Most of us use a huge variety of beauty products on our skin and hair every day--from shower gel and shampoo to moisturizer and hand cream--but the majority of these products contain a variety of chemicals. In A Green Guide to Natural Beauty, natural skincare and fragrance expert Karen Gilbert shows you how to make your own lotions and potions at home, using easy-to-obtain, natural ingredients and easy-to-follow methods. For the face, there are moisturizers, face masks, and cleansers; for the body choose from scrubs and shower gels, soaps, and body lotions. And when you need some extra-special pampering, try the recipes for lip balms, massage bars, bath oils, and eye gels. So try your hand at making a neroli hydrating spritz or a jojoba and aloe vera moisturizer, mango and lime body butter or lemon and tea tree foot balm, bergamot and grapefruit wake-up wash or cocoa butter lip balm--the hardest part is choosing which of the pampering projects to try first! Each recipe has clear step-by-step photographs to guide you, and there are numerous variations to try.

• Make your own beauty gifts for friends, or hold your own pampering parties.
• Just as we are all now more aware of what we eat and how we grow our food, attention is now turning to skincare products--people are looking for a low-cost, natural alternative to highly priced, highly perfumed, highly packaged store-bought items.