Spice girl: the same spice that add flair to your cooking can also help revitalize your skin

Natural Health, March, 2008 by Olessa Pindak

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THERE'S SOMETHING magical about spices. When you cook with them, you need only a pinch to completely transform a dish.

That principle also works in skincare: Add a touch of clove or nutmeg to a lotion or cream and you have an instant anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, or warming perk. "In the same way that spices can heat up food, they also affect your skin," says Diana Howard, Ph.D., vice president of technical development for the International Dermal Institute. Each of these spices has a skincare benefit to beautify your complexion.

heating pepper

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Capsicum, the active component in black pepper, ha strong heating properties. "In Traditional Chinese Medicine, pepper is used to Stimulate the skin and increase circulation," says Howard.

Try: ORIGINS SPICE ODYSSEY FOAMING BODY RUB ($15; origins.com); NEAL'S YARD REMEDIES SEAWEED SALT SCRUB ($45; nyrusa.com)

calming ginger

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Used in lotions and creams for its warming effect, ginger also stimulates circulation and eases inflammation by inhibiting COX-2 enzymes, mechanisms that contribute to inflammation; explains Howard,

Try: LUSH BRAZENED BIO HONEY FACE MASK ($11; lush.com); DESERT ESSENCE ORGANICS SPICY CITRUS HAND AND BODY LOTION ($9; desertessence.com)

cooling clove

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Clove is often used to treat ache because of its antiseptic properties, but those same qualities work on all parts of your body. In fact, in a 2007 study in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, clove oil was shown to inhibit bacterial overgrowth on feet.

Try: LIZ EARLE COMFORT BATH OIL AND COMFORT BODY SPRAY ($24.50; lizearle.com); MUNDO TANGY TANGERINE SHAMPOO BAR ($6; mundoproducts.com)

soothing cinnamon

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The warming effect of this herb, which comes from the dried inner bark of evergreen trees, makes it ideal for aching muscles. It also acts as an antiseptic.

Try: INTELLIGENT AESTHETICS NOURISH EXFOLIATING OATMEAL CLEANSER ($28; intelligentaesthetics.com); PHILIP B CHAI LATTE SOUL AND BODY WASH ($39; philipb.com)

gentle nutmeg

"Nutmeg calms inflamed skin," says Anil Gandhi, founder of Roop Ayurvedic Center & Day Spa in Hoboken, N.J. It also fights oil produced by the sebaceous glands, making it a good cleanser.

Try: TACT BEAUTY CARE GINGER & SPICES SHOWER GEL ($10; tactbeautycare.com); A GOOD NIGHT KISS NEW YORK CITY CHAI HYDROTHERAPY TUB TEA ($28; agoodnightkiss.com)

Photograph by MONICA BUCK