Near what was once the mythical city of Troy stands a mountain, Mount Ida, a mountain sacred to the gods and goddesses. On this mountain the goddesses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite competed for the golden apple in a beauty contest that would then lead to the Trojan War, and always on the slopes of this mountain Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, loved walking with his son Aeneas picking juicy ruby red fruits that the goddess adored. Well, these fruits were raspberries and the scientific name of the plant with which we still know it today, rubus idaeus, actually means bramble of Mount Ida. But the goddess loved raspberries not only for their sweet and sour taste but also for their beauty properties. We like to close our eyes and imagine Aphrodite, between one intervention and another in the affairs of human beings, taking a moment of rest and preparing raspberry face masks or using the raspberry precious oil to revive the complexion and give herself that timeless face with which painters and sculptors have represented her over the centuries. So let's see how to make simple and powerful cosmetics inspired by the wisdom of Aphrodite!
Raspberry, properties for beauty
The raspberry fruit is a source of vitamins, such as vitamin C, minerals and antioxidants, such as anthocyanins that give it its red color. Its extracts are able to attenuate the photo-aging of the skin when it is exposed to UV rays. In this way, the raspberry counteracts the formation of erythema, dry skin and spots. Not only that, raspberry extracts also counteract skin inflammations (Wang et al, Oxid Med Cell Longev., 2019). Fruit acids, citric and malic, present in raspberry and its extract are exfoliating, help the renewal of skin, improve its hydration and reduce, in the long term, wrinkles and signs of fatigue (Smith et al, Int J Cosmet Sci , 1996). An oil is also obtained from raspberry by squeezing its seeds, which is a concentrate of anti-inflammatory substances and with a healing, anti-aging and moisturizing action (Gledovic et al, PLoS One, 2020 - Tito et al, Int J Cosmet Sci, 2015). Raspberry oil contains a high percentage of linoleic acid, which is beneficial for the skin more than other types of fatty acids. In fact, it has been observed that in people with acne the amount of linoleic acid on the surface of the skin is low so its intake can help in this condition (Downing et al, J Am Acad Dermatol, 1986). Not only that, linoleic acid helps prevent the formation of skin spots and has an illuminating action (Ando et al, Arch Dermatol Res, 1998).
Aphrodite's cosmetics
As we have seen, raspberry benefits both young and acne-prone skin and mature skin with wrinkles. Let's see little ideas in order to make cosmetics using raspberry! Here's how to prepare a delicious slightly exfoliating, firming mask capable of making the complexion bright and homogeneous. Blend a dozen raspberries quickly, even frozen and defrosted raspberries or too soft raspberries that nobody wants to eat are fine. Add two tablespoons of yogurt, which improves skin hydration, radiance and elasticity (Yeom et al, J Cosmet Sci, 2022), and half a teaspoon of honey, which helps keep skin young and delays wrinkle formation. (Burlando et al, J Cosmet Dermatol, 2013). Apply to cleansed face and leave on for ten minutes. In case of acne-prone skin you can mix ten pureed raspberries with a tablespoon of oatmeal, with an anti-inflammatory and soothing action (Reynertson et al, J Drugs Dermatol, 2015), and a teaspoon of green tea leaves previously used to prepare the infusion, which are antioxidant and help regulate sebum production (Mahmood et al, Hippokratia, 2013). In this case, you can use tea bags, and then simply open the bag after steeping it and add the tea leaves to the mixture, or use the loose leaves. In any case, wait a bit in order to let the leaves cool down. If you want a creamier texture you can add a little green tea. Apply to your face and leave on for ten minutes. After applying the mask, to remove it, rinse your face, then spray a floral water, such as rose water, and complete with your face cream.
