Would you like to have dewy, flawless fair skin that seems as clear and luminous as glass? Try our Do-It-Yourself (DIY) herbal face mask for your weekly facial routine. Here are 8 herbal face masks you can make from the comfort of your home!
avocado
This flavourful herb isn't only great for adding fragrance to your grilled chicken - its anti-inflammatory properties also work wonders in clearing up your skin. Rosemary also contains plenty of iron, calcium and phytonutrients, and together, they help to protect the skin from sun damage. When coupled with moisturising avocado, this mask will instantly moisturise your skin and leave it glowing.
Ingredients:
Half an avocado
2 tablespoons rosemary leaves
Directions
The anti-inflammatory properties of lavender can help to fight the bacteria that causes acne, soothing the skin and reducing the risk of inflammation. Oatmeal, on the other hand, removes dirt and exfoliates dead skin away, leaving our complexion clear and glowing.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon dried lavender flowers
1 tablespoon rolled oats
Directions:
Your favourite cup of tea to sip can actually work miracles for your skin - chamomile is packed with antioxidants, which helps to reduce signs of aging. Vitamin C and E found in bananas promotes clear and glowing skin. Glass skin? Here we come!
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon chamomile flowers
1 smashed banana
Directions:
Not sure where to get organic chamomile flowers? Check out Nilufer Tea's lemon and chamomile tea, which are packed with chamomile flowers and lemon slices.
With all the rage surrounding peel-off masks lately, alginate face masks are the next big thing. Alginate are natural polysaccharides extracted from seaweed, and helps to tighten skin and reduce the appearance of pores. It also intensely hydrates the face, giving a tremendous improvement to the skin to make it youthful, fresh and glowing.
Ingredients:
Sodium alginate powder (can be purchased online)
Warm water
Directions:
Transport yourself to a mini-spa with this detoxifying face mask. Turmeric works wonders in lightening blemishes or freckles, and the charcoal helps to draw out toxins from the skin, leaving your face feeling fresh.
Ingredients:
1/2 teaspoon organic plain yogurt
1/2 teaspoon activated charcoal
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
Directions:
Roses help to fight skin dullness, which comes in handy given the amount of pollution we are exposed to today. Besides helping to brighten skin, roses also help to trap moisture in your skin, making it radiant and youthful.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon fresh yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh cream
1 tablespoon rose paste
Directions:
With these 8 herbal DIY face masks, not only will you save a ton of money, you can rest assured that all these ingredients are chemical and paraben-free. Best of all, they can be done from the comfort of your own home, while you are relaxing in bed or watching the television. Go forth and bless your skin with these 8 masks!
7. Chamomile and Heather Face mask (Brightening)
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Harnessing the power of herbs and flowers can feel a little like magic. My grandma used to have a little herb garden and not only did she cook with the plants she grew herself, but whenever I went to her with complaints about a wound, an aching stomach or being unable to sleep, she’ll nod her head sagely, go out into the garden and pluck a something that will make me feel better. Drinking whatever she gave me felt like a healing potion that only she could make. She used to tell me the juice of this plant could help with wounds or that the leaves of another were good at keeping the common flu at bay. Obviously living in the city has greatly diminished my hopes for my own extensive herb garden and I can barely recognise one plant from the other. However, having a basic knowledge of which plants help with which ailments can greatly improve your lifestyle and strengthen your body. You do not have to be a grandma with years of experience to harness the power of nature. Here are some herbs to get you started:
Let’s start off with an easy one, shall we? Everyone and their grandmas know about the benefit of chamomile on sleep and it’s not a myth. Traditionally, chamomile has been used to help with insomnia because it is mildly sedative. This may be due to the certain flavonoids that affect the brain. Although not many clinical trials have been done, there was one study that showed the inhalation of chamomile oil vapours reduced the production of a stress-induced hormone. The benefits of chamomile have been recorded for thousands of years and it is one of the oldest and most widely used herbs. It is no surprise why – it doesn’t just induce sleep, it is also anti-inflammatory, helps with the common cold and digestion by soothing the stomach, calms irritated skin and stimulates the immune system.
Rose is one of those plants which you assume is only around for its beauty or for its popularity during Valentines Day, but the truth is this plant has its own myriad of benefits. They have been in use since the ancient Greeks and Romans who used them to perfume their baths. Roses offer beauty enhancing benefits, and its essential oil is highly antibacterial and therefore, great in managing acne and acne prone skin. Its calming properties can reduce swollen spots or redness. Since roses are natural astringents, they help to tighten pores and tone skin. Plus, unlike alcohol toners, roses have a moisturising effect on your skin and does not dry it out.
Image cred: redfox on Unsplash
Lavender is another one of those herbs that’s popularly used to help with relaxation. The natural compounds in their leaves and flowers can be ground and applied directly to your temples or brewed in tea to relieve the mind of anxiety and balance your mood. Lavender tea has also been used for thousands of years to induce sleep and it is helpful for insomnia. Not only that, it has strong anti-inflammatory components which can help reduce swellings and calm irritated skin.
Coriander is a herb as well as a spice commonly found in many households that make curries or masalas. This humble plant native to the Mediterranean is packed full of health benefits. It has eleven compounds of essential oils, six types of acids, minerals and vitamins. All of these various components have their individual benefits. Coriander lowers skin inflammation, and it has disinfectant, detoxifying, antiseptic, antifungal and antioxidant properties which are ideal for clearing up the skin and fortifying the body. It also helps improve cholesterol levels and lowers blood sugar and is sometimes used to help with diabetes.
Everyone knows that lemons are a good source of Vitamin C, but what exactly does that mean? Vitamin C does more than just prevent common colds, it also may reduce your risk of cardiovascular diseases, stroke and high blood pressure. Better yet, research has also proven how useful Vitamin C in lemons is in improving the quality of our skin, and even in reducing wrinkles. Lemons also have a variety of other benefits such as aiding digestion, speeding up weight loss and preventing kidney stones.
Of course this is but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to using plants for your benefits. A little research will yield a plethora of uses for the herbs and flowers that are readily available to you. If you are still a little confused on how you should use herbs and flowers, an easy way in is through teas. There are a many available in the market containing a huge variety of herbs. Why not try Nilufer’s caffeine free Lemon and Chamomile tea or Rose? They are made from organic ingredients that have been grown without any use of pesticides. Shop here today!
Written by: Annmaria Patteri
Don’t just stop and smell the roses. Snuggle up and enjoy these fragrant petals in nutritious and delicious teas too. Rose teas present a plethora of benefits for your body due to its antiseptic, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidative properties. It enhances skin radiance and is used to alleviate hormonal imbalance or menstrual issues in women.
● Benefits of Rose & My Favorite Rose Products
For centuries, rose teas have also been used as a medicinal drink for depression, digestive troubles and weight management. However, due to recent mass production and commercialisation of tea, it is imperative to ensure that your cup of rosy goodness is safe, healthful and organic. Choose organic rose teas to escape artificial additives, preservatives, pesticides and other nasties in your teacup. If you’re interested to loose yourself in benefits of rose teas, get your stash of organic ones from these tea artisans and start to sip!
Committed to the planet and its people, Numi Tea guarantees full leaf quality and premium, real ingredients. The good folks at Numi offers a natural and gluten-free rose blend that protects the environment, farmers and you. Available in fuss-free teabags and as loose tea, White Rose is a low-caffeine white tea blend with whole rosebuds.
Tea Forté offers extraordinary teas with unparalleled presentation in a patented, recyclable pyramid-shaped tea infuser. An American tea brand, Tea Forté works hand in hand with sustainable growers to produce handcrafted luxury tea blends that are fair-trade certified, kosher certified and USDA organic. Of which, the said tea brand puts a spin on regular rose tea and creates an exquisite duet of flavours with its rejuvenating Chocolate Rose Tea. It features notes of rich chocolate with a sweet floral finish and brews a sophisticated golden cup. For a more decadent indulgence, add some milk! Available in a sleek black loose tea canister, Chocolate Rose is perfect for your fellow tea lover.
As Singapore’s oldest tea producer, blender and retailer, 1872 Clipper Tea Co. promises quality assurance with their non-GMO, fair trade certified tea. Unwind with a warm mug of Clipper’s Bed of Roses before bed. It is a delicate, decaffeinated infusion with whole rosebuds that’s designed to soothe your soul. Mind you, these are handpicked French rosebuds too. If you prefer more varied flavours, opt for Clipper’s Chinese New Year Fortune House gift pack. With three aromatic tea blends within the oriental pack, one of which is a flavourful rose tea titled Rose Black Tea (福禄双全). Treat yourself to the fragrant mélange of red rose petals, chamomile, apples and Clipper’s signature Ceylon black tea.
Otherwise, we’ve got your back with our Organic USDA - Rose Paradise tea – a beautiful blend of precious rose petals, rosebuds and hibiscus. It is a favourite among many of our avid tea drinkers as it has a light and pleasing floral finish, with a fruity note of strawberry. Deliciously delicate and seductively sweet, a single sip brings to mind magical woodlands and acres of countryside gardens in the summer: perfect for a relaxing picnic on the meadow green. Enjoy our Rose Paradise as a hot herbal beverage or have it as an iced tea for a little taste of heaven. We promise you won’t regret it.
Rose Water
Rose Body Oil
Rose Scented Perfume
Rose Body/ Hand Cream
Box Flower - Rose that lasts 1 to 3 years
Rose Tea
Written by: Valerie Tan
