From time to time, I enjoy paging through an herbal body care book from the 1970’s called Jeanne Rose’s Herbal Body Book. It’s full of old fashioned recipes for natural products that aren’t commonly found in modern day beauty regimens, including something she calls a “cosmetic vinegar.”
According to Rose, cosmetic vinegars can be used as a facial rinse, aftershave, or deodorant. “It is softening and will relieve itchy skin and restore the natural acid balance,” she says.
I have had great results using vinegar as a hair rinse, but had never tried using it on my skin. I was intrigued. So, I decided to give this retro skin tonic a try.
My rendition of a cosmetic vinegar is infused with botanicals that help boost the appearance and health of skin. Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is rich in antioxidants and has antimicrobial effects. It helps to prevent damage to the skin due to environmental factors, reducing skin aging and wrinkle formation (Park, S., et al.).
Pine (Pinus spp.) needles are anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial (Kim, H., et al.). They are rich in antioxidants and have anti-aging effects. One study showed that pine reduces wrinkles and improves the tone and clarity of skin (Kim, E., et al.).
Apple cider vinegar is said to be best suited for oily or acne-prone skin. Some say it benefits skin health because it balances the pH, stimulates circulation, and exfoliates.
Cosmetic vinegars are really simple to put together and only require a few ingredients. The following recipe is adapted from Rose’s method.
Mugwort & Pine Cosmetic Vinegar
Materials
- Mugwort leaf, fresh or dried
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Pine Hydrosol
- Small glass bottle with spray top
Instructions
To make mugwort infused vinegar —
- Fill a jar 3/4 full with fresh mugwort leaves, or half full with dry mugwort leaves. Pour apple cider vinegar over the herbs, leaving a half inch or so of headspace in the top of the jar.
- Cap with a tight fitting, non metal lid. If you are using a metal lid, place a piece of wax paper under it to help prevent corrosion.
- Let the vinegar steep for 2–4 weeks then strain through a cheese cloth and rebottle.
To make mugwort & pine cosmetic vinegar—
- Add 1 part mugwort vinegar and 1 part pine hydrosol to a small bottle. Cap tightly and shake well.
Notes
References
Kim, Eun-Joo et al. (2006). The Anti-aging Effects of the Cosmetic Products Containing the Needles of Red Pine on Human Skin. The Korea Journal of Herbology. 2006, pp. 21. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264059581_The_Anti- aging_Effects_of_the_Cosmetic_Products_Containing_the_Needles _of_Red_Pine_on_Human_Skin
Kim, Hyeusoo, et al. “Comparison of Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils from Three Pinus Species.” Industrial Crops and Products, vol. 44, 2013, pp. 323–329., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2012.10.026.
Park, Si-Hyang & Hong, Yu-Mi & Choi, Yeung & Choi, Jin-Ho & Kim, Byung-Kwan. (2008). Antiwrinkle Effects of Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) Extracts on UVB-Irradiated Hairless Mouse Skin. Journal of The Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition. 37. 1136-1141. 10.3746/jkfn.2008.37.9.1136.
