause itching or redness on the skin, or blindness if it gets into the eyes.
If you're going to make any of the recipes and want to prolong its shelf life, add 1% of phenoxyethanol (of the total weight of the item you're making). For purists, add sorbic acid or potassium sorbate (food grade preservative) to your creations. Rosemary extract is good too but it must be used with one of the above preservatives for true protection against bacteria. Those should be good for home made stuff. Personally, I cannot even use either one of those as the sole preservative in commercial water-based products that I formulate because the risk of personal injury is too great. The above preservatives can be obtained from online retailers selling soap supplies or DIY skin care ingredient suppliers.
Lanolin, borax, petroleum jelly - these ingredients are fine but I doubt eco purists and vegans will be happy using these ingredients.
This book will not provide any truly authentic lotions and creams that you can pot and use anytime you want - not even close to the ones you will get in stores. The creams are just thickened oils (with beeswax) sort of like lip balm - try using that if you have oily or combination skin. The cleansers are shaved soap mixed with water and other stuff - babies do that in the bath tub too. The masks are mashed fruit placed on the face and the toners are basically floral waters with some essential oils. It is ridiculously simple. Almost bordering child's play. These recipes are so simple, anyone can make them up. Here's one I just thought of: mash an avocado with a tablespoon of honey and a teaspoon of yoghurt, mix together and spread it on your face. Wait for 3 minutes and rinse off. Is it gonna get rid of your wrinkles? No. But it will make you feel warm and fuzzy.
This book would be a great playbook for kids (great to bond for mothers and daughters). Just make sure you throw the stuff out after 2-3 days (unless it has been well preserved).
The book is beautifully set and presented, but unfortunately, the recipes can be found for free anywhere on the internet. Or you can make recipes up by using standard stuff you can find in your pantry (eggs, bananas, honey) or the supermarket (glycerin, beeswax, essential oils).
Book Review: Thank you Stephanie!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read numerous books and articles on therapeutic uses for plants. I have spent hours referring to the Cosmetic Safety Database (which I find very helpful but terribly unreliable) as I help my family choose products that help us reach our goals including those regarding health. I scoured the internet to find recipes for body scrubs that would benefit and appeal to my family. I am very enthused about implementing the suggestions that I find, but very little of the information sticks in my head, and I stick with very few of my plans...until now.
Stephanie's book is incredibly practical. She divided the information into a section on personal care, one on ingredients, and one on recipes. I used Post-It flags to label the pages that I really want to keep fresh in my memory. I used a small notebook to help me schedule when to make the recipes that are the highest priorities, and to help me put together shopping lists.
Stephanie's book is also incredibly trust-worthy. She explains the science behind personal care and her recipes. The recipes are easy to modify because she gives alternatives, and explains the reasoning behind the choice of each ingredient so well. For example, my husband is extremely sensitive to most fragrances, but I want our family to benefit from the therapeutic benefits of a variety of essential and unrefined oils. So, I'm modifying the recipes to use smaller amounts of the ingredients that make him ill, and replacing them with other ingredients that he enjoys, in accordance with Stephanie's recommendations.
Stephanie has also helped me to understand why I've had such poor results from using other sources. The ingredients and procedures did not meet her criteria or our personal needs. As a licensed esthetician, her book gives explicit standards for the ingredients and commercial products that she uses and recommends. Most of my ingredients and products failed these standards. The ones that met the standards are the ones that I've been happiest with. Her book explains that coincidence! She also explains my previous failures to make emulsions like mayonnaise which combine watery and oily ingredients. Hooray for Stephanie! I can now make an emulsified lotion!
Stephanie is also a terrific person. I went to her website [...], and we have been corresponding by email, first discussing details in her book, and then branching out to discuss related issues including tanning and acrylic nail alternatives. She is quick to respond and very generous with her perspective.
Book Review: Love this book! You will too.
Summary: 5 Stars
If you're serious about throwing out your store bought, chemical filled cosmetics or even thinking about it, then you MUST get this book! I bought this book about 6 wks ago, kept reading a few pages here and there, started ordering ingredients, then finally about 2 wks ago started making one or two items in my kitchen. I've since made about a dozen skin care recipes from Organic Body Care Recipes. My bathroom/kitchen/shower area smells wonderful. My skin looks, smells and feels great. I love storing them in glass bottles/containers I can pick up at Big Lots or even Walmart and reuse again & again. Normally, I stay away from Walmart but their glass oil bottles, glass sugar bowls w/lids, and sealed storage containers are PERFECT & cheap. As well as reusing my own class containers and jars at home. Ikea is another good place to go.
Ms Tourles list places where you can find these organic ingredients online but I found other sites even more reasonably priced and you can order smaller quantities on the internet. I've loved everything I've made from this book, & you learn about ingredients, their properties (and what you can sub for if you are allergic or dislike any ingredient) so you truly can make exactly what you want. For me, this was one more step in reducing waste and pollution in the world besides saving money.
MY Warnings: After making one or two items I was hooked. I then spent about $300 on ingredients. I went all out on base oils, clays, many essential oils, dried herbs (not avail in my grocery store) & even flavorings for my lip balms but it was well worth. These will last all year long, will supply my family of three and I can make gifts at the holidays for my friends and family. They tried some small samples I've made and are already putting in their orders.
Get this book, spend a week or two reading it at your leisure, find a product or two on your shelf you want to replace...and do it. You'll feel great and become addicted like I am. Another book suggestion, Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano, this book gives a great all around approach to doing your part for our earth. Again, just try one or two things...slowly you'll be hooked.
Book Review: This is a great beginner book
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a great beginner's book because it allows someone to thoroughly research the ingredients in the book, and on their own. Also, the ingredients for the products are not the most expensive in the world. If you are looking for a great party idea, I made at least 8-10 products ranging from super simple, to intermediate-difficult for three people for under 50 dollars. It was one of the best birthday's I've ever had. I have read some of the complaints about this book, especially as far as the simplicity goes. Yes, a yogurt mask is simple, did you already know what it does for the skin before you read the book? If you are against animal products, or vegan, look for a vegan book. Don't expect your values to be represented in a book that doesn't claim to be vegan. There are non-animal product yogurts on the market, such as O'soy yogurt which is soy, and Coconut milk yogurt from So Delicious. They are not vegan, but they are not made from the milk of cows or goats. There are vegan recipes if you look, such as simply using fruit. As far as using oil on problem skin, it is a paradox that oil is best for oily skin. When you strip the oil from your skin, you tell your skin to make more oil. It is all about balancing the sebacious layer of your skin, water and oil in harmony leads to healthier and more vibrant skin.
I have used some of the recipes as a jumping board for my own ideas, with great personal results. I couldn't have found a better book to start with. My complements to the author, and to any one who picks this book up, you'll enjoy this book.
A favorite of mine is the bloomin' belly butter, which I have made for my self as a hand balm, and it works well for irritated sinus passages. It is this recipe that you can add what ever essential oils to and make it your own. Good luck, and have a lot of fun. The recipes may be simple, but who needs complicated when you're trying to relax.
Book Review: Very nice book
Summary: 4 Stars
I like all the ideas and recipes in the book, and it's easy to read and understand--almost half is a glossary with discussion of many of the ingredients she uses, and the other is recipes. There are no pictures, it's not a visual book. I liked the simplicity of many of the concoctions and plan to make several, it seemed to be heavy on the masks and toners. Several recipes were one or two ingredients-hardly a recipe- and some recipes were referred back to - because it could be used as a cleansing cream and a lotion, so instead of a new recipe, it sent you back to look at the lotion for the recipe.
I had hoped for more recipes that aren't to be used right away, like the many fresh fruit uses, or that have to be refrigerated to last 6 months. It doesn't really go into the differences between changing ingredients- like if you use a, end product will be smoother, etc.,- but it does give substitutes for most ingredients if you don't have the one listed.
I would also have liked more types of items, more shampoo, salves, and base recipes to add to according to need, and more that would keep longer, or how to keep them longer. I realize to keep it natural it's hard to preserve them, but I rarely keep things in the fridge.
That being said, it was entertaining, gave lots of good info, personable writing, and gets you interested in doing some things for yourself, explained a lot of basics and which things were good for different skin types. I'm glad I bought it and will enjoy trying some of the recipes out!