Everyone gets bored with their regular skincare routine so why not switch things up with something new and different? If you’re not sure about trying something new on your skin, using herbal recipes is a surefire way to boost your skin’s health and appearance without any negative side effects. You may find many of these ingredients right in your own home.

When you want skin that is irresistibly soft, turn to well-known herbs such as lavender and calendula for a homemade recipe that won’t break your wallet and will benefit your skin from head to toe. Whether you have your own herb garden growing or choose to go to the store, get a cluster of lavender or calendula leaves and petals. Bruise the leaves and petals by softly smashing and squeezing them and put everything into a glass jar. Next, pour olive oil inside the jar until it covers the herbs completely with no leaves or petals sticking out. Find a nice, sunny window to place the jar in front of and shake the contents once a day for 2-3 weeks. Now take the jar’s contents and strain the oil through a cheese cloth. Be sure to press the solids in order to remove all of the essential oils. Once you have all of the essential oils strained, put it back into your jar and store in a dark place. You can now use your herbal oil in your next bath or apply it directly to your skin for ultimate spa-quality pampering.

If you think your complexion could benefit from a refreshing steaming, try this homemade recipe with an herbal twist:

·    Take a medium-sized bowl and fill it with boiling water.

·    Depending on your skin type, add four drops of the proper essential oil. Normal and combination skin types should use Mandarin and Lavender, Oily skin types should use Eucalyptus and Lemon, and dry skin types should use Chamomile and Rose. This particular recipe is not recommended for sensitive skin types, women who are pregnant or those who suffer from asthma.

·    Once you have added your four drops of essential herbal oil, place a large towel over your head and hold it over the steaming bowl, keeping your face a few inches away. Hold this position for about two minutes. During this time, your pores will be open and ready for a face mask to remove impurities and to tighten your pores back up.

When regular skincare toner is too harsh for your complexion, try using herbs to tackle your skin issues in a way that won’t cause your skin to react negatively. For skin that is sensitive, chapped or sunburned, combine the following ingredients: 2 tablespoons of dried or chopped fresh herbs (these should include calendula, mallow, lemon balm, or lavender) and 2/3 cups of boiling milk and pour into a bowl or pitcher. Cover with plastic wrap and allow the bowl and its contents to cool. Next, strain the liquid using a cheese cloth or muslin and store the liquid into a sterilized bottle or jar and store in the refrigerator. A different take on this herbal toner recipe involves the use of mint. To try this recipe for a new refreshing skin toner, mix one cup of witch hazel, ¼ cup of white vinegar, ¼ teaspoon of mint extract, and a few fresh peppermint leaves. Using a cotton ball, dip into your mixture and apply to your face and follow up with moisturizer.

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