Cosmetic Carrot-Infused Oil
There are two kinds of oils commonly called “carrot oil.” The first is cold-pressed from carrot seeds and mixed with a carrier oil; the second is a carrot-infused oil you can make at home from the flesh of the carrot. Both oils are rich in beta-carotene, vitamins A and E, and pro-vitamin A, and may help to heal dry, chapped, and cracked skin and condition hair. Here’s a recipe for the carrot-infused oil.
2 pounds carrots
Oil, enough to cover (Some excellent choices: olive, coconut, almond, avocado, grapeseed, jojoba—all good for your skin)
Vitamin E oil
Peel about 2 pounds of carrots and grate with a food processor or hand grater. Place the grated carrots in a slow cooker and add enough oil to cover. Set to warm (the lowest temperature) and infuse the oil for 66–72 hours. Strain through a fine-mesh or cheesecloth. Label and store in the refrigerator for up to 8 months.
To use: Carrot-infused oil may stain lighter skins. Make a sample by diluting the carrot-infused oil with a carrier oil, starting with a 1:10 ratio—that is, ½ teaspoon of infused oil to 5 teaspoons of carrier oil (one of the above). If that doesn’t produce a stain, increase the ratio of carrot-infused oil to the carrier oil. Once you’re satisfied with the ratio, add several drops of vitamin E oil. Apply to skin, lips, elbows, heels. You may also mix with your favorite cream, lotion, makeup remover, shower and bath gel, or shampoo.
About the Author
SUSAN WITTIG ALBERT grew up on a farm in Illinois and earned her Ph.D. at the University of California at Berkeley. A former professor of English and a university administrator and vice president, she is the New York Times bestselling author of the China Bayles Mysteries, the Darling Dahlias Mysteries, and the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter. She and her husband, Bill, coauthor a series of Victorian-Edwardian mysteries under the name Robin Paige. The Alberts live near Austin, Texas.
For more information about the China Bayles series, go to abouthyme.com. You can read about the Darling Dahlias at darlingdahlias.com and the Cottage Tales at cottagetales.com. You can also visit Susan’s blog at susanalbert.typepad.com, visit her website at susanalbert.com, follow her on Twitter @SusanWAlbert, or friend her at facebook.com/susan.w.albert.
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