I love hot tea. Black tea, green tea, red tea, herbal tea, and sometimes matcha tea. I've used St. Ives Green Tea scrub for ages, but in an effort to get rid of unnecessary chemicals in our personal care products, I've had to go on a search for homemade skin care. Wow! It's been challenging and fun so far, and I'll tell you all about it. In another post. This one is just about the green tea face wash and toner I've been using for about 2 weeks now.
To make a simply fantastic face wash:
Bring 8oz of spring water to a boil and pour over 3 green tea (you really WANT caffeinated for this, I promise!) bags. Let those steep for 7 minutes. Remove the tea bags. Add to the tea 1 tablespoon of raw honey, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, and if you have combo skin like me, 1 teaspoon of baking soda (it will foam up, just stir it until the foam goes back down.) Add 2oz of liquid Castile soap (I prefer Dr. Bronner's baby mild), give it a stir and put it into the dispenser of your choice. It works like magic!
The green tea and all it's antioxidants, the honey and it's skin brightening effect, the lemon juice fades freckles and tones, and the Castile soap cleanses without stripping your skin of the oils it needs. Please be aware that the color is not very appealing, but the product is totally worth it!
For a great complimentary toner:
Steep 2 green tea bags in 4oz of boiling filtered water, let steep for 7 minutes, and remove tea bags. Add to the hot tea one teaspoon of raw honey, 6oz of witch hazel, and if you can stand the smell, 1/2oz of apple cider vinegar with the mother. Stir it all together, put it in a jar, and apply nightly with a cotton ball. I'm going to add some rose water to my next batch to see if it adds anything besides pretty smells ;)
I cannot begin to tell you all how much better my skin looks! My fine lines and wrinkles are diminishing, my face doesn't feel tight from products made for teenagers or too greasy from products made for "aging" skin, and I feel better knowing I'm not putting chemicals on my skin that I would never knowingly put into my mouth like SLS and phalates in fragrance. Do you have a favorite skin care recipe?
*I am not a dermatologist or skin care professional. I'm just a mom who is trying to make better stuff for myself and my family and sharing successful recipes I find along the way.*
