Brew up your own anti-aging potions
The beauty industry touts antioxidants as powerful substances to fight signs of aging. Whip up your own soothing solutions if you want to avoid the cost of beauty products.
Many herbs have high concentrations of antioxidants. Rosemary, thyme, basil, peppermint and other mints, dill and parsley are all good to use in homemade beauty products.
Here are a few skin-care recipes to get you started.
If you have sensitive skin, test all of these products first by dabbing a small amount on the inside of your elbow. Leave it on overnight and then check to make sure there is no reaction.
Thyme and fennel-seed toner
For normal to oily skin. Fennel reduces puffiness and irritation. Thyme is antiseptic and astringent.
2 sprigs fresh thyme, lightly crushed with the back of a spoon
2 teaspoons fennel seed, crushed lightly
½ cup boiling water
Juice of a half of a lime
Mix thyme and fennel seed in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Add lime juice and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain infusion and store liquid in a jar. Keep in the refrigerator.
To use: Dab on face and neck with a cotton ball. Leave on a few minutes, then rinse with water.
- Adapted from “Secrets of the Spas,” by Catherine Bardey.Peppermint foot soak
Peppermint has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.
8 cups fresh peppermint
8 cups boiling water
Steep peppermint in water for 15 minutes. Strain liquid and discard mint.
To use: Pour liquid into a foot basin. Soak feet in the warm solution for 20 minutes and pat dry.
- Adapted from “Heart-
Healthy Living” magazineCornmeal-rosemary foot scrub
Rosemary is slightly antiseptic.
¼ cup boiling water
1 cup fresh rosemary leaves
¼ cup oats
½ cup cornmeal
2 tablespoons olive oil
Pour boiling water over rosemary; cover and steep 15 minutes in a nonmetal bowl. Use a coffee or spice grinder to grind the oats. Combine the powdered oats with cornmeal and olive oil. Strain liquid and discard rosemary; add the rosemary water to the mixture 1 tablespoon at a time until a smooth paste forms.
To use: Massage feet with the paste. Rinse.
- Adapted from “Heart-
Healthy Living” magazineRosemary and cider-vinegar
hair rinse
Removes residue left by other hair-care products.
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 cup apple cider vinegar
Chop rosemary and place it in a jar. Fill jar with apple-cider vinegar, put the lid on and store in a cool, dark place for one week. Shake the jar occasionally.
After a week, strain and discard rosemary. When ready to use, dilute 1/3 cup of liquid in 3 cups of warm water.
To use: Pour over freshly shampooed hair. Rinse and dry hair as usual.
- Adapted from “Secrets of the Spas,”
by Catherine Bardey