A Guide to Beauty Herbs and Their Uses
Many herbs can serve beauty purposes, though many times they need to be mixed with other herbs in order to create the beauty treatment. Of the herbs mentioned as those popular for beginners, rosemary and basil can be used in beauty treatments. Other easy to grow herbs you can try for beauty purposes are calendula, parsley, and fennel. Beware of fennel though because it tends to be toxic to other plants, and may have to be grown separately and in a pot.
The reasons behind an herb's beautification qualities are often debated. For this reason, I thought it best to simply tell you some of the beauty tricks you can try using your herbs. Mastering the art of herbal beauty tricks can be very useful for a woman gardener. Imagine never having to visit a spa again because you have your own spa in your backyard. Plus you have the comfort of knowing what exactly went into the remedy. Home made beauty remedies also make great presents, and your friends will definitely be curious about trying your creations!
Rosemary
Let's start with rosemary. You will actually find this herb in many natural beauty tricks. This recipe makes a cleansing face mask and facial wash. Take a teaspoon of dried rosemary leaves and steep it in half a cup of boiling water for a quarter of an hour. While you wait, crush some fresh almonds (you can also use almond meal) till you have a fine powder. Take a tablespoon of this powder and place it in a bowl. Mix in one and a half tablespoons of regular oatmeal to your almond powder, mixing to make sure that the oatmeal gets as powdery as possible.
Add your rosemary water to the bowl. Put in just enough water so you create a paste with all the ingredients. Gently steam your face or press a hot towel onto it for about two minutes. Apply this paste on to your face and let the mask sit for half an hour. Rinse off the mask with more heated rosemary water. You can actually store your rosemary water for a very long time. It can be kept in your refrigerator and used as a facial rinse or facial wash at anytime of the day.
Basil
An herb often used for cooking can also be a soothing beauty remedy. Using clean muslin pouches, combine several leaves of basil (choose the basil that has the most soothing scent in your opinion) and mix it with eucalyptus leaves, thyme leaves, and peppermint leaves. Place these sacks in your bathtub and allow the hot water to flow over them. You can sit in this herbal bath till the water cools, enjoying the scents and slowly allowing you muscle aches to ease away. Experiment with different quantities of basil and the other herbs in order to achieve the mixture you like best.
Page Two: Beauty Herbs You Can Use Everyday (A Guide to Beauty Herbs and Their Uses continued)
