Up your beauty with herbs

For centuries, people have relied solely on nature for their beauty needs, with herbs providing solutions to dry skin, dull hair, blemishes, and other issues.
While there are many non-plant-based products to choose from, many of which are safe and effective, herbs have not lost their lustre.

Here are a few beauty herbs and suggestions for how to use them:

• Sunflower seed oil for dry skin
  Sunflower seed oil aids in the maintenance of your skin’s natural barrier function. Fill a jar three-quarters full with calendula flowers (also known as pot marigolds) and cover with organic sunflower seed oil to make your own amazing moisturiser. Allow the jar to sit for two weeks, shaking it every day. Remove the flowers and measure the liquid. Add half to one teaspoon of your favourite scented essential oil to each cup. The moisturiser can be applied directly to the skin after bathing or in the bathtub.
• Rosa roxburghii for dark spots
  The fruit of this lovely flowering bush is high in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as essential fatty acids, which help soothe irritation and inflammation, both of which contribute to hyperpigmentation. It can be found in a variety of popular skin care lines, often in conjunction with liquorice, which has also been shown to naturally lighten dark spots.
• Chamomile
  For light-colored hair, chamomile and calendula flowers are commonly used. Simply steep one cup of herbs in four cups of water for 20 minutes before straining into a jar to make a hair rinse. You can add an essential oil, such as five to ten drops of lavender or rosemary, along with two teaspoons of baking soda if desired. Allow to cool after vigorously shaking. Pour it over your hair and gently massage it into your scalp while in the shower or bath. Allow it to sit for about five minutes before rinsing. Consider doing this once a week.
• Green tea, tea tree oil and lemongrass oil for acne
  A simple toner that is both inexpensive and effective can be made at home. Bring 175ml of water to a boil, then remove from heat and add three organic green tea teabags, covering for 20 minutes. Remove the teabags and replace them with 30ml of organic apple cider vinegar and half a teaspoon of tea tree or lemongrass oil. Keep refrigerated for seven to 10 days. Apply a small amount to your neck to ensure there is no sensitivity, then use morning and night after washing your face. Acetic acid in vinegar acts as a natural exfoliant for the skin, removing dead skin cells and dissolving oil that can clog pores. Green tea helps acne by lowering sebum production, and tea tree oil helps acne by lowering inflammation.