Cooking tip

When it comes to manufacturing handmade cosmetics one ingredient no crafter should be without is lavender essential oil. Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia) posses antibacterial proprieties
is gentle to both dry and oily skin
and has the ability to relieve such conditions as muscle pain
insomnia
headaches
burns
bug bites
eczema
psoriasis
and acne making it the most versatile of essential oils. It is also one of the few essential oils that can be used as a middle or top note in perfume due to its fresh
floral smell and affordable price.

Here are a few recipe ideas for using lavender in handmade cosmetics:

Salves
Ointments
and Balms: Lavender blended with neem seed oil or comfrey root powder produces a salve that soothes itching caused by insect bites
bruises
burns
and even diaper rash. Add cinnamon and clove for a pain relieving muscle rub ointment. Use lavender by itself as a gardener’s salve to help chapped hands or as a temple balm to aid in falling asleep and to quell headaches.

Hair Care Products: Blend lavender with apple cider vinegar and nettle herbs for a normal-to-dry hair rinse. You can also try combing rosemary
peppermint
and lavender essential oils along with jojoba and oat extract
which produce a very effective scalp oil treatment.

Bath and Body Care Products: Add lavender to toners
facial creams
and body lotions to combat acne or dry skin conditions. Lavender essential oil combined with dried lavender buds
dead sea salt
Epsom salt
and powdered milk make for a lovely bath salt recipe. Blend jojoba with rose geranium
lavender
sandalwood
and vanilla for a sweet and sexy feminine perfume oil.

Soaps: Try adding tea tree and lavender essential oils to opaque melt and pour soap base along with pumice (sprinkled at the bottom of your soap mold) for a deodorizing and exfoliating soap bar.

A word of caution
due to their volatility
research any essential oil
and always do a skin patch test before use.