Persian Princess Skin Cream
This rich, nourishing cream can be used sparingly under make-up or as a daily moisturiser for dry and mature skins. It also makes a great hand cream for gardeners.
3g beeswax granules
10ml sweet almond oil
10ml avocado oil
2 vitamin E capsules
15ml bottled/filtered water
3 drops frankincense oil
3 drops rose otto oil
Put the beeswax and vegetable oils into a heat-proof bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir until the beeswax has completely dissolved. Remove from heat, then add the contents of the vitamin E capsules. Slowly stir in the bottles or filtered water until the cream thickens, then add the essential oils. Spoon into a glass pot with a tight-fitting lid. It should keep for 3 months if stored in the fridge.
Goddess of the Nile Body Pack
A body pack is the messiest beauty treatment of all, though the glowing result makes it completely worthwhile. The frankincense will rejuvenate the skin, while the green clay draws out embedded impurities and grime from the pores, and sloughs off dead skin cells, leaving your skin soft, fresh and beautifully toned.
125g green clay
200ml bottled/filtered water
2 tbsp sweet almond oil
6 drops frankincense oil
Mix together the green clay and water to make a smooth paste. Stir in the carrier oil and honey, then the frankincense oil. For best results, apply immediately after a steamy bath, when the pores are open and the skin more receptive to treatment. Smooth the mixture over the whole of your body, starting with your feet and working upwards. A little of the mixture may also be applied to your face and neck. Leave on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing thoroughly under a lukewarm shower. If you are brave, turn off the warm water for a few seconds and enjoy a spurt of cold to energise your whole system.
Beauty of Shiraz Bath Milk
Honey and milk are the oldest skin beautifiers and will leave it soft, moisturised and nourished.
3 tbsp dried milk powder
1 tbsp runny honey
2 drops rose otto or geranium oil
1 drops sandalwood oil
2 drops cedarwood oil
1 drop frankincense oil
Add the milk powder and honey while the water is running. Once the bath has been filled, add the essential oils and swish to disperse.
Belly Dancer Body Lotion
This lotion has a fill-bodied scent to seduce and tantalize the senses.
50ml unperfumed body lotion
2 drops frankincense oil
1 drop patchouli oil
4 drops geranium oil
6 drops mandarin oil
2 drops coriander oil
5 drops ylang ylang oil
Add the essential oils to the body lotion and mix thoroughly. Smooth into your skin after a bath or shower.
Exfoliating Massage
A revitalising treatment for tired skin
400g sea salt
25ml sunflower oil
2 drops juniper berry oil
2 drops lavender oil
2 drops frankincense oil
Mix the ingredients in a bowl. Standing in a dry bath gently massage your entire body with the aromatic salt, working up from your feet. Fill the bath with warm water and lie back and relax for at least 15 minutes. Your skin will become soft, glowing and delightfully aromatic.
Antique-Look Gift Box
Create your own charming gift box for someone - or something - special by following these easy steps.
- Small cardboard box
- Antique gold acrylic paint
- burnt umber acrylic paint
- Acrylic gloss painting medium
- Acrylic matt varnish
- Paint brushes
- Scissors
- motifs/PVA glue/Printed letters
- Paint the box and lid with two coats of antique gold acrylic paint, lightly thinned with painting and blending medium. Allow to dry between coats and, after the second coat, leave to dry for several hours.
- Cut out your chosen motifs from wrapping paper or cards and decide where you'd like them to be placed. Then spread glue into the underside of each motif and stick them to the sides and lid of the box. Stick a strip of hieroglyphic-style lettering round the lid. Leave to dry. Brush a coat of burnet umber acrylic paint, diluted with water, over the entire box. Leave to dry. Finish with 2 coats of matt varnish. The box is now ready for the insertion of the pads.
Scented Pads
A box for jewellery or mementos gains an extra dimension when lined with these delightfully-scented pads.
You will need:
- 2 pieces of foam or cotton wadding
- 2 pieces of gauze fabric
- scissors
- pins
- needle and thread
- 4cm strip of velcro
- pure frankincense, myrrh and rose otto oil
- Fold each piece of fabric in half, pin, then seam up the edges. Turn right side out to form 2 pouches. Cut the velcro into 4 pieces, separate the pieces an attach half of each piece onto each corner of the back of one pouch. Glue the other halves to the inside of the box lid, making sure their position correspond with the matching halves on the pouch.
- Sprinkle 10 drops each of frankincense and myrrh essential oils and 3-4 drops of rose otto onto each wadding pad. Insert the wadding into the pouches and sew up the top edges. Press the finished pad with the velcro strips into place inside the lid. Put the other pad in the base.