Natural Beauty with Rose Hips

Rose hips are the fruit of the rose plant and you can find them forming just under where the flower was in late summer and early fall. They look like a small hard berry and are often orange or red in color. The size depends on the variety of the rose. There is a "wild rose" bush in my neighborhood that has beautiful pink roses from spring to summer and then then is full of red rose hips in the fall. Just the other day on a walk I saw that the hips were ripe and picked a basket full to use in making jam and body care products.

Rose hips are edible and also have a long history of medicinal uses they are very high in vitamin C and you will see them featured in herbal teas. They are also antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. This month they are featured as the "herb of the month" by the Herb Society of America. To go to their site and find more rose hip information and recipes, Click Here..

Rose Hips are naturally astringent and can be used in making toners, bath and cleansing products for body care. I like to use them in making a simple face mask. If you can't find fresh rose hips you can often find dried ones and simply soak them until soft. Here is my recipe:

Rose Hip Facial Mask

1 -2 Tablespoons fresh rose hips

1-2 Tablespoons strong chamomile tea or pure water

Crush the rose hips and mis them together with the tea or water until you have a smooth paste. Spread the mixture on your face and neck and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with cool water.

Yield: 1 ounce

For More Fall recipes and ideas -- Look inside "Natural Beauty for All Seasons."

You are beautiful!!

xoxo Janice