Common misunderstandings

Astringent is a name given to products for their contracting effect upon tissues. This is why astringents are valuable for closing pores. Astringent does not mean drying; it does not mean containing alcohol; it does not mean for oily skin, even though that is what the marketers have drilled into our heads. Astringents should just feel slightly tightening without drying.

The other common misunderstanding is that witch hazel, a popular astringent, contains alcohol. The bark and leaves of the witch hazel tree are only extracted in alcohol. Although the best extraction process for witch hazel is an alcohol tincture, this does not automatically mean that an astringent with witch hazel contains alcohol. Witch hazel can also be extracted from a hydroglycolic, slow-heat process in water. Read your labels. (Grain alcohol tinctures are okay in a product, but high levels of alcohol can be drying.)

I make a wonderful astringent that I use twice daily and adore. It is made with essential oils of lavender and sage, which when blended give a perfect, classic, clean scent. I also use witch hazel, aloe vera, lily, comfrey root, calendula, ginseng, kelp, nettles, coltsfoot, and horsetail. Look for products that contain these ingredients, or make your own with all or some of these ingredients.

After cleansing, tone your skin by applying a slightly astringent substance to tighten the freshly cleaned pores. Toners and astringents can make your face seem a little firmer and your pores seem a little smaller. You can easily make these recipes at home:

  • Put several strawberries in the blender, then apply to your face. This will help your circulation and remove oil and dirt.
  • Add one tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar to one cup of purified water. Keep in a jar with a tight lid in the refrigerator. This should last more than a few weeks. Apply as needed.
  • Add the juice of one fresh lemon to one cup of purified water and splash on your face.
  • Add one cup of purified water to ten drops of the following essential oils. Try misting the following essential oils mixed with water:
  • cedarwood
  • cypress
  • immortelle
  • bergamot
  • sandalwood
  • rosemary
  • frankincense
  • geranium
  • juniper
  • lemon
  • myrrh
  • Make a tomato puree mask by simply blending a fresh tomato and applying the pulp to your face.
  • Try blending the following ingredients: buttermilk, salt, and cornmeal. Mix to a consistency conducive to application. The salt and cornmeal act as scrubbers.

 

As a final step, always rinse thoroughly.

To refine large pores

Camphor is great to help refine large pores and heal and tighten the skin. For a quick mask, try mixing two tablespoons of honey with one-half teaspoon of spirits of camphor. Apply all over the face and leave on for twenty minutes. Avoid getting it in the eyes and patch test first.

When purchasing astringents and toners, look for astringents with horsetail, lily, benzoin gum, elder flower, yarrow, lavender, and sage. Putting these herbs in a facial steam can really benefit large-pore skin.

Homemade and healthy

You can use fresh or dried herbs. To make your own astringent, try:

2 cups purified water

1 tablespoon of lily flowers

1 tablespoon of lavender flowers

1 tablespoon of eucalyptus leaves

1 tablespoon coltsfoot

1 tablespoon comfrey

2 drops sage oil

4 drops lavender oil

Bring the water to a boil in a non-aluminum pan. Add the herbs. As soon as you bring the water to a second boil, remove from heat and let it sit until cool. Strain out the herbs with a thin cloth or cheesecloth. Place the astringent in a glass jar with a tightly fitting lid. Add the essential oils and refrigerate. Apply several times daily with a cotton ball or mister.

This recipe can be altered in as many ways as you can think of. You can add witch hazel, aloe vera gel, vegetable glycerin, any of the different herbs listed in the Ingredients section of this book, or any of the essential oils.

 

Balancing lavender/rose skin toner

Since lavender is so balancing, it is appropriate for all skin types. Everyone can use this toner. You may also just substitute another herb (found in the individual herbal section) as it suits you and your skin type.

3 cups purified water

1/2 cup fresh or dried lavender flowers

4 drops essential oil of rose

Combine water and lavender flowers in a glass bottle or jar and place on a sunny shelf for five days. Shake it every other day. Strain and add the essential oil of rose. Keep refrigerated and splash on your face after cleansing twice a day.

You can also add a tablespoon of aloe vera gel or vinegar for oily skin. This should last about a week.