For the vast majority of ordinary inhabitants, the bay leaf is a seasoning, fragrant, suitable for soups, meat, preparations for the winter. Someone will recall that winners have been crowned with laurel wreaths since ancient times. But not many people know about the fact that bay leaf lotion helps in skin care.
Laurel tree - a symbol of love, victory and taste
According to ancient Greek mythology, the laurel is a tree in memory of love. Beloved Apollo Daphne, tired of the persecution of the beautiful god who was not sweet to her heart, turned into a laurel tree, the Apollo began to wear a wreath of leaves in memory of her beloved. The laurel tree has long been a symbol of beauty, success, victory. Laurel leaves were decorated not only with wreaths of victory, but also with ordinary dwellings, giving the premises a delicate aroma of freshness. Since then, laurel sprigs and leaves began to be used as an aromatic seasoning for various culinary dishes.
Bay leaf: beneficial substances
Leaves of laurel tree in ancient times began to be used as disinfectants - they were hung in rooms to get rid of unpleasant odors, boiled and used a decoction as an antiseptic. Modern studies have confirmed the presence of a huge amount of active components in the leaves and fruits of laurel. This plant contains essential oils, volatile, tannins, bitterness, fatty acids, vitamins and trace elements. Bay leaves and fruits are widely used to treat kidneys, joints, diabetes and allergies. It has been scientifically proven that preparations based on bay leaves can be used as:
- antibacterial;
- antipyretic;
- astringent;
- immunostimulating;
- hemostatic;
- diuretic;
- antiallergenic;
- antifungal;
- antimicrobial;
- anti-inflammatory;
- anti-cancer;
- decongestant;
- antiemetic.
Also, decoctions and infusions of laurel can be used as a means of enhancing appetite and improving digestion. Still such alternative medicines have the ability to lower blood pressure. When using traditional medicine, it should be remembered that herbal medicines have contraindications, like traditional medicines. Decoctions, infusions based on leaves or fruits of laurel tree are not recommended for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, with stomach and duodenal ulcers, with chronic constipation, blood clotting disorders, and kidney diseases in acute and chronic form. All this should be taken into account when deciding to use a decoction, infusion or lotion from bay leaves in the treatment of certain problems.
Bay leaf in cosmetology
Since laurel leaves and fruits contain tannins, fatty acids, and they have antibacterial activity, they should be used to treat acne, acne. There are not so many industrial cosmetics based on laurel, but they can be prepared at home. For example, a bay leaf lotion will provide an effective cosmetic product for inflammation.
Raw Material for Lotion
Laurel tree is a resident of warm regions. The Mediterranean, the Krasnodar Territory, the Caucasus, and in any region of the subtropical climate you can see this tree. In areas and countries where the seasons do not look like endless spring and summer, bay leaf can be bought in a regular store, in the spice department. And you can walk around the market and get almost freshly torn branches with leaves. In any case, the leaves for the preparation of cosmetic lotions and decoctions can be used both fresh and dry. Acne laurel lotion, the recipe for which may be different, will solve the problem with appearance. In addition, in pharmacies you can buy various additional ingredients that can complement a cosmetic product based on parsley - dried herbs and flowers, essential oils, vitamins.
How to make alcohol lotion?
To prepare an effective lotion of bay leaves at home, you can choose a recipe that suits the specific situation. After all, the leaves of the laurel tree have many healing and cosmetic capabilities. They fight acne, inflammation, redness, saturate the skin with anti-aging vitamins, and improve complexion. To prepare a very effective acne lotion from bay leaves, you can use the following recipe.
Prepare 100 grams of bay leaf and half a liter of vodka. Break the leaves, but do not chop, put in a glass jar and pour vodka. Close the lid tightly and put the jar in the refrigerator for 3 weeks. Strain the contents of the jar through cheesecloth and squeeze. The lotion is ready! Since it is very concentrated and effectively fights against total inflammation, it is necessary to apply it with a cotton swab only on a pimple! It is impossible to smear the whole face with such a means, you can get irritation.
Vitamin Laurel Lotion
Vitamin face lotion from bay leaves is prepared on the basis of a decoction. Wash 5 large bay leaves, dry on a paper towel. Put in an enameled bowl and pour boiling water in an amount of 400 ml. Put on fire, bring to a boil, cover and boil for 3-4 minutes. Remove the bowl from the heat and set to cool at room temperature. When the broth cools down, pour it into a glass bottle with a tight lid. Add 10 ml of liquid vitamins A and E to the broth, which you can buy at the pharmacy. Close the bottle and shake. Before each use, the contents of the bottle must be shaken so that the components are evenly distributed. Use such a remedy for inflammation, applying it with a cotton swab to the problem areas 2-3 times a day.
Vitamins in such a remedy can be replaced with tea tree oil, then it will acquire the ability to effectively tone up - the skin will be elastic and toned. A remedy based on bay leaf and tea tree oil can be applied over the entire skin without fear of irritation.
More cosmetics with lavrushka
Another homemade cosmetic uses chamomile and bay leaf. The recipe for the lotion is simple:
- 100 gr. bay leaf;
- 200 gr. chamomile pharmacy;
- 1 liter of boiling water.
Steep boiling water, pour the mixture of chamomile and parsley, cover and let cool at room temperature. Strain and squeeze the resulting infusion. Store in a glass jar in a cool, shaded place. Use such a lotion as a cleanser in the morning and evening, rubbing the skin of the face and decollete with a cotton pad.
An invigorating agent based on a decoction
The prepared broth from bay leaves can be used in an interesting way. Boil a few bay leaves in plain water, cool and pour into containers for making ice cubes. To freeze. As necessary, when the skin needs to quickly return to a healthy color, invigorate, remove such a cube from the freezer and wipe it with your face, neck, décolleté, hands. The icy homemade bay leaf lotion reviews are getting impressive. As many women say, the effect is amazing - the skin turns pink, becomes more elastic, even small wrinkles disappear for a while.
Not only for acne, but also for freckles
Bay leaf lotion can be supplemented with various components. For example, add fresh cucumber juice to the broth or infusion. It is best to do this just before the application - pour the prepared broth of lavrushka into a cup, squeeze the juice of fresh cucumber into it, literally a tablespoon. Mix well and wipe face with a cotton swab. This tool is able to remove not only inflammation and acne, but also discolor freckles. Moreover, the effect of this cosmetic product will be noticeable after several regular applications.
The opinion of cosmetologists
Homemade cosmetics are often used to preserve the freshness and health of the skin. They do not contain aggressive components, as they are prepared mainly on plant materials. For example, the same acne lotion from bay leaf. Reviews about it, even professional cosmetologists leave only good ones. Such a tool actively fights the problem of inflammation and acne, removes redness. Cosmetic preparations from parsley on water well help to maintain a healthy complexion, saturating the skin with vitamins and minerals, while not drying it. One little secret from professional beauty assistants: clay masks can be diluted not with water, as indicated in the instructions, but with decoctions of herbs. For example, boil 5 leaves of bay leaf for several minutes in 100 ml of water, cool and strain, and then dilute the clay mask. The effect of such a procedure will be much more effective and noticeable.
Buy or cook?
Bay leaf lotion is a good way to help home cosmetology. It is not difficult to cook it yourself, since it does not require a huge number of components or complex production technology. In addition, home cosmetics are always natural ingredients, without harmful "chemistry". Naturally, if there is a desire, then cosmetics based on bay leaves can be bought ready-made, which produces the cosmetic industry. But there are not so many such funds, most often in pharmacies there are ointments for joints based on a bay leaf. So it’s easier to make laurel cosmetics on your own, spending only half an hour of personal time and ten rubles on a bay leaf from the spice department in the nearest store.