Green Does a Body Good

The Egyptians were the first to take skin care to new heights and put it on record. Cleopatra, diva extraordinaire, regularly incorporated facial exfoliation as well as perfume and cosmetics into her regime.

These Nile-dwellers took hygiene seriously—partly out of necessity, living in such an arid climate, but they also incorporated skin care as part of their religious practices. Women in upper classes regularly used expensive oils for skin and archaeologists have found elaborate powder boxes crafted from reeds or alabaster in excavations across the country.

Our predecessors throughout history have taken advantage of herbs and solutions found in nature to accomplish what many of us pay for in a bottle. Since no government agency regulates home use of plants and oils (obviously) you'll need to do a bit more research to use them effectively.

Much of what you buy to clean your home and body doesn't have to use harsh or manufactured chemicals, but keep in mind that many herbal products are equally harsh. Sometimes the best remedy is one that comes directly from the ground. Before plowing through the cleaning and bath aisles, give traditional products a try first!

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