honey turmeric facemask

Morning eKa CIRCLE

One of the joys of the eKa ethos is that things gifted are passed on. A few delicious ingredients made their way to my doorstep a little while ago (thank you Shibani) and I decided to make an incredibly simple face-mask with just two ingredients. It is the quality of these natural organic products that made the mask so effective.

The first ingredient was natures pot of gold. A pure turmeric from Koraput in Oidisha India. It is the most electric colour of 100 per cent completely natural organic ground turmeric only available from this region of India. Turmeric has fantastic anti- inflammatory properties that help assists with pigmentation, sun spots and breakouts. It also helps to reduce scarring. A bonus in this recipe is the turmeric  acts as a natural exfoliant to the skin.

While I was living in Java Indonesia, after having my second child the local traditional masseuse suggested I try a traditional massage and a turmeric wrap to help with the swelling most new mums know about. The dried turmeric is mixed with a few other secret ingredients and smeared over your midsection, you are then wrapped and bound tightly with a calico type fabric. It is left for a few hours while they massage your feet, legs, arms, head and shoulders. You are then rinsed well and given a special massage to help realign your uterus. They seem to press everything upwards on the outer belly giving a deep tissue massage to help realign the organs. I must say it really seemed to help with the swelling! My tummy went down much faster than with my first child. If anyone reading this knows what else the Javanese add to the turmeric I would love to learn and journal this ancient knowledge passed from woman to woman for centuries no doubt.

The second ingredient for the face mask was a delicious Australian raw manuka honey that is another healing elixir of nature. It also offers antibacterial and  antioxidant properties and is well understood to help skin wounds heal, including burns, infections and rashes. This particular honey from Biosota has hemp added to it. Hemp is well known to help balance out oily skin, it moisturises without drying it out. It also in this case added a little extra exfoliant.

Another addition that would be lovely I am sure, yet I haven’t tried it yet. I thought to next time add a few drops of frankincense essential oil. Its anti-wrinkle properties would indeed make this a royal treatment.

Mix the face-mask well and package. Its that simple! Don’t forget to recycle packaging and try to avoid plastics when ever possible. To use slather onto your face, neck and decolletage  while you are in a warm bath soaking. Don’t forget to tie your hair back it is a deliciously edible sticky mess. Gently massage into the pores using a gentle pressure. Leave on for as long as possible. Use a darker coloured washcloth (as turmeric stains) to cleanse off with warm water.

Let me know how you go making this?

love & light

M+E

organic honey turmeric face-mask

1 tbs organic ground turmeric

1/2 cup organic manuka honey

Mix to combine and package in sustainable airtight packaging. Store in a cool out of the light.