Home beauty treatments made right at home in your kitchen using the most natural ingredients ever. A dream? Absolutely not! Janice Cox offers us hundreds of soothing, pampering and delightful recipes in her three books dedicated to body, bath and hair care. You'll use the freshest of ingredients and learn how to mix, blend, store and use homemade bath spritzers, body lotions, eye creams, shampoos, hair conditioners, cleansers, masks, body powders, bath teas, bath soaks, massage oils, hand and foot creams, toothpaste, moisturizers, lip glosses, toners, astringents, bath oils, soap and more. You'll even learn how to give a great massage using Janice's Amorous Massage Oil, containing cinnamon and vanilla! Start your day with a Cleopatra Milk Bath, whip up some Almond Oil Hair Gel, and splash on refreshing Watermelon Toner! Readers will learn how to create wonderful recipes that are less expensive and fresher than anything store-bought.

These recipes are perfect for gifts. Mix together candy cane bath salts in a decorative jar, tie with a ribbon and give to someone special during the holidays! In the summertime, gather natural ingredients from the garden and create hostess gifts for friends and new neighbors! Janice suggests recipes for homemade items to go into a new mother basket: Great Expectations Cream, Scented Dusting Powder, New Year's Baby Bath, Essential oil of lavender, a Dream Pillow and Orange flower water.

Janice has given StorkNet permission to reprint her Great Expectations Cream recipe. She says, "When I was pregnant, I used this rich cream on my stomach, chest and legs to keep my skin soft and supple. I like to think it helps reduce your chances of getting stretch marks (but heredity plays a key role in your skin's fate.) Pampering yourself is always a good idea, and massaging this cream into your skin feels wonderful! It also relieves the itchiness that many women experience from their skin stretching during pregnancy. I used the cream after showering while my skin was still warm and damp. It also makes a nice baby shower gift for special friend."

Great Expectations Cream

1/4 cup cocoa butter
1 teaspoon light sesame oil
1 teaspoon apricot kernel oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil

Directions:Place all the ingredients in an ovenproof glass container and gently heat until the cocoa butter is melted and the oils are well mixed. Pour into a clean container and allow the cream to cool completely. Store in a cool, dry place. Yield: 2 1/2 ounces

About the author: Janice Cox has been making her own beauty treatments for over twenty-five years. She is the author of three books on Natural Beauty: Natural Beauty at Home, Natural Beauty for All Seasons, and Natural Beauty from the Garden all published by Henry Holt and Company in New York. Her books contain over 600 recipes for Body, Bath and Hair Care products.

She writes a regular column for Natural Living Today magazine, "Recipe for Beauty."Her recipes and ideas have also appeared in Self, Shape, Fitness, McCall's, Country Living, Organic Gardening, Herb Quarterly, Herb Companion, The Natural Way, Health, Mothering, Fit Pregnancy, New Woman, At Home Mother, American Health, and Natural Way magazines. She has appeared on National television and radio programs discussing Natural Beauty. Mrs. Cox has turned her passion for home beauty into a full time career and has become a nationally recognized expert on Natural Beauty.

She is the mother of two beautiful daughters, Lauren (age 11) and Marie (age 8). Along with keeping her husband and daughters well cared for, she is also involved with Girl Scouts, School activities, Gardening, and Handicrafts. Janice and her family live in Medford, Oregon.

Be sure to visit Janice's web page and her StorkNet Interview page where you will find questions, answers, recipes, tips and hints for making homemade beauty products.

Book review by Nancy Eggleston

To Purchase:
   • Natural Beauty at Home at Amazon.com
   • Natural Beauty at Home at Amazon UK
   • Natural Beauty at Home at Amazon Canada
   • Natural Beauty for all Seasons at Amazon.com
   • Natural Beauty for all Seasons at Amazon UK
   • Natural Beauty for all Seasons at Amazon Canada
   • Natural Beauty from the Garden at Amazon.com
   • Natural Beauty from the Garden at Amazon UK
   • Natural Beauty from the Garden at Amazon Canada