NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL

Wild Beauty will have desi women of a certain vintage who remember their mothers making a goopy paste of yoghurt, lime juice, chickpea flour and a pinch of turmeric as a magic cure for acne or a Multani mitti-rosewater face pack nodding and saying, “I remember that!”

And Jana Blankenship, like our mothers, is also a fan of hair oil. “I cannot sing the praises of hair oil highly enough. Just like face oil, hair oil is a secret weapon. To replenish dry hair and add lustre, a hair oil rich in light plant-based oils such as argan, jojoba, sunflower and camellia seed is a must.”

Face oil throws me off a little, but filled as it is with wisdom and recipes for natural self-care, the book will also appeal to others who have no idea what ubtan is, but who want to replace at least some of the chemicals in their lives with feel-good ingredients.

Blankenship’s love for and knowledge of nature is rooted in her childhood summers spent in Maine with her grandmother who was an avid gardener. It is influenced by her fashion designer mother’s love for beauty. Playing alchemist in her kitchen, she had created potions and perfumes for friends and family for years before launching her company, Captain Blankenship, in 2009.

When she writes of essential oils like jasmine, I am transported to the attar store in Lucknow, redolent with a thousand fragrances being sold in tiny vials. I bring back some for friends who say a drop in their bath water turns it into a spa-like luxury.

Blankenship uses special ingredients and also easily available kitchen ingredients such as honey, yoghurt, coconut oil and sea salt to whip up everything from blends that relieve anxiety, tension and headaches, etc., to a detox bath, deodorants and lip balms.

How can you not want to try something called Good Vibrations Clearing Spray?

Here are her recipes for a deodorant and an “elixir” that she says is good for both a crick in her throat or a stomach ache...

Dream-Cream Deodorant

¼ cup coconut oil

2 tbsp shea butter

¼ cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch

¼ cup baking soda (or use magnesium hydroxide if you are baking soda sensitive)

About 25 drops essential oil blend of your choice*

Optional: 1 tbsp beeswax or vegan wax**

* Scent options: 7 drops sage and 20 drops fir balsam or 15 drops geranium and 10 drops lemon.

** Otherwise deodorant will be soft in texture.

Heat 3 inches of water in a small pot over medium heat. Once it boils, turn down to simmer.

Add coconut oil, shea butter and wax (if using) to measuring cup and put in pot. Once coconut oil, shea butter and wax melt, remove from heat and let cool until warm but not hot to the touch. Add arrowroot powder and baking soda to mixture, stir well. Add essential oils and stir again. Pour into jars and let solidify. If you choose not to use wax, you might need to pop your deodorant periodically into the fridge if it melts.

If stored out of direct sunlight, will keep for up to a year.

Golden Glow Elixir

16 oz raw honey

Juice of 3 or 4 lemons

1 large knob of fresh ginger

1 small knob of fresh turmeric

Pour honey into bowl. Combine lemon juice, ginger and turmeric in blender; process on medium speed for 30 seconds. Combine with honey. Stir and pour into jar with lid. Liquid will naturally separate; just shake to combine.

Store in refrigerator for up to 6 months.

To consume, take 1 tbsp daily followed by a glass of water. Put 1 or 2 tbsp in hot water to make tea. Put 1 or 2 tbsp in seltzer for natural ginger ale. Use in salad dressing.