Amy’s Easy Green Tea Cleansing Grains

Did you know our beautiful skin plays an active role in our health and is just as busy as its fellow organs - the heart and liver? Our amazing skin is the largest organ we have and consists of over three million cells responsible for regulating temperature, manufacturing vitamin D, protecting our body from external invasion and eliminating metabolic waste. The skin is responsible for excreting approximately one quarter of the body’s waste products and any skin dysfunction will put the toxic burden onto the kidneys, lungs and bowels.
Because the natural process of skin renewal slows down as we age, we need help to remove the top layer of our skin that consists mainly of flat dead dry cells.
Gently using cleansing grains daily will stimulate rapid cell regeneration in the dermal area, increasing circulation to the facial surface and providing nourishment for your face. The more rapidly the dead surface cells are replaced by the newer ones beneath, the softer and smoother the skin looks, and the more efficiently it can perform its important detoxifying duties. If you use cleansing grains you do not need to use soap, which can clog the skin's deep pores.
There are many simple recipes for cleansing grains in circulation. My Green Tea Cleansing Grains recipe has been inspired by Rosemary Gladstar's "Miracle Grains". The recipe is very basic, is gentle enough for daily use, and can be used for all skin types. The Matcha that is used in the Steeped Tea Green Tea and French Clay Facial Mask is an excellent way to help your skin fight the constant battle it fights against the pollution and free radicals it deals with on a daily basis. Matcha is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and Chlorophyll, an important detoxifying agent and will help your skin and body immensely! To really boost the antioxidant qualities, add a drop of tea tree oil once a week to wet grains for a facial mask. When making this recipe try to purchase organic products where possible - only the finest ingredients should be used on your face. These cleansing grains, a perfect soap replacement, are mild, nourishing, suitable for all skin types, and can be used daily.

Recipe

To make:
· (1) Grind all ingredients to the desired consistency. You may wish to grind the oats very fine. The almonds are nice with just a touch of "grit" left in them. Generally try to powder the roses and lavender as much as possible; they will always have a bit of coarseness or graininess left. This coarseness is desirable as it serves as the cleansing "grains". The clay and tea is already finely powdered. I have found that electric coffee grinders work best for grinding small amounts of herbs, flowers, and spices. However, a word of wisdom: do not use the grinder you use for coffee. Your herbs will all smell like coffee, and your coffee will forever smell and taste like roses and lavender. Blenders work well, also.

(2) Mix all ingredients together. You may wish to add a few drops of essential oil(s) to enhance the scent and the effect of the grains. The oils must be PURE essential oils such as lavender, peppermint or orange. Do not use synthetic oils; they could possibly burn or irritate the skin. I usually add essential oil at the time of my using them, tea tree oil is great as an antibacterial agent.
(3) Your cleansing grains are now ready to use. Store in a pretty glass container. A shell makes a nice scoop and mixing receptacle as well. You can also store in spice jars with shaker tops. To use, mix about one to two teaspoons of the cleansing grains with water. Stir into a paste and gently massage face. Rinse off with warm water. · USES: Mix a tablespoon of grains with enough warm water to make a slurry, apply to face in small circular motion, rinse face with warm water. Pat dry and use a nice toner like a combination of rosewater, glycerine and witchhazel to tone skin.
· To make moist miracle grains for a facial mask: add enough honey and a small amount of pure distilled rose water (or plain distilled water) to the dried powdered mixture to make a nice paste. The honey serves as a natural preservative for the grains as well as adding its wonderful moisturizing quality. I usually mix only enough moist grains for a week or two to prevent spoilage from occurring. I store the remainder of the grains in dry powder form and mix as needed.