The Queen of Hungary's Water

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The Queen of Hungary's

Water

 

Astringents are used to remove excess oil from the skin. In addition, they

tone the skin and help prepare it for moisturizing. While they are

especially appropriate for oily skin, any type of skin can benefit from

using the pore-tightening effects of an astringent.

 

Simple Solution:

This wonderful astringent lotion has been hailed as the first herbal product

to ever be produced and marketed. Legend has it the early Gypsies formulated

it and claimed it to be a cure-all. Whether or not it is I hardly know, but

I do know that it is an excellent astringent for the face (both rose water

and witch hazel are light astringent tonics) and a great rinse for dark

hair.

 

I think in some ways it is one of the world’s finest cosmetic formulas.

It

combines gentle, common herbs in a masterful way; it’s easy and

inexpensive

to make, and very versatile. The Gypsies claimed it was good as a hair

rinse, mouthwash, headache remedy, aftershave, foot bath, and who knows what

else! I have seen this same formula bottled in exotic little bottles and

sold in expensive department stores for a fancy price. You can make it for

the cost of a few herbs and a bottle of vinegar.

 

6 parts lemon balm

4 parts chamomile

1 part rosemary

3 parts calendula

4 parts roses

1 part lemon peel

1 part sage

3 parts comfrey leaf

vinegar to cover (apple cider or wine vinegar) rose or witch hazel extract

essential oil of lavender or rose (optional)

 

1. Place all herbs in a widemouthed jar. Add enough vinegar to come about an

inch or two above the herb mixture. Cover

tightly and let sit in a warm spot for two to three weeks.

 

2. Strain. Reserve the liquid. To each cup of herbal vinegar add 1/2 - 1 cup

of rose water or witch hazel. Add a drop or two of essential oil, if

desired. Rebottle. This product does not need to be refrigerated and will

stay preserved indefinitely.

 

Excerpted from Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbs for Natural Beauty, by Rosemary

Gladstar.

 

 

 

“Fortunately

art is a community effort - a small but select community living in a

spiritualized world endeavoring to interpret the wars and the solitudes of the

flesh.”

-Allen Ginsberg

 

 

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