Beauty Herbs for Amazing Skin

Cistus, Rockrose, Cistus Incanus

What is it: Rockrose or Cistus Incanus is a hardy perennial shrub that has pink paper-like flowers and light green leaves and stems that are slightly coated with a soft whitish down.

Where does it grow: It is native to high altitudes and grows wild in rocky regions of the Mediterranean. It will grow well in most soils but prefers stony poor soil. It can be easily cultivated in temperate climates.

Where can it be purchased: Send an email to ruth@whitewitch.ie and be sent a paypal invoice for €11 and receive 100 grams of the organic high quality loose herb, This makes about 20 - 40 infusions. That includes shipping to anywhere in the world. It is packaged in small brown paper parcels tied up with string as above. No plastic of course.

How does it work: Scientific research recently confirmed that Cistus leaf extractives have powerful antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and biofilm-breaking qualities (Rebensburg et al, 2015). The way in which it works against viruses is very special in that it prevents a virus working the way that it is designed to do, thereby rendering it harmless. Even viruses like HIV and Ebola. It is also useful in preventing and treating upper respiratory tract viruses and even secondary infections.

It also has shown amazing results with regards to detoxifying the body, improving gut health and even lowering cholesterol and improving dental and gum health.

However it is important to note that I am not selling the herb for health purposes, because I am not allowed to sell medicines. I am selling the herb as an amazing beauty treatment for topical use. The application of the cold herb on the skin has been proven to reduce blemishes, reduce the appearance of pores, as well as improving the elasticity and general condition of the skin.

Who will it help: It will help everyone and is suitable for all ages, but especially anyone who wishes to improve the health of their skin. It can be used many times daily for a long period of time without any adverse side effects.

Results are noticeable after one just use and the longer it is used the better the results, so the sooner the better.. Get into the habit of preparing a fresh brew everyday and when its cold apply to the skin as often as liked.

IDEA: Make a strong brew and use it in the bath.

WHAT'S BEST FOR BEAUTIFUL SKIN AT ANY AGE...

One of the questions we get asked most often is: "what is the best product for my 'problem' skin?".

The most common skin problems  include Acne, Dryness, Redness, Sensitive Skin, Blackheads, Wrinkles, Sagging Skin and Blemishes.

Normally I guess as a skincare business we should try to sell one of our products. However we at White Witch® feel the best approach is to do our best to help people to fix their problems holistically. 

So here iT is: The Truth about how to achieve Healthy, beautiful skin 

First of all, as most of us know, our skin works extremely hard protecting us and eliminating toxins 24 hours a day.  Sometimes putting products ON our skin actually makes it more difficult for our skin to do it's job, especially if it is struggling to cope to begin with. The first thing we need to do is help the skin from the inside out. 

We can do that by taking care of what we eat and by making sure we get enough sleep. Some toxins are difficult to avoid, for example traffic fumes and stress (which is treated like a toxin by the liver). We can start right now by making sure the water we drink is pure and the food we eat fresh, wholesome and healthy, and not laden with chemicals. We can reduce stress through meditation and by getting enough sleep and rest. 

Once we make these first moves,  which, are like a lot of things in life, easier said than done, we are well on our way to having better skin. So what extra action can we take to help?

White Witch have a few secrets to share with you 

There are 3 very important supplements that we can take that will make a dramatic improvement to our skin's health.

The 3 we recommend are 

1. MSM Sulphur 

2. Vitamin C 

3. Kelp 

MSM Sulphur and Vitamin C:  These are the magic duo.  These two nutrients are essential to the building blocks of our cells, which renew themselves on a daily basis. It is important to mention that it is not just the cells in our skin that renew every day. Our vital organs, for example: our liver, heart, kidneys and lungs, get first dibs of our vitamin C and Sulphur stores. Whatever is left over goes to our Skin, Hair and Nails. This is the reason, when our diets are poor and we are stressed, the first thing to suffer is our appearance.

Why we need to supplement: In these modern times a lot of our fruit and vegetables, which is where we get our main supply of Vitamin C and Sulphur, have been sitting on the shelves or in storage for days before we eat them. This means that most of us are eating foods that are greatly lacking in these essential nutrients. By taking Vitamin C and Sulphur supplements every day we are ensuring there is always enough for our Skin, hair and nails. The effects of taking these two together will be noticeable as quickly as 48 hours after starting*.

The other supplement we recommend is Kelp*. Kelp is the richest source of hyaluronic acid on the planet. Now we could say: take hyaluronic acid extract, but at White Witch® we believe that keeping things whole and unprocessed if at all possible, is always the safest way to go. 

What Hyaluronic acid does for our skin: Hyaluronic acid helps the skin to retain moisture and therefore adds plumpness, freshness and a youthful appearance. It helps keep the skin supple, healthy and youthful without the need to apply any product at all. 

So we are not doing a great job promoting our products so far are we? ;) but in all honesty we at White Witch® believe that you are wasting money applying topical products without first improving the overall health of the skin from the inside first. In the long run there will be less need for make-up, moisturiser, concealer and less money spent, not to mention it being better for our planet. 

Coming soon: Masks you can make at home to condition and detoxify your skin and help with skin rejuvenation. Meanwhile please check out the details of the full range of products in our shop and how they can benefit your move towards beautiful healthy skin: Regenerating Skin Balm, Antioxidant Skin Conditioner, Anti Age Moisturiser, Nourishing Face Mask, Deep Cleanse Mask, Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser. 

* Always consult the label.