Organic Body Care Recipes: 175 Homeade Herbal Formulas for Glowing Skin & a Vibrant Self

Comment: This was my least favorite of the three books I bought. Maybe I had overly high expectations...

The only thing I liked about this book were the expiration date recommendations, but I'm not even convinced I can even take those seriously after some of the recipes I saw. A tangerine toner for summer? Seriously? Yes, they actually recommend a phototoxic eo for "warm weather and vacation". Oh and then there's a "moisturizer" recipe that is, and no i'm not kidding, nothing but water and glycerin with some eos as a fragrance.

if you are the kind of person that wants to waste their money making a myriad of frivolous body products that sound pretty then you will absolutely love this book. otherwise, spend your money on something else.

Comment: This is a great beginner's book because it allows someone to thoroughly research the ingredients in the book, and on their own. Also, the ingredients for the products are not the most expensive in the world. If you are looking for a great party idea, I made at least 8-10 products ranging from super simple, to intermediate-difficult for three people for under 50 dollars. It was one of the best birthday's I've ever had. I have read some of the complaints about this book, especially as far as the simplicity goes. Yes, a yogurt mask is simple, did you already know what it does for the skin before you read the book? If you are against animal products, or vegan, look for a vegan book. Don't expect your values to be represented in a book that doesn't claim to be vegan. There are non-animal product yogurts on the market, such as O'soy yogurt which is soy, and Coconut milk yogurt from So Delicious. They are not vegan, but they are not made from the milk of cows or goats. There are vegan recipes if you look, such as simply using fruit. As far as using oil on problem skin, it is a paradox that oil is best for oily skin. When you strip the oil from your skin, you tell your skin to make more oil. It is all about balancing the sebacious layer of your skin, water and oil in harmony leads to healthier and more vibrant skin.

I have used some of the recipes as a jumping board for my own ideas, with great personal results. I couldn't have found a better book to start with. My complements to the author, and to any one who picks this book up, you'll enjoy this book.
A favorite of mine is the bloomin' belly butter, which I have made for my self as a hand balm, and it works well for irritated sinus passages. It is this recipe that you can add what ever essential oils to and make it your own. Good luck, and have a lot of fun. The recipes may be simple, but who needs complicated when you're trying to relax.

Comment: Item arrived as described, in a timely manner, and without any hassles. Smooth transaction in every way!

Comment: This is a very useful book. I haven't a single doubt about that. However, two problems arise with this book. One is that the table of contents references a large amount of information into one section so that you have to do some hunting to find a particular recipe instead of easily finding it by individual page. This is just a personal thing that gets on my nerves so it may not prove true for everyone. Secondly, some of the recipes - not all - require ingredients that you have to hunt for at your local health food store. However, these ingredients are not so impossible to find that they require internet ordering only. That being said, I have a pretty positive view of this book.

Comment: I have read numerous books and articles on therapeutic uses for plants. I have spent hours referring to the Cosmetic Safety Database (which I find very helpful but terribly unreliable) as I help my family choose products that help us reach our goals including those regarding health. I scoured the internet to find recipes for body scrubs that would benefit and appeal to my family. I am very enthused about implementing the suggestions that I find, but very little of the information sticks in my head, and I stick with very few of my plans...until now.

Stephanie's book is incredibly practical. She divided the information into a section on personal care, one on ingredients, and one on recipes. I used Post-It flags to label the pages that I really want to keep fresh in my memory. I used a small notebook to help me schedule when to make the recipes that are the highest priorities, and to help me put together shopping lists.

Stephanie's book is also incredibly trust-worthy. She explains the science behind personal care and her recipes. The recipes are easy to modify because she gives alternatives, and explains the reasoning behind the choice of each ingredient so well. For example, my husband is extremely sensitive to most fragrances, but I want our family to benefit from the therapeutic benefits of a variety of essential and unrefined oils. So, I'm modifying the recipes to use smaller amounts of the ingredients that make him ill, and replacing them with other ingredients that he enjoys, in accordance with Stephanie's recommendations.

Stephanie has also helped me to understand why I've had such poor results from using other sources. The ingredients and procedures did not meet her criteria or our personal needs. As a licensed esthetician, her book gives explicit standards for the ingredients and commercial products that she uses and recommends. Most of my ingredients and products failed these standards. The ones that met the standards are the ones that I've been happiest with. Her book explains that coincidence! She also explains my previous failures to make emulsions like mayonnaise which combine watery and oily ingredients. Hooray for Stephanie! I can now make an emulsified lotion!

Stephanie is also a terrific person. I went to her website [...], and we have been corresponding by email, first discussing details in her book, and then branching out to discuss related issues including tanning and acrylic nail alternatives. She is quick to respond and very generous with her perspective.