Pure Fresh Plant Extracts

Fresh Rosemary Extract

You can make your own fresh plant extracts at this time of the year. If you grow your own rosemary, lavender or dill for example you can use these and make your own toner. You will need a few accessories though such as a flask, a very fine filter, pure alcohol and a blender that can run for 5 minutes without interruption.

Pick the herb you want to use, wash it and place it into a glass jar. Mix your grain alcohol – 50% alcohol, 20% glycerine and 30% spring water – and pour over your herbs. Using the stick blender, blend everything for 5 minutes. Use a funnel that is lined with a tea paper filter, pop onto a glass bottle and pour your mashed up plant extract into the funnel. Then wait – filtration can take a long time, so be patient. Once the filtration process is over just lift the funnel off the bottle and close the bottle with a lid. Label and store in a cool place.

To make your own toner use 75% hydrolat or spring water and 25% of your plant extract, fill into a bottle and close with a flip top. Use your toner every morning and evening after cleansing by squeezing an amount onto a cotton ball and wiping it over your face and neck. Follow with your usual cream or lotion.

Almost all herbal plant extracts are very rich in antioxidants, they are antibacterial and antifungal too. Toners are astringent and close pores giving your skin a more even appearance. They deal with pimples, blackheads, redness and other skin imperfections, however give it time: 6 – 8 weeks as a minimum before you can see results.

The best part about your own homemade plant extracts is that you know the plants (i.e. you grow them yourself in your garden) and you know they are pesticide free. They also are free from preservatives such as parabens because you don’t need them – the alcohol in the extract preserves the product perfectly.

A lot has been said and written about alcohol drying out skin. In my experience this is not true. Alcohol evaporates extremely quickly on skin. And if you are using glycerine as described above then you will help your skin’s moisturization because glycerine is a great humectant. Alcohol also helps to transport active plant ingredients such as antioxidants into the epidermis where they can work to greater effect. Certain plant actives help with cell renewal which in turn has a positive effect on wrinkly, sagging, dry and spotty skin.

Pure Rosemary Leaf Extract from Cebra ethial skincare

In general if your skin shows a negative reaction to your toner then the concentration of plant extract to water/hydrolat is too high or your toner is beyond its best before date. It is also important to keep the plant extracts and the toner in a cool and dark place i.e in the fridge and not in direct sunlight and use it within 8 weeks of opening. It has to be said though that in very rare cases allergic reactions to plant actives can happen but most people will be aware of their own allergies and what ingredients to avoid.

Rosemary should not be used by anybody suffering from anemia or epilepsy and it should best be avoided by pregnant women.  Peppermint should not be used on an infant’s face. If in doubt ask your aromatherapist or herbal practitioner.

You can buy ready-made pure rosemary extract directly from Cebra ethical skincare.