Sunday Surprise – Honey/Hive Product Cosmetics

Spring is coming! And hard on the heels of Spring, is Summer. Folks are now starting to think about getting out the warm weather clothes…The ones that show a bit more skin. Skin that tends to get dry & ignored throughout the cold winter months. So with that in mind, her are some recipes to help you get your skin – and hair for that matter – ready for Summer showing off. These all use either Honey or Beeswax, along with other natural ingredients. Have fun! Materials needed, other than hive products, are readily available at drug stores and health stores.

*Compliments of Mooncrafts Newsletter* 

Honey Hand Lotion

• ½ cup Vaseline petroleum jelly
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons glycerin
• 1 tablespoon liquid lecithin

Melt the petroleum jelly over a double boiler. Add the remaining Ingredients and heat for several minutes until the mixture is smooth and well mixed,
Makes about ¾ cup. 

Honey-Rosewater Hand Lotion

•   1 tablespoon Irish moss
• ¼ cup rosewater
• ¼ cup honey
• ½ cup water
• 1/3 cup glycerin

Combine the water and Irish moss, and simmer over low heat until the mixture is thick, about 10 minutes. Strain the mixture to remove the Irish moss. Combine the strained liquid with the remaining ingredients.
Makes about one cup.

Beeswax Hand Cream 

•   ¼ cup beeswax
• ¼ cup almond oil
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 tablespoon bee pollen
• ¼ cup Vaseline petroleum jelly
• ¼ cup glycerin
• 2 tablespoons liquid lecithin

Melt the beeswax and petroleum jelly together over a double boiler. Add the remaining ingredients and heat for 4 to 5 minutes until the mixture is smooth and heated. Pour into a container while still hot since it will   harden as it cools. Makes about 1¼ cups.

Beeswax Coconut Hand Cream 

• ¼ cup beeswax
• 3 tablespoons baby oil
• ¼ cup coconut oil
• 1/3 cup glycerin
• Melt the beeswax. and coconut oil over a double boiler.

Add the remaining  ingredients and heat until mixture is smooth, for about 4 to 5 minutes. Pour  into a container while still hot since it will harden as it cools.
Makes   about 1 cup.

Bee Pollen Hand Cream 

• 1/2 cup petroleum Jelly
• 1/2 Cup glycerin
• 1/3 cup beeswax
• 2 tablespoons bee pollen

Melt the petroleum jelly and beeswax over a double boiler.Add the glycerin   and heat for several minutes until the mixture is smooth and well heated. Add the bee pollen and pour into a container while still hot since the mixture does harden as it cools.
Makes about 1¼ cups. 

Beeswax Cold Cream 

• 1/3 cup beeswax
• ¼ cup glycerin
• 1 tablespoon liquid lecithin
• ¼ cup baby oil
• ¼ cup almond oil
• 1 tablespoon bee pollen

Melt the beeswax over a double boiler. Add the remaining ingredients and heat for several minutes until well mixed. Pour into containers while still hot since it will harden as it cools.
Makes about 1½ cups.

Honey Cold Cream for Dry Skin

• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
• 1 tablespoon ground almonds
• 1 teaspoon liquid lecithin
• 2 tablespoons bee pollen
• 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon rosewater or cologne water

Combine all ingredients and mix well. This cream has a slightly grainy and oily texture, and in addition to using as a cold cream, it can be used for sunburn and for applying as a conditioner to the hands before doing outside work, such as gardening.

Makes about ¾ cup.

Beeswax-Almond Hand Cream 

• ¼ cup beeswax
• ½ cup almond oil
• ½ cup coconut oil
• ¼ cup rosewater

Melt the beeswax and coconut oil over a double boiler. Add the
remaining ingredients and heat until well mixed, several minutes. Pour into a container while still hot since it does harden as it cools.
Makes about 1½ cup.

  Honey Cleansing Cream 

• ¼ cup honey
• 1 tablespoon liquid soap
• ½ cup glycerin

Place the ingredients in a screw top jar, cover and shake well.
Makes about 3/4 cup.

Honey Cleansing Lotion 

• ½ cup hot water
• 1 tablespoon bee pollen
• 1½ teaspoons unflavored gelatin
• ¼ cup honey

Soften the gelatin in the water for several minutes. Then dissolve the gelatin mixture over low heat for 5 to 7 minutes, until the mixture is clear.. Add the remaining ingredients. Makes about 1 cup.

Honey-Rosewater Cleansing Lotion 

• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon bee pollen
• ¼ cup rosewater
• 2 teaspoons liquid soap

Combine the ingredients in a screw top jar. Cover and shake well.
Makes about ½ cup.

Honey-Oatmeal Face Mask

• 3 tablespoons honey
• ¼ cup oatmeal, ground fine
• 1 tablespoon bee pollen
• 1 tablespoon beaten egg, buttermilk, heavy cream or sour cream, optional

Combine the ingredients and mix until smooth. Apply to the freshly washed face, and let set on the skin for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse off.
Makes enough for 1 application. 
 

Honey-Avocado Face Mask 

• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons dry buttermilk powder
• ¼ avocado, medium size, mashed

Combine the ingredients and stir until smooth. Cucumber puree may be substituted for the avocado, using ¼ cup puree. Avocado is good for dry skin, while cucumber is better for oily skin. Makes enough for 1    application. 
 

Honey Protein Face Mask 

• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ teaspoon lemon juice or cider vinegar 
  1 tablespoon bee pollen
• ½ teaspoon wheat germ oil or glycerin
• 1 egg white, at room temperature (1 small whole egg may be substituted) 

Combine the honey, pollen, and lemon juice. Mix well until the honey  softens. Add the remaining ingredients. 
Makes enough for 1 application.

Honey Face Mask for Oily Skin 

• 4 tablespoons honey
• ¼ cup finely chopped parsley

Combine the ingredients and stir until smooth.
Makes enough for 1   application.

Honey Face Scrub 

• 2 tablespoons bee pollen
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon liquid lecithin
• ¼ cup each of almonds, walnuts,   oatmeal, whole wheat flour, corn meal
• 1 tablespoon rose water
• ¼ cup water

Combine all the dry ingredients. Add the honey, rose water, and liquid lecithin. Stir until smooth, and add in enough of the water to make a smooth paste.
Makes about 2 cups. 

Honey Hand Cleanser 

• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon liquid soap
• 1/4 cup almond or walnut oil

Combine the ingredients and mix until smooth.
Makes about 1/3 cup.

Soapless Hand Cleanser 

• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon oatmeal or ground almonds
• 1 tablespoon glycerin
• 2 tablespoons witch hazel

Combine the ingredients and mix until smooth. This may be used to remove dirt from the hands and fingernails, and is less drying on the skin than soap and water.
Makes enough for 1 application. 

Beeswax Lip Balm 

• 2 tablespoons beeswax
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

Melt the ingredients over a double boiler. Pour into container
while still hot since it will harden as it cools.
Makes about 1/4 cup.

Honey Egg Shampoo 

• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons liquid soap
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon witch hazel
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 1 tablespoon wheat germ oil or almond oil
• 1 tablespoon rosewater or cologne

Place all the ingredients in a screw top jar, cover and shake well.
Makes about 2/3 cup

Honey-Pollen Shampoo 

• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 cup glycerin.
• 1 tablespoon witch hazel
• 1/4 cup orange flower water or cologne
• 2 tablespoons bee pollen
• 1 teaspoon liquid soap
• 1 tablespoon alcohol

Place the ingredients in a screw top jar, cover and shake well.
Makes about 1¼ cups.

Honey-Milk Conditioner For Oily Hair 

• 1/3 cup hot water
• ¼ cup glycerin
• 2 tablespoons liquid lecithin
• 1/4 cup Sage
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons dry buttermilk powder

Combine the hot water and sage, and let set for 10 minutes. Strain the liquid, and discard the sage. Add the remaining Ingredients to the strained liquid, and mix well. Apply to freshly shampooed hair, let sit on hair for about 2 minutes and rinse off with warm water.
Makes about 1/2 cup.

Honey Herbal Hair Conditioner 

• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup glycerin
• 1/4 cup sage
• 1/2 cup dried chamomile flowers  or cup nettle leaves
• 1/4 cup rosemary leaves
• 1/2 cup witch hazel
• 1 tablespoon liquid lecithin

Place all the ingredients in a screw top jar. Shake well and let
sit for 1 hour. Strain to remove herbs, discard the herbs and pour the liquid back   into the jar.
Makes about 1/2 cup.

Honey Treatment for Very Dry Damaged Hair 

• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Stir for a minute or so until the mixture is smooth. Apply to
freshly shampooed hair, and let soak in for 10-12 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
Makes enough for 1 application. 

Blond Hair Highlighter 

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon Irish moss
• 1/4 Cup molasses

Soak the Irish moss in the water for 5 minutes. Then simmer for several minutes over low heat until the mixture is thick. Add the remaining ingredients. Apply to freshly shampooed hair and let soak for 3-5 minutes. Then rinse off with warm water.
Makes about 1 cup, enough for two applications.

Jack "Gray Crow"

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader's personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.

Wednesday What Herb Is This - Ointments

Ointments
When the subject of Witches' ointments is mentioned, the infamous "flying ointments"
immediately come to mind, at least to those with some interest in the history of  Witchcraft and magic. These salves, consisting of psychoactive plants steeped in a fatty
base, were rubbed onto the skin to aid in what is known today as astral projection.  These are not the only types of ointments known to Witches and magicians, however. Many others have more earthly uses that correlate to those of oils. In fact, any of the oils  mentioned in the Oil section can be converted to ointments simply by adding them to melted beeswax, lard or (in today's world) vegetable shortening. However made, ointments should ideally be kept in crystal or porcelain containers.  Realistically, any jars with tight-fitting lids will do fine. Keep ointments away from heat and light. Be warned - though most of the ointments discussed in this section are fairly innocuous, some of them are poisonous and may be lethal. By including them in this work, there is in no way advocating use of such hazardous mixtures. These ointments form a part of herb magic of long-gone days, and so are included here solely for their historical interest.

Making Ointments
Ointments are easily made. They consist simply of herbs or oils and a base. In the past, hog's lard was the preferred base because it was readily available, but vegetable shortening or beeswax produces the best results. The base must be a greasy substance that melts over heat but is solid at room temperature. Some herbalists actually use dinosaur fat (I.e., Vaseline, which is prepared from petroleum)! There are two basic ways to create magical ointments.

The Shortening Method
Gently heat four parts shortening over low heat until liquefied. Watch that it doesn't burn.
Add one part dried herbal mixture, blend with a wooden spoon until thoroughly mixed, and
continue heating until the shortening has extracted the scent. You should be able to smell it in the air. Strain through cheesecloth into a heat-proof container, such as a canning jar.
Add one-half teaspoon tincture of benzoin to each pint of ointment as a natural preservative. Store in a cool, dark place, such as the refrigerator. Ointments should last for weeks or months. Discard any that turn moldy, and lay in a fresh batch.

The Beeswax Method
This process creates a more cosmetic ointment without a heavy, greasy feeling. It is best to prepare it with oils rather than herbs, as it is difficult to strain. If possible, use unbleached beeswax. If not, use what you can find. Chip it with a large, sharp knife so that you can pack it into a measuring cup. Place one-fourth cup or so of beeswax in the top of a double boiler (something such as a coffee can set into a larger pot of water). Add about one-fourth cup olive, hazelnut, sesame or some other vegetable oil. Stir with a wooden spoon until the wax has melted into the oil. Remove from the heat and let cool very slightly, until it has just begun to thicken. (This step is taken so that the hot wax won't evaporate the oils.) Now add the mixed oils to the wax. Stir thoroughly with a wooden spoon and pour into a heat-proof container. Label and store in the usual way. In the recipes that follow, the recommended method of preparation will be mentioned.

Empowering Ointments ~ Once the ointment is made and has cooled in its jar, empower it with its particular magical need.  This vital step, remember, directs the energy within the ointment, readying it for your ritual use.

Using Ointments ~ Ointments are usually rubbed onto the body to effect various magical changes. As with oils, this is done with visualization and with the knowledge that the ointment will do its work.

Healing Ointment

• 4 drops Cedarwood
• 2 drops Sandalwood
• 1 drop Eucalyptus
• 1 drop Cinnamon
  Add to the melted beeswax/oil base, cool, and anoint the body to speed healing as needed. Do not apply to wounds, burns or broken skin!

Hex-Breaker Ointment

• 3 parts Galangal
• 2 parts Ginger root, dried
• 2 parts Vetivert
• 1 part Thistle
  Steep the herbs in shortening, strain, cool, and anoint the body at night.

Love Ointment

• 4 drops Ylang-Ylang
• 2 drops Lavender
• 1 drop Cardamom
• 1 drop Vanilla extract
  Add the oils to the beeswax/oil base. Make in the usual way and anoint the body when looking for love.

Lust Ointment

• 3 parts Galangal
• 2 parts Dill
• 1 part Ginger
• 1 part Peppermint
• 1 whole Vanilla bean
  Prepare with shortening in the usual way. Anoint the body (but not to tender areas)

Moon Goddess Ointment

• 5 drops Sandalwood
• 3 drops Lemon
• 1 drop Rose
  Prepare with the beeswax/oil base. Anoint yourself to attune with the Goddess of the Moon and during Full Moon rituals.

Protection Ointment

• 2 parts Mallow
• 2 parts Rosemary
• 1 part Vervain
  Make in the usual way with shortening. Rub onto the body to drive out negative influences and to keep them far from you.

Psychic Powers Ointment

• 3 parts Bay
• 3 parts Star Anise
• 2 parts Mugwort
• 1 part Yerba Santa
  Make in the usual way with shortening. Anoint the temples, middle of the forehead and back of the neck to improve psychic powers.

Psychic Powers Ointment #2

• 3 drops Lemongrass
• 2 drops Bay
• 1 Yarrow
  Mix with the beeswax/oil base and anoint as with the above formula.

Riches Ointment

• 4 drops Patchouli
• 3 drops Oakmoss Bouquet
• 1 drop Clove oil
• 1 drop Basil oil
  Make according to the beeswax/oil method and anoint the body and hands daily to attract riches.

Sun God Ointment

• 4 drops Frankincense
• 3 drops Orange
• 1 drop Cinnamon
  Make according to the beeswax/oil method. Anoint the body to attune with the Solar God, especially on Wiccan Sabbats.

Witches' Ointment, Non-Toxic

• 3 parts Vervain
• 3 parts Sandalwood
• 2 parts Cinnamon
• 1 part Carnation petals
  Make in the usual way with shortening. Store in a container marked with a pentagram (five-pointed star, one point facing up). Anoint the body prior to Wiccan rituals to become one with the Goddess and God and that which lies beyond them.

Witches' Ointment, Non-Toxic

• 3 drops Frankincense
• 2 drops Myrrh
• 1 drop Sandalwood
• 1 drop Orange
• 1 drop Lemon
  Make according to the beeswax/oil method. Use as with the above ointment.

Youth Ointment

• 4 parts Rosemary
• 2 parts Rose petals
• 1 part Anise
• 1 part Fern
• 1 part Myrtle
  Make with shortening. For preserving or re-attaining youth, stand nude before a full-length mirror at sunrise and lightly anoint your body, visualizing yourself as you would like to be.

These recipes call for preparations that require oils. While it is perfectly acceptable (and sometimes necessary…) to use purchased oil, keep in mind that the more of your ingredient YOU make, the more they contain of your energy & intent. For general oils directions, you can go here

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader's personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.