Herbal Homestead is an Environmental Education & Natural Wellness business. The overriding theme for the range of services provided are based around nature connection, implementing resilient design that works with nature, and natural health care products using herbs for health & healing.
Founder, Lauren Lochrie, encourages people to get hands on through different workshops – some of which include; foraging walks, learning to make your own soap, or being supported in designing your own, beautiful outdoor garden and living space that works for you and nature.
Lauren’s background is in zoology and nature conservation, she has a natural affinity for healing, and is committed to life-long-learning in areas of permaculture design and herbalism to support different communities. Helping everyday people to feel empowered and to take more positive and healthful actions in their lives, sums up beautifully what Herbal Homestead encompasses.
Excitingly, we can share with you, Lauren’s favourite, homemade moisturiser recipe below!
Revive! Moisture Balm, is an intensive moisturiser with anti-wrinkle properties for dry skin.
All ingredients in this example, are organic and purchased from suppliers Naturally Thinking, www.naturallythinking.com
This recipe will give you 250ml of oils and when set, can fill around five, 60ml jars nicely (don’t fill all the way to the top).
RAW INGREDIENTS – refined shea butter, borage seed oil, hemp oil, frankincense and bergamot essential oils (both borage & hemp oils can be replaced with coconut oil if you don’t have any).
IMPLEMENTS – a bain maire or a medium sized pot, mixing spoon, a glass measuring jug (plastic won’t work), clean dish towel, a teaspoon or small spatula, an empty jam jar or five 60ml cosmetic jars.
TECHNIQUE (pot method);
- Boil a half filled kettle, pour the water to around two thirds of the way up the pot, and leave on a low-medium heat (setting 2-3 on an electric hob)
- Put a clean and empty, glass measuring jug inside the water pot and add shavings of shea butter until it reaches 180ml on the jug
- Pour in 45ml of borage seed oil until the oils reach 125ml on the jug, then pour 25ml of hemp oil until it reads 250ml on the jug. Alternatively, melt 70ml of coconut oil to the shea butter instead of borage and hemp oils
- Mix well for a few minutes (a chop stick works well)
- Allow mixture to cool to room temperature out of the sun, it will still be runny at this stage
- Add 20 drops of frankincense and 20-30 drops of bergamot essential oils
- Mix well for around 5 minutes
- Put the dishcloth over the jug and pop it in the fridge for around 3-4 hours until it hardens
- Once set, mix with a spoon until the contents turn whitish and resemble a balm
- Decant carefully with a teaspoon or small spatula into your jam jar or containers to enjoy as a daily moisture balm for the face, hands and body.
- Keeps best in coloured jars, away from sunlight and should last at least one year if you haven’t used it all!
- Store at room temperature or in the fridge
Precautions: As with all essential oils, we do not recommend using Frankincense or Bergamot essential oils during pregnancy. These can be removed in this instance, or if you have highly sensitive skin.
Benefits of the raw ingredients chosen – Taken directly from the Naturally Thinking Website*:
Shea butter benefits – What makes shea butter so useful in skincare is its ability to penetrate the skin without clogging pores, allowing the skin to breathe. Shea butter is highly compatible with the skin and at it’s best in skincare designed to make stressed and dry skin, supple and smooth.
Borage oil benefits – is rich in Essential Fatty Acids and in particular it is well known as being the richest commercial plant source of GLA, an Omega 6 Fatty Acid which is a key ‘building brick’ in production of the body’s regulatory hormones; it has also been shown to be effective in the treatment of dry/damaged skin tissue.
Hemp oil benefits – Filled with essential nutrients, hemp seed oil is natures richest source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) which are known for their excellent emollient and lubricating properties. PUFAs increase the moisture retention of our skin, keeping it soft and supple and our hair healthy and strong. Trapping this moisture strengthens our skin and hair – enhancing our natural defenses against pollution, sun, dry air and excessive use of soaps, gels and other detergents.
Healthful properties of the essential oils (taken from experts doTERRA);
Frankincense essential oil
- Smooths skin
- Reduces the appearance of imperfections
- Promotes peaceful, relaxing and satisfied feelings of overall wellness
Bergamot essential oil
- Soothing to the skin
- Used in massage therapy for calming benefits
- Promotes a positive mood