A Green Guide to Natural Beauty

Book excerpt: Most of us use a huge variety of beauty products on our skin and hair every day - from shower gel and shampoo to moisturiser and hand cream - but the majority of these products contain a variety of chemicals. In A Green Guide to Natural Beauty, natural skincare and fragrance expert Karen Gilbert shows you how to make your own lotions and potions at home, using easy-to-obtain, natural ingredients and easy-to-follow methods. For the face, there are moisturizers, face masks and cleansers; for the body choose from scrubs and shower gels, soaps and body lotions. And when you need some extra-special pampering, try the recipes for lip balms, massage bars, bath oils and eye gels. So try your hand at making a neroli hydrating spritz or a jojoba and aloe vera moisturizer, mango and lime body butter or lemon and tea tree foot balm, bergamot and grapefruit wake-up wash or cocoa butter lip balm - the hardest part is choosing which of the pampering projects to try first! Each recipe has clear step-by-step photographs to guide you, and there are numerous variations to try. - Make your own beauty gifts for friends, or hold your own pampering parties. - Just as we are all now more aware of what we eat and how we grow our food, attention is now turning to skincare products - people are looking for a low-cost, natural alternative to highly priced, highly perfumed, highly packaged shop-bought items. - In CICO's 'Green Guide' series.