Almond flowers come in two colors, white or reddish. During the flowering period, from March to April, the flowers are pure red when in bud. After blooming, the color gradually becomes lighter, and when the flowers fall, they turn pure white.
The apricot flowers have the characteristic of changing color. When they are in bud, they are bright red. As the petals stretch, the color gradually changes from dark to light, and when they fall, they turn into snow-white. "White is not really white, and words are not as red as red. Please be red and white, and don't look at heaven's work." This is the five unique poems about apricots by Yang Wanli, a poet of the Song Dynasty. He observed apricot flowers very carefully.
Apricot blossom has the functions of replenishing vital energy, dispelling wind and unblocking collaterals, nourishing the skin and removing dust from the face. In the "Taiping Shenghui Prescription" of the Song Dynasty, there is a record of using apricot and peach blossoms to wash the face to treat spots.
There is a secret beauty recipe in the ancient book "Forbidden Prescriptions of Lu Mansion" called "Yang Taizhen Ruby Cream", which was specially used for the beauty of Concubine Yang. When making, peel the almonds, take equal parts of talc and light powder, grind them into powder, steam them, add a little borneol and musk, mix well with egg white, apply it after washing your face in the morning and evening, it has the effect of "making the face rosy and pleasant" "The color will turn into red jade after ten days".
The cosmetic effect of apricot flowers is related to the ingredients that inhibit the activity of skin cell esterase. Taking apricot flowers as porridge can help the stomach and intestines fully absorb its active ingredients that inhibit the tyrosinase activity of skin cells to prevent the occurrence of acne and dark spots.