In many cultures across the world, flowers are considered the best natural ingredients to experience soft, smooth and fair skin due to their potent healing properties. Floral extracts contain vitamins and antioxidants that help moisturise, cleanse and smoothen skin as well as fight early signs of ageing and free radical damage. Many beauty problems are triggered by mental stress, like acne and hair loss. The fragrances of flowers help in such stress-related conditions. Beauty expert Shahnaz Husain will tell you how to enjoy the benefits of flowers. The easiest way to enjoy the skin benefits of flowers is by reaching for products which are specially formulated with floral essential oils.
Home care with:
Roses: Rose extract is a cell rejuvenator that helps minimise scars, stretch marks and wrinkles. Rosewater is one of the best known natural skin toners. Chill some rose water in a bowl. Using cotton wool, wipe the skin with it. Then pat the skin briskly. It helps to keep the skin healthy and youthful and is particularly good during the summer and rainy season.
For oily skin, add 2 to 3 drops of lemon juice to one tablespoon rose water. Dip cotton wool in it and use it to wipe the face. It will help remove the surface film of oil and stale sweat and leave you with a cool and fresh feeling. For normal to dry skin, add 2 to 3 drops of glycerin to one tablespoon of rose water and apply on the face.
A few drops of rose water can be added to sandalwood paste and applied on pimples, acne or boils, to soothe and cure. It helps to reduce inflammation.
Hibiscus: One of the most alluring flowers, hibiscus, comes in hundreds of patterns and colours. This flowering beauty can be grown in both tropical and temperate regions, so many cultivars are available. Both hot and cold infusions can be made from hibiscus flowers and leaves, though cold infusions are more common. For hot infusion, the flowers and leaves are added to boiling water and allowed to stand in it for 10-12 hours. It is strained and then used as a last rinse after washing the hair. It is good for treating dandruff and related conditions.
For cold infusions, the hibiscus flowers and leaves should be allowed to stand overnight in cold water, in a ratio of one to six. The flowers should be squeezed and the water strained before use. Such infusions can be used to wash the hair and scalp or applied on the scalp with cotton wool. Infusions, or the juice of the flowers, can be added to henna and applied on the hair. This can be a total hair-food and conditioning treatment.
Hibiscus leaves work as a natural hair conditioner and help in reducing hair loss and makes hair shiny, long, and attractive. Take 15 of its leaves, wash them carefully and boil them in a pan till the water left half, cool it and rinse your hair with that extract: do it for at least two weeks and you will see some instant changes.
Marigold: Marigold (gainda) or calendula comes in dashing yellow, orange and beige colours. Both fresh or dry flowers can be used. In boiling water, add four tablespoons of the flowers. Allow the flowers to be steeped in the hot water for 20 to 30 minutes. Strain and cool the water and use it to rinse the hair. It should be used as a final rinse. The cooled water can also be used to wash the face. It has a beneficial effect on oily and pimple-prone skin.
Brew three spoonfuls of calendula petals in a cup of water for 15 minutes. Rinse your face with this extract regularly. It’s a good treatment for acnes, blotches and spots. The marigold face pack will provide you with glowing, radiant and attractive skin. Remove the petals and soak it in hot milk for around an hour and allow it to cool to make a fine paste. Then add Vitamin E or some other essential oil and apply it on your face for 30 minutes and remove with clean, fresh and cold water.
Lavender: Lavender is an amazing flowering herb. Burning a lavender candle in your room for an hour before your bedtime helps induce good sleep. Its petals are also known to have a lightening and clarifying effect on skin when used in face masks and cream. Remove petals from lavender flowers and boil them for a few minutes. Strain the water and add some amount of oat powder to make a fine paste. Apply this as a face pack and rinse with cold water after a few minutes. Lavender is also a good source of Vitamin A. Brewing a pot of tea with dried lavender or grinding them into a paste and ingesting maybe beneficial for digestive system and easing stress.
Jasmine: An all-time favourite, jasmine is considered as the most fragrant flower in the world. It is edible and used in many cuisines. Take some of the jasmine petals, clean them gently with water and crush them. Add a few drops of coconut oil in it. Massage this solution in a circular motion with fingertips on your face and wash after 30 minutes. Its regular application will help dry, flaky and wrinkled skin.
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