This 1896 Victorian recipe for Cleopatra's Enamel takes us back to a time when even the Victorians had kindled an interest in all things ancient and fantastical. A unique product that will help soften the hands and arms and work on fading spots naturally.
NOTE: Color and consistency per batch may vary. This is a sticky product. It is meant to sit on the surface of your skin and slowly soak in, leaving your skin deeply hydrated and smooth.
This recipe was found in an 1896 Ladies' book, full of time-tested recipes that supposedly came "from centuries prior." The title was actually called "Cleopatra's Enamel." Unlike products from the 18th century, the Victorians loved to name recipes after famous people, and we saw this in full bloom in this 1896 lady's book. Additionally, the Victorians had a way of weaving romance and history together, resulting in tales and recipes that claimed to be original when, in fact, we don't really have the basis to say this was a documented recipe of Cleopatra's. This is more a Victorian notion than anything concrete. While they say Cleopatra used Myrrh oil on her feet, I don't know if we have the evidence to prove it, just like the Victorian's claim with this recipe. Most likely, the Victorians used known beauty ingredients from the time and gave the product a lovely backstory. Nevertheless, we have to applaud the Victorian ideology for that era, and truly, many of these ingredients were available then and were used in beauty rituals. The base of this recipe was said to come from Egypt in the time of Cleopatra. Not only was she an amazing woman, but she also loved her toilette recipes. In fact, she was said to be an alchemist in her own right. This is one of our most popular products! We are sure you will love it!
What is an Enamel: "It is a form of face painting or a paste with the main aim to achieve the look of younger, whiter skin.."
Enamel Properties
The Victorians used enamel primarily as a "vanishing" cream to remove or cover up unpleasant dark spots from the skin. This made one look younger by evening out the skin tone, diminishing wrinkles, but read more below to see all the other uses, including insect repellent and eczema.
This is used as a night salve- before you go to bed or as you are running around the house. It is a gentle exfoliant and feels wonderfully relaxing as you rub it on. I have used this on my face as well. It leaves my skin supple and soft. As with any natural product, results won't be immediate, but with time, you may notice pleasant results with a more even skin tone and a healthy complexion! It seems like a hard salve, but the heat from your fingers will melt the product quickly, allowing you to spread a thin layer on your skin and allow it to soak in.
Ingredients:
Organic Bees Wax
Organic Honey
Natural Rose Water
Organic Almond Oil
Natural Myrrh and Rose Oil
Directions:
Rub a small amount of this salve over the skin before going to bed. In the morning, wash off with good-quality soap and water. It will be thick and sticky. Take your time, massage it into the skin, and let it soak in and work its magic overnight.
Ingredient properties:
Myrrh has been used to repel insects and prevent and treat sunburn. It was also used to maintain healthy skin, prevent skin aging, soothe chapped or cracked skin, eczema, athlete's foot, wrinkles, and stretch marks, and help fade away scars and spots. This ancient oil was seen to promote youth and keep the skin fresh and clear of blemishes.
Rose Water: acts as an anti-inflammatory and soothes irritated skin. It is also a rich source of antioxidants, which are said to help strengthen skin cells and regenerate skin tissue. It is very beneficial to those with sensitive and dry skin. It is also reputed as a wonderful moisturizer.
This recipe is pretty versatile and can help with so many things. It is a must for the toilette and medicine cabinet. We did add a little almond oil for better consistency. We have gotten wonderful feedback from this ointment. It has been used to remove age spots and skin discolorations with success after constant use, patience, and time. It may not be the fastest way to reduce unwanted dark spots, but it's the most natural, and you are doing it with a historical recipe!
Remember, this is a natural cream and may separate- Just give it a stir!Materials: Organic Beeswax, Almond Oil, Rose Water, Organic Honey, Rose EO, Myrrh EO