Many people now know that a lot of skin care and beauty products sold today are loaded with chemicals and additives. These ingredients not only speed up aging and drastically affect your skin’s appearance, but may also increase your body’s toxin burden and lead to damaging side effects.
Instead of using these commercial cosmetics and beauty products, you should try making your own natural skin care products. There are many safe, toxin-free ingredients you can use, such as essential oils, coconut oil, and even herbs and spices.
One wonderful ingredient you can add to your homemade skin care product is turmeric.
What is Turmeric?
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is an aromatic, flavorful, and bright-yellow rhizome. It is part of the ginger family and is widely used in Asian countries, especially in India. In fact, turmeric is one of the principle herbs in India’s ancient holistic health system known as Ayurveda.
Turmeric benefits are still being studied today, but one thing’s for sure – it has very unique properties that set it apart from other herbs and spices. For one, it has a very bright appearance – this is brought about by curcumin, a potent, naturally-occurring curcuminoid in turmeric.
Curcumin, a fat-soluble molecule, makes up one to six percent of the spice’s weight. Curcumin is sensitive, and may be destroyed by light, moisture, or heat. This is why if you have turmeric at home, it is recommended to store it in an airtight jar and in a cool, dark place away from sunlight.
Turmeric can be bought as a root or powder. You can find it in Asian markets or in the Indian section of your local grocery store. It’s a very cheap product, even if purchased in bulk. There are also manufacturers that sell turmeric supplement in capsule form.
Turmeric is a versatile spice. It has plenty of culinary uses, and is actually the main ingredient of the famous Indian curry. Its curcumin content also makes it a very potent dye. Many people also use turmeric for skin care.
Using Turmeric to Beautify Yourself
The tradition of using turmeric for beautification has been practiced for many years. In India, it is customary for a bride and the groom to cover themselves from head to toe with a mixture of turmeric, sandalwood powder, almond oil, and garbanzo bean flour on their wedding night. They believe that this gives their skin a radiant glow.
However, this doesn’t mean that you have to coat your whole body with bright-yellow turmeric. There are much simple ways to use this wonderful spice. Here are some ideas you can try.
>Put turmeric all over your scalp. This will have a soothing effect on your scalp. Just mix a tablespoon of olive oil with a teaspoon of turmeric while you’re in the shower. Let it set for 15 minutes. Afterwards, use an all-natural shampoo to remove the mixture.
>Make a soothing foot rub with turmeric. Feet tired after a long day of walking in heels? Try this: mix three tablespoons of turmeric with three drops of coconut oil, and then massage it all over your heels. Leave it on your skin overnight, wearing socks to keep the mixture on your feet. The next day, wash your feet with lukewarm water and natural soap.
>Make a turmeric facial mask. First, mix two tablespoons of starch with one tablespoon of raw organic milk. Add a pinch of turmeric and two drops of coconut oil or olive oil, then blend the mixture well, turning it into a paste. Spread this paste thinly all over your face, and allow it to set for 20 minutes. Rinse it off using water and mild soap.
Turmeric is a potent dye that can stain clothes and other surfaces, so be careful when using it. It can be washed away when placed on your skin, although sometimes, it takes days before the dye completely fades out.
About The Author
Elaine R. writes for Mercola.com. Her topics include natural health supplements, weight management techniques, and healthy eating guidelines. She is currently researching about turmeric with curcumin and other herbs and spices, as well as their potential benefits.
