save your skin (recipe: herbal liniment)

I'm not much for cosmetics. It helps that I'm so thoroughly disgusted by the industry's misogynistic foundations, but in practical terms, I believe that most products sold for the skin are actually responsible for unhealthy skin.

Hormonal imbalances, lack of water, unhealthy fat sources, too much sugar, not enough or too much sun, undiagnosed food allergies (dairy is strongly indicated for acne in clinical studies), nutrient deficiencies, and other completely fixable issues are the underlying cause of blemishes, dullness, weak hair, and other issues. That's not to say that external applications can't be helpful, but no amount of benzoyl peroxide is going to correct dysfunction on the cellular level.

Since changing my diet quite a bit, and making a more concerted effort to be in the sunlight, I've seen a complete overhaul in the quality of my skin. I've also cut way back on my skin regimen. I used to exfoliate almost every day with a harsh cleanser containing salicylic acid. I'd follow up with a cream cleanser and then use toner and, depending on the day, a moisturizer or a moisture eradicator. If I had breakouts I'd attack them with all kinds of drugs. I felt dependent on these habits because my skin would get horribly oily and just feel dirty somehow if I skipped a day.

One of the worst things you can do to your skin is to cake on concealer, foundation, and powder, preventing gas transfers or the normal elimination of toxins. Skin needs to breathe. I didn't wear much makeup unless I was feeling especially self-conscious or having a lot of problems with my skin, and then I'd do all of the above in my efforts at camouflage. Of course, as a result I'd spiral into a depressing cycle, as such products only make breakouts more likely.

This routine is completely different now. Most days, I don't do more than rinsing my skin with warm water. I only rarely exfoliate (with ground oatmeal) and I never use moisturizer. I drink more water and eat more good fat. I get lots of sun and I consume tons of garlic. And twice a week, I use this liniment.


It takes some time for skin to adjust to a chemical-free existence. The same is true for hair. I used to wash and condition my hair every day. I tried to taper off and immediately my scalp was like an oil slick. After a few weeks, though, my hair adjusted. Now I wash my hair twice a week, using Dr. Bronner's soap, and it's healthier and stronger than ever. It grows much faster, is naturally shiny, and doesn't break as it used to do.

I feel self-conscious acknowledging that I have fairly healthy skin. Like most women, I've been steeped in self-hating indoctrination. In this culture, it's actually much safer and certainly more normal for a woman to hate her body; she will find herself in good company and be endlessly targeted by ad campaigns designed to provide her with the products she needs to assimilate. A woman who is self-confident and considers herself beautiful or at the very least good-enough will frequently find herself isolated and torn down by other women as arrogant.

Nevertheless, I can't tell you how important I think it is to overcome that hateful self-talk - especially for those of us with daughters.


So: about this liniment. It's very simple and easy to make. These herbs have a few purposes here. My skin tends toward redness and acne, so those are the issues I was targeting. Lavender is very kind to skin, as it reduces inflammation, calms blemishes, and adds a little bit of good moisture. Peppermint also eases inflammation, and it's cooling in the summer. Yarrow is healing for dry, itchy, or tight skin, and it's specific for eczema. And I included aloe vera because it's simply one of the best topical applicants for any skin condition.

Maybe you can guess from these descriptions that this liniment is useful not only for the complexion but for bug bites, sunburn, and surface wounds.

Late summer is the time when all three of these herbs are at their peak; yarrow and peppermint grow wild in this area so I gathered lots of both to store for the year, and almost everyone, it seems, grows lavender, so it's easy to find.

I had an interesting experience with this yarrow, which I collected from a ditch outside a vineyard. I brought it home, stuck it in a vase to dry, and then sat down in front of the vase to have lunch. I was reading a book when I heard a muffled buzzing sound. I looked up and there was a fly, in the yarrow. Stuck in the yarrow, to be more specific. It couldn't seem to get away. Now how could a fly get stuck in a bunch of flowers? I thought about this for a few minutes as I watched the fly trying to escape. Then, like one of those Magic Eye puzzles, the spider appeared.


Can you see it?

I don't give exact measurements for these herbs because I don't have a kitchen scale -- I don't think most people have a kitchen scale, unless they are avid bakers. I work with medicinal material enough that I do need a kitchen scale, but as of yet I do not have one, and giving cup measurements isn't nearly as useful given the widely varying volume of dry herbs. Ultimately, this liniment is so simple and safe that I simply don't think it's very important to worry about weight.

LINIMENT OF YARROW, PEPPERMINT, AND LAVENDER
3/4 c. filtered water
1/2 c. vodka
1/2 c. aloe vera juice
handful of yarrow flowers
handful of lavender flowers (NOT the kind sold for potpourri)
handful of dry peppermint

Combine the herbs in a glass pint jar. Cover the herbs with the water, vodka, and aloe vera juice. Tighten the lid and let the herbs steep for 4-6 weeks, away from sunlight.

Strain out the herbs and return the liquid to the jar.

To use, apply topically to the face with a cotton ball, then rinse with cool water. The liniment may also be applied to sunburns, insect bites, and surface abrasions.

It's not inherently harmful if ingested, but I wouldn't recommend it.