In days gone by if a woman had a perfect complexion she was said to have the rosy red cheeks of a dairymaid. Dairymaids had their own secrets for perfect complexions.
Dairymaid’s cream
Ingredients
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (adjust if required)
- 1/2 cup dandelion leaves, finely chopped (optional)
Method
- Leave the rolled oats to soak in the buttermilk while you pick some dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) leaves. When selecting dandelion leaves make sure they’re true yellow flowering dandelions (see diagram) and not a yellow flowering sow thistle. The leaves of the two plants are quite different. The leaves of the cultivated form of dandelions can even be eaten and are nice in salads or stir fries.
- Alternatively, if you don’t want to use dandelion leaves in the dairymaid’s cream, you can use calendula flowers or rose petals.
- Add the finely chopped dandelion leaves and mix in well with the oats and buttermilk. Leave it overnight or even longer in the fridge.
- The next day plaster it over your face and leave it for at least an hour until it’s dry. Then wash it all off. The oats will gently cleanse the skin, the buttermilk will moisturise it and the dandelion leaves are believed to be good for spots and blemishes.
- This mixture may be messy but it will leave your skin feeling as beautiful and soft as a dairymaid.
Tip: Let the mixture warm up a bit after taking out of the fridge before putting it on your face.
Availability
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Cultivated dandelions are available from nurseries throughout Australia for $1.25 to $2.50. Look for them amongst the herbs at your local nursery. Further information Other Jackie French ideas are available in her book Making Money from your Garden (Earth Garden Magazine, 1997, rrp $9.95). Available from book stores and newsagents throughout Australia. |