As the warmer weather approaches us and longer, sunnier days beckon us to wake up from indoor hibernation, we can’t help but feel in sync with the changing of the seasons. The desire for a spring cleaning may urge some to deep clean their home, others to clear out their kitchen cabinets, and a growing number of health-conscious folks to deep clean themselves.
While self-care isn’t something that should be confined to a specific time of the year, the budding of new life can stimulate us to seek out new approaches for how to incorporate mother natures bounty into our own lives. A huge part of a nourishing self-care routine involves bringing awareness to what we put in our bodies and on our bodies. Our skin is our largest organ and with such a large surface it’s important to recognize that what we put on our skin can not only penetrate into our deeper skin layers but be absorbed into our bloodstream. That’s why it’s important when considering a holistic approach to self-care to approach it from the inside and out.
Herbals and botanical ingredients have been used for centuries in cultures all around the world for their health-benefiting properties. At The Tea Spot, we incorporate a number of well-known herbs in our teas to aid with stress, sleep issues, energy, focus, and relaxation. But as part of this year’s spring cleaning, we are getting creative and sharing with you two of our new favorite DIY herbal tea recipes that go beyond the cup.
Facial Steam
A facial steam is a simple yet luxurious way to revitalize the delicate skin on our faces. Facial steams open up any clogged pores and bring a youthful glow to the complexion. Especially after the harsh winter weather, facial steams can serve a dual purpose, depending on the herbs used, to clear up any chest congestion. For this recipe, we chose to go with our Egyptian Chamomile and our Moroccan Rosebuds & Petals tea for a soothing and moisturizing facial steam. We’ve also added a bit of lavender essential oil for a truly nurturing experience.
Facial Steam Recipe
- 4 cups Hot water
- 2 tbsp Egyptian Chamomile Tea
- 2 tbsp Rosebuds & Petals Tea
- 2-5 drops Lavender essential oil
- 1 large bowl or basin
- Before steaming cleanse skin, removing all dirt and make-up.
- Place your dried herbs and lavender essential oils in a large heat-proof bowl or basin and add with 4 cups of just-boiled water.
- Sit down at a table with the bowl in front of you, drape a towel over the back of your head and bringing your head over the bowl, about 6-12 inches.
- Close your eyes, take a deep breath in and enjoy the relaxing steam for 10-15 minutes. Follow the steam with a refreshing toner spray and a moisturizer of your choice (you could also use 4 drops of your Herbal Oil Infusion from the recipe below!)
Herbal Oil Infusion
The practice of abhyanga or warm oil self-massage is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that has crossed over to the West and become popularized in the wellness space, particularly in spas. A compassionate act of self-love, this practice brings with it loads of benefits from increasing circulation, to calming the nerves, increasing mental alertness, and aiding in the bodies natural detoxification process. While typically performed in the morning, you can easily do this at any time of the day preferably after a shower or dry brushing the skin. An herbal oil infusion of Egyptian Chamomile tea is perfect for a full body self-massage while incorporating peppermint leaves can help with a dry scalp. While any oil can be used for this recipe, we chose to go with jojoba oil as it is most similar to the constituents of our own human sebum and is considered to be the least irritating for most skin types.
Herbal Chamomile Oil Infusion (Double Boiler Method)
- 2 Tbsp Egyptian Chamomile Tea
- 2 cups Organic jojoba oil
- 1 Strainer or cheesecloth
- 1 Glass mason jar
- 1 Double Boiler
- Place your chamomile and jojoba oil into a double boiler and gently heat over low heat for 3 hours.
- Turn off the heat and place the double boiler onto the countertop to cool for 15-30 minutes.
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Pour the chamomile infusion into the jar or strain it through a cheesecloth into a glass jar and close with a tight lid. Now your oil is ready for use!
Infused oil can be stored for up to a year in a dark cool place, and vitamin E can be added to increase the shelf life.
Creating your Perfect Spa Day with Tea
-Start your day with a dry brush massage followed by an herbal oil infusion abhyanga massage.
-Continue with a light breakfast and a delicious cup of Sugar Tamer tea.
-Follow up with a gentle facial steam to cleanse and rejuvenate your face.
-Finish up with a detoxifying foot soak and feel like a whole new version of yourself from head to toe!
-If you are looking to add self-love more consistently into your routine, check out our daily rituals post!