Herbal Skincare: Behind the Ingredients
Let your skin shine with herbal skincare! Read on to learn the benefits of natural skincare ingredients that are derived from herbs, fruits, flowers and essential oils, and how to incorporate them into your daily skincare routine.
The recent emphasis on “going green” is for more than just carbon footprints and gasoline emissions. Cosmetic companies, already savvy to beneficial “green” ingredients, are starting to include a plethora of exciting herbal and plant ingredients in their formulations. Indeed, natural skincare can have a host of benefits for the skin in ways you may not expect!
Horsetail, a stalk-like herb often found in firming and revitalizing creams, is fast becoming a mainstay in cosmetics and skincare. With an extremely high content of silica, horsetail herb is beneficial in the treatment of a host of skin conditions, as well as for hair and nails. Naturally occurring in the body, silica is needed for collagen production, elasticity, and it also helps to build, repair and heal connective tissue. Over time, silica production slows down, making outside supplementation whether topically or internally, ideal. Between age 25 and 35, the body loses about 1.5 percent of its collagen annually, which can lead to wrinkles and sagging. The silica found in horsetail promotes collagen production, helping the skin remain supple. For a boost of silica, try Yonka Optimizer Cream to help soften wrinkles, while lifting and brightening the skin. Acne-prone or blemished skin will benefit from Yonka Fluide Optimizer, a light-weight serum to hydrate and lift, without aggravating oily skin conditions.
Long known for its therapeutic properties, lavender is another popular ingredient cropping up in skincare preparations for the face and body. Lavender essential oil is antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, and promotes a calm and sound sleep. The essential oil of lavender is particularly beneficial in skincare as it speeds cell turnover and helps to repair and replenish skin, especially skin suffering from a burn or trauma. Other skin conditions that can benefit from the use of lavender are eczema, acne, small cuts or bruises, burns, fatigue and stress. Preliminary studies have shown that when treated with a mixture of lavender and other essential oils, including chamomile and geranium, eczema symptoms decreased after eight weeks. To get your daily dose of lavender, try L’Occitane Lavender Harvest Body Milk or for a super-indulgent treat, L’Occitane Lavender Harvest Ultra Rich Body Cream.
To protect and hydrate the skin, many skincare companies are turning to seed and nut oils, such as macadamia nut oil and shea butter. Rich in palmitoleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid that mirrors sebum, macadamia nut oil is a potent anti-oxidant and can be a key factor in protecting the skin against aging. Macadamia nut oil, which also includes vitamins E and A, is especially helpful for mature skin, since sebum production diminishes as we age. SkinCeuticals Emollience, rich in macadamia nut oil and other beneficial herbs, will hydrate and protect dry skin from free radical damage. The oil also has a high penetration rate and quickly hydrates the skin while providing deep nourishment, making it a superior base for body care, such as Pevonia Nymphea Dry Oil Body Moisturize.
Another superior natural hydrator is karite, or shea butter. A natural emollient with a very high moisture content, shea butter is used prolifically in skincare, including creams, lotions, body butters and salves. Made from the seeds of the fruit of the karite tree, shea butter protects the skin from aging, locks in moisture, heals wounds and can help repair cells from sun damage. Happily, shea butter can be found in dozens of skincare products for hair, face and body, including: L’Occitane 100% Pure Shea Butter and Murad Body Firming Cream. Pure shea butter can be used by the whole family to treat dry skin, burns, rashes, cuts, bruises and even as a massage balm.
We hear plenty about how olive oil helps prevent heart disease, but this rich oil is also beneficial to the skin. Similar to Vitamin E, the polyphenols found in olive oil are potent antioxidants which will combat free-radical damage in the skin. Olive oil is also antibacterial and antifungal, and can be useful for treating certain skin conditions such as rashes or eczema. All skin types will benefit from using L’Occitane Olive Harvest Olive Water Face Toner. Featuring olive extract, olive water and olive oil, this hydrating toner is jam packed with antioxidants to leave your skin balanced and refreshed. Also, consider adding some olive oil to your hair care routine. Massage a few teaspoons of the oil into your hair and scalp, cover with a plastic cap and leave to marinade for about 30 minutes. This deeply hydrating treat will restore moisture and vitality to over-processed hair or split ends.
Feeling a little blue? Add some yellow to your life. Lemon juice has a number of benefits for skin and overall health. Lemons are high in Vitamin C, are antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, and helpful in treating the common cold, indigestion and acne. Containing citric acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid, lemon essential oil has long been used in skincare for exfoliating and clarifying the skin. Found in a number of skincare products, such as Yonka Fruitelia PG , lemon is a highly useful ingredient in hair care, as well. In particular, natural blondes and light-haired brunettes may enjoy using lemon juice to help maintain their beautiful golden tresses. Add a few drops to wet hair before spending time in the sun for natural highlights. However, be aware that natural highlights may not be for everyone. Chemically-created blonde hair may want to skip lightening with lemon juice as this step may lead to brassy, rather than blonde highlights. Lemon juice also acts as a natural cleanser. If you find your hair is extremely greasy, use a lemon rinse after shampooing to thoroughly cleanse the hair and scalp. Simply steep a few cut lemons in just-boiled water, let cool to room temperature, strain and then pour over the hair in the shower, being careful to avoid the eyes. Rinse completely and follow-up with a hydrating conditioner.
Embracing the many benefits of natural ingredients may be all the rage, but skincare companies have been savvy to these wonderful plants and herbs for years. In fact, you have probably been using “green” skincare much longer than you ever realized! Keep investigating your skincare options and don’ be afraid to bring the outside in with natural skincare ingredients.