Quick DIY Ecobeauty Recipes

I'm a huge fan of DIY beauty recipes, so I was excited to check out Ecobeauty: Scrubs, Rubs, Masks, and Bath Bombs for You and Your Friends ($20, Ten Speed Press). The authors are a mother-daughter team: Lauren Cox, a UCLA student who's been making her own products for 10 years, and Janice Cox, a natural beauty and home beauty expert.

The book, which features 100 easy and earth-friendly projects (including a bonus section about making gifts out of your creations), is the perfect companion to a girls' night. Who needs a date on Saturday when you can make your own Blueberry Antioxidant Facial Mask or Chocolate Brownie Lip Gloss? No one.

The lovely authors have allowed us to share one sample recipe, so here's a taste of the joys that await you:

Refreshing Mint Hair Rinse
"If you're in need of a pick-me-up for dull, limp locks, this rinse will do the trick. Together, the mint tea and vinegar get your scalp really clean and leave your hair fresh and shiny. Mint is naturally energizing and will give your scalp a tingly, fresh feeling, and the vinegar will rid your hair of any residue from styling gels or soap-based shampoos."

Ingredients:
1/2 cup boiling water
1-2 mint tea bags
2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Directions:
"Pour the boiling water over the tea bag and let it steep until cool. Remove the tea bag, pressing it to extract as much tea as possible, then stir in the vinegar.

"To use, shampoo and condition your hair as usual, then apply the entire mixture to your hair. Massage it into your scalp and work it through your hair, then dry your hair as you normally would, without rinsing it out."

Makes: 4 ounces

I am so into minty eco-beauty, and my scalp is still tingling with delight!

PS-Follow Ecobeauty on twitter for quick DIY recipes on a regular basis!

Reprinted from Ecobeauty by Lauren Cox with Janice Cox. Copyright © 2009  Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Crown Publishing Group, Inc.
Photo credit: Angie Cao © 2009.