Chamomile flowers can be added to witch hazel for relaxing and rejuvenating the eyes, says Miller.
Chamomile Eye Calmer
Ingredients:
2 cups of witch hazel
1/2 cup chamomile flowers
1 aloe leaf
Directions:
Combine witch hazel with flowers. Steep for one day in the sun. Strain out flowers from the liquid and pour into a clean glass jar. Add the gel from aloe leaf. Store in the refrigerator. To use, pour onto two cotton balls, lie down, place on your eyelids, and listen to some soothing music for the next 15 minutes.
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Insect Bites
Aloe is a wonderful remedy for soothing a bug bite, too much sun, or an itch from a walk in the woods, says Miller. This remedy doesn't require a list of ingredients or directions. Just rub aloe directly from the plant onto the itchy area. See, we told you some of these remedies were easy.
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Monster Zit
Apply this to a pimple or drink it to cleanse your digestive system, says Miller.
If using topically, apply only onto the pimples (which will tingle a bit) because the acidity in the garlic may sting normal skin.
Yogurt Zit Zapper
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of plain, organic yogurt
1 or 2 cloves of garlic crushed to a paste
1 cup water
Directions:
Combine yogurt with garlic and let steep for six hours. Then, add boiling water to mixture. Whisk vigorously. Strain with cheesecloth to remove pieces of garlic. Let cool before using.
When you're struck with things like zit flare-ups, bug bites and puffy eyes, your knee-jerk reaction is to grab a product from your medicine cabinet (or wherever you keep that kind of stuff), right? But, have you considered that maybe the herbs, plants and flowers growing in your backyard (or the ones you bought at the store) could remedy some of your skin care woes with the same -- if not better -- results? In our busy, fast-paced lives, we know you're thinking, "Yeah, right. Like I'll ever have time to whip up a skin care recipe. Ever." Stick with us � while some of these skin care recipes are a bit more labor intensive, most of them only require a few easy-to-locate, purse-friendly ingredients.
We called on the expertise of Melinda Joy Miller, author of "Shamanic Gardening: Timeless Techniques for the Modern Sustainable Garden" and Janice Cox, author of "Natural Beauty for All Seasons: 250 Simple Recipes and Gift Giving Ideas for Year-Round Beauty". They share recipes for skin and eye remedies that'll help clear blemishes and zap zits; ones that'll help soothe facial irritation, bring pH balance to the skin, calm insect bites and sunburns, and soothe red, itchy skin; and ones that rejuvenate and condition tired-looking eyes.
In case you weren't blessed with a green thumb, Miller has a tip for you: "The best time of day to pick herbs or flowers is in the early morning just as the sun is coming up. The energy of the day is very high then and the plant is at a rested, healed-by-the-dew state." On the other hand, if you're not a morning person or don't have a garden, you can improvise by picking them up at your local market at your leisure.
