For centuries, herbs were the main source of beauty aids ... then along came the big cosmetic companies, and the world was swamped with (sometimes dangerous) chemicals. Lately, however-as we rediscover organic recipes-herbs, fruits, and vegetables have found their way back onto milady's makeup table.

As a matter of fact, I recently read a magazine article in which a duchess and a princess (folks who can certainly afford "the best") recommended the use of exotic plants for beauty care. About that same time—as I searched through some old family hideaways for my grandmother's salve recipeI came upon a list of beauty tips that Grandma had once written out for her daughter (my aunt).

There wasn't that much difference between royalty's road to loveliness and Grandma's, either ... except the old girl didn't buy most of her materials. She grew 'em!

Here's the advice that my grandmother wrote down for her daughter those many years ago:

IN THE MORNING: Mix a handful of oatmeal with enough spring water to make a paste, and put this mixture on your face and neck. When it dries, rinse the paste off with whey, then -with water, and dry your skin with a soft rag.

AT NIGHT: Rub a mixture of honey and glycerin onto your face, then wipe it off gently—after a while—with a soft cloth.

ONCE A WEEK: Add a teaspoon of honey to one mashed apple, mix them together, and put this "cream" on your face and neck. Leave it in place for half an hour, and then rinse with whey or cold milk. (Make sure your husband will be gone awhile before you start this treatment!)

TO SMOOTH WRINKLES: Apply barley water and a few drops of balm of Gilead to your wrinkles every day.

TO BLEACH YOUR SKIN: Rub cucumber slices on your face.

FOR SOFT HANDS: Shake a half cup of glycerin, a half cup of rose water, and a quarter cup of witch hazel in a jar. Apply this to your hands after they've been in water.

TO HEAL CHAPPED HANDS: Rub them with damp table salt.

FOR BRIGHT HAIR: Add vinegar to the rinse water after washing your hair, or make a rinse of mullein, nettle, sage, or burdock tea.

TO DARKEN GRAY HAIR: Boil an ounce of chamomile or sage in a quart of water for 20 minutes. Rinse your hair with this brew, and use a hairbrush dipped in strong chamomile or sage tea.