There’s something more to the cosmetic uses of herbs than drinking teas or using them for facial steam and hair rinses. Herbal hydrosols and oils, as well as active substances extracted from these plants, have a huge conditioning potential. What do we owe to herbs and what beauty benefits they give?
Herbs in Beauty Care – Why so effective
Tiny, green plants look so simple – nothing reveals the huge antioxidant, healing and regenerating potential hidden inside them. Actually, herbs give better effects than many artificial substances. What’s inside the herbs that outclasses lab-devised ingredients?
- Flavonoids in herbs are among the most valuable beauty-enhancing ingredients. Herbs are full of flavonoids which save the skin: have the ability to absorb harmful UVA and UVB rays, work as an effective sunblock, reinforce the walls of blood vessels, stimulate the blood circulation, firm the skin up and effortlessly pick up skin-damaging free radicals.
- Saponins in herbs make up a group of anti-inflammatory and anti-swelling compounds. Saponins improve the blood flow in tissues – the skin is provided with sufficient oxygen and gains a healthy color. Another benefit focuses on lowering the water surface tension and increasing the penetrability of cell membrane – as a result, active ingredients of creams and gels easily penetrate skin.
- Phytohormones – are the breakthrough in cosmetology because they efficiently improve the state of the skin, stimulate its repair, support lots of processes responsible for the epidermis renewal. Phytohormones intensify the production of hyaluronic acid thus ensure the proper moisture and strengthen skin elasticity and bounce.
Which herbs have the best beauty benefits?
Basil (ocimum basilicum)
Basil oil is the strongest and it’s a common ingredient in body creams and balms and shower gels. It is rich in skin-disinfecting terpenes, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial tannin, already-mentioned saponins, flavonoids, vitamins A, C, K, and skin and hair enhancing minerals – iron, calcium and manganese. Basil tea will be a brilliant hair rinse.
Tarragon (artemisia dracunculus)
Tarragon essential oil is one of the most appreciated beauty products made from tarragon. It can be used for aroma-therapeutic oil burners and as an ingredient in creams, serum or hair masks. Tarragon is rich in flavonoids and tannin; cut out for oily skin and hair care: fights bacteria and fungi, disinfects the skin and reduces sebum secretion.
Coliander (coriandrum sativum)
Coliander and coliander oil are ideal for hair oil treatments – prevent hair loss, reinforce bulbs and enhances the appearance of thinning, dull hair. Coliander is a rich source of minerals (potassium, calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium), contains vitamins A, C and K, beta-carotene, and irreplaceable in skin and hair care – folic acid.
Parsley (carum petroselinum)
It is the source of the so-called vitamins of youthfulness – C, E, A – natural antioxidants delaying the pathologic and ageing processes. Parsley is high in flavonoids, moisturises and brightens the skin, alleviates thanks to a large amount of chlorophyll, nourishes and regenerates because it is full of minerals (iron, manganese, calcium).
Stinging nettle (urtica dioica)
This herb’s been known for ages and appreciated mostly for being a game-changing remedy for dandruff and oily, heavy, weighed-down hair. Nettle effortlessly deals with over-production of sebum whereas the nettle oil can be rubbed in nails because it nourishes and strengthens them. Nettle contains huge amounts of vitamins and minerals, therefore you can call it ‘the multi-vitamin among herbs’. It purifies and calms skin down, prevents oiliness and nourishes.
Horsetail (equisetum arvense)
Not only does it reinforce hair and nails but also makes a great company for nettle scalp conditioners and shampoos, making you feel better – drinking horsetail tea and having horsetail-enriched baths hugely reduces sweating. Horsetail contains silica (silicic acid makes hair shiny and strong, keeps nails from splitting and breaking), flavonoids, mineral salts, organic acids and saponins.