This book review is a bit of a departure for me. Instead of cooking up food, I was stirring together essential oils, witch hazel, epsom salts, cocoa butter, and spices. 100 Organic Skin Care Recipes contains instructions on how to make your own natural facial masks, body scrubs, hair treatments, and all kinds of other goodies to pamper and heal yourself (including of spa-worthy beverages). By the time I’d thumbed through the book once, it had pink sticky notes all over it. I couldn’t wait to try some of the recipes for myself.
100 Organic Skin Care Recipes was written by Jessica Ress who is the founder of Angel Face Botanicals, a small-batch boutique in Santa Cruz, CA that makes organic, all-natural, spa-quality bath and body care products and perfumes. This is a beautiful book filled with lovely photographs and the recipes are simple; it took me some time to gather up some of the “special” ingredients, but now I’m all set. To give you an idea of the kinds of things you can make for yourself, the chapter list is:
Facial Care
Facial Masks
Body Scrubs and Washes
Body Butters and Oils
Baths
Infusions
Whole Body Spa Treatments
Sun Care
Essential Oil Blends
Bonus Facial Treatments
Fun, no?! If you’re concerned about the ingredients in commercial bath and beauty products and you also love to “do it yourself,” this is the book for you. FYI for the vegans out there, some of the recipes contain honey, beeswax, and dairy yogurt. I just avoided those recipes.
Thanks to Jessica and Adams Media, I’ve got a copy of this “cookbook” to give away to one of my readers. However – I’m going to be selecting THREE winners. One winner will receive a copy of 100 Organic Skin Care Recipes; and two winners will each receive one jar of the heady Angel Soak for Cold & Flu and two luxurious Bath Fizzies, both handmade by yours truly. (Winner of the book must be from the U.S. or Canada, but the other two winners can be from any darn place on earth!) Giveaway ends at midnight U.S. CT May 29.
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!
My favorite way of pampering myself is to soak my feet in warm water with epsom salt and essential oils then listen to some soothing music like classical or samba 🙂 I also enjoy doing a facial scrub with powdered rice. I LOVE natural skin and body care so crossing fingers I win 😀
You know how to live, girl!
I remember having a lovely foot massage with just lemongrass salt after a long international flight, that was pretty awesome.
That sounds like a fantastic way to follow a long flight!
I pamper myself with a facial–oatmeal scrubs are the best!
Gosh, what an awesome book Annie…serioulsy, I’m kind of obsessed with home facial scrubs and stuff, so I would love this. I love making homemade skin care products. One of the best ways I pamper myself is getting a professional facial done, on the very rare occasion…I love the steam and smells and music, everything.
It’s SO cool, Brandi. Oh gosh, I haven’t had a facial in ages! What a treat.
My favorite way to pamper myself is with a cup of chamomile.
That’s my go-to when I need/want to relax: a nice hot cup of tea!
Whoohooww! I love making my own cosmetics! This would be precious!
This is a very fun book – you’d love it!
I’m in the process of improving my diet dramatically and skincare is next!
Plus an improved diet will help your skin! Thanks for entering, Rosella!
That sounds like HEAVEN!
I make it a ritual to do an Epsom salt soak twice a week. It helps me get more magnesium without taking it orally, thus avoiding those, um, unpleasant, side effects. I also got an inexpensive plug-in oil diffuser for my bedroom. I sleep SO much better since I started diffusing lavender essential oil. Thanks for such a cool giveaway Annie!
Terri, I used to have one of those diffusers and my goodness, it was wonderful! I lost it in one of my moves – but you make we want another one! Thanks for entering, Terri ;-)!
Following on google+
Thanks, Candy!
My favorite way to pamper myself is to give myself a pedicure
My favorite way of pampering myself is to take a bath with epsom salt, essential oils, & candles.
Epsom salts seem to be a big favorite! Thanks for entering, Michelle!
I pamper myself by sleeping in 🙂
I’m following you on Google+ under Jennifer K
Thanks, Jenny! Sleeping in – a true luxury!!
Oooh my mind has been on the idea of making my own beauty products for a while now! Aside from the issue of chemicals – it’s also often cheaper and more personal. I even just did a post about making my own face wash so needless to say I would love to explore the subject more! My favorite way to pamper myself is with body scents! I wanna smell like a garden covered by dewy clouds of vanilla basically all the time 🙂
I’m a convert. Making my own is so satisfying – and as you say – you can personalize it. I put lavender in everything :-)!
This book sounds super interesting! I do a lot of homemade body care stuff, from deodorant to lip scrubs, but I think my favorite way to really take care of myself is with an epsom salt & essential oil hot water foot soak. So relaxing! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
To pamper myself, I go for the very simple method of lying down in the sun! Complete relaxation and a gift after this long winter!
Ahhh, so true! That heat feels so good, doesn’t it?
I love a good long soak in a tub, with some candles, a good book and sometimes a glass of wine. I add some bath salts and essential oils, lavender and mint is my favorite combo.
Now THAT is relaxation! I know I’d be drifting off to sleep in the tub ;-)!
My favourite way to pamper myself is giving my self a facial and soaking in the tub
Followed via Pinterest (ladystephm) and Google+ (Stephanie Mayers)
Sounds luxurious! Thanks for following, Stephanie!
Followed on pinterest with cleopatra01!
Sorry! I meant to specify I followed SpaGoddess at Angel Face Botanicals on pinterest with cleopatra01!
Thanks for all of the Follows, Victoria!
Followed AFB on Google+ as Victoria S
Followed an unrefined vegan on Google+ as Victoria S
Followed An Unrefined Vegan on Pinterest as cleopatra01
My favourite way to pamper myself is taking an aromatherapy bath.
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My favorite way to pamper myself is to buy natural skin care products like handmade soaps and creams.
Sounds like this book is perfect for you!
My favorite way to pamper myself is a Jacuzzi bath. I love to use sugar scrubs too. I have just gotten into making my own.
I wish I was entering, but my favourite way to pamper myself is with homemade yoghurt and lemon scrubs 😀
My skin glows after!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Sounds like pure luxury, CCU!
My favorite way to pamper myself is with a long hot bath.
That seems to be the favorite! Thanks, Lauren!
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Getting a massage is a treat for me
Oh yeah! One of my favorite ways to pamper myself. Thanks for commenting, Dave!
I have bubble baths
Ahhhhh, soothing :-)! Thanks for the comment!
I like to have a nice warm bath with epsom salts.