As well as trying to get better and more proficient in baking and making healthier food, I decided along the way to try and use other homemade things. It’s not just food and drink that goes into our systems, it’s what we also put on our skin. So, thought it might be useful to have alongside my MKW Recipes for food, that I should have a handy post for the cosmetics, as well as the one I already have for dandelion infused ones. As with the food one, i’ll add to this as I find new combos or ideas.
Handy Dandelion – for dandelion salve and moisturiser recipes
I’ve been making a few moisturisers here and there, and as they last a while, takes some time to get around to needing a new one. But that time came, so I decided to make a predominantly mango butter one. For one pot like the one in the photo (around 2oz), the amounts are –
And another product you can easily make yourself. Why stop at moisturiser, bath bombs and salves? Another one that goes on your skin every day is deodorant, may as well be in control of what goes in it. Now updated to show the ingredients and method, not sure why I didn’t include that in the first place…
32g Shea Butter
32g Jojoba Oil
21.3g Arrowroot powder
16g beeswax
8g Baking Soda (bicarb)
5 drops bergamot essential oil
10 drops lemon essential oil
5 drop of cinnamon essential oil
Combine the arrowroot, jojoba oil and bicarb in a small bowl and stir until smooth with no lumps.
Melt the wax in a double boiler, and then add in the arrowroot mix.
When all melted again, add the shea butter and stir until just melted
Take off heat and allow to cool slightly, then add the essential oils and stir well.
Let cool until thick but still pourable, pour into tubes and allow to cool completely before adding cap.
I have found in the last couple of years there are many things you can eat that grow in the garden as ‘weeds’ and are seen as a pest. Turns out not, as with much these days. So thought it might be nice to list a few things you can grow, and throw in a few things that will work their own way in, i’ll share the link to a further posts about the item, if I have one.
Dandelions – edible, and useful in many ways and one of the main offenders for being called a pest. Apart from the flower stem, the rest of the plant can be used. The leaves and petals can be used in salads, and the roots for tea and herbal remedies.
Dandelion
Rosemary – this is known to be edible, but i didn’t realise the flowers were edible too. A super sweet rosemary taste that is again lovely on salads.
Rosemary
Sheep sorrel – discovered today as its surrounded my blueberry plant. Before I tidied it as a weed, I checked and of course its edible too! The leaves have a slightly sour taste but nice, again one for salads.
Sheep sorrel
Strawberries – these are super easy to grow. A domesticated variety in a pot now looking plentiful and I have wild ones taking over a planter, with potatoes as well in there so the competition for space is on.
Wild strawberries
Domestic strawberries
Wood Avens / St benedicts Herb – the root of this plant is the useful bit, once washed and dried, it smells like cloves and can be used as a milder tasting spice when ground, or for toothaches as well they say.
Wood Avens
Creeping Wood Sorrel – I didn’t realise this was edible (the whole plant is), when I did my previous post, but the little seed pods I mention, apparently they have a slight lemony flavour and can be added to, you guessed it, salads.
Creeping wood sorrel
I also have lots of herbs growing and other fruits, and have now started some salad and vegetables, it’s amazing what you can get to grow in a restricted space, and once it’s there, other things will find their way in…
I’m in love with these salves 😍 and with making them! I have now got daisies, calendula, lavender and chamomile infusing to make more. Also will have a mosquito balm, and tattoo salve coming up for the summer ☀️ 💚
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