Learn How To Elevate Your Skincare Routine with Herbal-Infused Oils
On my personal journey into mindful living, I discovered the joys of making my own personal care products and fell in love with the versatility and healing properties of herbs. I began studying herbalism and started to incorporate them in the products I was crafting in order to make them as strong and effective as possible. One way to enhance body products is by infusing certain ingredients with herbs. My chosen method is making herbal-infused oils and adding them into my personal care recipes.
Infused oils can be prepared using various infusion methods, such as warm infusion, solar infusion, stovetop infusion, and oven infusion methods.
If you are just starting out, warm infusion is the most approachable method. Here’s what you do:
Fill a dry, sterilized container with 1 ounce of powdered, dried herb(s) OR loosely fill the same jar 3/4 full of fresh, chopped herb
Add 1/2 oz whole grain alcohol if using dried herb or 1 teaspoon to 1 pint (1/2 teaspoon to 8 ounce jar) if using fresh herb
Seal jar and shake to combine.
For dried herbs: Let alcohol infuse with the herb for 24 hours. When ready, pour 8-10 fluid ounces of room-temperature oil over the dried herb.
For fresh herbs: You do NOT need to let the alcohol infuse. Pour enough oil over the fresh herb to leave 2 inches of space at the top.
Seal jar and shake to combine.
Let sit in a cool, dark place for 4-6 weeks.
Strain and compost herbs.
This is your herbal infused oil.
Regardless of your skill set, your finished product can be used as is or as an alternative to a carrier oil (with added essential oil) in various bath and body recipes.
If you don’t have a lot of time or you want to make something to be used right away, the oven method is another approached choice.
Preheat Oven: Set your oven to a low heat of 120-140 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure gentle infusion.
Prepare Herbs and Oil: Refer to the previously provided recipe to mix your herbs and carrier oil but for this recipe you’ll be adding them in a sterilized, ovenproof dish.
Ensure all herbs are well-coated and no air pockets remain.
Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and leave it uncovered to infuse for 4-8 hours.
Strain and Store: Once done, follow the warm-infusion method already described for straining and storing your oil. This ensures maximum extraction and preservation of the herbal properties.
It’s important to remember that by using herbal-infused oils you’re not only receiving their therapeutic properties on the skin, but underneath the skin as well. These oils are absorbed into the skin, and into the muscles, and the bloodstream for positive systemic effects.
As your skill-level increases, you can start experimenting in other ways of herbal extraction. For my products I use the alcohol intermediary herb-infused oil technique, a highly potent method that captures all of the plant's medicinal properties. This method, taught by Kami McBride at the Living Awareness Institute, only takes a day and produces a strong oil.
Making your own personal care products with herbs not only benefits your body, mind, and skin, but also supports sustainability and ethical practices. I offer an ebook in my shop called Bringing Nature Back Home: A Guide to Natural Bath + Body Care that provides a step-by-step guide on how to make your own herbal products, including the potent herbal-infused oil that I use. I also guide you through an audit of your consumption habits, giving you opportunities to eliminate unnecessary products. I provide a list of reusables I use as substitutions to single use items and disposables. These are the MVPs to helping you create a low waste bathroom while maintaining your an all-natural beauty routine.
So why not give it a try and experience the magic of nature in your own personal care routine? I would love to know if you do!
