From the sea, the bay is barely visible, but when you get closer, it opens up surrounded by rocks that reach out into the sea. At the bottom, a sandy beach and a little further a variegated vegetation with olive trees and bushes. It is nice to swim in the calm of the bay, below us the small fishes dart among the algae and the sand hills of the seabed, a cicada chirps in the distance. As we proceed, we discover small treasures, a tiny sandy beach, an area with water so blue that it looks like a swimming pool or a little goat looking curiously from a rock. Greece offers moments of absolute peace, in which one feels welcomed by a friendly nature, in which everything seems possible, the speed and frenetic rhythms are not of this land where it is not uncommon to meet an elderly person who, smiling, beckons you to slow down by saying sigà sigà, slowly. But one of the most fascinating things about Greece is that, when you least expect it, a breeze brings the scents of the sunny earth to your nostrils, intoxicating scents that taste of herbs. It is almost impossible to understand which plants have generated these aromas, they could be mint, anise, rockrose or maybe oregano, they are the herbs of Greece. So, let's see how to draw inspiration from these aromas, and in particular from oregano, to create exclusive beauty treatments at home, capable of enveloping us in a scented cloud.
Oregano and its beauty properties
Oregano is an excellent cosmetic ingredient. In fact, oregano shows anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antifungal properties thanks to its active ingredients such as carvacrol and thymol (Leyva-Lopez et al, Molecules, 2017). Not only that, oregano proves to be antioxidant and anti-tumor, it is able to renew the tissues and to counteract aging processes (Han et al, Biochim Open, 2017 - Binic et al, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med., 2013). Thanks to these characteristics, oregano can be used in case of different types of skin diseases, such as athlete's foot, eczema, acne, psoriasis, but it also helps to rejuvenate the skin and fight wrinkles (Orchard et al , Evid Based Complement Alternat Med., 2017).
Cosmetics that taste like calm bays and crystal clear water
So how can you use oregano to prepare anti-aging cosmetics, also useful in case of acne or skin inflammations? The simplest way is to use the essential oil of oregano. You can add a drop to your usual face cream or to a teaspoon of a carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil for the body, argan oil for the face for mature skin or jojoba oil, still for the face but in case of acne. Apply with slow massages until absorbed. Alternatively, you can prepare oregano infused oil. If you have the fresh plant, collect a generous handful of flowering tops and leaves, leave them in the sun for a couple of hours. Then place them in a glass jar and cover with a vegetable oil, such as sunflower oil. Close with gauze and heat in a double boiler over very low heat for 4 or 5 hours. Then, let it rest overnight, then filter. If, on the other hand, you have the dry plant, pour 4 generous tablespoons of oregano into a jar, cover with oil and close with the lid. Leave in the sun for a month, shaking it occasionally. Then filter, by pressing well, and the infused oil is ready. You can apply the oil on the skin as an anti-aging and anti-inflammatory evening massage.
