Making Aromatherapy Creams & Lotions: 101 Natural Formulas to Revitalize & Nourish Your Skin

I've read dozens of books over the years that use the same types of natural ingredients. Donna Maria has uncovered and made available the newest aromatheraputic technologies for the home nuetricutical maker. Some folks have had trouble locating ingredients perhaps like CO2 extracts, hydrosols, and waxes. In the years since the book was first published, these ingredients flourish on the internet...there's not one I haven't been able to find. I'm so excited to have a new direction to experiment with for facial and body preparations.The book is presented in several sections. The first section details useful essential oils and extracts(like Sea Buckthorn Berry), many nutritious plant oils(like Tamanu Oil), and finally emulsifying and thickening agents (like Vegatable Emulsifying Wax).Then come the recipes. The first recipes are for creams and lotions. These recipes appear to be Donna Maria's favorite. The only trouble I had with the thickened creations was the addition of some not so natural emulsifying ingredients I would choose not use (such as Vegatable Emulsifying Wax). I would however use the beeswax formulas. Donna Maria states herself that "as much as the addition of these ingredients increase the aesthetic appeal of a product, it does nothing to treat the skin." Thus the next section:Skin Elixers. Wonderfully nutritious aromatheraputic concoctions to feed your skin and psyche. These are the 50/50 oil and water recipes. How can you resist recipes like "Dry Skin Sundae" and "Dew Drop"? This is my favorite section, even though there were more recipes for dry skin than my oilier skin.And as wonderful as the elixers are, there's more. The final section covers Aromatic Beauty Foods. The fruit-on-your-face kind of recipes with ingredients like Soapwort Root, Clays, EOs, Honey, Mango, Oats, Hydrosols...the list goes on.This is my new favorite skin care recipe book... I like to try the newest ingredients that research is bearing out to be greatly beneficial for the skin. Even health-food store brands can't begin to touch the quality of these elixers. Be good to yourself and "Feed Your Skin".

I don't understand how anyone interested in cosmetics wouldn't love this book. It was delightful, and so informative! It is so much better to make your own than buy the commercial products. Some ingredients in the book are difficult to find, but not impossible, and not really that expensive when you consider the cost compared to the quality.My thanks to the author.

I loved this book. I'm a soapmaker and sell at Farmer's Markets. I like to provide my customers with other things then soap.This book is full of no fail recipes. Donna uses a lot of exotic ingredients (which are not hard for me to find, but may be hard for others). I've tried three of her recipes and each has been unique. As I worked through the recipes, I found I had gained a more complete knowledge of how the process worked. Using the recipes was like a course on lotion and cream making. I sell one of her creams and one of her balms at the market they do very well for me. Once you get a knowledge of the ingredients you're working with, it's easy to make adaptions to suit your needs.I wish she's write another book. This one is a keeper, I have two copies for myself.

I'm an avid toiletry maker and have almost every book that there it is on the subjet, but when I receive my copy of Making aromatherapy creams and lotions, I got a book that stands up from the rest. Donna Maria writes with a friendly and refreshing voice, the information is provided in a well-organized format that the readers will find useful and inspiring. This is not the typical book with the same recipes over and over and minimum variations to make it interesting. Donna Maria gives you the whole picture, so that you can create your own. To me that is this is the most valuable tool on designing custom skin care products. The possibilities are endless and there is so much pleasure in discovering them by ourselves.I recomend this book over any other toiletry making books.Maria Jasnoch

I waited in anticipation to receive this book and was not disappointed! This book is easy to read and the format is pleasing. I especially liked reading the information on the other toiletry makers throughout the book. The recipes are to die for. Donna Maria takes you easily step by step through the recipes. This book is a must have for toiletry makers.