So many things come in a flurry as soon as the warmth of the sun hits them. Even a few moments outside at this time of the year can change your mood completely. If the sun is shining, get outside – smell the air, feel the warmth returning and watch as things green up almost before your very eyes.
Here are five herbs you can gather now to infuse your morning and evening cleansing and moisturising routines, bring nature into your day and care for your skin.
Nature seems to know just what we need and provides for us just when we need it. The late herbalist Christopher Hedley used to say ‘the plant you need is right on your doorstep’. It’s funny how plants seem to find us, if only we care to look for them.
1. Violet, Viola odorata
Violet leaves with all their mucilage make a great moisturiser.
This spring I’ve gathered them from the garden and am infusing them in oil. You can use the leaves and flowers together, but – for fun – I’ve separated out a few leaves, white flowers and purple flowers to see whether the resulting infused violet oil differs, either in scent or colour.
The infused oil can either be used directly or combined within a moisturising lotion or cream.
2. Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale
The ‘officinale’ part of dandelion’s latin name tells us instantly that this is a herb that is traditionally used medicinally. In years gone by it was transported in crateloads from countryside to towns at a ‘green-herb rate’ on the trains. It’s a plant no herbalist would be without, most known for its diuretic properties, and a great spring cleanser.
Dandelion leaves can be made into a simple infusion, maybe with some thyme added, and a little witch hazel, to make a really refreshing wipe-on cleanser for use morning or evening.
While dandelion leaves will be around for a long while, the flowers are a fleeting presence in the year and will soon turn to puffy seed heads. Gather them now, but be careful how you dry them – I once ended up with flowers turning to seed in my dehydrator!
3. Nettle, Urtica dioica
Nettles and dandelions infused together make a great addition to a bath, especially to ward off post-gardening aches. They’ll help with neuralgia, sciatica and arthritic pain, all of which can be affected by changes in the weather.
Nettles are also a traditional hair tonic being stimulating and astringent. They stimulate growth and take care of the scalp (which is the basis for healthy hair).
Nettles contain mucilage too which makes them easy to combine in creams and lotions. I’m currently infusing oil with nettles which I’ll use to create a balm for treating the red itchiness that seasonal hayfever can create in the nose.
4. Cleavers, Galium aparine
Cleavers I’ll use in a simple infusion as a face wash, hair rinse and for any early season sunburn. It’s also good as a hair tonic, improving texture and shine as well as treating dandruff.
The natural deodorising properties of cleavers make it a good addition to blend it yourself underarm or foot deodorants.
I also simply like the freshness of cleavers added to water as a cleansing drink to sip through the day.
5. Chickweed, Stellaria media
The star of middle magnitude, according to her latin name. A mini megastar in our skincare regime.
I was once approached by someone wanting to find Stellaria-based skincare. Their favourite brand had stopped making it and, as it was the only product their sensitive skin had been able to cope with, they were keen to find other products made from this herb.
I showed them the page of chickweed-based skincare formulas in my book (‘Vital Skincare‘) and they went away happy that they could blend their own simple infusion and even then experiment with balms and lotions.
