How To Make An Herbal Aftershave

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

28 Sep 2007 02:29 PM

If you have sensitive skin, shaving can be a serious irritation! It can leave you with itchy, red razor bumps. Try these recipes for a soothing herbal aftershave to help keep your skin happy.

For a stimulating aftershave that will help heal nicks and wake you up, you'll need:

• A large jar (preferably dark colored glass)
• Fresh sage leaves
• Fresh yarrow flowers
• Fresh or dried lavender flowers
• Fresh eucalyptus or peppermint leaves

Fill the jar halfway. Use three parts sage leaves, one part yarrow flowers, one part lavender flowers, and one part eucalyptus or mint leaves. Fill the jar the rest of the way with rubbing alcohol and shake. The herbs will need to steep for two weeks, and you will need to shake the jar up a few times a day for that whole time. After two weeks have passed, strain the mixture and add water to dilute. You can add as much or as little water as you want; I like to dilute the mixture 50%. You can also add a few tablespoons of glycerin or sweet almond oil to soothe dry skin.

For a gentler aftershave, you'll need:

• A large jar
• Two cups of witch hazel
• Two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
• One ounce of dried lavender flowers
• One ounce of dried sage

Shake the mixture vigorously. This aftershave only needs to steep for a week, but you will still need to shake the jar several times every day. After the week has passed, strain and bottle the aftershave. Again, you can add a few tablespoons of glycerin or sweet almond oil if dry skin is a problem. You can also add soothing herbs like chamomile, comfrey, licorice, slippery elm, and orange blossom.

These aftershaves have all the cooling sensation of a commercial aftershave plus the added benefits of healing herbs.

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