Throughout my life, I’ve been fortunate enough to share my love of plants with those around me. As a young, homeschooled girl, I fondly remember spending mornings in the flower and vegetable gardens with my mom, watering and looking for aphids on the rosebushes, with the sun kissing my shoulders. Though I have yet to be blessed with much outdoor space, I do what I can with what I have: indoor spots away from toddler hands, two balconies, and a small back patio with limited direct sun.

And yet, I’m a proud plant mama to many, like my rosebushes transplanted from my mom’s yard, the decades-old, propagated Christmas cactus and jade, and the rubber plant I’m trying to turn into a 10-foot tree. My dahlias are starting to push through the dirt, and the tomatoes, radishes, and lettuce sprouting from seed are growing taller each day. Something in me flourishes along with the plants, knowing I helped tend them.

To celebrate the summer harvest, here are a few homemade bath and body recipes you can make with ingredients you grew right in your own garden.

1. Summer Garden Facial Steam

RECIPE BY KAMI MCBRIDE | SUMMER 2025 ISSUE

You Will Need

• • 1–2 cups fresh herbs & flowers or 1/2–1 cup dried herbs & flowers
• • Bowl: heat-safe
• • 4–6 cups just-boiled water
• • Spoon
• • Towel

To Make

Select the desired herbs and flowers based on your skin’s needs. Use them fresh from the garden or dried — both work beautifully. Place a large heat-safe bowl on a stable surface, like a table or countertop. Make sure you have a towel nearby to trap the steam. Add the chosen herbs and flowers to the bowl. Bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, carefully pour the water into the bowl on top of the herbs or flowers. Stir gently to release their aroma and benefits, and let the water cool until it is a comfortable temperature.

Once the water cools a bit, sit comfortably in front of the bowl. Drape the towel over your head and the bowl to create a tent, trapping the steam. Keep your face about 10–12 inches from the water to avoid overheating. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and enjoy the steam for 5–10 minutes. This will allow your pores to open and your skin to absorb the benefits of the herbs.

After steaming, splash your face with cool water to close your pores. Pat dry and follow with your favorite moisturizer to lock in hydration.

2. Chamomile and Hibiscus Tinted Lip Balm

RECIPE BY KRISTEN WOOD | SUMMER 2024 ISSUE

You Will Need

• • 1/4 cup sweet almond oil
• • 2 TB. dried German chamomile flowers
• • Double boiler
• • Glass jar
• • Strainer
• • 2 TB. raw cocoa butter
• • 2 TB. beeswax, grated/pellets
• • 2 tsp. hibiscus powder
• • Spoon
• • Lip balm containers: 10-ml (8)

To Make

Start by infusing the sweet almond oil with the dried chamomile. You can infuse the oil using a quick method, placing the oil and flowers in a double boiler over low heat for one to six hours. Or, you can steep the chamomile in the oil in a jar for at least three weeks. Once the oil is infused, strain the flowers and reserve the oil.

In a double boiler, heat the infused oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, and hibiscus powder over medium heat. Stir constantly while it all melts and blends completely, about two minutes. Once the ingredients are smooth and an even color, pour the lip balm mixture into the containers or tubes of your choosing. Allow the lip balm to cool until completely set, usually for at least one hour.

3. Lilac-Infused Oil

RECIPE BY IRENA SARO & CYNA RANK | SUMMER 2024 ISSUE

You Will Need

• • 2–3 bushels fresh lilac flowers
• • Towel (optional)
• • Glass mason jars: 5-oz.
• • 1/2 cup fractionated coconut oil/carrier oil of choice
• • Cloth & rubber band
• • Strainer

To Make

Gently pluck the lilac blossoms from the stems. To dry the lilac florets, gently pluck them from the stem and arrange them in a single layer on a paper towel. Allow to dry for one to two days. Place the blossoms in a glass mason jar, filling the jar three-fourths of the way. Pour the coconut oil into the jar, almost to the top and covering the flowers. Cover the jar with a piece of cloth and secure it with a rubber band. Allow the oil to infuse for two weeks in a cool, dark location. Strain the oil, and remove the flowers and sediment at the bottom of the jar. Store in an airtight jar in a cool place for up to six months.

Danielle Williams is the managing editor for Willow and Sage, Art Quilting Studio, A Somerset Halloween, and GreenCraft Magazine. She lives with her family in Orange County, California.

Disclaimer/Safety Information

NOTE: Always test a small area of your skin, first, to check for sensitivity. Avoid contact with eyes and approach all ingredients with extreme caution if you have any skin sensitivity or allergies.

The information provided on flourish is not intended to diagnose, prevent, or treat any medical condition. Content is based on personal research and experiences and is meant for inspirational purposes only. We are not licensed nutritionists or medical professionals, and you should always consult with your doctor, particularly if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.