How to Make an Herbal Infused Beauty Oil

Our Aesthetics program weaves both the medical and the natural aspects of skincare. Part of the natural aspect of the skincare we teach involves making your own natural skincare products. We like to bring in elements from our other sister schools (massage & herbalism) into our Aesthetics program, especially within these natural skincare categories. Taken from our herbalism program, Herbalism Roots, we share how to make your own Herbal Infused Beauty Oils with our esthetician students.

Martin Hansen is one of our six full-time instructors, both an esthetician and a herbalist, and has been practicing both since 2000. He also used to have his own natural, herbal skincare line called Martin George Skin. He’s been making Herbal Infused Oils for decades. He shares his wisdom about infused oils and his recipes with our esthetics students at student clinic and is also sharing this information with all of you in the information below:

Oil Infusions

Infused oils are “steeped” in history. It’s often said that the early Egyptians were the first to record recipes for infused oils for medicine and beauty, but oil infusions, or macerations, can also be found in early TCM, Ayurveda, and Roman cultures. This method of extraction predates the distillation of the essential oils and effectively extracts a wider variety of plant constituents.

Folk Method infusion

Folk Method infusion is done by loosely packing dried plant material, also known as the marc, into a jar, half to 2/3rds full. Then cover the marc with chosen carrier oil, making sure the oil completely covers all the plant material. Seal the jar and wait 4-6 weeks for the plants to give all their properties and energetic qualities of the plants. Put your intention into your creation. Visit the jar daily and think about what it’s for and how it will work as you shake it. Tape words of affirmation to the jar. Set it in a sunny window.

I often buried my infused oils in my garden, visiting daily by placing my hand on the soil and imagining the infusion soaking up the wisdom of the earth. I would bury it on a full moon and dig it up on the next full moon. It was this process that taught me that making herbal preparations or beauty ingredients isn’t just about the compounds in the plants but also about your relationship to your creation. Once your oil has infused, strain off the plant material through a wire strainer lined with cheesecloth. Once any plant particulates have settled to the bottom, strain through a coffee filter.

Slow Cook Method

The Slow Cook Method involves placing the marc in oil that is gently heated. You want your oil to be heated uncovered to around 110 degrees to maintain the quality of the infusion. You can use a digital crockpot to achieve this. I use a cast-iron Dutch oven because it makes me feel very witchy. Gently heat the plants in oil for 2-4 hours and then strain. This method is ideal for infusions with plants that still have water. Some plants are better infused fresh or slightly wilted, and the heat allows for the medicinal quality to be extracted while the water is evaporated. If there is any water in the finished oil, there is a higher potential for it to mold. For home skin-care preparations, thoroughly dried herbs are generally the simplest and safest choice. Oils made with fresh or partially dried plants require careful handling because residual moisture can shorten shelf life and increase the risk of microbial growth. This is my preferred method to infuse Arnica or Dandelion flowers to later make into a pain salve.

Your infused oil is ready to be used as is or turned into something else. Your infused oil can be a body oil, face serum, facial moisturizer, hair treatment, body balm or lip balm. The options are endless.

What is Herbal Infused Beauty Oil?

This herbal-infused beauty oil combines sunflower oil with botanicals traditionally used in skin-care preparations. The finished oil can be used to moisturize and soften the skin and may be adapted by changing the herbs and carrier oils selected for the infusion.

For example, an oil intended for dry-feeling skin might feature calendula, marshmallow, and rosehips.

Herbal Infused Beauty Oil Recipe

Note.
The quantity of ingredients varies depending on the size of the batch being made. This recipe is based on a 32-oz jar and makes roughly 24 oz of finished product.

Added to the base oil after infusion:

Jojoba – 2 oz
Shea Butter – 1 teaspoon
Cocoa Butter – 1 teaspoon
Vitamin E – 1 teaspoon
Carrot Seed Essential Oil – 15 drops
Frankincense Essential Oil – 15 drops
Geranium Essential Oil – 20 drops
Neroli Essential Oil – 10 drops
Turmeric Essential Oil – 5 drops

DIRECTIONS

Loosely pack all dried herbs into a 32-oz jar. Cover completely with sunflower oil and fill the remainder of the jar. Seal and let sit for 6 weeks, shaking daily.

After 6 weeks, strain through a metal strainer lined twice with cheesecloth. Let the oil stand for 24 hours to allow any plant particles to settle to the bottom. Strain the remaining oil through a coffee filter.

In a double boiler melt the shea butter and cocoa butter. Add the melted butters, jojoba oil, and vitamin E to the infused sunflower oil.
Once combined, add the essential oils and mix again.

Store in an airtight, dark container in a cool, dark place.

Use 5-10 drops 1-2 times a day as a face serum under moisturizer or added to your moisturizer.