Exquisite Practice, Spring Revival, Week 2

A rejuvenating rose-chamomile facial mist recipe…

Now that the fabulous Jessa Blades has put us on the road to natural skin care (see last week’s interview with the natural beauty expert), it’s time to get down to business. I love browsing the beauty aisles and treating myself to an organic mascara or under-eye cream, but I also try to make many of my own skin care products, my favorites being skin toners and facial mists. That way, I know exactly what’s in it and that the ingredients are fresh.

Toners are an oft-overlooked step in face care, but are actually quite beneficial to the skin. Below is my favorite make-at-home rose-chamomile facial mist recipe. It’s both refreshing and healing, which is especially beneficial in the summer when you’re likely to face more intense sun exposure. Chamomile is clarifying, helping to prevent acne and redness while tightening pores and softening the skin; rosewater, meanwhile, is gently antiseptic. This mist should be stored in the refrigerator, and remade every couple of weeks.

A note: I’ve added optional vitamin E oil to this recipe. There is plenty of controversy over the effects of vitamin E oil on the skin (does it help, or does it harm?) Vitamin E has been praised as a powerful antioxidant that blocks free radicals, thereby reducing wrinkles and helping the skin stay younger. However, it is also heavy and oily, which can cause breakouts and rashes for those with sensitive skin. I’ve used it for years and, personally, i love it: it speeds the healing of my dry skin and other blemishes. I encourage you to try it, but you know your skin best. If you break out easily or have sensitive skin, proceed with caution. If you don’t like it, just omit it the next time you make your mist.

Ingredients

• 1 pure chamomile tea bag
• 1 cup hot water
• ½ cup rose water
• 2 capsules vitamin E oil (optional)
• A clean, dark blue or amber glass spray bottle
• Spoon

Method

• Brew the chamomile tea and let it cool.
• Once the tea is cool, add the rosewater and break open the vitamin E capsules and add those.
• Stir well and pour into the spray bottle.

To Use

Store in the refrigerator and shake well before use. After cleansing your face and neck, spray or apply gently with a cotton ball. Swipe upward to tighten skin. Allow to dry before moisturizing. Occasionally, I’ll apply my moisturizer directly over the mist. Skin accepts moisture easily when it’s wet, so this feels lovely when my skin is extra dry.

Let me know how it goes in the comments below. If you have any favorite facial mist additions, I’d love to hear them. Stay radiant!