Have you ever indulged in melissa honey? The ancient Greeks called it the nectar of the gods and widely used
melissa in medicine
. Melissa is widely used in cosmetology, not only as an ingredient in homemade cosmetics. As a rich source of essential oil with a unique
chemical composition
and properties, melissa is included in elite skincare products for aging, dry, sensitive, and oily-prone skin, combining with a variety of ingredients, thus providing different effects.
Melissa for the Face
There are plenty of proven cosmetic recipes with melissa and its oil that you can replicate at home. Here are a few simple and effective recipes for using melissa on your face.
Let’s start with melissa oil. For one cup of any base oil, use 2 tablespoons of fresh melissa leaves. Heat the oil in a water bath and pour it over the melissa, seal it tightly, and let it infuse for at least a week. You can strain it if desired, but I never do. Melissa oil will serve as a base for masks, wraps, creams, ointments, and for caring for split ends.
Melissa Decoction
This can be a complete standalone toner for rinsing the face after washing. Use 2 tablespoons of melissa for one cup of water; boil in a water bath for 10 minutes. Store in the refrigerator. It is quite an effective toner for acne, which can be enriched with a few drops of laurel essential oil .
From the melissa decoction, you can make excellent cosmetic ice. Wipe your face with it after washing with warm water or after steam cleaning with chamomile – the ice will tighten the pores and thus cleanse them.
Mask with Melissa
- Rejuvenating mask for any skin type. Mix 2 tablespoons of melissa (crush fresh into a paste, steep dried) with 1 teaspoon of honey, a teaspoon of aloe juice or pharmacy aloe gel, and a few drops of lemon juice (optional, it lightens the skin). Apply for 15 minutes, preferably after steaming, as you would with any natural nourishing mask. Rinse with warm water, followed by cold to close the steamed pores. This mask hydrates well.
- Mask with starch. Mix 2 tablespoons of starch with enough melissa decoction to achieve a consistency similar to sour cream. You can enrich it with your favorite essential oil. This mask is more suitable for oily skin.
- Starch mask for dry skin. This nourishing mask has a lifting effect: for one heaping tablespoon of starch, use equal parts strong melissa decoction and full-fat milk or low-fat cream, just enough to create a starch sour cream. Leave on for 15-20 minutes and rinse with warm water.
Cream with Melissa
Pre-prepared melissa oil (50 grams) is filtered through cheesecloth into a glass jar and placed in a water bath. Separately, melt 2 tablespoons of beeswax, add it to the jar with melissa oil, and remove from heat. After an hour, the cream is ready to use. This cream can be stored for up to six months without losing its properties. I use wax creams at night; any excess not absorbed can be removed with a napkin.
Ointment with Melissa
Mix 50 grams of butter with 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh melissa or steeped dried melissa, simmer this mixture in a water bath, stirring constantly for a few minutes, let it steep, then cool and add a teaspoon of honey. Store in the refrigerator. This ointment is indispensable in winter for chapped skin, extremely dry skin, dermatitis, and eczema. It is also suitable as a lip balm.
Melissa for Hair
Use melissa decoction to rinse hair when dealing with dandruff. You can make a mask by mixing crushed melissa with an egg yolk. If the mixture is too thick, add a little water. Rub it into the scalp and leave for an hour under a warm cap. Rinse only with warm water, as the yolk acts like a foaming shampoo and cleanses hair excellently. Any shampoo, conditioner, or balm can be enriched with melissa essential oil .
Melissa for Feet
If you add melissa oil (1 teaspoon of oil or 4 drops of essential oil for 30 grams of cream) and a vitamin A ampoule to your regular cream, it transforms into a miraculous balm for dry heels.
You can easily make mint oil (mint extract) from melissa and peppermint.
