How It All Vegan!: Irresistible Recipes for an Animal-Free Diet (37 page)

PARSLEY SKIN TONER

For normal or dry skin. Parsley is a wonderful skin softener and toner.

½ cup fresh parsley, chopped

1 cup boiling water

In a medium bowl, place the chopped parsley and cover with boiling water. Allow to cool completely. Strain and pour into a clean jar with a tight-fitting lid. Apply to skin with a cotton ball.

LEMON TONER

For oily or combination skin. Witch hazel is a natural, non-drying astringent distilled from the witch hazel shrub.

½ cup lemon juice

1 cup water

cup witch hazel

In a clean, dry jar, combine the lemon juice, water, and witch hazel. Cap tightly and shake well before using. Apply with a cotton ball.

GREEN GODDESS MASK

For dry skin.

1 avocado

In a blender, food processor, or with a fork, blend together the flesh of the avocado into a creamy texture. Massage into your face and neck. Tissue off after 10-15 minutes with warm water and then apply a toner.

HOT MEDITERRANEAN MOMMA MASK

For normal skin.

¼ cup mashed, cooked or canned chickpeas

1 tbsp olive or flax oil

¼ tsp lemon juice

In a blender or food processor, or with a fork, blend all ingredients into a creamy texture. Apply mixture to your face and leave on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm, then cool, water.

CUCUMBER LEMON MASK

For oily skin.

½ cucumber, chopped

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp fresh mint

In a blender or food processor, blend together the cucumbers, lemon juice, and mint until well-mixed. Refrigerate for 10 minutes. Apply mixture to your face and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with warm, then cool, water.

BLEMISHED SKIN MASK

Again, note that tomatoes are highly acidic so be careful using this cleanser if you have sensitive skin.

1 tomato, finely chopped

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tbsp cooked oatmeal

In a blender or food processor, blend together the tomatoes, lemon juice, and oatmeal until well-mixed. Apply mixture to your face, making sure it is thick enough to stay on blemished areas: cheeks, forehead, or chin. Leave on for 5-10 minutes, then scrub off with a clean washcloth dipped in warm water.

OATMEAL ALMOND FACIAL SCRUB

¼ cup rolled oat flakes

¼ cup almonds

water

In a food processor, grind the oat flakes and almonds to a fine consistency. Slowly add water until it becomes a paste. Apply mixture to your face and massage. Rinse with cool water.

PIMPLE KILLER

Garlic clears out your pores, acting as a remedy for pimples. Peel and mash a garlic clove. Apply the paste to your pimple (being careful to avoid contact with your eyes) and leave on for 15 minutes. Wash off with a warm cloth. Warning: this can be very smelly, and even more so as it rinses off.

POTATO EYE REMEDY

This recipe will lighten dark circles under your eyes and tighten your skin. Wrap a grated raw potato in a cheesecloth and apply to closed eyelids for 15-20 minutes. Wipe off residue with a cloth rinsed in cool water and apply an eye cream.

DIRTY BOY SHAMPO

For really dirty hair!

¾ cup warm water

½ cup animal-friendly shampoo

1½ tsp salt

2 tsp jojoba oil

tsp peppermint essential oil

In a clean, dry container add the water, shampoo, salt, jojoba oil, and peppermint oil. Cap tightly and shake until well-blended.

QUICK APPLE CIDER VINEGAR CONDITIONER

A weak vinegar rinse is the best conditioner you can use after shampooing. It restores the natural acid balance to the hair and takes out any traces of soap and grime.

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

4 cups water

Place vinegar and water in a clean, dry container and cap tightly. Shake well. After shampooing, work through and rinse. Use 1-2 cups depending on hair length.

SAGE RINSE

2 cups red wine vinegar

2 cups water

¼ cup fresh sage

Combine vinegar, water, and sage in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, then cover pot, remove from heat, and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain out sage, and once the rinse has cooled, store in a clean, dry container with a tight-fitting lid. After shampooing, pour half a cup over your hair, then rinse.

RINSE FOR DAMAGED HAIR

¼ cup kelp powder

1 cup Sage Rinse mixture (see above)

Combine kelp and Sage Rinse in a clean, dry container. Cap tightly and shake well. Apply generously to freshly shampooed hair. Leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

HOT OIL TREATMENT FOR DRY HAIR

Not for fine hair.

¼ cup olive oil

¼ cup very hot water

Place olive oil and hot water in a clean, dry container, cap tightly, and shake very well. Massage into dry hair. Put a shower cap or plastic bag over your hair and wrap your head in a towel. Leave mixture on your hair for 15-20 minutes. This is important: when you are ready to rinse, apply shampoo directly to your hair without washing out the oil treatment. Then rinse, apply shampoo again, and condition as usual. (If you apply water before you apply shampoo, you’ll have a hard time getting the oil out.)

DANDRUFF TREATMENT

2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp water

2 tbsp flax oil or olive oil

In a clean, dry container, combine the vinegar, water, and oil. Cap tightly and shake until well mixed. Massage into your scalp and leave on for 15-20 minutes. Shampoo out.

CINNAMON TOOTHPASTE

Forget your toothpaste at home? This spicy toothpaste will help keep your teeth pearly white and your breath fresh. Baking soda neutralizes acids from plaque, helping to prevent gingivitis or gum disease.

1 tsp baking soda

¼ tsp cinnamon

1 drop tea tree oil (optional)

In a cup or small bowl, mix together the soda, cinnamon, and tea tree oil. Place damp toothbrush into the mixture and brush teeth.

PEPPERMINT-CLOVE TOOTHPASTE

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp sea salt

1 drop clove essential oil

1 drop peppermint essential oil

In a cup or small bowl, mix together the soda, salt, and oils. Place damp toothbrush into mixture and brush teeth.

TEA TREE-PEPPERMINT MOUTHWASH

1¼ cup water

6 drops tea tree oil

6 drops peppermint essential oil

Pour water and oils into a clean, dry container. Cap tightly and shake well. Rinse mouth out, but do not swallow.

HERBAL MOUTHWASH

2 tbsp fresh rosemary, parsley,
or
mint

2 whole cloves

2 cups water

In a small saucepan, bring water and chosen herb to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Set aside to cool. Strain into a clean, dry jar and cap tightly. Rinse mouth out, but do not swallow.

BATH SALTS

½ cup sea salt

1 cup baking soda

1½ cup epsom salts

5 -10 drops of essential oil (your choice of fragrance)

In a clean, dry container with a tight-fitting lid (or in a sealable bag), combine together all the ingredients and shake until well-mixed. Pour ¼-½ cup in bath.

SEA SALT BODY SCRUB

2 tbsp fine sea salt

2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

½ cup flax oil
or
olive oil

In a small cup or bowl, mix the salt and vinegar together. Standing in the tub or shower (without water), rub yourself all over with oil. Gently massage in the pre-mixed salt mixture, paying attention to rough spots. Run a warm bath or shower and massage the oil and salt off of your skin.

DEODORANT DUSTING POWDER

½ cup cornstarch

2-5 drops essential oil (your choice of fragrance)

In a clean, dry container with a tight-fitting lid (or in a sealable bag), combine ingredients and shake until well-mixed. Dust body, feet, and armpits with powder, using a duster, a soft cloth, or your hands.

LIP GLOSS

¼ cup almond oil

3-4 tbsp cocoa butter (solid), grated (the more cocoa butter you add, the harder the salve)

1-2 Vitamin E capsules, pierced and drained

In a small saucepan on medium-low heat, melt the oil, cocoa butter, and Vitamin E oil together until well mixed. Pour into a small, clean, dry container and let cool. Once cool and set, cap tightly and use as needed. To make this as soft as petroleum jelly, add a bit more oil; to make it harder, add more cocoa butter.

PERFUME

1 tsp essential oil (your choice of fragrance)

1 tbsp almond oil

In a clean, dry bottle, pour ingredients and shake well before using. Good for up to 1 year.

SOLID PERFUME

¼ cup almond oil

3-4 tbsp cocoa butter (solid), grated (the more cocoa butter you add, the harder the salve)

1-2 Vitamin E capsules, pierced and drained

7-15 drops of essential oil (your choice of fragrance)

In a small saucepan on medium-low heat, melt the oil, cocoa butter, Vitamin E oil, and fragrance together until well-mixed. Pour into a small, clean, dry bottle and let cool. Once cool and set, cap tightly and use as needed. To make this as soft as petroleum jelly, add a bit more oil; to make it harder, add more cocoa butter.

Here are some scent combinations that you might want to try:

jasmine, patchouli

lavender, spearmint

sandalwood, musk, frankincense

sandalwood, musk, patchouli

lemon, spearmint, grapefruit

vanilla, musk

ginger, cinnamon, clove

strawberry, vanilla

MASSAGE OIL

½ cup of oil (olive, almond, apricot,
or
sunflower)

10 drops essential oil (your choice of fragrance)

Pour oils into a clean, dry container. Cap tightly and shake well before using.

ALL-PURPOSE SALVE

Use for insect bites, itching, wounds, minor skin abrasions, burns, bruises, tattoos, and on fungal infections. Store salve in a dark-coloured jar so the light doesn’t oxidize the herbs’ healing properties. You can get these ingredients at health food or herb stores, or pick your own.

2 tbsp St. John’s wort
*

2 tbsp calendula
*

2 tbsp comfrey leaf
*

2 tbsp plantain
*

1 cup olive oil

1 tbsp Vitamin E oil

¾-1 cup cocoa butter (solid), grated (the more cocoa butter you add, the harder the salve)

In a small pot, combine the herbs and oils. Simmer on low heat for about 4 hours to extract the beneficial properties of the herbs into the oil. Do not let oil get too hot. Once done, remove from heat and allow the oil to cool. Strain into a clean dry jar, using a cheese cloth or sieve. Pour strained oil back into pot and add cocoa butter. On low heat, simmer until the cocoa butter is completely melted. Pour back into jar and let cool completely, then cap tightly.

*
St. John’s wort: good for burns, wounds, bites, itching, pain calendula: anti-inflammatory; aids in healing abrasions; skin soother comfrey leaf: speeds healing of wounds and skin conditions plantain: pain relief; antiseptic for stings and bites

BUG REPELLENT

1 cup water

20 drops citronella oil

10 drops lavender essential oil

7 drops eucalyptus essential oil

In a spray bottle, combine all the ingredients and shake well. Spray exposed areas, but avoid face and eye area. To avoid possible irritation, try it out on a small patch of skin first.

PEPPERMINT ITCH LOTION

For relief of itching.

½ cup water

½ cup witch hazel

3-4 drops peppermint
or
eucalyptus essential oil

In a clean, dry container, combine all the ingredients. Cap tightly and shake well. Apply to your skin with clean hands or cotton ball.

SOOTHING SUNBURN LOTION

Always wear sunscreen and cover up as much as possible when you’re outside in the sun. And keep your body well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

4 tbsp water

2 tbsp witch hazel

1 cup baking soda

2- 4 drops peppermint essential oil

In a clean, dry container, combine all the ingredients. Cap tightly and shake well. Gently apply to sunburned skin and allow to dry. This lotion will leave a fine, powdery film as it dries.