Content
This plant has long been a well-known "broad spectrum" folk remedy for skin care. It is scientifically proven that facial nettle helps to cope with many problems, this is due to its unique composition. The benefits of the plant are recognized by cosmetologists and dermatologists, the herb itself and its extract are included in the list of many cosmetics, and often these are products of very famous brands.
Benefits of nettle for the face
The pungency and "pungency" of the herb is due to the presence of acetylcholine, formic acid and histamine in the composition. The same substances are mainly "responsible" for its basic useful properties, which are in demand in cosmetology. When heated, they break down into separate compounds, including water and carbon dioxide. The first intensively moisturizes tissues at the cellular level, the second gives a powerful cleansing effect, "pushing" excess sebum from the pores on the face, helping to get rid of toxins, unaesthetic oily sheen on the face.
Nettle is not only an annoying weed, but also a healing herb that is very popular in folk medicine and home cosmetology.
In addition, nettle is very rich in vitamins and other substances that have a complex positive effect on the skin of the face:
- A (necessary for the regeneration of microdamages at the cellular level, gives an antiseptic effect).
- C (stimulates the synthesis of collagen and elastin fibers, activates blood circulation in the capillaries and strengthens their walls).
- E (participates in tissue regeneration, helps to retain moisture in cells).
- K (restores an even healthy complexion, helps to get rid of hyperpigmentation, redness, rosacea, dark circles under the eyes).
- Vitamins of group B (give a complex effect of healing and rejuvenating the skin of the face).
- Tannins and tannins (have an antiseptic effect, fight redness, irritation and inflammation, soothe the skin of the face, even out its relief).
- Flavonoids (provide protection from adverse environmental factors, have a positive effect on local immunity).
- Organic acids (inhibit aging processes, visibly reduce wrinkles).
- Vikasol (natural "whitener" for the skin of the face, combats swelling, inflammation and acne).
Accordingly, nettle for the skin of the face is a very broad spectrum of action. Which effect will be the main one depends on the availability of additional ingredients. For example, cosmetic clay and citrus extracts help to cleanse and slightly whiten the skin, chamomile and aloe to soothe it and get rid of facial irritations.
The use of nettle in cosmetology
The fact that nettle is very rich in vitamins, macro- and microelements could not go unnoticed. Many companies now have special lines of "herbal products", and the extract of this plant is often found in their composition.Nettle in cosmetology for the face is a means of cleansing, as well as products that fight problem, oily skin.
Nettle Facial Hydrolat can be used as a cleanser or toner
In what form can you use
Homemade nettle facial cosmetics are a very wide range of products. No special equipment or special skills are required to make them.
Nettle decoction for the face
The most versatile home cosmetic remedy is a nettle decoction for the face. It is better to take the leaves fresh, not dried, they have a higher concentration of substances necessary for the skin. The broth can not only be used for washing in the morning and in the evening, but also to prepare other means for the face on its basis - masks, creams, tonics.
A decoction of nettle for problems with the skin of the face can be used not only externally, but also drunk
For the preparation of a broth, 100 g fresh or 3-4 tbsp. l. dry leaves are poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water and kept in a water bath for about half an hour. The finished product is cooled to room temperature, filtered before use.
Infusion
An infusion of fresh leaves for the face is slightly more useful than a decoction due to the fact that it undergoes less heat treatment. It is very simple to prepare it - pour 100 g of fresh or 30-40 g of dry leaves in 300 ml of boiling water, close it tightly if possible, leave for an hour. Strain the finished product.
Then the infusion can be used for washing and lotions. He, like a decoction, is very useful for oily skin. This product also effectively "inhibits" the aging process of aging skin, deeply moisturizes and nourishes it.
On the basis of nettle infusion, you can prepare homemade face creams.
Tincture
Nettle alcohol tincture is a ready-made face lotion. It is very simple to prepare - a glass of finely chopped or chopped fresh leaves in a blender is poured into 1 liter of vodka and the container is removed to a dark cool place for 20-25 days. Once every 2-3 days, its contents must be shaken. The finished product is filtered, stored in the refrigerator.
The tincture of the leaves is suitable for daily use. It is an effective antiseptic, anti-inflammation and greasy shine. For aging, dull skin, the tincture returns an even color and natural healthy glow.
Alcohol tincture of nettle can burn sensitive and thin skin of the face.
Nettle oil
This oil is a good alternative to night face cream. To prepare it, 50 g of dried leaves in a dark glass container are poured with 200 ml of high-quality olive oil warmed to body temperature (it can be replaced with any other used in cosmetology as a base oil). The container is closed, vigorously shaken several times and put away in a dark, cool place for two weeks.
Face nettle can be infused with almond oil, peach oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, and so on.
If you apply nettle oil to the skin daily in the evenings in moderation, you can soon notice noticeably reduced wrinkles, a tightened face contour. It also effectively copes with comedones and acne.
Juice
Nettle juice is the most concentrated and powerful home remedy for the face. Use it with extreme caution so as not to burn the skin. Obtained by grinding fresh leaves in a blender, and then squeezing the resulting gruel through cheesecloth. Nettle juice is effective for acne, acne, acne on the face.It is stored in the refrigerator for two weeks.
The "shelf life" of nettle juice is relatively short, then its benefits for the face are mostly lost
Compress
Compresses - gauze, cloth napkins soaked in decoction or infusion. Such "masks" are useful for smoothing wrinkles, nourishing and moisturizing facial skin. You can also use the gruel left over after straining the decoction or infusion. It is applied pointwise to problem areas - acne, acne, freckles, age spots, post-acne, comedones.
Nettle compresses provide a complex healing effect for the skin of the face
Nettle ice for face
To prepare cosmetic ice for the face, the strained broth or infusion is poured into molds and sent to the freezer. You can add to it other medicinal herbs that are suitable for the type of facial skin.
Ready-made ice cubes are a fast-acting tonic. Use them in the morning, rubbing the skin. As a result, a healthy color and blush are restored, fine wrinkles are smoothed out, edema disappears, the oval of the face is slightly tightened.
The positive effect of the use of cosmetic ice with nettle for the face is due to the activation of local blood circulation
Nettle face mask recipes
Masks are made from both dry nettles and fresh ones. The effect that a face product has depends on the additional ingredients:
- Rejuvenating with milk... In a blender, grind a tablespoon of fresh nettle leaves and a teaspoon of flax seeds. All are poured with a glass of hot milk, in a water bath, they are brought to the consistency of heavy cream.
- Nutritious with honey... Grind a teaspoon of fresh nettle and spinach leaves, add the same amount of oatmeal, freshly squeezed carrot juice and liquid honey warmed up to body temperature. Mix everything thoroughly.
- Cleansing with egg white... Dilute white or blue cosmetic clay with nettle infusion to the consistency of a homogeneous thick gruel, add beaten egg white and a couple of drops of lavender, tea tree, mint essential oil.
- Calming with chamomile... A decoction of nettle and flowers, taken in approximately equal proportions (2-3 tbsp. L.) Is mixed with a tablespoon of homemade cottage cheese and the same volume of fresh aloe juice.
- Moisturizing & Refreshing with Egg Yolk & Cream... A tablespoon of crushed leaves is poured with the same volume of heavy cream, whipped egg yolk is added.
To enhance the effect, nettle in face masks can be mixed with other herbs that help solve a particular skin problem.
Application rules
For face cosmetics with nettle to bring the desired effect, they must be applied to cleansed skin. If this is a mask, it is necessary not only to wash, but also to use a scrub, facial peeling, and steam the skin.
The tool is selected taking into account the type of facial skin, its needs and age. If dry skin requires intensive nutrition, on oily and problematic skin, the same mask will most likely only aggravate the situation.
Regularity is equally important. The effect of such home remedies for the face is cumulative, it manifests itself gradually, for about a month. But you can't overdo it by increasing the concentration of nettle in homemade facial cosmetics.
Face cleaning
To cleanse the face, alcohol tincture is used as a lotion. If the skin is oily, this remedy can be applied daily, morning and evening, for 2-3 months until the desired effect is achieved. First you need to thoroughly wash your face with a product suitable for your skin type.
For acne
Nettle for acne face is used in a complex.Cleansing masks based on this plant are applied every 3-4 days. For individual acne and blackheads, use the juice pointwise. It is applied with a cotton swab for a maximum of 2-5 minutes, then washed off with water. For thin or sensitive skin, use nettle juice diluted with water 1: 1.
Additionally, such a decoction or infusion is taken orally. About a liter is drunk during the day in 3-4 doses 30-45 minutes before meals. The tool provides the body with a comprehensive "cleansing", helps in the fight against acne, after the application of nettle acne becomes noticeably less.
From wrinkles
To get rid of small and more noticeable wrinkles, daily washing with a decoction of nettle or its infusion or using them instead of a face tonic is useful. An effective "express remedy" for aging skin - cosmetic ice. Rub the face with cubes in the morning, following the direction of the massage lines.
Once every 3-4 days, rejuvenating masks are made, you can alternate them with compresses, applying a tissue napkin dipped in broth or nettle infusion on your face. Keep such a compress on the face for 30-40 minutes.
For dry skin
Daily washing with infusion or decoction of nettle will provide dry skin with the necessary care. For a complex effect, moisturizing and nourishing masks are used - once every 5-7 days is enough.
Dry skin of the face, as a rule, is characterized by increased sensitivity and a tendency to irritation, therefore, you need to use funds with nettles very carefully, be sure to test them first. If the facial skin reacts negatively, you can try to reduce the concentration of nettle by 1.5-2 times.
For oily skin
With a tendency of the skin of the face to oily content, daily washing with a decoction or infusion of nettle is also shown. On pimples, acne, foci of inflammation that appear on the face, nettle juice or squeezed gruel remaining after the preparation of decoctions, infusions is dotted. The "therapy" is complemented by cleansing masks with nettle for the face. They are applied every 3-4 days.
Limitations and contraindications
Due to the "stinginess" of nettle, any folk remedies for the face can provoke an allergic reaction. To prevent this from happening, they must be pre-tested, applying a little to the inner fold of the elbow or wrist. If no unpleasant symptoms (burning, rash, itching, redness) appear in 30-40 minutes, the nettle remedy can be safely used on the face.
An allergic reaction to homemade face cosmetics with nettles is a fairly common occurrence.
In addition to individual intolerance, care must be taken to use cosmetics with nettles on thin, sensitive and couperose-prone skin. If, after application, a cosmetic product causes burning, redness, you can try to reduce the concentration of nettle, apply it in a very thin layer, for a shorter period or locally, only on problem areas. When the negative reaction persists, it is better to refuse home cosmetics with nettles.
Conclusion
Traditional skin care products can sometimes be even more effective than expensive cosmetics - face nettle is a great example. Homemade masks, lotions, tinctures and other products based on it help to get rid of many skin problems, because this plant is just a storehouse of vitamins, minerals and other useful substances.
