In this entry, you will learn about fennel.
You will get some superb beauty recipes using fennel.
And then it will all climax into this crescendo of surprising oohs and ahhs when you see what happens at the end.
If you don’t want to learn anything about fennel, skip to the end now. But, just like a first date, if you skip to the end without learning more over a salad and three cocktails, you’re probably not going to get a call back the next day.
So pour a vodka tonic and get ready, because you’re about to see if you’re compatible with the fennel.
I’d venture a guess that you’ll probably figure out the surprise ending WAY before we get there.
Because you’re smart.
And sexy.
The fennel thinks so, too.
That Thing Fennel Does for Your Skin (and Tummy and Sexiness)
There’s this Indian restaurant here in town that has a bowl of fennel seeds at the register. You chew it after you’re finished destroying the buffet. It soothes your stomach and it freshens your breath.
I go to this Indian restaurant just for the fennel. Never mind that I have a jar full of fennel seeds at home – the luxury of chomping on Indian restaurant fennel postprandially is worth it.
So, first of all here’s what fennel does for your tummy: It soothes it. Easy. If you have a stomach ache or queasy tummy, chew on some fennel seeds. Or, if you don’t care for the seeds in your teeth, make a cup of tea with fennel seeds – about 2 tsp seeds to 1 c water. Let it steep, strain, and then enjoy.
Fennel has a lovely licorice-type taste to it that drives me wild. It drives a lot of people wild, actually, because it’s one of the most potent herbal aphrodisiacs there is.
So that’s what fennel does for your libido: It drives you wild.
You know what else? Ancient Roman women used to eat fennel regularly to help keep a trim-ish (have you seen those Roman statues?) figure. Fennel has been used for centuries in weight loss. Probably because it aides so magnificently in digestion (see soothing tummy). You don’t have to use fennel seeds to see this benefit – any part of the fennel plant will do.
But let’s talk about fennel in skincare.
Fennel for Your Skinnel
Fennel is used in myriad skincare products, and for good reason:
It’s antiseptic and diuretic. This makes it perfect for puffy, oily faces. But wait! There’s more! It’s also VERY softening and great for wrinkles. This makes it perfect for puffy, oily faces that are starting to get fine lines in the corners of the eyes.
This makes it perfect for people like, um, me.
It’ll also treat your acne very, very well. And, in a minute, I’m going to give you a recipe that you can use every single day to utilize the power of the fennel.
Here’s one quick use for fennel and puffy eyes: Make a strong tea with fennel seeds and allow to steep for 5 minutes. Strain and refrigerate the fennel infusion until cold. Soak two cotton pads or a washcloth with the cold fennel water and apply to eyes for 5 minutes.
Fennel and Rosemary Facial Steam and Toner for Oily Skin and Acne
- 2 tsp fennel seeds
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 2 c. distilled water
- 2 Tbsp witch hazel or apple cider vinegar
- Towel
- Small container with a lid
Start with a clean face.
Steam: Add the fennel and rosemary to the water in a wide-mouthed pot. Bring to a boil. Remove the pot from the heat source (and get far enough away from the stovetop that you can’t touch the towel to the burner). Immediately drape your head with the towel and lean over the steam – keeping yourself far away enough that you don’t burn your face. Allow the steam to pour over your face for at least five minutes.
Pat down with a dry towel and finish with a toner and a moisturizer.
Toner: Reboil the remaining water/rosemary/fennel for 2 minutes and then remove from the heat. Allow the fennel and rosemary to steep for an hour. Strain the water into a small container and add the witch hazel or apple cider vinegar. Use this as a toner.
This should keep, refrigerated, for at least two weeks.
Fennel and Olive Oil Salt Scrub
- 2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh fennel leaves
- 1/2 c. olive oil
- 1/2 c. fine sea salt
You can do this two ways: If you’re short on time and really want to try this immediately, place the fennel leaves and olive oil in a small pot. Heat on low (you don’t want to cook the leaves and olive oil, just infuse the olive oil with the fennel goodness) for 20-30 minutes. Strain the fennel leaves from the olive oil (or leave them in if you want extra fennel and don’t mind a little more rinsing time in the shower) and add the oil to the salt. Stir well and allow to cool before using in the shower.
Or, if you want fennel-infused olive oil that you can cook with AND use to beautify, just place the fennel leaves and olive oil in a jar. Shake well. Place in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks, shaking every day. Strain the fennel leaves from the olive oil when you’re ready to use it (or just leave ’em in). Prepare as above.
I did BOTH of these things tonight, to get me in the fennelly mood – and boy do I feel refreshed and soft and all sorts of goodness.
Fennel’s a GREAT date, if I do say so myself. Which brings us to what fennel is here to do for you.
WIN THIS MARK POULIN ORIGINAL NECKLACE!
Kiln-Fired 
Enam
el and Sterling Silver – Stylized fennel flowers on one side, and waves and clouds on the other!
.
Mark is SO talented (and he’s been at the jewelry game for 15 years). I recently fell hard for all of his work. And when I saw his fennel flower necklace, I had to find a way to give you even MORE reason to love the fennel.
He wanted YOU to love the fennel, too, so he sent me this necklace to pass on to one lucky lady. And here’s your chance to win this handmade Mark Poulin original enamel/sterling silver necklace valued at $55.
And when you wear this necklace, you’ll remember fennel.
You’ll remember how much it loves you.
You’ll remember me.
We just had a really great date, didn’t we? Let’s do it again sometime.
Before I tell you how to enter, I want to encourage you to go check out Mark Poulin’s Website – this only barely scrapes the quirky loveliness of his work. Moms with daughters? You’re especially going to LOVE his matching mom/daughter pendants. They melt my heart. I’m thinking about having a daughter, just so I can buy one of those sets.
Now that it’s time to kiss goodnight, here’s how you can enter to win this memorable, handmade pendant:
Leave a comment using the words “fennel,” “pendant” and “crunchy.”
For extra credit (which doesn’t increase your chances of winning the drawing, but it does increase your chances of winning my heart) check out Mark’s site (or his Etsy Shop) and tell me your favorite piece of his jewelry.
I’ll start – it’s the Aquarius “water bear.” I own it now. It makes me cute and quirky, like an Aquarian should be.
This drawing is only available for people in the U.S. or Canada. And it closes at 12:00 p.m. MST on Friday, October 22, 2010. So enter now. NOW! (Winner will be chosen via random.org). One entry per person.
If you forgot what you have to do to enter, here it is again:
Leave a comment using the words “fennel,” “pendant” and “crunchy.”
Just have a quick question. Could mixing fennel seeds and thyme with witch hazel work well?
I have not tried FENNEL. I love CRUNCHY veggies though. I would love to win the PENDANT.
LOVE your blog!!
Just made a batch of the fennel/rosemary toner. It’s steeping right now.
I’m wondering why it has to be refrigerated. Wouldn’t the ACV help discourage any bacterial growth?
I LOVE fennel and how it smells. I just found Crunchy Betty’s Blog and love it. Making a Pendant from fennel is awesome. Mark’s site is cool. I love the simplicity.
I love to crunch on a crisp piece of fennel at night while watching bad late night tv. My favorite pennant at Mark Poulin’s site is the Space Cat necklace.
I heard the crunchy sound of the branches of my fragrant fennel bush breaking as I trampled them searching for my lost pendant.
Speaking of uncommonly beautiful gifts from fennel…I grow fennel in my yard for the butterflies. The Black Swallowtail butterfly when in caterpillar form LOVES to munch fennel. One it’s favorites! So if you are interested in attracting the beautiful black swallowtail butterfly, grow some fennel.
I love Mark’s jewelry! My favorite is the purple coneflower pendant and bookmarked it so I can buy it soon.
My “no-poo” hair is feeling rather crunchy today, hehe.
O HAI, you’re an aquarius? So am I 🙂
Fennel smells funny, but I do enjoy it after dinner at an Indian restaurant. I never realized it was so good for you! My favorite pendant on the website is the kelp one, since I’m quite partial to sea life. Thanks for helping me be crunchy :3
Amazingly enough fennel grows in my yard!!! Oh I’m so excited as all I ever do is look at it and trim it back…not being resourceful enough to look up what else to do with it..and now, thanks to you, I don’t even have to make that effort!!
As you know, I’m working on moving from crunchy to crunchier to crunchiest of all my friends, so I’ll add these tips to my arsenal.
The facial steam and toner sounds lovely..and may give an added bonus to my less “hay” like looking hair today. Can it be added to our “no poo” quest for lovely hair? I hope so.
I’m off now to check out the mother/daughter pendants as they might be just what I need for my 2 step-daughter’s birthdays that are coming up!
I am simply very happy that Mark and Mike’s facebook post has led me to Crunchy Betty – A new “favorite”! I am a huge fennel fan and it makes perfect sense that if it calms your tummy – it will calm your skin. I love to see every new design Mark creates for his pendants and other pieces… this has turned out to be a very good recipe in deed.
Wearing such an adorable fennel pendant wouldn’t make me feel *too* crunchy. Unless I wore it with my Birks. On a no ‘poo day.
I had no idea fennel was good for acne! I so need to try these recipes, thank you for sharing your crunchy goodness! I think I’m loving the Little Elephant necklace but really hoping to win a sweet fennel pendant too 🙂
You got me with the libido comment. I just ordered a 25 lb. bag! 🙂
And thanks for the post on pimples. It was like I asked and you answered. I love that about you!
What is the Good Mood Gig? Please explain to your faithful followers so we know what we are voting you into.
XO,
Kim
http://www.confabulicious.com
Crunchy Betty,
I can’t wait to try out a few of your fennel recipes. Mark is the BEST! I already have one of his awesome pendants it has a <3 bear on one side and a <3 whale on the other. It is super cute, but I would *really* love to add this new pendant to my collection!!
Crunchy Betty, your fennel post makes me want to run out and buy a big bag of fennel to sooth my often achy belly and Mark’s fennel pendant makes me swoon!!!
Fennel has always intrigued me. I have to say, I don’t know how to cut it up (do you cut it up?) or what parts one eats. And now I find I can use it for some crunchy facial steaming, my all time favorite thing to do. Can’t wait to get some at the store next week, and some seeds too. The pendant, gorgeous.
Oh my God! I am in love with those little charm necklaces! I think I know what Santa is bringing for 3 little girls this year.
I have a big bag of FENNEL seeds in my cupboard; never knew what to do with them, so I will have to try out your recipes! I get compliments about my PENDANTS all the time; I would like a new one to add to my collection. And I am getting more and more CRUNCHY all the time — blogs inspire me, as does one of my favourite books (“Crunchy Cons” by Rod Dreher).
Oooh! I love hand made jewelry. I’m totally in love with this hot little piece:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/46699693/modern-abstract-reversible-necklace
but I’m stoked that he actually has a fennel pendant! I love fennel. It’s the total secret ingredient for my Maltese Macaroni. crunch crunch crunchy!
Okay, Crunchy Betty, this cracks me up that you write this now–I literally yesterday was looking around my dying weed-laden garden, in which I planted a lot of fennel to help keep other buggy nasty things out of my squashes. (It works pretty well, actually. Unfortunately, my squashes didn’t give me many squashes either…) And I was trying to decide if it’s worth transplantint or should I just let it expire and plant more this year…this post is enough for me to keep it alive, though! (And it’s so cool–I have a whole winter’s worth of fennel seeds from my garden. It’s also a great ingredient in cooking when you want to leave sausage out of something Italian-y; just put some fennel in and it gives that sausagy flavor…)
And I have no idea which of Mark’s pendants I like best–they are generally quite awesome. The sunset one especially grabbed me, though…
(Pick me pick me! Thursday is my birthday! :-))
Have a great week–
J
I can just imagine myself sitting and sipping a warm mug of fennel tea, wearing that lovely pendant and reading the newest blog entry of Crunchy Betty! You know it!
I’m a new crunchy, still trying to figure it all out. Somehow, a month or so ago, I happened upon your blog. Don’t ask me how, I don’t remember. Somehow, it just appeared! And I am so fascinated with this new crunchy lifestyle! I’m excited for the changes I get to implement with your site! Plus, I’m super excited to try fennel! I always have tummy issues and am tiring of medicines. Now I have something healthy and chem-free to try! Thanks CB! Also, that necklace is CUTE! And totally something a new crunch should wear!
~ShelbyP
(Also, I have a thing for the ! button…can ya tell?)
okay. Totally suckered me into the fennel club…emailing this to hubby now! 😉
His website is SO cool! I love the design and my fav piece of jewelry of his is the racoon ring…okay no, the Modern bubble necklace pendant (blue or teal)! Can’t decide.
Sarah M
All I have to say is thank you for using the word “myriad” correctly. So many people say “a myriad”
🙂
Dear Crunchy Betty,
You Are AMAZING! Ive said it a million times, you have won my lil heart over with all the superb advice and quality recipes! And now fennel, ive been told but have never ventured to validate its claims only because I didnt trust the source. Alas, never have you steered me wrong! I think im gonna make the salt scrub. As for the pendent…its beautiful! I just love how whimsical and creative his work is! I want them all! I really like the fox hanging next to the socks on the etsy pendent, I think im experiencing cuteness overload!
All my Luv
-Marlowe
I got excited when I saw “fennel” because I just bought some fennel seeds.
Of course, I bought them for a pork roast…but still!
And so I was reading…saw the facial steam (which reminded me that I’m out of cider vinegar because I used it all on my hair… aren’t I the crunchy maven?)
And the pendant? Gorgeous.
But I promise I won’t wear it while I’m doing the facial steam
that’s probably not good for it.
My friends laugh at my crunchy granola hippie ways…I am notorious for whipping up home beauty treatments and these fennel recipes sound great. I will try them soon! If I had the pendant, it would remind me to do so! And my favorite piece(s) are the Bunny Family pendants…’cause we raise bunnies on our farm!
Crunchy Betty – I’m loving on the fennell pendent and the crown family necklace set – adorable.
I love fennel in all it’s forms. My new job has a case of fennel powder just sitting around (it’s a restaurant) and it isn’t used. I’m going to take it home and mix it in warm water before meals to help my crunchy digestive system absorb more nutrients. Having a new pendant for my new job would be great because my old pendant is super tarnished!
I’m going to the party pooper at the fennel party -I hate it. Licorice and I are bitter enemies. But… BUT… I suppose I could put it on my face. I’ve got a lot of puffy I could do without it.
I am making a sincere effort to be more crunchy, and I think that I am also going to try the fennel toner (I really need to get to Whole Foods for ingredients!). But a pendant would really inspire my crunchiness.
Gorgeous!