Everything is coming up LAVENDER for this month’s International Incident Party brought to us by Jeroxie. Yes lavender is the theme this month. I believe a lot of participants were a little concerned with this challenge as lavender may not be everyone’s cup of tea. But I am actually a fan of it, I just so happen to have a jar in my pantry and I have cooked twice recently with it to make a Lavender Ice Cream and a Lavender Lime Cake.

I wanted to use it in a different way this time around. At first I planned on a savory dish but then I came across a few homemade cosmetic recipes using lavender: here and here. I was sold, after all the preparation reads very much like any recipe. I settled on a lavender salve. You can use this lavender body butter lotion anywhere…your face, hands, feet, anywhere you want to soothe your skin. The final product is hard like a salve but easy to scoop out and melts like butter instantly with the heat of your skin.

 

Lavender Salve

2 tbsp almond oil
3 tbsp shea butter
1/4 tsp vitamin E
1 1/2 tsp dried lavender flowers
1/4 tsp cornstarch (reduces “greasy” feeling)

Direction:

  1. Put about an inch (2.5cm) of water in the bottom of a medium-sized pot and heat to a low simmer.
  2. Place a bowl in the pan of water.
  3. Place the shea butter and almond oil in the bowl and warm slowly over a low heat until the butters are melted.
  4. Stir in with a metal spoon the vitamin E and lavender and leave on a LOWEST heat fro 1h30min (a wooden spoon absorbs the scent of essential oils).
  5. Strain and return to bowl.
  6. Place bowl into a larger bowl filled with ice.
  7. Beat for several minutes using electric beaters until it starts to get nice and thick like whipped cream.
  8. Spoon into cosmetic jars.

How about a little martini while the lavender is infusing on the stove? Most lavender martini recipes I found required the use of lavender syrup. I did not care to make some so I found this instant one instead. If you find it too strong feel free to add a bit of orange juice.

Lavender Infused Martini

1/2 tsp lavender
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp sugar
2 ounces quality gin or vodka

  1. Muddle the lavender in the lemon juice.
  2. Add all the ingredients to a shaker with an ice cube.
  3. Shake about 20 times and strain in a glass.

Check out more of my natural beauty recipes: