Skincare inspiration from Chinese medicine—Bai Zhi (白芷) (2)

In my last post, I’ve provide the wonderful skincaring property of Bai Zhi.  This post includes more recipes for including Bai Zhi in your skincare regime.

Bai Zhi Moon Bean Mask

Mix Bai Zhi powder, Moon bean powder, brewery’s yeast powder,  a little milk or diluted honey, and a few drops of skin oil (such as Vitamin E, avocado, olive oil, etc—whatever you have in your kitchen) into a consistent paste.  Spread the past over your face.  Leave a thicker layer over the acne or pimple spot.  Leave dry.  Then, rinse with warm water and end with a splash of cold water.

Moon bean powder is available in some of the American supermarket, organic food stores, and all Asian supermarkets.  It’s a staple food in Asian diet.  According to “Materia Medica” (“Ben Cao Gang Bu”), published in the Ming Dynasty, which is regarded as the most complete and comprehensive medical book ever written in the history of traditional Chinese medicine, moon bean is good at detoxifying the body.  The food/herb is used to remove toxins resulted from heavy metal pollution, organic pollution, as well as misuse of drugs. 

Therefore, this mask is good for oily skin or acne-prone skin.  The mask has the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory function.  It can detoxify and clear your skin, reduce facial swelling, promote local micro capillary circulation, remove dark spots, and promote skin cell regeneration.  If you have dry skin, avoid using this mask or add egg yolk into the mix to make a more moisturizing mask.

Danggui Baizhi Mask

Mix the powders of Chinese Angelica root (Dangui), baizhi, ginger, and Licrorice root with one egg yolk to produce a spreadable paste with a soft consistency.  As always, you can add a little aleo vera gel in if the paste is too thick or a little more powders into if the paste is too dilute.  Spread the past over your face.  Leave a thicker layer over the acne or pimple spot.  Leave dry.  Then, rinse with warm water and end with a splash of cold water.

I’ve discussed the Chinese Angelica root (Dangui) in my past post.  In short, the herb, known as “woman’s ginseng,” “tones blood and regulates menses; invigorates and harmonizes blood” and is famous for restoring hormonal balance.

I will discuss the function and properties of Licrorice root in my future post.  In short, the herb is used for detoxification and toning the system in Chinese medicine.

Ginger, a staple food in pretty much every culture, is also considered a herb in Chinese medicine.  I will discuss more about the function and properties of ginger in my future post.  In short, the herb is believed to be an antibiotic, antioxidant, and immune-stimulant.

The mask is capable of increasing facial capillary circulation, promoting skin cell regeneration, even skin tone, tuning and anti-aging, and moisturizing.

Bai Zhi Mask

Of course, you can always use Bai Zhi powder alone as a mask.  Simple mix the powder with a little water solution (such as rose water or Aloe Vera gel) and add a few drops of facial oil (such as Vitamin E oil, olive oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil, etc.) to make a soft spreadable paste.  If the paste is not sticky enough to be used as a mask, mix in a little regular flour and microwave the paste at low power for a few second.  You will notice that the paste will thicken and be more sticky after heating.  Let the paste cool down and spread over your face.  Leave dry.  Then, rinse with warm water and end with a splash of cold water.

The mask can moisture the skin and even skin tone.

There are many mask recipes using Bai Zhi together with other herbs for its effect of promoting facial capillary circulation and even skin tone.  I will provide more recipes in my future posts.

Thanks for reading.

Connie

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