Are you tired of chasing every new trend in beauty treatment, of booking money-consuming facials at the spa, and of searching for an affordable beauty product to protect and moisturize your skin? Well, there is no need to go any far. Thanks to the historically recorded remedies of past exquisite beauties from Egypt, Greece, and the Far East, you can now create your own facial moisturizer using organic products that are simply hidden in your kitchen cabinets and fridge.
Honey:
Legend has it that Egyptian women, including Cleopatra, have used several facial remedies to smooth wrinkles, employing a compound of powdered alabaster, powdered natron, salt from the north, and honey. In Ming dynasty China, the emperor’s concubines used honey too to protect their skin, and added ground orange seeds to their facial remedy for freshness.
Clinically, honey is beneficial for the skin as it reduces redness, fights inflammation associated with skin irritations, moisturizes the skin to protect pH levels and necessary oils, and boosts skin cell function with its natural polysaccharides [sugar] enzymes.
Try it the ancient way: Ground orange seeds with a spoon full of organic, pure honey [avoid highly processed honey products] and apply it to your face for at least 20 minutes twice a week. Rinse with lukewarm water and smile at your radiant self! You can also use organic, pure honey as a spot treatment for pimples, as well as mix with olive oil and sea salt for a luxurious and nourishing body scrub.
Egg whites:
Also at your fingertips is the egg, which has first been used as a skincare ingredient around 553-604 by Zhang Lihua, a renowned beauty and consort of the last emperor of Chen [Southern China], who used to apply egg whites to her face and nick to tighten and hydrate her skin, providing an instant temporary face lift.
In fact, recent studies have shown that egg proteins significantly contribute in maintaining the elasticity of skin. An egg contains about 69 different proteins, which have the magical power of reducing fine lines and give temporary relief for the deep ones. Egg whites are also high in collagen and vitamin A, which is essential in treating acne, large pores, and skin burns.
Try it the ancient way: Apply 1 egg white to your face and neck for at least 20 minutes daily. To treat oily or acne skin, apply 1 egg white with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of organic, pure honey. Remember, rinse with lukewarm water and smile at your radiant self!
Olive oil:
Extra virgin olive oil is another home-available product that is essential to skincare as much as food diet. It contains significant quantities of Omega 3 and vitamin E, which help prevent premature aging caused by stress.
In ancient Greece, women labeled this ingredient as "beauty oil" and used to apply it on the face to help lighten the appearance of the skin and protect it from environmental stressors. Because of its fatty acids and rich vitamins, Greek women applied olive oil to the scalp and hair to maintain health and shine, and brushed olive oil to the eyelashes to maintain thickness.
Try it the ancient way: Apply 2 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil with 1 tablespoon of organic, pure honey to your face for at least 30 minutes twice a week and rinse with lukewarm water.
Rosewater:
Created by distilling rose petals with steam, rosewater has ancient homeopathic roots dating as far back to ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptians boiled down roses to turn them into cosmetics and healing balms, and used scented rose oils to clean themselves and protect their skin against dry desert winds.
In Medieval Times, women created a toner out of rosewater, white powder, strawberries and wine and slathered it on their skin to help keep their complexions pale, as pale complexions were fashionable at that time unlike today’s tan-hungry beauty culture, while in the 17th Century, some nobility in Europe considered rosewater to be legal tender. That is: roses were so valuable that they were money.
Clinically, rosewater is said to stimulate the circulation of tiny blood vessels underneath the skin, thus helping reduce the appearance of thread veins and broken capillaries, and maintaining the skin’s pH balance.
Try it the ancient way: Simply wash your face daily with rose water to reduce the skin irritation caused by redness and breakouts. You can also soak cotton swabs in rosewater and place it over the eyes to soothe, cool and relax the eyes of fatigue.
Green tea:
Now that is an unexpected skincare ingredient. Not only does green tea do wonders to your waistline if added to your diet, but it will also make miracles to your facial skin too, according to the Japanese Geishas who were famously known for their completely flawless skin. Because it’s loaded with polyphenols and antioxidants, it will keep your face looking bright, fresh and ageless!
Recent studies have also found that the antioxidants and tannins in the green tea help shrink blood vessels around the delicate eye area, alleviating swelling and puffiness, and stimulate hair growth. If massaged into the scalp as well, green tea will help remove microbes that cause dandruff.
Try it the ancient way: To create an anti aging mask, create a mixture of green tea and powdered turmeric and apply it to your face for at least 20 minutes twice a week and rinse with lukewarm water.