Say yes to Autumn skin care and no to....

No matter how you view the Commercial ads. I find that it shows the insensitive  nature of large manufacturers to the consumer. Just like their products and the ingredients they use. It is never about what is best for the the people at large.. Large Commercial companies have one thing on their minds that is cost effectiveness, how can they make the most amount of money.
With Autumn we care about people, skincare and providing an all natural alternative to commercialized products. Looking for quality skincare look no further.

Ph Toner

There are many all natural ingredients that make great astringents. We can use lemons, yarrow, vinegar and witch hazel. Which one you choose for your base is up to the individual. I have enjoyed making them with apple cider vinegar and Witch Hazel and have also tried with rose hips.

Here is a few recipes that you might enjoy making yourself

1/3 apple cider to 1/3 of distilled water
or tested spring water and 1/3 witch hazel.

Combine all ingredients. Pour into a clean bottle or decorative cosmetics container. Shake well before using. Apply with a clean cotton ball.

Cedar or Pine Toner
2 cups fresh pine needles or cedar
2 cup distilled water
1 cup witch hazel
1.4 cup vinegar

Place the evergreens pine or cedar in a pan with spring water or distilled water. Allow to boil and then set aside to cool . Add with ingredients and stir , pour into clean bottles and cap.

One of my favorite recipes is Yarrow astringent

Yarrow Rose Skin Toner

1 cups fresh Yarrow Flowers
1 cup of distilled or tested spring water
1 cup of freshly made Witch Hazel
2 tbsp. cedar or white vinegar
1/4 cup of strained rose water


Place Yarrow and water in pan and bring to boiling. Cover with tight fitting lid and remove from heat.set aside to cool and strain yarrow flowers. Place in clean bottle and cap. Shake well before using. Apply Toner with cotton balls.




Lithuanian Toner
This recipe was passed down from my grandmother. It can be used in so many ways, toner, astringent, facial splash for men and medicinally to calm and relax and soothe such as in stress headaches.

Essential oils can be used or it can be made from infused herbs to your liking . The recipe is using infusion, essential oils are much stronger and much less would be needed.
Infused herbals

1/4 cup of rose water, made from organic rose petals.
1/4 cup of lavender infused from lavender flowers and needles.
1/4 cup of sweet orange or lemon
1/4 cup rosemary and sage
1/2 of mints, peppermint, spearmint
add to a cup and a half of witch hazel which has been brewed and set aside to cool.

 Rugosa roses are my favorite petals to use. They produce a nice smelling oil that is wonderful for the skin.

Witch Hazel

Autumn's uses Witch Hazel in many of its skin care products. The native Americans were well aware of the wide uses of Witch Hazel from medicinal as well as for its use as an astringent. It was document in the United States Herbal Association listings as early as the late 1800's but as been use much further back in time. Whether as a rub or a antiseptic, foraging for your own Witch hazel and creating a product comes with its own rewards. In doing so we keep alive customs of our forefathers and keep the recipe fresh in our minds.
Identifying Witch Hazel is relatively easy as it blooms from early fall to spring. It's rounded lace shaped leaves make it an easier herb to identify. In the fall the leaves stand out as a golden yellow. The leaves and young branches are best used for their astringent properties.

Choose healthy clean leaves and fresh twigs from the Witch hazel shrub as soon as it has begun to flower. You can either hand chop the twigs or send them through a mulch machine. Depending on how much you would like to make 1 gallon, 2 gallon or larger pot will be needed. Cover the plants with enough water, I use spring water that has been tested but if you have no access to tested spring water you can purchase distilled water. Make sure all of the branches have been covered and bring to a boil. Lower the temperature and cook for a minimum of six hours on low heat, added water as needed to keep the branches covered. Strain the liquid through a cheese cloth and allow to cool. This method of infusion without alcohol has a short shelf life. To extend the shelf life approximately ten ounces of grain alcohol to 24 ounces of witch hazel. Vodka can be used but is a rather expensive way of preserving your tonic.
If you don't have access to natural herbs and would like to try our all natural skin care products, you can call 724-883-3080 or order on line seasonal, so keep checking for the newest products at www.autumnsboutique.com

It is important to identify your witch hazel shrub with visual images. I look to upload some of our own witch hazel soon.


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