Herbs for Natural Beauty by Rosemary Gladstar


Herbs for Natural Beauty
Title : Herbs for Natural Beauty
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 1580171524
ISBN-10 : 9781580171526
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 80
Publication : First published January 6, 1999

One of America's foremost herbalists provides concise, simple-to-understand, and practical information for using herbs for health and well-being. Each book contains profiles of specific herbs, cautions, contraindications, and easy-to-make recipes to relieve common ailments.


Herbs for Natural Beauty Reviews


  • Melissa

    I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

    This is a fantastic book for learning the basics of all natural skin care. When you do an Internet search for all natural beauty recipes the results can be overwhelming. But Rosemary Gladstar has made a simple yet effective guide for anyone who is just starting to make and use their own beauty remedies.

    Gladstar begins with giving us a list of necessary kitchen tools and ingredients. One of my favorite recipes in the book is the "Green Goddess Facial Serum." The serum includes a list of the best ingredients that will make your skin glow and the serum is very easy to make. I prefer making serums over creams or lotions because they are easier and quicker to put together.

    Another of my favorite recipes in the book is the one for tooth powder. I have been making and using my own tooth powder for about a year now and my family's dental health has never been better. Gladstar recommends putting some ground myrrh powder in the mix, which is something that I have never tried before.

    HERBS FOR NATURAL BEAUTY is a fantastic resource and I highly recommend it for anyone who is tired of putting toxic and expensive unguents on the face and getting no results. Natural is the way to go!

  • Julie

    With a tone similar to your wise, warm, slightly wacky hippie auntie, Rosemary Gladstar leads you on a pleasant tour of the herbal beauty world. Who knew that many herbs familiar to home chefs and tea drinkers can also be used for cosmetic purposes? Each section of the book covers a specific skin or hair care treatment and begins with a fun and informative introduction by Gladstar, followed by easy-to-make recipes. After reading this book, you’ll want to whip up a batch of miracle grains or homemade rose water for yourself and your friends.

  • Felicity Fields

    Excellent! It may feel like a short but, but it's packed with info and personality. I appreciate that she started by describing how the different ingredients function in a recipe, so that when you are experimenting you know which ingredients can be swapped without affecting the end product in function or form.

    Includes all home bath products except soap in a simple, no extra info presentation that a beginner like me really appreciates.

    Looking forward to trying these recipes!

  • sarah

    I think it is very very hard to take an intuitive practice & write a book on it that is accessible & approachable for everyone, but this is pretty damn good. Wish it was longer & included some more recipes, but I am absolutely going to try some of these!!

  • Carolyn

    I gave his book 3 stars because I haven’t had a chance to try any of the recipes yet. It’s an easy read and she does a nice job of explaining the benefits simply and it looks like the recipes are pretty easy to do.

  • Charmaine

    A delightful introduction to Rosemary Gladstars' work! Informative and pleasantly written. I am looking forward to trying some of these recipes and making my own hydrosols.

  • Stephie

    Some good recipes I had never seen before - or thought to look for.

  • Dawn Thomas

    Book Review Herbs for Natural Beauty by Rosemary Gladstar

    9781612124735

    Publisher: Storey Basics
    128 Pages

    Nonfiction, Health, Mind & Body, Skincare, Shampoo, Creams, Body Butters, Bath

    The book is in the Storey Basics for Self-Reliance series.

    Chapter One: Women’s Health, Women’s Beauty

    Chapter Two: Selecting the Ingredients

    Chapter Three: A Cornucopia of Natural Skin Care Recipes
    Miracle Grains
    Moist Miracle Grains
    Herbal Facial Steam
    Queen of Hungary’s Water
    Bay Rum Aftershave and Astringent
    Homemade Rose Water, Method #1
    Homemade Rose Water, Method #2
    Homemade Spritzer
    Rosemary’s Perfect Cream
    Green Goddess Facial Magic
    Golden Elixir Facial Serum
    Basic Body Butter
    Edible Body Butter
    Body Butter Bars
    Herb-Infused Oil
    Creamy Massage Oil
    Body Powder

    Chapter Four: Beauty and the Bath
    Stimulating Bath Blend
    Relaxing Bath Blend
    Homemade Bath Salts
    Basic Salt Glow
    Brown Sugar Scrub
    Tooth Powder
    Spilanthes Mouthwash
    Luscious Lip Balm
    Sleep with the Angels Dream Balm

    Chapter Five: Hair Care and Coloring
    Make-It-Yourself Herbal Shampoo
    Goldie Locks Herb Blend
    Dark of the Night Herb Blend
    Desert Bloom Herb Blend
    Rapunzel’s Locks Herb Blend
    Vinegar Hair Rinse
    Herbal Hair Rinse
    Hot Oil Conditioning Treatment

    At the end of the book, there is a recommended reading list and a list of resources. The author does a thorough job introducing readers into natural skin care. Most of the ingredients are readily available. As someone that makes her own skin care products, I found this book to be helpful. This is an excellent resource for anyone interested in controlling what goes on their skin.

  • Holly Scudero

    If it seems like making your own concoctions for health and beauty products is “in” right now, you’re probably right. Bloggers everywhere have jumped aboard, there are recipes everywhere for body scrubs and face washes, and Internet sources abound for essential oils and herbs. But what if you’re new to this, and you’re not sure where to start? What if you just want a simple guide for beginners? Rosemary Gladstar, lifelong herbalist, is here to help.

    "Herbs for Natural Beauty" is one in Storey’s new series of books about using herbs for everyday things. In this book, Gladstar presents the basics of how to make your own herbal beauty products, from skin care products (including facial scrubs, moisturizers, and even aftershave) to bath products (bath salts, body scrubs, and tooth powder) to hair care products (herbal shampoos and ideas for using henna to color your hair). This is by no means an exhaustive guide to making your own anything, but it does cover the basics quite adequately, using supplies that are readily available at your local health food store or online. Her instructions are straightforward and she provides a detailed explanation of the different kinds of ingredients she uses, as well as what purpose each one serves. This is a great starter guide.

    Review originally written for San Francisco Book Review.

  • Kelly

    Rosemary Gladstar is one of my favorite herbalists and her kind voice and her wisdom make these short, focused booklets easy to read. This booklet begins with a basic overview that is a great starting point for many common beauty care herbs and other ingredients. The remainder of the book includes recipes that are easy to follow, the ingredients are easy to find at a local store or online (she gives reputable resources), and the advice is concise, yet helpful. The brief introductions to each recipe are as useful as the recipe itself, which furthers the herbal education Rosemary introduces in the beginning pages. There is a nice section on using henna for hair color and it is some of the most helpful and informative advice I’ve read about this process.

  • penny shima glanz

    This is an invaluable resource to beginning to make your own facial cream, body butters, massage oils, bath salts and scrubs, lip balms, and more -- right in your kitchen with many ingredients already found in your pantry. Gladstar's experience is distilled into clear instructions full of common sense and helpful tips and charts for going beyond the recipe. She also explains how to use the items with helpful routines, such as a five step skin care routine, a step-by-step guide to applying henna, and the secrets to the perfect pampering bath.

    Note: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

  • Janis

    Can't wait to try out these formulas for wholly home-made skincare! I've been more and more dissatisfied with factory made skincare products that are pricey and non-effective. Knowing what actually goes onto my face is important to me as skin is how we interact with the outside world, and absorbs a lot of toxins every day! I like that this book gives a great overview on what each common ingredient generally comes from and what they do. I wouldn't mind more technical details but this is fine too. I especially love the facial routine part!

  • Deborah Davis

    This is an excellent book for creating your own beauty products, from hair care to make up, but my favorite parts are about baths. A must read for anyone trying to break away from the mystery chemicals plaguing our cosmetics.

  • Kei

    She has a wonderful voice and approach to herbs and healing and beauty.

    Most of what was in here I had read previously in one of her other books, but there was a bit of new, and having the smaller - more specific - reference is not a bad thing.

  • Rachel

    Great read and very informative.

  • E

    I like Rosemary's personality and philosophy. The book contains foundational information and recipes that seem very approachable. I like to try some soon, especially the hair and teeth products.

  • Abigail

    Really great information & very clear fast read! One of my favorites!

  • Kate Grandbois

    Fun, easy read with accessible recipes!