Skin Care Info

Some Facts about Herbal Skin Care Products for Skin

There are dozens of medicinal herbs for skin conditions, of all kinds. But, the herbal skin care products that you see lining the shelves of drug and department stores don’t contain them. Manufacturers are allowed to use the terminology, without any sort of regulations concerning what they contain.  

Actually, in the US, a company could include medicinal herbs for skin, but they would not be able to tell you what the products were good for. An example is witch hazel. It has natural anti-inflammatory activity, which is beneficial for all sorts of conditions, including acne, psoriasis and eczema. But, US companies are not allowed to say that witch hazel can be used for those conditions.

That being said, most of the herbal skin care products in the US are simply called that because they have a plant-based fragrance. The fragrance could be due to a natural essential oil or created by any number of chemicals. In order to find out, you would need to read the label of ingredients.

The label of ingredients is the best source of information that the consumer has, but it isn’t always that easy to read. Some of the words seem to be written in a foreign language. While there aren’t many regulations concerning what qualifies as herbal skin care products, there are a number of regulations concerning the wording that is used on the label of ingredients. It is referred to as the International Nomenclature for Cosmetics and it is one of the few things that companies all over the world must adhere to.  

So, as consumers, we are advised to read the label of ingredients, but before we can make heads or tails of them, we have to learn which ingredients to look for, which ones to avoid and how the name will appear. There’s no way to cover all of them here, but there is room for a few examples.

One of the best medicinal herbs for skin problems of all kinds is Shea butter. Its official name is Butyrospermum Parkii. It has been shown to reduce age spots and wrinkles, while softening the complexion.

You might find herbal skin care products containing avocado extract or oils. The extract has been shown to stimulate the production of collagen and fade age spots, too. It’s called Persea Gratissima Oil.  

Another of the medicinal herbs for skin is maracuja, a special kind of passion flower. It contains a variety of different nutrients important to the skin’s health. On a label, it will be listed as Passiflora Incarnata or Passiflora Edulis.  

If you’re like most people, you want to do what’s best for your skin’s health. In order to do that, you need to buy the safest, most natural skincare products. Herbal skin care products might be safe and natural, but they might not. You won’t know until you read and evaluate the compounds included in the product. Hopefully, you’ll find some medicinal herbs for skin that fight aging. A night cream containing avocado and Shea butter is what I recommend.

Herbal acne home cures can be an effective adjunct to whatever other treatments are being used. It is important to understand that they are not hard and fast ‘cures’ in the absolute sense, but will instead support the body’s capacity to metabolize fats and carbohydrates, and encourage elimination through the lymphatic system.

The class of herbs known as alterative herbs are conceptualized traditionally as ‘cleansing’ the body’s tissues. They are thought of as detoxifying herbs, but they don’t work in any obvious way on the body’s elimination channels. – Namely, the lungs, kidneys, or colon. As such, they do not easily fit into a Western model of understanding the body. However, they do have a long tradition of use, and are certainly worth trying as an acne home remedy. Because they work on the internal condition of the body, they are not going to replace any of the topical, over the counter acne treatment. But they may provide benefit in an indirect way that these acne products don’t.

Alterative herbs tend to be quite gentle in their effect, so they are best used as a long term treatment. Results won’t be sudden, but they will improve the general health of the body. They tend to be given for chronic inflammatory problems, especially relating to the skin, such as acne.

These herbs include burdock, cleavers, red clover, figwort, poke root, echinacea, and blue flag. A great combination is blue flag, burdock, yellow dock, and echinacea. These can be mixed together and infused with hot water to make a tea. Drink a cup of this 3 times a day. You can put a little honey in it to make it taste better.

Another possible combination is burdock, dandelion, and sarsaparilla (not the cola!). Mix these together when they are dry herbs, and make a tea in the same way. They can be used separately as well.

There are a number of options for topical acne home remedies as well. Tea tree oil can be applied directly to breakouts, though for those with sensitive skin this may need to be diluted. Fresh cabbage juice can also be applied directly to acne blemishes,and this may be a better option for those with sensitive skin.

An anti inflammatory skin wash can be made from calendula and chamomile. Make a tea as above, then let it cool and keep it in the fridge. Spray or dab this onto the affected areas regularly.

Another combination for an acne home cure skin wash is yarrow, elder flowers, and lavender.

Colloidal minerals such as potassium phosphate and magnesium phosphate can help support the skin. Zinc is excellent to help prevent scarring, as well as fortifying the immune system, and help supports the normal functioning of hormones.

Vitamin C is excellent for encouraging the healing of acne lesions, as well as providing antioxidant support to the immune system.

Essential oils and herbs offer so many benefits in your skin care regime.  Below are common essential oils and herbs commonly found in skin care products:

Almond and Almond Oil – A great vegetable oil for dry skin.  Commonly used as a carrier oil to blend with other essentials oils.  Easily absorbed into the skin and is an excellent emollient with nourishing properties.  Safety Precautions:  People with nut allergies should avoid almonds and almond oil.

Jojoba –.Jojoba oil makes a great scalp cleanser and hair conditioner.  Additionally, because of its absorption properties it is commonly used in skin care propducts as a cleaning agent, makeup remover and moisturizer…  It has a great effect on fighting wrinkles, as well as having an anti-bacterial effect on the skin.  Jojoba oil can be used as base carrier oil into which other essential oils can be diluted before applying it to the skin. Safety Precautions: No reports of toxicity

Aloe Vera – Aloe is used externally for skin irritation, burns, sunburn, wounds, eczema, psoriasis, acne, and dermatitis.  Aloe Vera has good astringent qualities.  When used with other ingredients it soothes the skin and stimulates cell regeneration. The oil is combined in massage therapy for its healing and rejuvenating properties. Safety Precautions: When used topically, some individuals may have an allergic reaction and a skin patch test (behind the ear or on the forearm) is advised before use.

Anise – Cooled down tea made from anise can be sponged on the face to help lighten the complexion.   Safety Precautions: On the whole, anise is a safe herb to use but due to its trans-anethole estrogen-like action, it may be best avoided during pregnancy or when suffering from endometriosis or any estrogen dependant cancers.

Avocado – Moisturizes, reduces appearance of age spots, heals sun damage and scars.  Additionally, avocado regenerates and rejuvenates the skin. Avocado increases collagen in the skin and therefore is an anti-aging ingredient in skin care.  Avocado oil has superior moisturizing qualities.  

Carrot – A superb skin-nourishing essential oil, carrot seed helps balance both oily and dry complexions, heals damaged skin, and helps aged skin by reducing age spots and wrinkles. Safety Precautions: Carrot seeds and carrot seed oil should not be used excessively during pregnancy.

Chamomile – Tones all types of complexions. The anti-inflammatory effect of this essential oil applied topically improves skin regeneration, and a cold compress does wonders for puffy eyes. Chamomile is used in facial steams to reduce puffiness and cleanse the pores of the skin. Safety Precautions: Handling fresh chamomile plants may cause dermatitis in some individuals. It should not to be used when using anti-coagulant drugs. Please note that the essential oil is said to stimulate the uterus and should be used with care in pregnancy. Allergic reactions may occur for those that are allergic to daisies.

Green Tea – has an antioxidant effect that helps to keep wrinkles at bay.  External use: Green tea is often included in anti-aging skin care products for the antioxidant properties contained in the herb.  Green tea is a powerful antioxidant, a potent anti-inflammatory agent thereby reducing inflammation in the skin, and having a inhibitory action on collagens – an enzymatic action in the skin where the collagen is broken down, resulting in more firm and elastic skin.  In hair care, it can be used with great success to improve the gloss and shine of the hair.   Safety Precautions: When pregnant or nursing only limited amounts of green tea should be used, and it can also interfere with MAO inhibitors and blood thinning medication.  It should not be consumed together with other medication, as it may interfere with the absorption of such medicine.

Geranium – Wonderful oil for mature and troubled skin and brings a radiant glow and promotes circulation. Safety Precautions: Geranium essential oil is well tolerated by most individuals, but since it helps in balancing the hormonal system, care must be taken during pregnancy.

Ginseng – Ginseng is used in cosmetics for its rejuvenating properties. The vast amount of properties gives Ginseng an almost unlimited use in cosmetics. Its activity makes it useful in nourishing creams, in treating wrinkled and aged skin and in all cosmetic products used to retard the onset of age.  Ginseng may be used in products for weak hair and lotions for preventing hair loss as it stimulates growth and gives strength.  Safety Precautions: May worsen the side effects of stimulants such as coffee, and should best be avoided when consuming alcohol.  Not normally used by pregnant women and is not indicated for use by young children, people suffering from depression, high blood pressure, anxiety or any acute inflammatory disease.  Excess may cause headaches, restlessness, high blood pressure, and nausea.

Honey – Refines pores; tightens skin; moisturizes; retards wrinkles; anti-blemish

Jasmine – On the skin, it is used with great effect to treat dry, stressed and sensitive skins and also helps to increase elasticity. Safety Precautions: Although well tolerated, this heavy scented essential oil should be used sparingly, and specially so during pregnancy.

Lanolin – Moisturizer; softener; emollient

Lavender – Lavender skin care products are ideal for oily and combination skin. It has antiseptic and stimulant properties.  Lavender is useful in treating skin conditions such as abscesses, acne, allergies, athlete’s foot, boils, bruises, burns, dandruff, dermatitis, earache, eczema, inflammations, insect bites and stings, insect repellant, lice, psoriasis, ringworm, scabies, sores, spots, all skin types, sunburn and wounds. Safety Precautions: Although the essential oil is well tolerated by all skin types, it must be, like all essential oils, used with care – remember essential oils are powerful and very concentrated.

Mud – (including clay, fuller’s earth) reduced large pores; absorb excess grease in oily skin; improves circulation. Safety Precautions: No Toxicity Reported

Nuts – (almonds, cashews, pecans): Scrub to refine pores, combat wrinkles, blackheads and dryness 

Oats – Excellent emollient properties.  Oats have a softening effect on sensitive skin. It helps to reduce the irritation caused on the skin by harsh climatic conditions or on skin with this kind of problem. It plays an important role in the treatment of older skin as well as problem skin.  Safety Precautions: No Toxicity Reported

Patchouli – It can be used for inflamed and itching skin.  The oil promotes cell rejuvenation, tightening of loose skin and heals wounds and sores, while sorting out rough, cracked skin.  Safety Precautions:  The essential oil of patchouli is well tolerated, but its heavy fragrance indicates use in low dosage.

Rose – Astringent and luxurious, rose oils and rose waters are welcome additions to almost any skin care formulation   has an astringent effect on oily skin, reducing puffiness, edema and has a slight tightening effect. The oil most effective for moisturizing and hydrating the skin while having a general stimulant and antiseptic action which is good for all skin types, but especially so for dry, mature and irritated skin. It is used to repair broken capillaries, inflammation, as well as skin redness and is useful in eczema  Safety Precautions: None noted.

Rosemary – Antioxidant properties, and secondly has a remarkable stimulating effect on the skin.  Traditionally used for hair and scalp stimulation, as well as anti-aging products.  Safety Precautions: Rosemary essential oil has a highly stimulating action and may not be suitable for people with epilepsy or high blood pressure. The essential oil should also not be used during pregnancy.

Seaweed – very good cellulite reducing capabilities All seaweeds are rich in compounds that are of specific use in the cosmetic industry 

Yogurt – Cleanser; bleach; for normal and oily skin 

As with any new skin care or hair product, a patch test is recommended.

For skin care recipes, visit Complete Skin Care Therapy

Some people may consider herbal acne treatment only as a secondary measure in eliminating unwanted zits and skin blemishes. What they may not know is that so many commercial products available in the market today contain at least one herbal ingredient. Herbal acne treatment has proven through the years to be a very effective and cheap approach in keeping your skin looking radiant, fresh and beautiful.

A lot of citrus fruits contain antioxidants which help prevent skin damage and pimples. Great examples of these would be lemons and oranges. You may choose to dilute the juice of the products in warm water then directly dab the mixture on affected areas. Allow the concoction to treat the skin pores for 3 to 5 minutes then rinse with clean water afterwards.

Garlic is a proven antibacterial that you can directly rub raw on your face. A lot of hard-to-remove skin problems have successfully been treated with garlic such as boils, pimples and spots. Ingestion of citrus fruits and garlic will help cleanse the blood to prevent acne.

Another effective herbal acne treatment includes fenugreek. You can make paste out of fenugreek leaves, which you can apply on your face every night. Leave the paste on overnight then wash off with warm water the next day. Grated cucumber placed over the face and neck for 15 to 20 minutes can prevent blackheads and pimples. Other notable useful herbs for your skin are green tea, tea tree oil, lavender and golden seal. These contain anti-microbial properties that help stop and prevent infection.

Aside from herbal acne treatments, make sure you take enough vitamins and minerals to keep your skin healthy. Vitamin A and niacin have been found to effectively treat acne as well as zinc. You may take vitamin supplements of about 100 mg 2 to 3 times daily.

Skin care is not a new topic; it has been around since ancient times, when herbal skin care was probably the only way to take care of skin. However, modern skin care has transformed in a big way. Traditional herbal skin care routines have been replaced by synthetic/chemical-based skin care regimens. The herbal skin care recipes which once used to be common place are in disuse today, and even unknown to the mainstream population.

The transformation from herbal skin care to synthetic can be attributed to three things – our laziness the fast pace of modern life, and the commercialisation of skin care. Even herbal skin care products have been commercialised. Commercial herbal skin care products are mixed with preservatives in order to increase their shelf-life, hence making them less effective than fresh mxtures made at home. However, things change fast and now more people are opting for natural and herbal skin care routines. But still, none want to make them at home and hence the commercial market of herbal skin care products is on the rise.

So what are the herbs of herbal skin care?

Aloe vera, which is an extract from Aloe plant, is one of the best examples of herbal skin care product. Freshly extracted aloe vera is a natural hydrating agent that helps in soothing skin. It also helps in healing cuts and treating sun burns.

A number of herbs are known to possess cleansing properties. Dandelion, chamomile, lime flowers and rosemary herbs, are a few examples of such cleansers. Their herbal skin care properties get invoked when they are combined with other herbs like tea.

Antiseptics are another important part of Herbal skin care. Lavender, marigold, thyme and fennel are good examples of herbs that are known to possess antiseptic properties. Lavender water and rose water also form good toners.

Tea plays an important part in herbal skin care. Tea extracts are used for treatment of skin that has been damaged by UV radiation.

Oils prepared from herbal extracts present another means of herbal skin care. Tea tree oil, Lavender oil, borage oil and primrose oil are some popular oils used in herbal skin care. Some fruit oils (e.g. extracts from fruits like banana, apple and melon) find use in shower gels (as a hydrating mix)

Herbal skin care is good not only for the routine nourishing of skin but also for treatment of skin disorders like eczema and psorasis. Most herbal skin care products don’t have any side effects (the most important reason for preferring them over synthetic products) Moreover, herbal skin care products can be easily made at home, hence making them even more attractive.

So you can see why herbal skin care is the way to go. However, this does not mean that you totally discard synthetic products. The fact is that some skin orders call for the usage of clinically proven non-herbal skin care products and medications.

Herbs have been used for a wide variety of health care remedies since the beginning of time. Using elements that occur naturally can effectively treat acne and other skin conditions. Herbal skin care is affordable, accessible and less like to cause skin irritation and sensitivity than traditional medications. When certain herbs are applied to your skin topically, they can be a healthy alternative solution to prescription medications.

Eucalyptus: This essential oil comes from the eucalyptus tree, which is one of the tallest known trees in the world and can be found in Australia, Africa, North America, India and Southern Europe. Eucalyptus is the most powerful antiseptic in its class and has outstanding astringent qualities, which aid in the treatment of acne-prone skin.

Papaya Enzyme: The papaya is a tropical fruit that has a nutrient-rich enzyme called papin. This enzyme is used to dissolve unwanted proteins and other dead materials on the surface of your skin. The papaya enzyme works to open pores, exfoliate, promote the turnover of skin cells, soften and smooth skin and improve your overall skin tone.

Sage: This silvery-green plant has fragrant leaves and is found growing in the Mediterranean and North America. Sage oil contains chemical substances and other constituents, such as as camphor, cineole, rosmarinic acid, tannins and others. The substances found in sage oil have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral effects, which make it an outstanding medicinal skin treatment.

Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is obtained from the leaves of the native Australian Melaleuca alternifolia tree. This oil has natural antibacterial qualities, contains antiseptic compounds and is proven to be a very good skin disinfectant. When used to treat acne, it is just as effective as 5% benzoyl peroxide and less drying. However, the results of treatment with tea tree oil take just a little bit longer to see than with benzoyl peroxide.

Thyme: Thyme is the general name for herbs of the Thymus species, which are native to the western Mediterranean region. The essential thyme oil is located in the small glands on the leaves and contains thymol, linalol and paracymene. Thyme is effective in treating acne-prone skin because of its multiple actions, including antibacterial, antioxidant, antiseptic and astringent.

Witch Hazel: Witch hazel is the common name for a genus of shrubs known as Hamamelis and is rich in natural astringents such as volatile oils and tannins. Witch hazel has antiseptic capabilities that tone the skin and blood vessels, as well as draw out clogged pores.

Exploring holistic remedies can give you clearer, more healthy skin. Incorporating herbal skin care products with natural ingredients into your daily skin care regimen will improve your skin’s overall appearance over time.