Whether you have sensitive skin or just want to build a natural skin-care regimen, Jessica Ress’ book, 100 Organic Skincare Recipes (F+W Media, 2014), will teach you how to nourish the body with oils, herbs and other organic ingredients. This excerpt offers an antioxidant-rich, cooling Sunburn Relief Spray that will help heal tender skin quickly.
You can purchase this book from the Mother Earth Living store: 100 Organic Skincare Recipes.
Sunburn Relief Spray and Compress
There is nothing like a cool mist of this Sunburn Relief Spray and Compress to soothe your tender, overexposed skin. The green tea used in this recipe contains tannic acid, theobromine, and polyphenols—all of which are soothing and healing to sunburned skin. In addition, yerba mate is a South American super-antioxidant that helps speed tissue repair. With the addition of cooling peppermint and the skin healers chamomile and aloe vera, this concoction is sure to soothe the sting of a sunburn!
• 4 cups filtered or spring water
• 1/4 cup fresh peppermint leaves
• 1/4 cup fresh chamomile flowers
• 1 tablespoon loose leaf yerba mate
• 1 tablespoon green tea leaves
• 1/2 cup aloe vera juice
• 10 drops peppermint essential oil
What you will need: Kettle, large saucepan, spoon, strainer, quart jar, spray bottle
To make: Boil 4 cups of water in the saucepan. Remove from heat and add the herbs and tea, stirring with a spoon to moisten thoroughly. Let the infusion steep for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain the herbs from the brew and pour into the jar. Place in the fridge and cool completely, 15 to 20 minutes. Once the brew has cooled, add the aloe vera and essential oil. Seal the lid tightly and shake well to blend.
To store: Pour some of the mixture into a spray bottle. Reserve the remainder in the jar. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
To use: Shake before use. Spray affected areas as desired. Soak a soft cloth and apply as a compress for 10 to 15 minutes to affected areas. Makes 1 quart.
Helpful Hints
If you don’t have access to fresh peppermint, chamomile, loose-leaf yerba mate or loose leaf green tea, substitute tea bags: 1 peppermint, 1 chamomile, 1 yerba mate, 1 green tea. Make sure the tea bags contain only the pure herb without any flavorings or additional blended herbs.
Find more recipes and information inHomemade Products for Sun-Damaged Skin.
Excerpted from 100 Organic Skincare RecipesCopyright © 2014 by Jessica Ress, founder of Angel Face Botanicals and published by F+W Media, Inc. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.
