Photographs by Anya van de Wetering and Bella Thewes
This is a very old recipe that is still used to make a tonic for your face. Back in 1300, an alchemist created the tonic for the Queen of Hungary so that she would stay looking youthful. An alternative story is that this recipe originated with travelling nomads. This wonderful face toner is pH neutral, is soothing and calming for your skin, and minimizes the appearance of your pores. It also softens and nourishes your hair.
Leoniek Bontje grew up in a green environment in North Holland with a forest and beach within walking distance and is now a herbalist and wild forager who is passionate about sharing her extensive knowledge of plants and their uses.
The Queen of Hungary Water
Ingredients (for 200ml)
- 6g lemon balm
- 4g camomile flowers
- 4g rose petals
- 3g marigolds
- 3g common comfrey leaves
- 1g rosemary leaves
- Zest of half an organic lemon
- 175ml apple cider vinegar
- 100ml rose distillate or witch
hazel hydrolate
- A clean 200ml pot or jar with lid
Method:
Place all the plant parts in the pot along with the lemon zest. Pour over the apple cider vinegar to cover the plant parts. Put the lid on the pot and leave to stand at room temperature for three to four weeks. Strain and then mix the vinegar (the extract) with the rose distillate or witch hazel hydrolate in a 1:1 ratio. In other words, if your pot has a capacity of 200ml, then add 100ml extract and 100ml distillate/hydrolate.
If the slightly sour fragrance of apple cider vinegar doesn’t appeal to you, then omit it and just use rose distillate or witch hazel hydrolate. Store in a cool, dark place.
If you want to use the tonic as a face toner, decant it into an atomiser and spray on your skin daily, either in the morning or evening.
Carrot Skin Oil
Carrots are packed with vitamins and minerals that nourish and protect your skin.
Ingredients (for 150ml):
- 2 carrots
- 100ml good-quality oil
- A clean 150ml pot or jar
- Muslin
- A clean 150ml bottle with cap
Method:
Wash and grate the carrots, then place them in the pot and pour over the oil. Cover with muslin and leave for four weeks, stirring occasionally. Strain the oil through muslin and pour into the bottle. You can recognise wild carrot from the ‛lace skirt’ below the flower. That’s why the plant is also referred to as ‛Queen Anna’s lace’.
TIP: Wild carrot (
Daucus carota) is the ancestor of the cultivated carrot we know today. You can press a wonderful oil from the seeds of the wild carrot, or leave the seeds in oil to infuse (macerate).
Yarrow Spray
Yarrow is a wonderful plant for your skin. It is restorative and helps wounds to heal, so I like to have it in spray form to apply it to minor wounds. Yarrow spray is also effective if you suffer from acne or other skin imperfections.
Ingredients (for 200ml):
- 25–50g yarrow flowers and leaves (enough to fill the pot)
- 175ml vodka
- Spring water
- A clean 200ml pot or jar with lid
- A clean 200ml spray bottle
Method:
Fill the pot to the top with the leaves and flowers, then pour over the vodka to cover the plant material. Put the lid on the pot and add a label. Leave to stand for six weeks, then strain, and the yarrow tincture is ready for use. Decant the tincture into the spray bottle and top up with spring water in the ratio of one-third tincture, two-thirds spring water.
All extracted from
Natural Homemade Beauty: 90 Recipes for Skin, Hair and Home by Leoniek Bontje (£14.99, Batsford). Available
online and from all good bookshops.
