Warm Winter Skin Tonic with Herbal Oil Infusion
Carotenoids, which have been demonstrated to "accumulate largely in the epidermis and act as a protective barrier," are abundant in orange meals. (see citation) They make an excellent skin tonic and infuse well into oil. Carrots are high in antioxidants, which protect the skin and give it a healthy glow. Ginger is both warming (it increases circulation) and anti-inflammatory. Grapefruit is an energizing fruit that promotes flow and movement in the tissues.
As a therapeutic body oil, use it on a daily basis. The herbs are skin tonics; they increase vigor and strength both outwardly and inside. The warmth and stimulation help you maintain your equilibrium during the darker, colder, and heavier seasons of life.
It can be used directly on the skin (ideal after a shower) or in skincare preparations that call for oil.
INGREDIENTS:
4 carrots, dehydrated
1 grapefruit, dehydrated
1 pound ginger, dehydrated
Carrier oil of choice: I used Jojoba Oil
*This amount made about 8 ounces of herbal oil
Get your ingredients ready. Wash everything before slicing thinly. Dehydrate it first. I recommend using a dehydrator, but you can also use a low-temperature oven. It is important to note that the ingredients must be completely dry before infusing in oil to avoid mold.
When that's done, you can start the infusion process. Fill a jar 3/4 full with dried carrot, ginger, and grapefruit (equal parts of each)
Pour in the carrier oil until the ingredients are completely covered.
Blend everything in a bullet blender for at least 5 minutes.
Pour the "oil slushie" back into the infusion jar. Cap it and decide whether you want to do a slow, cold infusion. If you prefer, you can do a warm, quick infusion.
The final product is identical; the only difference is one of time and preference. Both ways are fantastic!
Slow, cold method: Place the jar in a warm (but not cold) location in your home, away from direct light. Allow it to infuse for 4 weeks, and give it a good shake every couple of days to aid the infusion process.
Warm, quick method: Place the jar in your preferred heat source (sous-vide, boxed dehydrator, yogurt maker...) and set it to infuse at 120° for 3-10 days of continuous heat.
Strain the oil and store it in a dark, glass bottle. It's all set to go!
I hope you love the recipe and find it to be warm and inviting.
share your thoughts and process with me below! We'd love to hear from you.
Balić, A., & Mokos, M. (2019, July 31). Do we utilize our knowledge of the skin protective effects of carotenoids enough? Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland). Retrieved November 15, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6719967/