Eastern cultures use various spices and herbs in cookery, religious rituals and medicine. Eastern beautiful women found great cosmetic qualities in spices long ago and use them successfully. Today I’d like to tell about one of such plants – turmeric.

Turmeric is a tropical plant of ginger family. It has different colors – from orange till brown. Turmeric is also known as Curcuma longa or curcumin. It is very widespread in India, China, Japan, Cambodia, Madagascar and other Eastern countries. Turmeric is well-known like Ayurveda spice. Turmeric is a known antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic agent. It is used in cosmetology as a component for anti-aging creams, masks or lotions. Here you’ll find some original recipes of cosmetic means from turmeric.

Scrub for facial skin. Mix some turmeric, salt, cinnamon and 1 teaspoon olive oil with coffee ground. Put prepared mixture on the face and make some massage movements. Then wash with cool water.

Cleansing mask. Mix turmeric powder with honey in proportion 1:1. Put it on the face. Keep for 10-15 minutes and then wash with cool water.

Anti-aging drink. Put 1 teaspoon turmeric into glass of hot milk. Mix carefully and drunk during the whole day.

Balsam for shower. You’ll need ¾ glass of sugar, 2 teaspoons turmeric, 1/3 glass vegetable oil, pinch of vanilla and some drops essential oil of cinnamon or patchouli. Mix all ingredients carefully. Take a warm shower and massage skin with paste.

Cinnamon is the inner bark of a tropical evergreen tree and is native to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Cinnamon bark is widely used as a spice. Its typical flavor is due to an aromatic essential oil that makes up 0.5% to 1% of its composition. Cinnamon has a sweet taste. It can be ground into powder too. Cinnamon consists of fats, carbohydrates, ash, fibre, iron and phosphorus.

A decoction of cinnamon is good for coughs and colds. For acne and headaches, cinnamon powder paste can be applied. It is also excellent as a mouth freshener. Cinnamon oil is used in cosmetic industry for producing heating and tonic means. You can use any recipe here to value fine cinnamon qualities.

Body scrubs. Mix in 2 teaspoons black pepper and cinnamon; add some olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt. This scrub cleanses skin and stimulates blood flow. Also it is very useful for people, who want to get more effect from physical exercises.
For deep cleansing of body skin you can prepare scrub from a glass sugar, half a glass olive oil and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Mix everything carefully and put on the body with massage movements.

Cinnamon hands soak. This soak will leave your hands (or even feet!) silky soft, and slightly scented with cinnamon. You need 2 cups water, 1 cup milk, 1/2 tablespoon olive oil, a pinch cinnamon. Mix all ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl large enough to fit both of your hands. Put the bowl in the microwave for 20 seconds, or until the mixture is quite warm, but still comfortable to touch. Soak your hands in the mixture for 10 minutes. When you are done soaking, take your hands out, rinse them briefly with lukewarm water, and pat dry. Add your favorite moisturizer if desired.

Apple and cinnamon face pack. It is an antiseptic mask for use on oily or problem skin. You need ripe apple, peeled and grated, ½ teaspoon single (light) cream, 1 teaspoon clear honey, 1 tablespoon ground oats, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mash into a paste, using a fork. Apply the pack to your face and leave on for 10 minutes. Gently remove with cool water, than pat dry with a clean towel.

Heating and tonic tea. Pour one cinnamon stick with ½ liter boiling water and keep for 10 minutes. Add some black tea and orange peel, boil and keep for 3 minutes. Have a nice drink! Find more inromation about skin care means at .