Foraged Facial Steam

As we enter the season of Spring, the trees adorned in buds and the first flowers in bloom. This is the best time of the year to forage for fresh greens as the plants are sending their energy to their leaves and stems. Enjoy dandelion leaf salads and nettles soups as well as chickweed pesto and violet leaf tea. After the cold Winter season, this is also a perfect time to offer some extra nourishment to our skin and nothing opens the pores and offers freshness quite like a facial steam treatment. There are many wild plants to be found at your doorstep that you can use but three of my favourite ones are fresh cleavers, primrose flower and sweet-scented violet.

All you need is:

~A wide bowl

~A clean towel

~ A cup of boiling water, ideally Spring or filtered.

~ An handful of fresh herbs.

The next time you go for a walk in the woods or a wander through the hedgerows or park, look out for the aforementioned plants and bring home a small handful. Add to your bowl and cover in freshly boiled water. Cover the bowl and allow to steep for a few minutes, checking the temperature of the steam with your wrist and when it feels comfortable, sit with your face over the bowl and cover your whole head in the towel so that the steam doesn’t escape. This simple, gentle and relaxing ritual will open the pores and the natural moisture content of the plants will offer a refreshed and radiant complexion. Follow with a spritz of mist and a few drops of facial serum.