Botanical Steam & Popsicle

Skin tea

Skin popsicle

Here in the middle of August in sunny Los Angeles, we have a drought combined with days in the 90s+. Finding reprieve with a soothing, hydrating skin treatment feels beautifully amplified. This story begins with a steam, preferably when the temperatures cool later in the evening.

Simply place about 1 cup of this herbal blend in a shallow bowl, pour over recently boiled hot water approximately 2 cups or to cover herbs by at least 1/2”, and bow your face in to this gentle fragrantly refreshing and moisturizing steam.

I typically choose to steam after toddler’s bedtime, before I wash my own face or shower. It’s a cushiony transition from the daytime career + freeway driving + child + dog barking rush to a quiet evening. Choose to breathe in a pattern that you’ve learned from a meditation class or breathwork instruction, or simply breathe naturally and appreciate the moist dark and quiet. You’ll notice it’s not all about inhaling the fragrance, a long exhale will gently waft the steam upwards to warm your face. Start with gathering a simple blend of restorative flowers and a leaf or two. You may find these dried herbs separately at your favorite organic vendor (here’s mine) and combine yourself as needed, storing a batch once combined as a reminder to steam.

When you have finished your steam (or decide to skip it altogether and just make the infusion), save the liquid by straining or pressing out the wet flowers and herbs. This botanical elixir can be kept in the fridge for a cool face or body splash, used straight or combined with a hydrosol or witch hazel for a more tonifying spray. Or you can opt for the skin-sicle route for my preferred decadent cold therapy treat for hot summer weather. Just pour the botanical elixir into a popsicle mold of choice and freeze. I’ll pop one out and gently run over the contours and “etching” of my skin (as a lovely dermatologist once memorably described my lines). This slippery liquid is more than floral water, it’s a botanical infusion with restorative, hydrating botanical allies long appreciated in herbal medicine and skin treatment. Minimal concern for topical use, if you have sensitive skin of course a patch test would be indicated. This recipe isn’t edible or meant for consumption.

A flexible recipe follows: choose any 1-3 flowers listed below that you have on hand, prefer the frangrance or properties of, or can source readily. Each of these flowers has excellent skin soothing properties. I would encourage keeping the comfrey leaves in your blend if possible regardless of which flowers you have on hand, as comfrey has lux emollient properties. Haven’t heard of comfrey? Learn about comfrey’s properties, history, uses and more from the herbalist and author, Rosalee de la Forêt.

1 cup mixed flowers with affinity for skin: Calendula, Rose, Geranium, Lavender, Chamomile, Elder, Helichrysum (also called Everlasting or Immortelle, referencing fountain of youth style properties) are all great choices

1/4 cup Comfrey leaves

*optional 1/4 cup Green tea leaves or a spoon of matcha powder

*a few drops of skin soothing essential oil will potentiate the blend, consider Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Geranium, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Bergamot, Neroli, Vetiver or any of the flower’s essential oils listed above used for the infusion.

I dry blended or pulsed the mixture in a blender to combine and also loosen up the beneficial phytochemicals. This step isn’t required. You may place a few tablespoons into a bowl to steam, or enclose in a tea bag (my favorite) for ease of clean up.

The stars of the show, from the top: Chamomile flower powder, Green tea leaves, Calendula flowers, Helichrysum flowers, Lavender flowers, Comfrey leaves.