Natural skincare is growing rapidly, thanks to the concern about what we put on and in our bodies as well as the humane concern about how these skincare products are made and tested. But the fact remains that even herbal products contain some amount of chemicals. The best way is to make your skincare products at home. And given nature’s wonderful variety, finding a herbal solution for your dry skin problems is quite easy.
Here is a list of 5 best herbs that moisturize dry skin and even heal most skin disorders.
1. Chamomile
Chamomile is a very soothing herb, an excellent emollient and heals inflamed skin, burns, wounds, rashes, acne, stings, bruises and sores. Topical application and ingestion in the form of tea can both be beneficial.
According to the Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, chamomile’s flavonoids and essential oils have a significant anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy activity, and can also help in the treatment of skin conditions such as psoriasis. According to a study by L. Bauman published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology in 2007, chamomile can improve the texture and elasticity of the skin, as well as reducing signs of photoaging.
Great For: Use chamomile tea as a face wash, foot soak or as a conditioner to highlight blonde hair.
2. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera has six antiseptic agents (sulphur, lupeol, salicylic acid, cinnamic acid, urea nitrogen and phenol), which provide antimicrobial activity. Researchers have found aloe vera applied to the skin has the ability to penetrate the skin’s layers and reach the deepest body tissues.
You can apply the gel straight from the leaf to the burns and scalds, insect bites and stings and it’s especially soothing for sunburn. Burn clinics have found that aloe vera is 50% more effective for burn treatment than other remedies. It can halt building when applied to wounds, and the antibacterial action of aloe stops inflammation.
Great For: Men can use the gel from an aloe leaf as an after-shave lotion and for a quick and soothing treatment for razor cuts.
3. Calendula
Calendula is regarded as one of the safest and most effective herbs for skin. It is wonderfully healing for chapped, irritated and inflamed skin, rashes, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, age spots, stretch marks, varicose veins, corns, warts and most other skin disorders.
The oil soluble components in calendula including the essential oil are extremely good at stimulating wound healing. The petals of calendula are antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and immune stimulating. Its healing properties come from its high levels of carotenoids.
Great For: Distillate of calendula can help soothe mouth sores and hemorrhoids.
4. Horsetail
Horsetail has astringent qualities which help firm up the skin. It helps eliminate excess oil from the skin and is effective in the treatment of acne or oily scalp. Horsetail has a very high silica content, a constituent of collagen.
Collagen keeps skin youthful and supple, so horsetail is one of the important anti-aging herbs for skin, and can help with thinning hair, sagging or rough skin, wrinkles, and premature aging. Its words to bind blood vessels together, so skin stays evenly textured, and it also has antibacterial properties.
Great For: Add it to your homemade moisturizer to make it an instant anti-aging cream!
5. Peppermint
Peppermint is a “thermoreceptor,” which means the menthol in it has a cooling effect on the skin. This cold sensation occurs because the nerve cells sense the cold without actually changing the temperature. This is similar to how the capsaicin in pepper causes the heat in a chilli pepper to burn your tongue. Menthol calms the heat of inflamed joints and sore muscles.
Peppermint essential oil can be used to deter insects — crush the leaves onto your skin to deter flies, mites and mosquitoes. It can also alleviate bites, stings, burns and scalds, and best has a sublimely uplifting aroma, which can enhance memory and alertness.
Great For: Peppermint nourishes dull skin and helps balance out oily skin.
