AGE IN REVERSE
As you whip up your famous Thanksgiving stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, set aside your leftover spices — they boast powerful antiaging benefits! “Spices and herbs we use for holiday cooking are full of vitamins and nutrients that help turn back the clock when used topically,” affirms Kally Papantoniou, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. Here, three ’tis-the-season herbs and spices that are proven to have you looking and feeling even more radiant this holiday season.
NUTMEG ERASES WRINKLES
To smooth forehead furrows, crow’s-feet and smile lines, look to nutmeg. This spice contains a compound (called macelignan) that’s used in topical antiaging products because it increases the volume of adipose tissue beneath skin, filling in fine lines and wrinkles, says holistic skin-care expert Heather Wilson, who helps A-listers get camera-ready at the East West Essentials clinic in Beverly Hills. To do: Mix 2 tbsp. of nutmeg, 1 tbsp. of baking soda (an exfoliant) and 2 oz. of honey (it reduces redness) into a paste. Apply to skin and let sit 15 minutes, then rinse. Use daily for results in one week.
SAGE HYDRATES DRY SKIN
Autumn’s dry air can leave skin parched, dull and flaky. For relief, reach for sage. It’s a time-tested remedy that our grandmothers used to soothe skin, and now science has shown how it works: Sage’s ursolic acid gently whisks away dead skin cells when applied topically, and its calcium and vitamin A help generate new cells for soft, nourished skin. To do: In a bowl, mix 1 tsp. of chopped sage, 2 tbsp. of oatmeal (it soothes irritation) and 2 tbsp. of olive oil (its fatty acids hydrate). Massage into damp skin for one minute, then rinse. Use two to three times a week for results within two weeks.
PARSLEY FADES AGE SPOTS
The natural way to erase brown spots on the face, hands and chest? Apply a mask infused with parsley. “This leafy herb contains apiol, a plant compound that acts like a mild bleaching agent to break down spots that have formed from an overproduction of melanin,” explains Wilson. “Plus, parsley is packed with vitamins A and C — antioxidants that protect skin from free radicals to prevent new age spots from forming.” To do: In a bowl, combine 1 tsp. of finely chopped fresh parsley with 2 tsp. of honey (a humectant to keep skin moisturized) and 1 tsp. of lemon juice (another lightening agent). Apply to spots and leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Repeat twice a week for a noticeably brighter, more even complexion in just two weeks.
Stars swear by kitchen cures to turn back the clock. Steal their secrets to erase 10 years!