Thyme is an herb that we commonly find in pizzas and salads, pastas or breads. In addition to adding delicious flavor, it has also been used as a skin health and beauty booster for centuries, especially when it comes to skin! Fresh and dried versions of the herb can be found in produce sections and spice aisles. Fragrant and concentrated oil of thyme is available in most health food stores.
Here are 5 valuable benefits of thyme:
Natural Sunscreen
If you want to protect your skin from UV rays, but aren’t a fan of chemicals, there is an alternative! Turns out thyme can protect the skin from the sun’s rays without those irritating chemicals.
Anti-Bacterial & Anti-Fungal
Thyme oil has proven to offer serious advantages against bacteria. And not just every day bacteria, but against deadly bugs including staph, E. Coli and pseudomonas. Thyme-enriched products are even effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Thyme oil is also a gentle yet effective anti-fungal agent. In addition to treating common fungus problems like athletes foot, it can also relieve the itching and flaking of eczema.
Powerful Antioxidant
Just like some of our favorite berries, thyme oil can also act as a powerful antioxidant. Thyme-infused masks and moisturizers may even reduce damage from free radicals, stress and pollution.
Natural Muscle Relaxer
Thyme can effectively relax muscles, which makes it a helpful addition to both cough syrups and massages.
Natural Insect Repellent
Last, but not least, thyme oil is a safe and natural insect repellent. Not only does it repel mosquitoes and bees, it kills both adult lice and lice eggs. If you have children in school, you know how important this is! Head lice are all too common at school, but lice treatments are generally toxic. But all-natural thyme oil can wipe out head lice with just a 20-minute treatment. Booyah!
Adding Thyme to Your Beauty Toolkit
Thyme is easy to find. Like other natural ingredients, we recommend getting your plant products from organic sources. Pesticides and fertilizers are already undesirable in our food, but can cause rapid irritation and inflammation when it comes to our skincare products. To make an herbal skin tonic using thyme, add one tablespoon of fresh leaves to a cup of boiling water. Let it cool and strain it into a small, dark bottle. Add one teaspoon of glycerin to add soothing body, shake it a bit, and bam! You’re done. Apply to skin with a clean cotton ball to soothe and protect. Because thyme doesn’t contain preservatives, you’ll want to keep in the refrigerator and use it within a month. To upgrade your mask or moisturizer, add 2-3 drops of your thyme-y concoction and mix well before applying to skin. Remember that thyme may not be for everyone, so refrain from using thyme-enriched products if you experience any skin rashes or unusually increased heart rate. Use in combination with Solscense for best skin results!