There are two kinds of chestnut -- sweet chestnut is the one you can roast and eat. Horse chestnut has many properties that are beneficial for the skin. It is a key ingredient in products for skin with weak capillaries, rosacea and varicose veins. The chestnut contains Beta-escine which is a mixture of saponins, it strengthens the veins and makes them more elastic, and fights the enzymes which causes the breakdown of the walls of the veins. It also has cleansing properties.
Chestnut also prevents the breakdown of hyaluron in the skin. A Japanese study showed that the horse chestnut extract was much more effective in absorbing free radicals than vitamin C or E.
Finally chestnut helps against cellulite.
I collect chestnuts from beer gardens (in Germany a beer garden must have a chestnut tree). I use them for my laundry (see this tutorial), they work really well.
All these treatments can be used on the entire face and body, or just on the spots with visible veins.
The grits get used for a second batch -- they get soaked in a glass of water for a couple of hours, and again I filter out the liquid.
This also makes a great hair rinse, it leaves the hair really soft.
There are two ways you can make a chestnut bath. The first is exactly like the cleaning toner, but in a bigger quantity. I find that 10 chestnuts are the right amount for an average bathtub.
Another method is to boil the chestnuts for 15 minutes and then let them in the hot water for another 15 minutes, and then add to the bathtub.
You can also use the tree bark for this (ca 100 gm).
Cook small pieces or grated pieces of one chestnut in a little water on a low flame for two minutes. Don't let it boil. Once it has cooled down, it looks like pudding! Apply and leave on for ca 10 minutes.
I usually make my laundry detergent and my chestnut skin care in one go. I cut the chestnuts in half with a knife and mix them in a blender with some water. For whites detergent I remove the shell. If you don't have a blender you can use a grinder, grate them, or cut them into small piece with a knife.
The mixture makes a nice froth. I pass it through a sieve, and get a milky liquid.
So now I have the chestnut liquid and the grits.
I dry the rest of the chestnuts in the oven and store them in a jar.
If you don't have access to fresh chestnuts, you can find some online, for example on SkinActives,Zrob Sobie Krem, etc.
If you try these out, let me know how it goes for you.
Chestnut also prevents the breakdown of hyaluron in the skin. A Japanese study showed that the horse chestnut extract was much more effective in absorbing free radicals than vitamin C or E.
Finally chestnut helps against cellulite.
I collect chestnuts from beer gardens (in Germany a beer garden must have a chestnut tree). I use them for my laundry (see this tutorial), they work really well.
DIY chestnut skin care:
In all of these recipes you can substitute chestnut bark for seeds, however remember to harvest is sustainably and not damage the trees. Chestnut trees are struggling against a deadly disease as it is.All these treatments can be used on the entire face and body, or just on the spots with visible veins.
Chestnut cleansing toner / hair rinse:
Blend pieces of chestnut in a blender, or soak in a glass of water. Pass the mixture through a sieve. The liquid foams and be used as a cleanser (after removing makeups). I either apply it like a toner or dip a sheet mask in it and use in in the bathtub. It stays fresh for two weeks in the fridge.The grits get used for a second batch -- they get soaked in a glass of water for a couple of hours, and again I filter out the liquid.
This also makes a great hair rinse, it leaves the hair really soft.
Chestnut bath:
The chestnut bath is a treatments against varicose veins and visible capillaries as well as cellulite. It also evens out the colour of the skin.There are two ways you can make a chestnut bath. The first is exactly like the cleaning toner, but in a bigger quantity. I find that 10 chestnuts are the right amount for an average bathtub.
Another method is to boil the chestnuts for 15 minutes and then let them in the hot water for another 15 minutes, and then add to the bathtub.
You can also use the tree bark for this (ca 100 gm).
Chestnut scrub:
Use the leftover grits as a scrub. I prefer to use the grits of chestnuts I have shelled for my face, since I'm afraid that the shells are too scratchy.Chestnut face mask
It lightly tightens the skin, cleanses and minimises pores.Cook small pieces or grated pieces of one chestnut in a little water on a low flame for two minutes. Don't let it boil. Once it has cooled down, it looks like pudding! Apply and leave on for ca 10 minutes.
Chestnut Macerate:
This is a great way to use chestnut when it's out-of-season. You need a small jar with sunflower oil (or any oil that doesn't go rancid too fast). Put pieces of chestnut in it and store for at least two weeks before using. The macerate can be used for oil-cleansing, or to moisturise the body or the faceI usually make my laundry detergent and my chestnut skin care in one go. I cut the chestnuts in half with a knife and mix them in a blender with some water. For whites detergent I remove the shell. If you don't have a blender you can use a grinder, grate them, or cut them into small piece with a knife.
The mixture makes a nice froth. I pass it through a sieve, and get a milky liquid.
So now I have the chestnut liquid and the grits.
I dry the rest of the chestnuts in the oven and store them in a jar.
If you don't have access to fresh chestnuts, you can find some online, for example on SkinActives,Zrob Sobie Krem, etc.
If you try these out, let me know how it goes for you.
Photo credit (top image): Kingston Chen on Unsplash