Green Tea and Adzuki Cleansing Grains

Traditional Asian facial cleansing grains, like this one, use adzuki beans

that gently exfoliate without damaging the surface of the skin. In addition,

green tea is a powerful antioxidant that helps rejuvenate the skin, prevent

and repair sun damage, and promote elasticity. And the healing powers

of chamomile calm and soothe redness and irritation.

YIELDS: 1 pint

⁄ cup adzuki beans

⁄ cup green tea leaves

⁄ cup chamomile flowers

⁄ cup brown rice flour

⁄ cup kaolin clay

What you will need: coffee grinder, mixing bowl, fine-meshed sieve,

pint-size canning jar with lid, spice jar with sifter cap, optional

1. To Make: Before you begin, find a protective face mask, or tie a bandana to

cover your nose and mouth, to avoid breathing the powders. Next, put the

adzuki beans, green tea, and chamomile into the jar, close the lid, and

shake. Fill a coffee grinder with the mixture and grind to a very fine

powder. Place the sieve over the mixing bowl. Empty the grinder into the

sieve. Carefully sift the powder into the bowl. Put anything that doesn’t sift

through back into the grinder and leave the powder in the bowl. Fill the

grinder with the adzuki, tea, and chamomile mixture. Repeat until all of the

mix has been ground, discarding any woody bits that won’t grind down.

Next, sift the brown rice flour into the bowl and discard any larger rice

grains. Carefully put the powders into the canning jar and add the kaolin

clay. Close the lid tightly and shake well to blend to a uniform powder. Let

stand for 5 minutes or so, letting the dust settle into the jar.

2. To Store: Store this dry facial scrub in a spice jar with a sifter cap. To fill

the jar, make a funnel by rolling up a piece of paper. Twist one end to open

wide enough to fit into the spice jar, and the other wider to funnel in the

powder. Tape it together and spoon the powder into the jar a little at time.

Once the jar is full, replace the sifter and cap, and this scrub is ready to use!

You can also store this in the jar, using a clean dry spoon to dispense the

cleansing grains. Keep the lid tightly closed when not in use and store for

up to a year.

3. To Use: To use, simply tap out a bit of the powder into the palm of your

hand and mix with water added a tiny bit at a time until a paste forms. Then

softly cleanse your face using small circular motions. Rinse with warm

water and follow with toner and moisturizer.

SKINCARE SECRETS

For a more intensive facial treatment, make a replenishing facial

mask by blending these cleansing grains with honey, yogurt, milk,

rosewater, and/or toner and leave on for 5–20 minutes. Rinse with

warm water to soften the mask and gently exfoliate your skin using small circular motions. Follow with toner and moisturizer.