The Pagan Heart Spoil Me...Please Recipes

July-August 2005 Issue

Spoil Me...Please Recipes By Callum Mostyn     First Harvest Summer is in full swing right now - even though we have passed the midpoint. The days are long and hot, and dry skin abounds. The following recipes are concocted in honour of the Earth Mother who is carrying the unborn Sun King. They are designed to help moisturise and pamper overstretched, itchy, dry skin. Mind you, you don't need to be pregnant to enjoy them.     Buttermilk Bath Powder This is a gentle, moisturising bath powder - an interesting twist on the more usual bath oils and salts. Rich in milk fats, this powder will leave your skin rejuvenated, and is safe to use with your baby too.. You need: 1 cup nonfat dry milk 1 cup whole dry buttermilk 4 tbsp cornstarch 5 drops lavender or chamomile oil Mix the ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight container. Use 1/4 cup in the bath, or a tablespoonful in a baby tub. Peppermint Gel The aloe and peppermint in this work to relieve tired muscles and reduce swelling in the legs. You need: 1/2 cup aloe vera gel 1 & 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch 1 tbsp witch hazel 5 drops peppermint oil Mix the aloe vera, cornstarch, and witch hazel in a container and heat on high in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds for 1-2 minutes. Let cool, stir in the peppermint and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Rose Face Mask Roses have the wonderful ability to cleanse and soothe both oily and dry skin, making them ideal for combination and problem skin types. Pregnancy often results in hormonal changes to the skin and this mask is ideally suited to deal with that. You need: 1 rose 1/4 cup hot water 1 tbsp rosewater 1 tbsp natural yogurt 1 tbsp honey Strip the rose petals into the hot water and let soak for 20 minutes. Crush with a fork and mix in the rosewater, yogurt and honey. Apply the resultant paste to face and neck and leave for 5-10 minutes before rinsing off. This makes a very relaxing mask while soaking in the Buttermilk Bath. Rinse the mask off into the bath and let the vitamins and minerals work their magic on the rest of your body. Finish off with a brief rinse in warm water to remove any leftover petal fragments. Moisturising Lotion for Dry Skin Rough and itchy dry patches are a common bane in pregnancy and summertime - worse when the two are combined. This lotion makes an effective instant cure-all. You need: 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup olive oil 1 tsp lemon juice 5 drops lavender oil 4 drops rose oil Mix all ingredients and apply as needed to dry patches. Massage into the skin and leave for 10-20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. Do not scrub while rinsing.

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