A bounty of feel-good DIYs
We've been longtime fans of Homestead Design Collective, co-owned by a dyed-in-the-wool sustainable gardener, Stefani Bittner, and Alethea Harampolis, a florist known for her wild, garden-inspired designs. And now we're swooning over Harvest, their gorgeously photographed guide to growing, harvesting, and utilizing unexpected plants for floral arrangements, dyes, cocktails, and more. With recipes from the book, here are our favorite natural beauty products you can make at home, with ingredients sourced from your own garden.
Apricot Facial Mask
High in vitamins A and C, apricots are a nutritious snack, but they are also a wonderful treat for your skin. We eat our way through the harvest but save some fruit to create this relaxing facial mask. The natural fruit acids gently exfoliate dead skin cells, while the vitamins help rejuvenate the skin surface. As with any face scrub, apply the apricot cleanser no more than once or twice per week. If you have extra, store it refrigerated in an airtight container and use it within 3 days—or, better yet, share some with family and friends.
Rosewater Facial Toner
Rosewater is the perfect scent for a fragrance minimalist. Not only does it contain all of the medicinal benefits of roses, the water also takes on the wonderful scent of the flower as well. In addition to being an anti-inflammatory and a calming scent, rose is a natural cooling astringent with skin-soothing properties. This combination makes this rosewater facial toner a wonderful addition to your skin-care routine. Use daily by moistening a cotton pad or ball with a few drops of the rosewater and applying to your face.
Herb Hive Lip Balm
It’s fun to make your own lip balm from the garden. And if you keep bees, this is also a great way to use your beeswax.
Lemongrass Salt Scrub
Lemongrass has antibacterial, antioxidant, and other therapeutic properties. After a hard day working in the garden, we appreciate lemongrass as a remedy for our aches and pains. Use this salt scrub on your hands daily or on sore muscles once a week while taking a deep soak in the tub. If you have very sensitive skin, you may want to use the salt scrub only on your hands or substitute brown sugar for the salt as a milder alternative.
Gardener's Salve
Simple, effective, and useful medicines, echinacea salves can soothe minor sores, wounds, insect bites, and stings—perfect for the home gardener. To create this recipe, you’ll need to have already created an essential oil using echinacea flowers.
