We see traces of a return to nature and the natural in every aspect of our lives, including our beauty routines. Today, everything from makeup to facial cleansing and skincare products is a product of industry. The ingredients list often contains many chemical components we don't recognize, some of which are difficult to even pronounce.

So what did women do in the past, before industry? In the Ottoman era, beauty for women began in the hammam (Turkish bath). It is known that they benefited from the power and fragrances of flowers in their bathing waters, and from rose, violet, and carnation in the special oils and creams they used after the bath.

Get ready, we're going back to nature with our recipes using flowers we can easily find!

Daisy

Chamomile has many benefits, including relaxing for sleep problems and the nervous system, supporting stomach and digestive problems, relieving eye fatigue and swelling, and aiding weight loss. It is also indispensable in the cosmetics industry for skin whitening. Let's explore how we can easily incorporate chamomile into our beauty routine with recipes we can prepare at home.

Easy Homemade Chamomile Tea Recipe

Dry the chamomile flowers (purchased from herbal shops or fresh ones collected from the wild, removing the stems and washing them before using the buds) and place them in a saucepan or pot filled with water. Bring to a boil. After boiling, let the buds steep for a while. Keeping the lid closed throughout this process is crucial to prevent evaporation. Once steeped and the water has cooled sufficiently, strain it using a sieve and pour it into glass jars or bottles. Your chamomile water is ready!

Benefits of Chamomile Water

It strengthens hair follicles, prevents hair loss, and makes hair look fuller.

When applied to the skin as a toner, it nourishes and repairs the skin, and with regular use, it also has skin lightening properties.

Chamomile Face Mask

• For Blackheads;

1 tablespoon of dried chamomile,

1 tablespoon of rose water (Easy Homemade Rose Water Recipe)

1 tablespoon of moisturizing cream,

3 tea glasses of water

Boil the chamomile in a saucepan, let it steep, and after it cools, strain it using a sieve. Once completely cooled, add the cream and mix well, then apply to your skin. After about 20 minutes, rinse with cold water and wipe your skin with the rose water you prepared. Applying this mask every 10 days will cleanse your skin of all impurities. Rinsing with cold water and using rose water as a toner will tighten the pores opened by the mask and help prevent the formation of blackheads .

• To Whiten the Skin;

2 tablespoons of chamomile,

1 tablespoon rose water (optional)

1 tablespoon of honey,

2 tea glasses of water

Put the chamomile flowers into boiling water, boil for 8-10 minutes, then strain using a sieve and let it cool. Add rose water and honey, mix well, and apply to your face and neck. After waiting 20-25 minutes, rinse your skin with lukewarm water. With regular use, it evens out skin tone and brightens your complexion.

A Bouquet of White Daisies

Daisies in a Basket, Sunflower Bouquet

Rose

Perhaps the most beloved of flowers, the rose is not only a symbol of romance but also an indispensable part of beauty routines. We can easily prepare rose water at home, which we can use as a natural toner for our skin. Moreover, this miraculous rose water has many benefits, such as reducing redness, preventing acne and pimples, reducing eczema and related dryness and itching, and reducing dark circles under the eyes.

Easy Homemade Rose Water Recipe

Place 6 cups of fresh rose petals and 4 cups of water in a saucepan and boil until the petals lose their color (approximately 15-20 minutes). It is very important to keep the lid closed during this process to prevent the water from evaporating and the rose oil and all its beneficial properties from escaping. After the boiling water has cooled sufficiently, strain it and pour it into airtight glass bottles, then store it in the refrigerator. Since our completely natural rose water will spoil much faster than commercially sold products, keeping it in small glass bottles according to your usage amount will extend its shelf life.

Rose Water Face Mask Recipe

• For Dry Skin;

Mix 2 tablespoons of rose water with 4 ground almonds and apply to your skin. Leave on for 15-20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

• For Sensitive Skin;

3 tablespoons of rose water,

4 tablespoons of milk,

2 tablespoons of oatmeal powder (you can grind oats into powder using a food processor)

Half a teaspoon of honey,

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and apply to your skin. Wait until it is completely dry, then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

Claire's Pink Rose Bouquet

Lavender

Lavender has many benefits, including relaxing for sleep problems and the nervous system, supporting the digestive system, and healing wounds and pain. In addition, its wonderful scent makes lavender indispensable in the cosmetics and perfume industries. Let's explore together how we can easily incorporate lavender into our beauty routine with recipes we can prepare at home.

Easy Homemade Lavender Water Recipe

Place lavender buds (purchased from herbal shops) or fresh lavender (clean the stems and use only the buds) from florists into a pot of water and bring to a boil. After boiling, let the buds steep for a while. It's crucial to keep the lid closed throughout this process to prevent evaporation and the loss of lavender oil and its beneficial properties. Once steeped and the water has cooled sufficiently, strain it using a sieve and pour it into glass jars or bottles. Your lavender water is ready!

Lavender Facial Cleansing Toner

You can pour the lavender water you prepared into ice cube trays, freeze it, and apply a lavender ice pack to your face every night before bed. This will help cleanse, revitalize, and firm the skin.

Lavender Facial Cleansing Milk

Heat 2 tablespoons of lavender and half a cup of full-fat milk over low heat using a double boiler method, then let it steep for about 2 hours. After straining the mixture, you can put it in a small glass bottle and store it in the refrigerator. You can use this completely natural mixture for up to a week.

Lavender Face Mask

A pinch of dried lavender flowers or a few drops of lavender oil,

2 tablespoons of yogurt,

1 teaspoon of honey

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and apply to your face, neck, and décolleté. Leave on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water.

• For Dry Skin;

Mix 1 tablespoon of lavender oil with 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a bowl. Apply the mixture using a cotton pad or your hands, leave it on for about half an hour, and rinse your skin with lukewarm water. For better results, you can leave some of the mask on your skin. With regular use, you will notice that your skin's moisture balance is restored. You can apply it 3-4 times a week.

• For wrinkles;

1 cup of lavender flowers,

1 glass of orange juice,

Half a cup of corn flour,

1 egg yolk,

2 slices of cucumber,

1 teaspoon of honey

Mix the lavender and orange juice in a bowl and heat over low heat using a double boiler until lukewarm. Crush the peeled cucumbers and add them to the mixture. Add the cornstarch, egg yolk, and honey, and mix until a paste-like consistency is achieved. Let this mixture rest in the refrigerator for about 3 hours. After 3 hours, your mask is ready! After applying it to your skin, wait half an hour and then cleanse it off like a peeling treatment. Finally, rinse your skin with cold water. You can apply this mask twice a week.