Homemade Lavender Oatmeal Facial Scrub

Got Lavender?  Try this easy recipe and you can enjoy it all year!

STEP 1:  Harvest your lavender:  I harvest just BEFORE my lavender starts to bloom flowers.  Using scissors, I cut 2-3 inches below the buds so I have plenty of room to bunch them together w/ a rubberband for the drying out process.

STEP 2:  DRY your lavender.  There are many methods, from dehydrators to laying on a cooling rack.  But I use the old fashioned method by bunching it up w/ a rubber band and hanging it upside down in my basement for 2 weeks-1 month.  BUDS WILL FALL OFF DURING THIS DRYING OUT PROCESS SO BE SURE AND LAY OUT A SHEET OR LARGE TABLE CLOTH TO CATCH THE BUDS THAT FALL.

STEP 3:  COLLECT your lavender.  Once dry, the buds will fall off easily.  Place all the buds in a seal-tight container.

TO MAKE SCRUB:

1 cup of steel cut or rolled oats
1/2 cup of lavender buds (dried out)
1/2 cup of almond meal
**OPTIONAL:  5 drops of Tea Tree Oil
**OPTIONAL:  5 drops of Vit E oil

Place all ingredients in a food processor until you have a very FINE CONSISTENCY.  Store in an air-tight container.  I keep mine in my bathroom and use it on my face AT LEAST once/week.  It is GENTLE yet POWERFUL.  Meaning:  if you have sensitive skin, this is a good scrub for you.  If you have acne or blackheads, don't be fooled for the "gentle" character:  it can clear up the worst of acne!

NOTE:  This will mold if you allow moisture in it.  When I use it in the shower, I avoid scooping it out w/ my wet hands.  Instead, I have a small little spoon inside.

YOU.  WILL.  FALL.  IN.  LOVE!!!

Quick Lemon Skin Toner (for any skin type)

Since I'm doing lots of experimentation in my kitchen these days (since going Gluten Free) and not able to post solid table recipes, I thought I'd change it up and post some of my HOMEMADE BODY CARE RECIPES.  Some of these have been collected over the years off blogs or just whipped up with whatever I have on hand in my kitchen.   Good for any skin type.

QUICK LEMON TONER:

2 ounces of lemon juice
4 ounces of distilled water
3 ounces of witch hazel

1.  Combine all ingredients.  Pour into a clean bottle.  Shake well before using.  Apply w/ a cotton ball.
2.  Refrigerate indefinitely.