Herbal Beauty Care
The best regimen for maintaining healthy skin is to cleanse, tone, and moisturize. Cleansing the skin removes dead skin cells and dirt, which unclogs pores and allows your skin to breathe. Toning aids to close the pores in order to tighten and strengthen its role as a protective barrier. Moisturizing feeds the skin with the nutrients it needs to stay strong, healthy, and prevent flaking and irritation.
Facial Toner:
- ¼ cup rosemary tincture*
- ¼ cup butcher’s broom tincture*
- ½ cup decoction of 1 cup filtered water and 2 tbsp each of Oregon grape root and Echinacea root
- 10 drops essential oil of choice (lavender, vanilla, rose, rosemary, tea tree, sweet orange…)
Add 1 cup filtered water and the Oregon grape and Echinacea roots to a pot. Boil for at least 30 minutes with lid covered. Add more water or evaporate off as needed to produce ½ cup of liquid. Combine both tinctures and ½ cup decocted herbs to a container. Add essential oils.
*To make a tincture: Fill ½ your jar with herb and ½ your jar with vodka. Shake daily and let sit 2-8 weeks. Strain and store in air-tight container, away from light.
Herbal Honey Facial
- 6oz honey
- 2 tbsp each of calendula, green tea, gotu kola
Add honey to a double boiler and lightly warm, on low heat. Warming the honey will thin the consistency so it is easier to mix in the powdered herb. Grind the herbs in a coffee grinder and add in to the honey, 1 tbsp at a time, until well mixed. Pour the honey in a container, let cool, and then it’s ready for use.
Gently massage the honey into your skin. Let sit for 10 minutes. I recommend placing a slice of cucumber on each eye while you relax! Rinse off all honey with warm water. Store in the fridge for 3-6 months.
Moisturize with coconut, olive, almond, or avocado oils after a toner or facial to hydrate and soften your skin.
