DIY face oil for radiant skin & some easy steps to becoming more environmentally conscious

So you’ve finished a bottle of your favourite tincture and are about to crack open the next bottle ready to continue on your healing journey, but what about the old bottle?

I know, and trust me when I say we at Aether have racked our brains and continue to try our hardest to find solutions to issues of waste – but until there comes a time where there are more accessible solutions to this issue (other than the best we can do at this point) I want to offer you one in the form of an exciting challenge – reusing and recycling.

Now not only can your powder jars be turned into the home for sprouting avocado seedlings or storing some spices and herbs, your tincture bottles can be used for DIY beauty products, essential oil blends and even some home remedies.

What’s the issue with waste you may ask?

Well I’m sure most of you know the need for our reduction in our carbon footprint – and a huge part of that has to do with what we consume and throw out. There are many exciting projects regarding recycling happening around our country like the plastic recycling station at Nourish’d and the many zero waste stores popping up in most city centres.

Here are some interesting facts about waste:

• Worldwide, the average person produces 0.74kgs of rubbish but can generally range between 0.11-4.54kgs
• Roughly one-third of the food produced for human consumption ( around 1.3 billion tonnes) gets lost or wasted. The carbon emissions of this in the US alone is equal to the annual carbon emissions of 42 coal-fired power plants.
• The average South African will generate around 41kgs of plastic waste a year
• Plastic bottles will take around 450 years to decompose in a landfill
• It takes around 4000 years for a glass bottle to decompose in a landfill
• Globally the average carbon footprint per person is 4 tons
• Over a lifetime of 100 years, one tree could absorb around a ton of carbon – however when trees are cut down much of the carbon stored within them escapes into the air

I know – these are some pretty scary statistics and numbers, I only share them in an attempt to illustrate that now more than ever we have the wonderful opportunity to return to nature – to mother earth and thank her for all she gives us.

Not only has she nurtured with us for this long with an abundance of foods and resources but she has patiently tended to us just as a mother would: providing food, medicine, resources and lessons. We’ve hit our head a few times but here is our opportunity for learning and for growth, our chance to show her we have learned the lessons presented to us and we will all do our best in the ways we can to respect our reciprocal place on this planet.

• COMPOSTING – not only is this one of the easiest solutions around but did you know that composting your organic waste can reduce more than 50% of carbon dioxide-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions – if you aren’t living in a compost friendly space then check out some local composting projects, farms and community projects, definitely look at Bokashi waste management for city folks – they’re great!
  • PRO-TIP – before composting save all your veggie scraps in a plastic bag in the freezer and use it to make a vegetable stock which can be frozen into ice blocks or containers
• Opt for zero waste shopping – this doesn’t have to be perfect, as with all our attempts to live a greener life it also has to be assessable to you. This can look like choosing loose apples over bagged ones, using a menstrual cup or reusable pads, refilling oil in an old glass jar, toothpaste tablets, shampoo bars, taking fresh produce and reusable shopping bags with you to the super market and shopping for your grains and other kinds of products in bulk stores or in the refill stations like that at Cosmic Bazaar, Nude Foods and even Food Lovers Market
• Use clean products both inside and out – look for the greener option from your perfume to your toilet cleaner this will help our waterways and reduce damage overall
• Try shop as locally as possible in order to support less carbon draining options, this can include seasonal eating as well as where you get your T-shirt from
• Thrifting ! Second hand clothing, household appliances, décor and more… it’s pretty self-explanatory, the less waste the better
• Change to LED light bulbs or better yet candles and energy efficient lamps
• Change your travel habits by carpooling, walking, cycling or using public transport
• Value your resources, don’t leave the tap running, use washing water for your plants, switching lights off in the room you aren’t in, not leaving your car running and even just noticing your consumption.
• Calculate your carbon footprint and contribute to carbon sequestration projects such as reforestation – they’re a google away and organizations like Klima, GreenPop and more are doing phenomenal work

The Three R’s are my favourite  – before this becomes an essay let me end with the simplest summation of the solution - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

So will REUSING a tincture bottle really help that much – well, in my opinion yes, not only are you REUSING and RECYCLING, you are also reducing the need to purchase a bottle for your own potion making to keep or gift forward. It may seem little, but many little things end up making a big impact

So, without any further adieu here is the recipe:

The RADIANCE face oil

Ingredients and their benefit to your skin:

• Schisandra: antioxidant rich, Vit C & E, promotes collagen production, skin elasticity, helps with acne and blemishes, protects against UVB skin damage, anti-inflammatory and anti-againg
• Moringa: anti-bacterial, prevents breakouts, removes blemishes, dark spots, pimples and blackheads. Contains Vit C and packed with antioxidants which aids in collagen production therefore evening out skin tone
• Camu Camu: The richest natural vit C which mother earth has to offer us as well as being an antioxidant medicine, camu camu also contains flavonoids which aid in preventing UV related skin damage. It has shown to be protective of the skin when it comes to the impacts of pollution and even pollen related allergies which could cause inflammation, itchiness and dryness.
• Buchu: Aids in circulation, strengthens and promotes supple skin, it is also antibacterial aiding preventing and treating acne, breakouts and blackheads, is antifungal, anti-inflammatory and is sensitive skin friendly.
• Carrier Oil ( there are many options )
  • Olive oil -Antioxidant rich, Vit E and polyphenols, highly moisturizing and aids in treating dry skin
  • Jojoba Oil – Vit E and anti-inflammatory, great for acne and oily prone skin types
  • Coconut oil – packed with vitamin E, fatty acids and antioxidants, very hydrating, anti-inflammatory and aids in healing wounds.
  • Rosehip Oil – High in Vitamin C, A & E, anti-ageing, very moisturizing
  • Grapeseed oil – Easily absorbed, Vit E, lessens acne scars, linoleic acid aids with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, keeps skin hydrated.

Method:

1. Solar method ( 2-4 weeks)

   • Select a brewing jar of choice, fill 1 part herb to 2 parts oil (1tsp each herb to 40ml oil or for a bigger batch you can gift forward 1tbsp each herb to 120ml oil)
   • Once jar is filled, close with a lid tightly and keep it on a windowsill which gets daily exposure to sunlight
   • Shake the oil and herbs around once to twice daily to allow for a better extraction
   • Depending on how strong you want your extract after 2-4 weeks strain the herbs from the oil using a cheesecloth or strainer, compost your herbs and pour your oil into your old aether tincture bottle to enjoy, if you have too much oil use other bottles you have lying around.
   • Massage into clean skin 1-2 times daily
2. Double boil method (30 minutes)
   • Taking a pot and filling about half way with water, bring water to a boil and place a Perspex or heat safe double boiling vessel on pot
   • Place herbs and oil (1tsp each herb to 40ml oil or for a bigger batch you can gift forward 1tbsp each herb to 120ml oil) into double boiling vessel and keep stove on low temperature for 30 minutes
   • Strain herbs from the oil using a cheesecloth or strainer, compost your herbs and pour your oil into your old aether tincture bottle to enjoy, if you have too much oil use other bottles you have lying around.
   • Massage into clean skin 1-2 times daily