Turmeric - Unmasked and demystified
Her humble Highness: Isn't it interesting to see how turmeric, the most humble of all spices in an Indian kitchen has become something of a buzzword in the beauty world lately☺ But if you thought this deep orange-hued spice belonged solely in your kitchen pantry, then think again! More and more, I’m seeing it appear in indie skincare formulations and beauty blogger reviews, with Thandie Newton even calling it her “secret beauty weapon”.
Here comes the bride: This is no recent discovery, however, as turmeric has been used in Ayurvedic medicine, cooking and skincare for centuries in South Asia. Commonly known as ‘haldi’ in India, it’s part of a bride’s pre-wedding beauty ritual – women get together and layer a paste made of haldi, milk, sandalwood and chick-pea powder all over the bride’s face and body as a masque and exfoliant, for that radiance and glowing skin on her bridal day!
The secret to beautiful skin: Want in on the secret? Often referred to as the ‘Queen of Spices’, turmeric is the hero ingredient in our Turmeric Exfoliating Face Sand. So why are we so in love with turmeric at Purearth? Not only does it have powerful anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help fight acne, but it is also an excellent anti-oxidant that protects the skin from the free radicals that cause premature ageing.
Indulge in some after-work ‘me time’ by mixing a teaspoonful of our face sand with some natural yoghurt, honey, milk or our heavenly Wild Rose Himalayan Mist, to activate this into an exotic yellow-golden paste. Apply it generously all your face and leave on as a masque for 10 minutes. After a particularly stressful day, we love to run a hot bubble bath, light some candles and make this a truly relaxing and indulgent ritual. You’ll be amazed by its ability to gently and safely remove the day’s pollutants, shed dead skin and debris from your pores, revealing clear, radiant and dewy soft skin. And its subtle perfume of rosa damascena, lavender and walnut extracts delights the senses!
The origins: What makes our Turmeric Exfoliating Face Sand so incredibly special?
At Purearth we source turmeric that is farmed bio dynamically at a lush Vedic organic farm in the Himalayan foothills. It is a sacred ritual, the planting, watering, nurturing and harvesting of our turmeric is in cadence with natures rhythms – ancient prayers are chanted as the moon waxes and wanes, making our turmeric a pure and sacred offering from our hands to yours, all the way from the Himalayas.
Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric, causing that distinctive colour, and our turmeric contains a particularly high percentage of curcumin. Research has shown that curcumin protects the skin from UV rays and prevents the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. It truly is a wonder ingredient.
A healing herb. A hot + happening drink: As a child, this was a staple cold, cough, flu home remedy I grew up drinking mixed in warm milk, or applied as a poultice to heal and treat burn, bruises and wounds. It was a secret potion my grandma would administer for almost any illness, and there’s no wonder why. The drink is soothing, comforting and filled with healing nutrients that boost the immune system and fight inflammations.
If you don’t have a neighbourhood café that sells this hot drink (no pun intended) we’ve got you covered with a delicious recipe that we can bet will blow you away!
Ingredients: Serves 1
1 cup almond or coconut milk (or try mixing the two for a yumm taste)
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 pinch cinnamon
1 tsp ground fresh ginger
1 tbsp coconut oil
Method:
Put all ingredients in a saucepan and warm briefly while stirring. Next, add the mixture into a blender to create a light foam. Pour the finished brew into your favourite cup, sit back, sip and savour!