HEALTH & BEAUTY

‘Know you the land where the lemon-trees bloom? In the dark foliage the gold oranges glow; the myrtle is still and the laurel stands tall – do you know it well? There, there, I would go, O my beloved, with thee!’

Johann van Goethe, Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre (1795–6)

TURMERIC AND GREEN TEA MASK

This powerful combination of ingredients forms an amazing, multi-tasking mask. Not only does it provide natural antioxidant protection and skin-nourishing vitamins, but it kills skin bacteria, fights fine lines and wrinkles, has anti-inflammatory properties, can lighten pigmentation and even protect your skin from harmful UV rays. What more could you ask for from a mask?!

INGREDIENTS

•3 tbsp cooled green tea

•a small pinch of turmeric

•1 tsp lemon juice

METHOD

Combine the ingredients in a bowl.

Exfoliate your skin to allow for maximum penetration of the mask. Dampen but don’t saturate a cotton wool pad with the liquid.

Sweep over your face to leave a thin layer and allow to dry for a few minutes. When dry repeat the process until most or all of the mixture is used up.

Relax for 20 minutes before gently rinsing off.

TOP TIP

For extra acne-fighting properties, add one whisked egg white. The egg reduces pore size, reduces sebum production and also maintains a healthy Ph balance for your skin.

WITCH HAZEL, CUCUMBER & GREEN TEA TONER

This super refreshing toner is so lovely to use, and so simple to make, you’ll never go back to buying an off-the-shelf toner again!

INGREDIENTS

•½ peeled cucumber

•juice of ½ lemon

•100ml witch hazel

•80ml cooled green tea

METHOD

Blitz the ingredients together in a blender until the cucumber becomes a fine pulp. Strain it through cheesecloth and reserve the liquid. Pour it into a clean, sterile bottle, making sure you squeeze every drop of juice from the pulp, too.

Pour a 10p-sized amount onto a cotton wool pad and sweep over your face after cleansing. You can keep the toner for a few weeks, but be sure to store in the fridge between uses.

APPLYING LEMON JUICE DIRECT TO SPOTS AND ACNE CAN HELP FIGHT THE BACTERIA THAT CAUSES THEM.