No one ever wants to be referred to as “vanilla”, as in lacking unique qualities or any interesting traits. To be honest, though, I’ve never hated the term. I absolutely love the scent of pure vanilla! And, well, using vanilla for anti-ageing treatments and healthy hair has kind of always been my jam. The results have been anything but disappointing.
Vanilla does far more than just add a pleasant scent to natural soaps and hair conditioners. Incorporating this natural ingredient into your beauty routine will provide your body with a haven of nutrients, and an aroma that’s considered a natural aphrodisiac! Let me tell you more.
This is what made me test the benefits of vanilla in my beauty routine
I’ll admit that I’ve also been guilty of writing off pure vanilla extract as “just a nice way to add fragrance”. That was up until I got pretty tired of my hair smelling like sage. Weird, right? I always use to rinse my hair with sage.
Then, finally, I decided to do a little digging to see if incorporating vanilla into my natural hair routine could do a little more than tingle my senses. Turns out, it sure can! And, the benefits go far beyond shiny, healthy hair.
Vanilla comes in two forms and, while the flavour is exactly what is sounds, the natural oil extracted from vanilla beans is going to add shine and promote a healthy environment for skin health and hair growth by eliminating toxins that build up in our everyday life. Does it still sound plain and boring to you? Thought not!
A few of the many reasons I now can’t go without vanilla in my skin and hair home remedies
One of my favourite things in natural beauty is antioxidants. Pure vanilla extract contains specific antioxidants that are vital in anti-ageing and hair growth benefits. According to research these antioxidants can heal damaged skin, fade fine lines, soothe wrinkles, stimulate hair growth, and replenish damaged or dry hair.
In addition, a number of studies have found that pure vanilla extract has substantial anti-inflammatory properties. So, when you use vanilla on your skin, these properties help fight acne and breakouts. But the anti-inflammatory benefits aren’t limited to your face only – your scalp loves them too! With all those B vitamins and vanilla’s natural ability to fight off free radical, you can be sure it’s going to make for some super delicious skin and hair treatments.
To reap these incredible benefits, you must of course purchase the right kind of vanilla, because most vanilla flavourings are just imitation and therefore don’t contain any of real vanilla’s benefits. Vanilla flavouring may be appealing due to its cheap cost, but save that for a treat for your tummy instead of a treat for your skin and hair. I’m now going to share two of my favourite vanilla home remedies with you.
Two vanilla home remedies to incorporate into your natural beauty routine
Now that I’ve convinced you to try out pure vanilla extract in your skin and hair routines, I’m going to share two of my favourite vanilla home remedies with you that are sure to get you started!
#1: Vanilla and macadamia nut face scrub
Exfoliating your skin is a great way to make way for new skin cells. Did I mention that vanilla can also help regenerate skin cells? Yup, that’s right. This is the ultimate treat for your face!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup ground coffee
- 2 tbsp organic raw honey
- 1/4 cup macadamia nut oil
- 12 drops lemon essential oil
- 20 drops pure vanilla extract
Method:
- Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Decant the mixture into a small bowl.
- Apply the mixture all over your face and neck (and body if desired). Massage it into your skin in gentle circular motions. Leave it on for five minutes, then rinse your skin with warm water.
The result? Fresh, smooth skin that smells good enough to eat!
#2: Vanilla and coconut milk hair shine mask
This treatment will work well for all hair types. It’ll leave your locks feeling and looking silky smooth, and your scalp comfortably hydrated.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh coconut milk
- 20 drops pure vanilla extract
Method:
- Mix up the ingredients in a small bowl.
- Apply the mixture to clean, soaking wet hair and leave on for 15 to 20 minutes. Massage the mixture into your scalp if you suffer from a dry or itchy scalp.
- Rinse your hair with cool water, and apply a natural leave-in conditioner to seal in all the moisture if desired.
Apply this natural shine mask to your hair once a week for best results.
Love, Cands 