The recipe I have based this on claims to be close to what Cleopatra used as a cleanser, so if it can remove all that khol it’s worth trying. I have other recipes that add a decoction of houseleek leaves to a basic cleansing cream recipe but personally I prefer a more liquid cleanser as I find the creamier ones hard work to remove.
To make your cleanser: Combine 10g houseleek leaves, 10ml rosewater and 18ml thistle oil (or olive oil, or sweet almond oil) in a blender. Blitz until you’ve a milky-looking green liquid. Then add a couple of drops of essential oil, if desired – personally I like the fresh scent of the houseleek and rosewater.
If you prefer a little foaminess in your cleansing routine, add about two teaspoons of grated natural soap to the blend, but stick to the basic ingredients if you have particularly dry skin.
It’s well worth making your own rosewater as there are lots of great skincare uses for it – you can find out how here – but if you haven’t any rose petals or rosewater to hand, you could substitute a cooled herbal tea such as green tea, jasmine or chamomile.
To use the cleanser:
To maximise the effectiveness of any cleanser, begin by soaking a cloth in warm water and lay it across your face for a minute or so. This will open up your pores making it easier to dislodge the dirt.
Gently rub the cleanser into your skin, enjoying the fresh smell (rather like cucumber, another great skin cleanser) then rinse away with warm water and pat dry.
Keep your cleanser in the fridge and shake it before each use. I’ve deliberately given very small ingredient quantities so you can use your cleanser at its freshest and simply make some more when you need it.
For more fantastic houseleek blend-it-yourself recipes read this
And there’s lots more about the benefits and history of houseleeks here
