Skin Care Washington DC

A good whiff of fresh basil or mint at the farmers market is all I need to make me a believer - in the power of the herb that is. If something can smell that unbelievably spectacular (and naturally so!), what else can these culinary geniuses do? Well, it turns out some of those summer herbs sprouting on your windowsill or in your container garden are a skincare regime's best friend... much more friendly than noxious preservatives, fragrances and other chemicals that we've deemed tried-and-true enemies, in fact.

Check out some of the beneficial properties these yummy herbs can bestow your skin; then, a simple way to capitalize:

Mint

Turns out mint makes an awesome toner. It's anti-pruritic properties mean mint can soothe and calm skin that's itchy or infected.

Basil

Great for acne and blemishes of all kinds. It's anti-bacterial, anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory.

Rosemary

Antiseptic, toning and vitalizing, rosemary improves blood circulation in the capillaries. 

Thyme

A strong anti-bacterial herb, thyme is an effective agent against acne or infected eczema. 

Chamomile

Anti-fungal, soothing and cleansing, this is your best bet to beat inflammation and get that skin calmed down. 

Now, I bet you're wondering how exactly to use these herbs to treat your skin, right? It's as easy as this:

1. First, follow these directions to dry your fresh, organic herbs.

2. Add a chopped heaping teaspoon of your selected dried herb to 9 fluid ounces (250 ml) of boiling water in a cup or bowl. 

3. Let the herbs infuse their magic into the water for 10 minutes; after which you can strain the herbs out and allow the liquid to cool. 

4. Your infusion is ready to go. You can soak a cloth in it and lay it over your face for an herbalicious treatment, apply as a toner with organic cotton balls or spritz on and allow to dry on the skin. And the leftovers, you can freeze in an ice cube tray, making for a lovely herbal cool down on warm summer days. Simply rub th...