Mercredi: The Art of Beauty

Valentine's Day is a week away, ladies, and it is no good excuse for you to sit around waiting for him to “get you something”.  Be creative, be thoughtful, and make your man a gift to pamper him that he can appreciate all year round.  How about a nice aftershave with the rich, earthy scents of sandalwood and rosemary?  Here’s what you’ll need:

¾ cup witch hazel

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

12 drops sandalwood essential oil

5 drops rosemary essential oil

3 drops tea tree essential oil

Simply funnel all these ingredients into a bottle with a tight-fitting lid.  Shake the mixture up and then pat on facial skin after shaving.

The witch hazel and vinegar are astringent while the sandalwood and tea tree oils are antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.  Rosemary adds a nice “nose” and helps improve circulation. 

Got a lady friend rather than a gentleman?  Consider replacing the sandalwood oil with rose otto essential oil.  This makes a great pre-moisturizing astringent for just-shaved legs.  These recipes are adapted by me from an aftershave recipe in the wonderful Reader’s Digest Book of Herbs.  A votre santé ~

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