Meeting and chatting with a bunch of new people at a recent birthday party was fun, and one conversation in particular stood out to me. The subject was foods that are used for beauty products. I have to admit my ignorance—I’d never thought about cosmetics and food in the same sentence. It kind of makes sense to use ingredients that are good for someone's well being in cosmetic products.
The star lineup of edible beauty products I came about is…
Extra virgin olive oil, aka EVOO, brings a beautiful shine to the skin and is commonly used for the same for hair treatment. Based on its vitamin E and nutrient content it is said to prevent dandruff and repairs split ends.
At the party, a woman with beautiful thick black hair let me in on her secret of using eggs in her hair care routine at least once a month. She swears on it due to the high protein in eggs. We had a good laugh when she said to make sure to wash the raw egg product out fully. Otherwise you may end up with scrambled eggs in your hair after blow-drying it.
Next up is coconut oil. It is quickly absorbed into the skin and gives it a baby skin-like tenderness, same with avocado oil. These oils tend to be solid when cool in their unrefined versions, but liquefy at room temperature. Often, beeswax is added to such oils to give them texture and make them easier to spread.
Finally, many scents are commonly added to cosmetics, such as citrus oils, which tend to come from lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit, and bergamot. Along the same lines, herbal extracts and add-ins such as lavender, mint or kaffir can be added.
Blessing for a cook’s hands
Constant hand washing when working in the kitchen is a given and it certainly leads to dry hands. In my younger years when I apprenticed in a French high-end restaurant kitchen one particular daily assignment was to bathe perfectly round and evenly sliced potatoes in clarified butter before they were layered into a baking mold and later slowly baked to golden-crisps. Not only did this delight the customers, but to my surprise the butter with its natural vitamin content gave my hands a silky feel and well-nourished appearance. In fact, people often commented on the silky feel of my hands when we exchanged handshakes.
Eat your veggies…and oils
During my research on edible cosmetics, I learned about bodily lubricants. People supposedly use sesame oil in the bedroom to keep things moving! No Astroglide or K-Y necessary anymore!
Chef's tip: Generally, when you read natural “xx” scents added, it usually tells you that a chemical formula was used for adding that particular aroma or scent instead of the real extract or essence!
