I recently came up with an anti acne oil blend for my face that has really helped out with some of my most severe breakouts. But for a face wash I have still been using an expensive French toner recommended by my aesthetician. I’ve spent a lot of money on my face in the past few years due to a staph infection and cystic acne but I am trying to transition towards products I can make at home in my kitchen from simple. wholesome, inexpensive ingredients (like my popular tooth powder recipe). The first time I tried to just put a bit of coconut oil on my face at my friend’s recommendation, I broke out for two weeks. So the search continued. It was long and full of missteps, and the anti acne oil blend has been my most successful attempt at facial products so far.
Enter Oregon Grape Root Tea
A few nights ago we left half a pot of Oregon Grape root tea steep overnight. I was going to drink it but I fell asleep. The next morning I poured it into a glass to give it a taste. It had a dark yellow hue and was extremely bitter. I gave it a sip and decided I was NOT going to drink that no matter how happy it would have made my liver 😉
As I was debating whether I should toss this powerful anti-inflammatory liquid or make my hubby drink it, I remembered that Oregon Grape root may help in the treatment of psoriasis, skin inflammation, and itching. So I decided to try it as a toner. I poured it onto a washcloth and gently wiped my face with it. Well, my face loved it – and let me tell you, there’s a lot of things my face doesn’t like, including many fancy organic products. Since then I have incorporated it into my routine. I steep some tea overnight keep it in a mason jar in the bathroom. I have read more on the benefits of Oregon Grape root and discovered that it has astringent properties that can reduce the inflammation of cystic acne, which is exactly what I need.
There are creams containing Oregon Grape root but I’ve not tried them yet. I like the simplicity and low cost of my routine. I just started experimenting with this, and as time passes I hope to add more herbs like Calendula and Burdock to the mix, but I am trying to take it slow to make sure I have time to observe the effects of every ingredient. I will keep you posted. If you have a homemade face wash or toner that works well for you please share in the comments so we can all learn!
Ingredients
- One tablespoon of Oregon Grape Root
- 2 cups filtered water
Directions
- Steep tea overnight, or for at least 8 hours.
- Soak facial towel in tea and apply to skin, gently rubbing away dirt and oils.
- Apply the anti acne oil blend.
- Enjoy a silky smooth skin!
