This infused oil that I am about to introduce is  different from essential oil, which is extracted by steam distillation and mainly a commercial exercise. A herbal oil infusion consists of herbs and flowers simmered on low heat in a base oil. This adds healing and nourishing properties to your oil. This infusion can be used just as it is or added to your DIY projects and soap.

To make an infused oil, you will need 250g of oil (do not use coconut or cooking oil) to 12 tablespoons of herbs. For example, to treat eczema, I chose 250g of sweet almond oil, 6 tablespoons of calendula and 6 tablespoons of chamomile. Sweet almond oil is known to be especially beneficial for eczema - itchy, dry and inflamed skin. When infused with anti-inflammatory herbs, this oil can be used to heal wounds, burns, scratches, nappy rash, facial broken veins, eczema, chronic ulcers and gum inflammation. 

A double saucepan is ideal for this recipe, but a Pyrex jar over a pan of simmering water will do just as well. My personal preference is a crock pot (slow cooker) - the heat stays consistent and you do not have to worry about burning anything.

(1) Heat the base oil gently until about 60 degree Celsius.
*You may skip this step if you are using a crock pot (slow cooker), just make sure its on low heat.

(2) Add herbs and dried flowers into the oil, making sure that everything is submerged. Leave the oil and herbs over very low heat for at least 1s hour, by which the herbs will have released their beneficial and aromatic properties.
**Depending how how concentrated you want your infusion to be, this simmering process can take anywhere between 30 minutes to 3 hours. 

(3) Strain the oil through a sieve or coffee/tea filter bag. Transfer infusion into a sterilised jar or bottle and leave it to cool. At 40 degree Celsius, your infusion is ready to be used (ahhh... hot oil massage) or you can wait till it has completely cooled off. The shelf-life of your infusion oil will be the same as the base oil you had or purchased.

Your feet takes a pounding everyday (especially in those killer heels), so set aside some time and pamper them this long weekend. 

• Fill a large bucket with hot water.
• Mix 1 tbsp of cold pressed coconut oil with 5 tbsp epsom salt and 3 drops of your favourite essential oil. I would personally recommend spearmint or a fine lavender.
• Add oil and salt mix to the hot water.  Flower petals, dried herbs and citrus peel  optional.
• Now lean back in your favourite chair with a book  or watch some telly while you soak your feet for at least 15 minutes. 

Magnesium in epsom salt is detoxifying and helps you relax, coconut oil softens the skin and eucalyptus is utterly refreshing! After you're done soaking, towel your feet dry and apply a nourishing foot cream or balm. 

With multiple festive seasons winding down, some of us may have overindulged while others are looking to revive tired skin post-holiday. Here's a soup of vegetables and herbs you can enjoy if you are looking to detox or a culinary supplement for acne skin. It is anti-inflammatory, packed with lots of vitamin A and promotes healthy skin.

Vitamin A is conclusively proven in 1996 to be capable of reprogramming skin cells by normalising skin functions, and it corrects skin conditions as below:

• Normalises blood flow and helps reduce rosacea
• Increases the rate of scar healing
• Optimises your UV protection
• Decreases clustering of melanin granules, which reduces sun spots and pigmentation
• Decreases sebum production and treats acne effectively
• Promotes a healthy cellular membrane
• Improves skin hydration levels inside out

CARROT, GINGER & FENNEL SOUP
1 tbsp olive oil
450g carrots, cut into chunks
1 peeled onion, chopped
2 small potatoes, cut into chunks
5 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped
Small piece of ginger, about 5-6cm long, peeled and finely chopped
1.5 litres vegetable or chicken stock
Leaves of 10-12 sprigs of fennel
Salt and pepper to taste
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1. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and add onion, garlic and ginger. Saute them until onion starts to soften.

2. Add vegetables with the stock and bring to a boil.

3. Cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes until carrots are very soft.

4. Take off the heat, cool down for 10 minutes, add fennel leaves and blend till smooth. Serve warm with crusty bread or chilled in a Gazpacho style.

​I'd received a few emails and messages after the DIY Lip Balm post, encouraging me to post more DIY tips and natural recipes. Here's another one if you are looking to make your own body cream. 

My body cream recipe is a semi-commercial formulation that I’d picked up from cosmetic training in France. It requires a nourishing oil, vegetable and some natural extracts, which are optional if you are planning to keep it simple. You can also use organic oil  to make a truly lush, pampering cream. Remember - Organic does not have to cost a fortune, but not a lot of people seem to realise or appreciate that.
Hopefully when you start to make your own skincare products, you will see the genuine benefits they delivery and why there is no reason to pay a lot of money for commercial cream that contains mainly synthetic ingredients and artificial fragrances to cover those chemical smell.

INGREDIENTS TO MAKE A SINGLE PORTION OF LIP BALM
7.5g vegetable oil - choose from sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, rosehip oil, coconut oil etc
5.25g vegetable butter - cocoa butter, shea butter, avocado butter etc
2.25g beeswax 
2 drops of your preferred essential oil 

To prepare a lip balm, melt the beeswax, vegetable oil and vegetable butter (preferably in a double boiler) and mix them thoroughly. Take the oil mixture off the heat and when it starts to cool and slightly thicken, add the essential oil (around 40 degree Celsius). 

Before adding the essential oil, test the consistency of the lip balm by putting a few drops on a glass that has been left in the freezer for a while. This will allow you to adjust the oil mixture before pouring them into a container or tube of your choice.

It is always a good idea to moisturise, both day and night. While moisturising doesn't stop your skin from aging or keep wrinkles and spots at bay, it will ensure your skin stays skin supple and hydrated. 

Aromatherapy is gaining popularity in facial treatment and application for dryness, pigmentation, acne and wrinkles. While aromatherapy is not supported as a medical science in Asia - in modern France, it is used as part of phytotherapy (herbalism, alternate medicine) to treat symptons and diseases. But did you know essential oils are very efficient plant-based additives in facial products because they penetrate very quickly through the epidermis and enter general circulation? To supplement the functions of aromatherapy, it is also important to catch enough "beauty sleep" to stimulate collagen formation and hormone growth. 

In addition to face serum and moisturiser, French women swear by facial oil and you would have probably seen or tried some of them from well known French skincare brands, Clarins and Decleor. I worked out a few simple versions using jojoba oil, which is well tolerated by all skin types. Depending on skin condition however, you may substitute the recommended essential oil with Roman/German chamomile for anti-inflammation and Frankincense for wrinkles. 

*Caution: Please do not apply facial oil on skin that is highly sensitised or inflammed from dermatologic conditions.

For those of you who are interested in natural moisturising options, we have developed a new organic face cream (unscented) containing French lavender, Damask rose and frankincense. It works beautifully for normal, dry and dull skin as it moisturises and brightens your complexion! Trial size available for sale, 26 Jan - 1 Feb at the Star Vista bazaar, Level 1. 

Each year, we spend hundreds and thousands of dollars trying to make our skin look clearer, our body smoother and our hair healthier. And each year, we apply no end of chemicals on ourselves just to achieve those ends. Yet before the mid 19th century, there were no commercially produced cosmetics besides soap, and many of our great grandmothers age with barely any wrinkles and skin damage. 

I am not suggesting commercially produced skincare is bad, especially since they undergo strict testing to ensure they are safe to use before market launch. But many people that you know and I know find themselves allergic to mineral oil, synthetically manufactured fragrances and preservatives, and have started looking for natural options and DIY solutions. 

The mantra for a clear complexion - Cleanse. Tone. Moisturise. is really simple but has long been replaced by mass produced skincare delivering big promises. 

While I do not have celebrity skin, it is still skin that I can quite happily live with. I use commercial face products like everyone else but occasionally make my own face preparations for extra therapy. One of the easiest cleansers to make has buttermilk as its base and contains only 3 ingredients - 150ml buttermilk, 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 5 tablespoons floral water or herbal infusion of your choice. Simply whisk all ingredients together, pour it into a jar and store it in the fridge where it will keep for up to a week. To use, soak a cotton pad in the milk and wipe it gently all over your face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Et c'est tout! 
​

• For normal skin, try Calendula, Chamomile or Lavender (lavandula angustifolia) water.
• For dry skin, opt for Chamomile, Neroli (citrus aurantium) and Elderflower water.

• Oily skin would benefit from Lavender (lavandula angustifolia), Fennel, Witch hazel and Rosemary (rosemarinus officinalis).
• Sensitive skin should stick to Damask rose, Chamomile and Neroli (citrus aurantium)
• For mature skin, go for Damask rose, Geranium or Frankincense water.

*INCI names in brackets are to help you in getting the right essential oil of therapeutic grade.