Properties of herbs for maintaining beauty and health
Herbs contain valuable substances that have a positive effect on the skin. Due to their natural origin, herbal extracts are easily and well absorbed by the skin, hair and nails.
Herbs contain extremely valuable active substances: flavonoids, saponins, essential oils, mucus, vitamins, etc. They have healing, smoothing, moisturizing, nourishing and disinfecting properties.
Herbs are recommended not only for skin problems and diseases, but also for everyday care. Herbal cosmetics are great for both skin and hair. Their valuable properties include: anti-wrinkle effect, brightening complexion and strengthening hair and nails. They can be used even with very sensitive skin – perfectly moisturize and nourish it.
Why should you use herbal cosmetics?
This is mainly due to the fact that typical pharmacy cosmetics are saturated with chemical compounds that damage and irritate the skin. The flowers, leaves, and roots of plants classified as herbs have been used to make beauty preparations for thousands of years.
Note! Herbs help to treat various skin problems, and at the same time they are great for beauty: they can smooth out wrinkles, brighten the complexion, strengthen hair and nails. No wonder good cosmetics contain herbs.
The flavonoids found in herbs have very different properties. They are used as a natural sunscreen because they have the ability to absorb the sun’s rays. They have an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effect on the skin, especially in combination with vitamin C.
They reduce the permeability and fragility of blood vessels, restore their elasticity, thereby preventing their expansion and cracking. Therefore, they are an important component in cosmetics for couperose skin. They fight free radicals, which as a result prolong the youthfulness of the skin.
Tannins are highly valued in cosmetics. They have strong astringent properties, creating a protective layer on the skin. They reduce swelling, which is ideal for cosmetics with acne on the skin. Plant saponins improve tissue blood circulation and skin tone.
Essential oils of herbs in cosmetics
Modern cosmetics often use herbal extracts containing concentrated doses of active substances.
Essential oils are of particular importance in skin and hair care. They penetrate completely into the dermis and enter the bloodstream, where they nourish tissues and stimulate cell renewal processes. As a result, the skin looks younger, and the hair is stronger and more elastic.
All oils, although to varying degrees, have disinfecting, bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties.
Caring properties of herbal cosmetics
Herbs for beauty can be used in many areas of cosmetics. They are part of creams, serums, hydrosols, tonics, balms, scrubs, shampoos and hair conditioners.
They can be divided according to their main purpose:
- for skin care: oily, dry, sensitive;
- for hair care: oily, dry, with dandruff;
- for toothpastes and oral waters;
- for foot care products;
- for sunscreens;
- for making baths.
They slow down the aging process of the skin, moisturize, tighten the skin, absorb UV radiation, whiten and eliminate age spots, soothe irritations, and stimulate blood circulation in the blood vessels. Often used in hair care products.
Preparations containing plant extracts are selected depending on the type of skin and the desired cosmetic effect that they want to achieve.
Herbs that are often used in cosmetics
Now more and more willingly use natural products in everyday body, hair and nail care, so you should know what herbs, what properties they have.
Note! Cosmetics based on plant extracts act on a specific problem. Herbal cosmetics based on chamomile, horsetail or rosemary can be found in many organic beauty products.
Chamomile is an anti-inflammatory and soothing agent for skin, especially sensitive and allergic. Promotes healing of burns and accelerates wound healing.
Horsetail thickens the walls of blood vessels, accelerates wound healing, strengthens hair and nails, and accelerates their natural growth.
Sage – has antiseptic and rejuvenating properties. It is widely used in cosmetics for acne prone skin. Slows down the process of hair loss, prevents the formation of dandruff.
Nettle tones and regenerates the skin, prevents the formation of dandruff, inhibits the process of hair loss.
Burdock soothes psoriatic and acne skin lesions, reduces seborrhea.
Calendula is an extremely valuable medicinal plant because it has anti-inflammatory, soothing, moisturizing, softening, regenerating and protective properties. Helps fight skin imperfections including pimples, blackheads, flaking and even stretch marks.
Mint refreshes and brightens the complexion, regulates the sebaceous glands, has an effect against dandruff and smoothes the hair.
Aloe soothes all types of skin irritations, has a strong moisturizing effect. Increases the penetration of other active substances.
Arnica strengthens and tones the walls of blood vessels, prevents their rupture, which helps to eliminate the so-called spider veins.
Lavender has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, normalizing and tonic properties. In addition, it accelerates skin regeneration and soothes skin irritations. The herb is recommended especially for oily and acne-prone skin.
Rosemary soothes inflammation, brightens the complexion, and stimulates hair follicles. It has a particularly positive effect on oily and acne-prone skin, as it has astringent and antiseptic properties.
Herbal extracts have a strong effect, and in a fairly short time of therapy, you can notice an excellent effect.
Cosmetics you can make at home
Herbs for the face in cosmetology can be used independently at home. Recipes for natural herbal cosmetics are extremely simple.
Herbal scrub
Choose a plant specifically for the needs of your skin, and regularly prepare fresh herbal cosmetics because they are more effective. Homemade herbal cosmetics should be used immediately.
Moisturizing mask with cucumber, honey and sage
Wash cucumber, peel and grate. Add a spoonful of honey, a spoonful of lemon juice and a spoonful of dried sage. Mix everything until smooth. Apply to cleansed face and hold for up to 20 minutes. After this time, gently wipe your face with a cotton pad and wash
Refreshing & Soothing Calendula Tonic
You will need about 200 ml of water, a quarter cup of dried marigold petals and a tablespoon of aloe vera juice (if you do not have aloe vera, you can use honey). Pour the petals with boiled water for 20 minutes. Strain the infusion and add aloe juice. Mix, and the tonic is ready. Recommended for dry and acne prone skin.
Thyme Anti-Acne Tonic
Thyme has a disinfecting, anti-inflammatory and cleansing effect on the skin, so it is included in many cosmetics designed to care for oily and acne-prone skin.
A quarter tablespoon of dried thyme pour 1/4 cup boiling water, leave for at least 15 minutes. When it cools down, moisten a cotton pad with the prepared tonic and wipe the face, preferably twice a day.
Moisturizing facial scrub with rose and lavender
A teaspoon of dried rose petals, a teaspoon of dried chamomile and a tablespoon of oatmeal are ground in a coffee grinder and ⅓ cup of olive or other vegetable oil is added. You can add a tablespoon of honey. Apply the prepared scrub on the face and make a small massage, avoiding the area around the eyes. Wash off with warm water after a few minutes. The skin will be cleansed, smoothed and visibly hydrated.
Herbal body scrub
In any oil (coconut or olive), add half a cup of coarse salt and ⅓ cup of herbs. If the herbs are fresh, grind them to extract valuable ingredients. You can enrich the scrub by adding ground coffee beans or oatmeal. Use sugar instead of salt.
Recipe example : add st. a spoonful of sugar and st. a spoonful of salt, st. a spoonful of dried lavender and dried mint. Refreshing salt and sugar scrub will perfectly cleanse and revitalize the skin, making it smooth and fresh.
Herbs help not only from the outside, but also from the inside. So, if you apply them internally and externally, you can find beauty, health and excellent appearance, as well as excellent condition of hair and nails.
