Mercredi: The Art of Beauty

It's beauty day here at HQ and I’d like to recount a tonic for lovely, youthful skin that has been popular for over 300 years.  In fact, some historians maintain that the original author of the recipe was none other than Eleanor of Aquitaine herself, who lived to approximately 82 and was offered ballads to her beauty well into her seventies by the troubadours of Southern France.

I know for certain that this skin treatment is a Creole beauty secret that may or may not have been used by my New Orleans ancestors.  It is actually simpler than anything I can think of aside from sprinkling rose petals on your bathwater.  And the added bonus is that it’s remarkably effective. 

Fresh rosemary should be soaked in spring or rainwater for three days.  How much rosemary will depending on how much water you are using but generally a sprig or two will do nicely for each cup of water.  Place the concoction in a bottle (preferably glass) with a tight stopper or lid.  To use, saturate a cotton ball or square wipe over your face, neck and décolleté after cleansing but before moisturizing morning and night.

Honestly, that’s all there is to it.  The astringent properties in rosemary oil help to stimulate facial nerves and improve circulation ensuring healthy, radiant skin.  Judging from the language used by advertisers of store bought beauty treatments, that is exactly what every woman (and maybe every man) needs.  A votre santé ~

Header: Madame X (Madame Pierre Gautreau) by John Singer Sargent (this New Orleans bred beauty was said to have used rosemary water as a beauty aid all her life)