Glossary for recipes

Acetone
A colorless, volatile, water-soluble, flammable liquid. Use in nail polish removers.
Available at : Drugstore

Alcohol
Reducing agent. Cools skin as evaporates; reduces perspiration. Antiseptic with drying power. Skin cleanser to remove skin debris.
Available at : Drugstore

Almonds
A nutlike kernel; fruit of the almond tree. Source of protein with abrasive action
Available at : Supermarket

Almond oil
Emollient. Natural vegetable oil pressed from almonds. Held to have most penetrating and softening power.
Available at : Health food store or supermarket

Aloe
Any chiefly African, liliaceous plant of the genus Aloe, certain species of which yield a drug and a fiber. Sap use to relieve and heal burns.
Available at : Plant store

Alum
A colorless, odorless, crystalline, water-soluble solid. Mild astringent. Mild germicide.
Available at : Drugstore

Apples
Fruit whose juice contains mild organic acids, pectin, protein, and vitamins.
Available at : Supermarket

Baking soda
A white crystalline, water-soluble powder or granules. Antacid, reduces greasiness of skin, removes crusts and secretions. Use to soothe burns.
Available at : Supermarket

Barley
A cereal plant whose awned flowers grow in tightly bunched spikes. Thought to have properties to cleanse and soften the skin.
Available at : Supermarket

Beeswax
Substance secreted on underside of the bee which it use to build up walls and cells of the honeycomb. Will not clog pores and tends to soften skin.
Available at : Drugstore

Benzoin acid
A white, crystalline, slightly water-soluble powder usually derived from benzoin or other balsams
Available at : Drugstore

Bergamot
Bergamot is a small citrus tree having fruit whose rind yields a fragrant essential oil. Used in small quantities to perfume creams. Also has tanning properties.
Available at : Drugstore

Borax
A white, water-soluble powder or crystals occurring naturally or obtain from naturally occurring borates. Used as an emulsifying agent to make blending lass difficult.
Available at : Drugstore

Boric Acid
Antiseptic, fungicide, mild germicide
Available at : Drugstore

Bran
The partly ground husk of wheat or other grain, separated from flour meal by bolting. Thought to act as a skin softener.
Available at : Supermarket

Brandy
A spirit distilled from the fermented juice of grapes or other fruit. Has modified attributes of alcohol. Available at : Liquor store

Brewer's yeast
A yeast suitable for use as ferment in the manufacture of wine and beer. Source of much vitamin B.
Available at : Health food store or super market

Calamine powder
A pink, water-insoluble powder consisting of zinc oxide and about 0.5% ferric oxide, used in ointments, lotions, and the like. Mild astringent, Protective dehydrant.
Available at : Drugstore

Camphor
A whitish, translucent, crystalline, pleasant-odored antiseptic obtained from the camphor tree. Counter-irritant, its action depends upon peripheral sensory nerves. Give sense of coolness.
Available at : Drugstore

Carrots
Vegetable. Source of vitamin A used to unplug pores and facilitate oil release.
Available at : Supermarket

Castile soap
A variety of mild soap, make from olive oil
Available at : Drugstore

Castor oil
A colorless to pale yellow viscid liquid, usually obtained from the caster bean by pressing process. Emollient, lubricant adherent.
Available at : Drugstore

Chamomile
Plant having strongly scented foliage and flowers which are used medicinally. Having characteristics of soothing the skin and slight bleaching powers.
Available at : Supermarket

Cinnamon
Germicide, astringent; antiseptic spice oil.
Available at : Drugstore

Cocoa butter
A fatty substance obtained from the seeds of the cacao, a small evergreen tree. Emollient and vehicles as well as lubricant for skin’s surface.
Available at : Drugstore

Coconut oil
Emollient oil, lubricant, and vehicle pressed from coconuts.
Available at : Health food store or supermarket

Cornstarch
Starch made from Indian corn. Source of protein with slight abrasive action.
Available at : Supermarket

Cottonseed oil
Emollient oil, vehicle, lubricant. Natural vegetable oil
Available at : Health food store or supermarket.

Cucumbers
Vegetable whose juice contains organic acids. Astringent.
Available at : Supermarket

Epson salts
Hydrated magnesium sulfate occurring as small colorless crystals. Supposed to exercise osmotic influence on inflammatory tissue. Has slight anesthetic effect.
Available at : Drugstore

Extracts
Preparations supposed to possess the virtue of the original substance in concentrated form
Available at : Supermarket

Fuller's earth
An absorbent clay, used especially fir removing grease from fabrics. Absorbent face mask ingredient.
Available at : Drugstore

Gelatin
Adhesive yet porous dressing. Protective, supportive, permits evaporation of secretions through it. Protein.
Available at : Supermarket

Gin
Alcoholic liquor obtained by distilling grain mash with juniper berries. Same antiseptic qualities as alcohol.
Available at : Liquor store

Glycerin
Clear, sweet, odorless substance. By-product of oils and fats. Mild antiseptic, emollient when dilute. Absorbent, hence used to prevent drying of many preparations. Facilitates penetration through epidermis according to some.
Available at : Drugstore

Honey
A sweet, viscid fluid produced by bees from the nectar collected from flowers. When applied to skin, has remarkable drawing power plus moisturizing qualities.
Available at : Health food store or supermarket

Hydrogen peroxide
A colorless, unstable oily liquid, the aqueous solution of which is used chiefly as an antiseptic and bleaching agent.
Available at : Drugstore

Hydrogenated oils
Oils which through treatment become hardened. Margarine and lard substitute.
Available at : Supermarket

Iodine
A nonmetallic halogen element. Used in preparations as antiseptic coloring agent.
Available at : Drugstore

Lanolin
Purified fat from sheep wool. Protective ointment base which combats dryness and softens locally on the surface; it is said to contain elements similar to those of our own sebaceous glands and so is readily absorbed by skin.
Available at : Drugstore

Lecithin
Any of a group of yellow-brown fatty substances occurring in animal and plant tissues and egg yolk. Emulsifying agent; lowers surface tension between oils and water, hence aiding absorption through skin.
Available at : Health food store or supermarket

Lemon
Citrus fruit used as a skin freshener and bleach. Astringent.
Available at : Supermarket

Limewater
Antacid, astringent, antiseptic; used for burns
Available at : Drugstore

Margarine
A food product made from a blend of refined vegetable oils churned with ripened skim milk, with a plastic consistency. Penetrating skin lubricant.
Available at : Supermarket

Menthol
A colorless, crystalline, slightly water-soluble alcohol obtained from peppermint oil. Local sedative, antiseptic, counterirritant.
Available at : Drugstore

Methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen)
Perfume, antiseptic. Penetrating qualities helpful to aches and pains. Poison.
Available at : Drugstore

Mineral oils
Cheaper oils usually used in cosmetics. Is nonabsorbent. Can cleanse surface and lubricate.
Available at : Drugstore

Mineral water
Water containing dissolved mineral salts or gases, especially such water for medicinal use.
Available at : Supermarket

Oatmeal
Protein meal made from oats. Used for its abrasive qualities.
Available at : Supermarket

Olive oil
Natural oil pressed from olives. Emollient, lubricant with excellent penetrating powers
Available at : Health food store or supermarket

Orange water
Neutral reaction to slightly acid. Light orange odor
Available at : Health food store or supermarket

Papaya
The large, yellow, melon-like fruit of a tropical shrub or small tree. Exfoliant containing active enzymes which are capable of eating up dead skin cells on the surface of the skin
Available at : Supermarket

Peach kernel oil
Natural vegetable oil. Can substitute for almond or olive oil.
Available at : Health food store or supermarket

Peanut oil
Natural vegetable oil from peanuts. Can substitute for almond or olive oil.
Available at : Health food store or supermarket

Peppermint
A labiates herb known for its refreshing and drawing qualities. Antiseptic.
Available at : Supermarket

Petroleum jelly
A yellowish or whitish, translucent, gelatinous, oily semisolid. Non-penetrable lubricant; protective base.
Available at : Drugstore or supermarket

Phenol
Antiseptic; germicide.
Available at : Drugstore

Rosemary
An evergreen native to the Mediterranean area. Herb used in medicines and cosmetics.
Available at : Supermarket

Rose water
Water tinctured with the essential oil of rose. Wholly free of irritants
Available at : Drugstore

Sage
A perennial herb used in medicines, cookery, and believed to have a drying effect upon the skin.
Available at : Supermarket

Salt
A crystalline compound occurring as a mineral, a constituent of seawater. Antiseptic, abrasive.
Available at : Health food store or super market

Sesame oil
Natural oil pressed from sesame seeds. Promotes skin softness and absorbs high percentage of sun's ultraviolet rays
Health food store or supermarket

Skim milk
Milk from which most of the fat has been removed. Protein, skin softener, mild bleach.
Available at : Supermarket

Sodium benzoate
A white, crystalline or granular water-soluble powder. Antiseptic; natural preservative.
Available at : Drugstore

Soybean oil
Natural vegetable oil pressed from soybeans.
Available at : Health food store or supermarket

Spermaceti
Emollient, demulcent, hardening ingredient from the head of a whale. Softens skin and will not clog pores
Available at : Drugstore

Strawberries
Fruit whose juice contains organic acids. Astringent. Thought to have exceptional skin cleansing qualities.
Available at : Supermarket

Tannic acid
Characteristic of tea that soothes skin, especially burns
Available at : Supermarket

Thyme
A common garden herb having aromatic leaves. Attributes of antiseptic and disinfectant.
Available at : Drugstore

Thymol
Antiseptic similar to phenol
Available at : Drugstore

Tincture of benzoin
Adds sticking quality, protective antiseptic; astringent; irritant. Used to aid the healing of erupted skins.
Available at : Drugstore

Tragacanth
Substance derived from low, spiny Asian shrubs. Demulcent, emulsifying agent.
Available at : Drugstore

Vodka
An unaged, colorless, distilled spirit, originally made in Russia. Contains characteristics of alcohol.
Available at : Liquor store

Witch hazel
A shrub of Eastern North America. Astringent, antiseptic, soothing liquor
Available at : Drugstore

Zinc oxide
Mild astringent, mild skin bleach, adhesive dehydrant. Nontoxic, protective.
Available at : Drugstore