We spend a lot of money on cosmetics and beauty products every month. But do you know that our own kitchen has more beneficial and potent ingredients at one-tenth of the price of store-bought beauty products? Mint leaves which are used everyday in our kitchen for cooking also has a whole lot of skin and hair care benefits. Read on my post on Beauty Benefits of Mint Leaves to know how to incorporate mint leaves for skin and hair care in our home.
# Acne treatment Salicylic acid is the ingredient mainly used in all OTC acne products. And mint is a natural source of salicylic acid. To treat acne naturally, make a face pack by grinding mint leaves, tulsi leaves and neem leaves into a fine paste. Mix with rose water and apply all over face. Leave on for 20 minutes. This will also heal blemishes and acne scars.
# Exfoliating scrub To prepare a mint scrub at home, take two teaspoons of oatmeal and add dried mint leaves powder to it. Make a paste using milk and scrub your face gently with it. It helps to brighten the skin, remove dead cells and purify skin.
# Deep pore cleanser To make a simple mint cleanser, extract the juice from mint leaves. Add a teaspoon of honey to it. Dab a cotton in the mix and cleanse your face gently with it. This helps to deeply cleanse the pores of all dirt and impurities and helps to tighten the pores.
# Clear skin toner Simmer mint leaves in hot water for half an hour. Now filter out the leaves and store the mint extract in a bottle. Use this as a toner everyday morning and evening to get clear, blemish-free skin.
# Sun tan remedy
If you are suffering from tanned skin, make a paste of mint leaves and cucumber slices. Mix with yoghurt and apply on affected areas to get relief from sun burn and remove tan.
# Puffy eyes treatment Mix mint juice and rose water in the ratio 1:1 and refrigerate. Soak two cotton pads in the mix and place over your eyes. This helps to relax and relieve puffy eyes immediately.
# Refreshing body mist Steep mint leaves and green tea leaves in hot water. Filter out the leaves and pour the liquid into a spray bottle. Add few drops of lemongrass essential oil and shake well. Store in refrigerator. Spritz this body mist all over your body to refresh and energize yourself in summers.
# Shiny hair Use mint water as a final rinse while washing your hair to make it shiny, smooth and healthy.
# Lice treatment Massaging your scalp with mint oil twice a week helps to get rid of lice.
# Dandruff hair pack
To prepare an anti-dandruff hair pack, mix mint paste, lemon juice and fuller’s earth. Apply all over scalp and leave on for 20 minutes. Wash off with a mild shampoo.