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Using Herbs to Make Cosmetics &
Toiletries
There are many ways to enjoy using
herbs, and crafting cosmetics with them is one way to not only
discover their delights, but also to derive the benefits intrinsic
to the plant properties through use. Fresh or dried organic herbs
and essential oils of the highest quality you can find, are
recommended for these applications.
Enjoying the herbal benefits, along
with the fact that the homemade formulations may be made to address
specific health needs, the finished product may be much purer than
similar purchased commercially made preparations, and with little no
chemicals and additives. As we all live in a very "chemical" world
today, this is the goal for many of us who choose the herbal ways.
Natural and organic in origin -- with the finished product as close
to the original ingredients which
comprise it.
Benefits of Herbal cosmetics
Herbal cosmetics have a host of benefits. Being herbal, they are
considered to be quite harmless on the skin. They contain time
tested ingredients with proven efficacy. A judicious combination of
potent herbs can not only produce cosmetic effect but also help cure
skin ailments and hair problems. The natural products- leaves,
roots, fruits etc. supply several essential nutrients to the skin
too. The essential oils of certain plants can bring forth miraculous
results.
There can be natural alternatives suggested to almost all kinds of
cosmetics. Cleansers, toners, moisturizers, face masks, creams,
lotions, face packs- all are available in herbal varieties. Various
natural lip gels and balms, soaps, shampoos, conditioners, hair
packs, hair gels, sun protective bases and makeup ranges are also on
offer.
Beauty recipes from India using traditional herbs have earned a
special significance the world over. Ayurvedic recipes from India
for skin and hair treatment also serve as cosmetics. They are often
widely acclaimed as the ultimate in skin and hair care simply
because of the effective results produced upon their usage.
Herbal cosmetics use various parts of plants- the leaves, the bark,
the roots, the oil extracted from seeds, the fruits and also at
times the whole plant. Alongside, mud and mineral products, honey
etc. may be used. Milk, milk cream, yoghurt and eggs are also
largely used in various natural cosmetics as an ingredient to add
body.
Some
simple household products may also double up as natural cosmetics.
These constitute home remedies for skin and hair problems. Spices
and condiments like turmeric and saffron quite often figure in the
list of ingredients for herbal cosmetics. Herbal cleansers like milk
and lemon are effective natural cosmetics in themselves. Fruits can
make up excellent face packs. The names of cucumbers, peaches and
apricots can be especially mentioned in this regard. The oils
obtained from almond and coconut act as very good massage oils for
skin and hair. The application of these oils brings a healthy glow
to the skin and hair and makes them beautiful. They also help
restore or maintain youth by controlling wrinkle and crease
formation on the surface of the skin.
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