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Herbs & Cultures

Natural skin and hair care

Beauty salve

A rich salve for dry spots from head to toe.

Used for

Time
3 hours
Makes
About 300 ml
Lavender

Lavender, hibiscus and rose steeped in jojoba or rose hip oil, with shea butter and beeswax. A thin layer is enough.

Ingredients

  • 1 part lavender
  • 1 part hibiscus
  • ½ part rose petals
  • 55 g shea butter
  • 235 ml jojoba or rose hip oil
  • 55 g beeswax

Step by step

  1. Melt the oil and beeswax in a bain-marie (for the beauty salve also the shea butter).
  2. Stir in the herbs and let them steep over low heat for a few hours. Watch the water in the bottom pan; it evaporates quickly.
  3. Remove from the heat and pour through cheesecloth or muslin into a clean bowl. Press the herbs well with a spatula and wring out the cloth.
  4. Pour into a clean jar with a lid, label with the date and let it cool and set before use.
  5. Apply thinly every day to the face and other areas.

Registry

Herbs in this recipe

Read more about effects and safety on each herb’s page.

  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 44

    Lavender

    Lavandula angustifolia

    A fragrant plant used in bath products, perfume, and aromatherapy. Evidence for medical effects is preliminary.

    Greco-Roman medicine+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Africa · Food · № 25

    Roselle (hibiscus)

    Hibiscus sabdariffa

    The red calyces make a tart drink. Folk medicine links it to blood pressure; it is not a substitute for treatment.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 89

    Rose and rose hip

    Rosa spp.

    Rose hips are rich in vitamin C; a hip powder has been studied for osteoarthritis with modest results. Rose water and oil are used in skin care and as fragrance.

    Avicenna's Canon in European universities+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Africa · Other · № 385

    Shea

    Vitellaria paradoxa

    Shea butter softens dry skin and protects hair; it is also an important cooking fat. Medical claims are not well studied.

    Local African healing traditions

Cultures and traditions

Where the herbs come from

These traditions know the herbs in this recipe.