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Herbs are a joy to grow, especially on a windowsill during winter. Many have beautiful scents, can be enjoyed in teas and used as flavorful seasonings. Aside from their culinary and nutritional qualities, many herbs can also heal and beautify your skin.
Treasured for their healing properties, herbs contain antioxidants and minerals, as well as having antiseptic and cleansing properties, according to bioClarity. Herbalists use the roots and leaves to make salves, and balms, while flowers are infused in oil to create essential oils. You too can practice self-care at home by adding herbs to soaps, scrubs, and lotions.
With winter on its way, enhance your skin’s beautiful glow from an indoor garden by growing these five Mediterranean herbs.
Lemon Balm
Also known as melissa, this herb is a member of the mint family. It has a wonderful citrus smell and is easy to grow in direct sunlight, according to Happy DIY Home. Take a few cuttings from your garden to propagate the plants inside. If it goes dormant in the winter, keep watering it and your lemon balm will perk back up come spring time.
Containing a high dose of citronella, lemon balm is a natural bug repellant, according to bioClarity. It also contains ferulic and caffeic acid, which are antioxidants that assist in skin care. Add dried or fresh lemon balm to your moisturizer to soothe skin, and use it as a gentle cleanser. According to Garden Therapy, this herb may also stimulate circulation and help heal cold sores.
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Mint
Mint is ever so soothing and cooling. Grow it on your windowsill in a sunny area. Mint contains salicylic acid, which is a gentle exfoliant, according to bioClarity. As a result, mint may help clear pores and acne. These plants are also anti-pruritic, so you can soothe itchy skin simply by applying cold mint tea to the affected area. Containing vitamin A, mint helps to reduce oil production and strengthen skin tissue.
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Bay Laurel
Even though this plant can become a huge tree, you can start growing bay laurel in a pot indoors, according to Herbs at Home. Keep it in a sunny location and water sparingly. The leaves have phytonutrients that assist in reducing skin irritation. Apply a bay leaf directly to the skin to help heal blemishes and skin lesions. For smooth and glowing skin, try adding a few ground bay leaves to your face moisturizer.
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Rosemary
This refreshing and cleansing herb can perk you up! Rosemary is easy to grow indoors; it simply requires lots of sunshine and well-drained soil. Aside from being used to season sauces, create stuffings, and make teas, it has antimicrobial properties. As it is an ideal skin disinfectant, use rosemary leaves to control skin breakouts and decrease redness, as recommended by bioClarity.
Containing antioxidants, rosemary can also help prevent wrinkles and boost the regeneration of cells. Make a toner by boiling a sprig of rosemary with peppercorns then adding apple cider vinegar, with this recipe from Beautylish.
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Sage
Just like rosemary, this Mediterranean herb offers nutritional health benefits and can be used on the skin. When growing indoors, make sure your potted plants have lots of sunlight daily, warmth, as well as well-drained soil, according to Gardening Know How.
As the leaves are filled with antioxidants, it is ideal for skin care, according to bioClarity. Sage is also full of calcium and vitamin A, which contain skin regeneration properties
For people with acne, sage is an ideal natural astringent that helps to dry up surplus oil, and contributes to clear skin. You can easily make a skin salve with sage and use it for acne, and skin irritations.
This winter, create your own sage face mask. Mix ground sage leaves with rose water, then apply to your face and enjoy the feeling of moisturized, refreshed skin.
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