Herbs to improve the condition of the skin of the face and body have long been used in cosmetology. Today they are also actively used for both preventive and therapeutic purposes. If you choose the right herbal remedy for a specific problem and skin type, the effect can exceed the most modest expectations. Would you like to look younger than you are and radiate health in the truest sense of the word? Then this article is just right for you.
Main types of facial skin
If you know your skin type, it is much easier to achieve a rejuvenating and healing effect with the help of herbal remedies. Let's do a small dermatology educational program.
- NormalThe skin does not require serious care beyond the usual cleansing and moisturizing. This type is characterized by the absence of blackheads, greasy shine and a feeling of dryness and tightness. But prevention is never too much.
- DryThe skin is the most vulnerable and sensitive to temperature changes. The consequences of winter cold and summer heat are literally reflected on the faces of its owners. Very often a capillary network is clearly visible, which causes physiological and aesthetic problems.
- Fat. With this skin type, it is not necessary to cover your face with a scarf in winter. However, all imperfections in the form of enlarged pores and characteristic shine are visible to the naked eye. In addition, it is a real magnet for all kinds of rashes and inflammations.
- CombinedType is common among most people. Its characteristic feature is oily skin in the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) and normal skin in other areas.
- SensitiveSkin, like dry skin, is intolerant to the whims of the weather, is characterized by increased irritability and intolerance to the vast majority of cosmetics. Itching, peeling, feeling of tightness - that's all. Medicinal herbs that have a soothing and calming effect are the optimal means of eliminating these problems.
Benefits of herbs for skin
When using medicinal plants for cosmetic purposes, you can count on the following results:
- Saturating the skin with all the necessary nutrients.
- Deep cleansing and pore tightening.
- Normalizes the functioning of the sebaceous glands and helps to eliminate greasy shine for a long time.
- Elimination and prevention of inflammation, disinfection.
- Moisturizing, smoothing and brightening skin.
- Refreshing and toning effect.
Which dermatological diseases can be treated with medicinal herbs?
The above properties of phytotherapeutics help to cope with the following diseases, damage and age-related changes in the skin:
- Acne;
- dryness, irritation, peeling;
- greasy shine;
- blackheads, enlarged pores;
- sagging skin, wrinkles;
- dark circles under the eyes;
- Age spots (including freckles).
A complete list of herbs to care for different skin types
Since it was probably not difficult for you to determine your facial skin type, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the herbs that are suitable for its action.
| Skin type | Matching herbs |
|---|---|
| Normal | Nettle leaves, peppermint leaves, three-part herbal necklace, chamomile flowers, lime flowers, large plantain leaves |
| Dry | Nettle leaves, hop fruits, yarrow herb, marigold flowers, sage leaves, chamomile flowers, oregano herb, creeping thyme herb |
| Fat | Wormwood herb, chicory herb, yarrow herb, marigold flowers, coltsfoot leaves, St. John's wort herb, aloe leaf juice, silver birch leaves and buds, common oak bark, linden flowers, large plantain leaves, large burdock root, nettle leaves, butterbur root, peppermint leaves |
| Combined | Peppermint leaves, St. John's wort herb, sage leaves, horsetail herb |
| Sensitive | Marigold flowers, Salvia officinalis leaves, chamomile flowers, peppermint leaves, three-part herb string, lavender herb, linseed, tricolor violet herb, bearberry leaves |
The most beneficial herbs for the skin
As you can see, in the table above, some medicinal plants are mentioned multiple times, indicating their versatility. These herbs should be discussed in more detail.
Nettle
This pungent plant has long been used for cosmetic purposes for skin and hair care. It owes its unique properties to its rich chemical composition. This creates a pungent "cocktail" of nettle juice consisting of silicon salts, histamine, choline (vitamin B4) and formic acid stimulates microcirculation in the blood and improves skin nutrition. Vitamin A has a bactericidal effect and helps to quickly eliminate pimples, acne and irritation.
Vitamin C improves the elasticity of the skin and increases the tone of the capillaries that nourish it. Vitamin K has an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory effect and, in combination with a natural "bleaching agent", helps to remove freckles and other age spots. Carotene, which this plant is also rich in, gives the skin freshness and a healthy glow. The tandem of flavonoids, Tannins and organic acids help to smooth wrinkles and provide a visible rejuvenation effect. Finally, the bioavailable potassium contained in nettle ensures natural hydration of the skin.
pharmaceutical chamomile
This plant is characterized by being suitable for all skin types and having softening, anti-allergic, bactericidal, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and regenerating effects. The bioactive substances in chamomile stimulate blood circulation, relax the facial muscles and thus help to reduce wrinkles. Lotions made from the infusion of the flowers of this plant help with sunburn, allergies and acne, eliminate bags and dark circles under the eyes, accelerate the healing of wounds and microcracks and create an invisible protective film on the skin.
This herb is also excellent for cleansing facial skin. In addition, for both external and internal use. In the second option, it promotes the removal of toxins and fiber from the body that provoke dermatological disorders.
However, there is an important nuance: not every chamomile is a medicinal product. The real one should be bitter, which indicates the presence in its composition of a valuable essential oil component - chamazulene, which determines the lion's share of its beneficial properties. Observe!
Calendula officinalis
When talking about which herbs are most useful for facial care, one cannot help but mention this wonderful plant, better known to many as marigold. Thanks to its unique composition, it is ideal for oily, dry and sensitive skin at the same time. Oleanolic acid in the composition of marigold flowers improves blood supply to cells and tissues, glycosides provide anti-inflammatory properties, and the flavonoid complex provides antioxidant properties of the plant. The latter group of substances promotes, among other things, the accumulation of hyaluronic acid in the body, which is the key to natural skin moisture. Carotenoids, which give the flowering part of the marigold a rich orange color, are precursors of vitamin A, the important properties of which we have already discussed above.
The combination of these and a number of other bioactive substances moisturizes, soothes, softens, cleanses, protects and tones the skin, restores its structure at the cellular level, has a brightening and anti-aging effect, improves and gives complexiona healthy shine.
To maintain the natural beauty and elasticity of the body skin, warm medicinal baths with the addition of a decoction of marigold flowers and sea salt are suitable. And herbal treatments with hot water relieve itching of the skin, have a disinfecting and wound-healing effect, and help with dermatological diseases. At the same time, the essential oils released during bathing have a beneficial effect on the entire body, stimulating the immune system and improving mood.
Are you looking for a truly healthy and environmentally friendly skin care product? Then we advise you to pay attention to the Calendula variety Kalta, which is grown without the use of chemicals at a great distance from large cities and industrial plants. And what is also important: in terms of the content of useful substances (especially flavonoids and carotenoids), it is significantly superior to wild or cultivated analogues.
peppermint
Another incredibly beneficial herb for all skin types. In addition, everyone can easily name at least one of their properties. A complex of flavonoids, ascorbic acid and mint essential oil, rich in menthol, has a refreshing and toning effect, eliminating puffiness and dark circles under the eyes. Ramnose stimulates collagen production, helping to eliminate wrinkles and prevent new ones from forming. The rejuvenating effect is enhanced by the amino acid arginine, which is also contained in the plant. The tannins of mint are also very useful in the fight against age-related skin changes, while the resinous substances accelerate the healing of wounds and micro-tears.
Steam baths with mint are excellent for cleansing the deep layers of the skin, eliminating blackheads and rosacea networks (microvascular networks) and improving the complexion. In addition, based on this plant, you can make wonderful moisturizing, softening and whitening masks that have a visible effect after the first application.
As for the most valuable varieties of mint from a biological point of view, it is better to give preference to the "Kip" variety, as it is the leader in terms of the content of flavonoids and tannins.
Salvia officinalis
This plant deserves special mention as it is a source of phytoestrogens. It is known that a lack of sex hormones in women, which is most noticeable during menopause, negatively affects the health of the fair sex in general and the condition of the skin in particular. Taking sage alone or in combination with other herbs with similar properties helps reduce prolactin while increasing estrogen levels to optimal levels, which literally has a rejuvenating effect and returns women to a healthy and blooming appearance. Oral consumption of sage has been scientifically proven to inhibit the activity of enzymes associated with aging by 50%.
For those who think about old age too early, drinking sage is useful as a preventive measure. And as an external product, it is ideal for combination skin, tightens pores and permanently eliminates sebum in the T-zone. Decoctions, masks, scrubs and other cosmetic herbal products based on this plant have anti-inflammatory, soothing, bactericidal and wound-healing properties and help eliminate dermatological diseases and their pathogens.
Since one of the main values of sage is its unique essential oil, for medicinal purposes it is better to choose a product that has the maximum content of this component.
yarrow
If we talk about which herb is best for scalp care, then yarrow will be at least in the top three. Of particular interest in this case is its antiseborrheic property, or more simply, dandruff elimination. This is achieved due to the presence of essential oils in the plant, the components of which together have an antibacterial, cleansing, moisturizing and soothing effect.
At the same time, the complex of tannins, organic acids and the natural form of vitamin K ensures the anti-inflammatory, astringent and wound-healing effects of yarrow, relieves itching and flaking of the skin on the scalp and reduces the intensity of acne on the face and body.
Masks with yarrow perfectly cleanse, nourish and soothe the skin, making it fresher, smoother and softer. In addition, this effect is achieved after several procedures. You can rinse your hair with a decoction after washing, which will restore its structure.
For many this will be a discovery, but yarrow is also selected and grown, as a result of which the concentration of bioactive substances in it increases significantly. One of the varieties is characterized by a high content of flavonoids, saponins, tannins and essential oils.
Three-part sequence
It is difficult to name at least one disease or violation of skin integrity that this amazing plant would not help. A decoction of the herb, used externally as a lotion or bath, effectively combats dermatitis, allergic and acne rashes, psoriatic lesions, purulent wounds, urticaria, scrofula and seborrhea. Numerous reviews indicate that such procedures even help reduce warts.
In the form of a drink, this herb for the skin improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, normalizes metabolism, thereby helping to eliminate the root causes of dermatological problems. The series owes its unique properties to a whole complex of biologically active substances, including flavonoids, tannins, carotenoids, essential oil and vitamin C.
The plant is equally suitable for clean and sensitive skin. It is an integral part of various herbal preparations.
The best recipes for beauty and healthy skin based on medicinal herbs
We bring to your attention proven recipes for caring for different skin types based on the above herbs.
Herbal masks for normal skin
A small clarification: Apply the masks thinly to previously cleansed skin. Wash off with lukewarm water. If they are made with an oil/fat base then warmer but not hot. To achieve a uniform consistency, it is recommended to first grind the plant material in a coffee grinder before brewing.
Recipe number 1
Mix 1 tablespoon of crushed dry nettle leaves with an equal amount of warm milk and half a raw egg yolk. Mix until smooth and leave for 15-20 minutes.
Recipe number 2
Take 1 tablespoon each of chopped dry herbs and mint leaves. Pour 1 cup (150 ml) of boiling water over the herb mixture and let it steep under the lid for about half an hour. Once cooled, add 1 teaspoon of starch or any flour to increase consistency. Mix. Apply the mask for 30 minutes.
Herbal masks for oily skin
Recipe number 1
Take 1 tablespoon each of crushed dry plantain and mint leaves and brew them with 1 cup of boiling water. Once cooled, pour off excess liquid and add 1 tablespoon liquid honey. Apply the mask for 20 minutes.
Recipe number 2
Take 1 tablespoon of chopped dry St. John's wort and chamomile flowers, pour 1 glass of boiling water and leave over low heat for 10 minutes. Cool to a comfortable temperature, add a teaspoon of wheat or rice flour and stir until smooth. Leave the mask on your face until it is completely dry.
Recipe number 3
Cook 1 tablespoon of crushed, dry coltsfoot leaves over low heat for 10 minutes. Thicken the cooled broth with a teaspoon as in the previous recipe until a thick flour forms. Leave the warm mixture on the skin for 20-25 minutes. To achieve a long-term effect, the procedure should be carried out at least 2 times a week.
Herbal masks for dry and sensitive skin
Recipe number 1
Pour 1 tablespoon of crushed dry chamomile flowers into ½ cup of boiling water and let stand, covered, for 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool, pour off excess liquid, add 1 teaspoon honey and stir until smooth. Apply the mask for 15 minutes.
Recipe number 2
Take 1 tablespoon each of crushed dried chamomile, marigold and hop flowers. Brew the herb mixture with 1 cup of boiling water. Once cooled, pour off excess liquid, add 1 teaspoon full-fat sour cream and mix thoroughly until mushy. Apply the mask for 20 minutes.
Recipe number 3
Pour 2 tablespoons of chopped dry sage herb into 1 cup of boiling water. Allow to cool to +40 °C, pour off excess liquid, add ½ teaspoon of olive or sesame oil and stir until smooth. After applying such a mask, a warm and damp cotton napkin must be applied to the face. Keep the mixture for 25 minutes, rinse with warm water, and then wash with cold water.
Herbal masks for combination skin
Recipe number 1
Pour 3 tablespoons of crushed dry chamomile flowers into 200 ml of boiling water and let it brew. After cooling the infusion to a comfortable temperature, moisten a layer of cotton wool in it and apply the resulting mixture for 25 minutes, covering it with a napkin. After removing the mask, wash it with warm water and apply a nourishing cream to your face.
Recipe number 2
Pour 2 tablespoons chopped dry herb into 1 cup boiling water. Let rest for 1 hour, strain. Moisten a gauze cloth with the finished infusion and apply it to the face as a mask. Keep for about 20 minutes. Perform the procedure 2-3 times in the first week, then 1 time.
Herbal masks for skin elasticity and wrinkle smoothing
Recipe number 1
Mix 4 teaspoons of crushed dried chamomile flowers with an equal amount of full-fat kefir and 1 raw egg. Apply the resulting mass to your face for 20-25 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
Recipe number 2
Take 1 tablespoon each of crushed dry chamomile, mint, St. John's wort, coltsfoot and sage. Brew the resulting mixture with boiling water, close the container tightly and leave for 30 minutes. Then drain off the excess liquid and add 1 teaspoon of olive oil (if you have oily skin, use low-fat sour cream instead of oil). Spread the mixture evenly on your face and cover it with a cotton towel. Leave the mask on for 20 minutes.
Recipe number 3
Take 1 teaspoon each of crushed dry mint leaves and green tea and add 1 tablespoon of fat sour cream. Mix until smooth. Apply the mixture to your face for 40 minutes and then wash off with warm water and soap.
Healthy and beautiful skin starts from within
The listed herbs for cleansing, moisturizing or smoothing the skin can become your faithful helpers in maintaining youth and beauty for many years. However, without helping the body from the inside, cosmetic phytoprocedures are only half a thing.
The first thing that comes to mind in this case is taking vitamins. And that's absolutely fair, because it's simply impossible to get all the nutrients you need to keep yourself fit and in top shape through food. It would seem that the problem is not worth a damn - everything that our body lacks can easily be found in the pharmacy. It's just that all this vitamin and mineral wealth in synthetic form is extremely reluctant to absorb. In addition, many other important problems remain unresolved, which leads to deterioration of the skin and its premature aging.
Taking into account all the nuances expressed, the best option would be to take a natural complex. The first thing you should pay attention to when studying the composition of this drug is the antioxidant trio of flavonoids from the quercetin group + vitamins C and E. The fact is that all negative processes that occur in the human body are due to one or the otherother ways are linked to the activity of free radicals. It is scientifically proven that 90% of the signs of early aging and over 50 serious diseases are due to the conscience of these saboteur particles. Antioxidants are designed to neutralize their violent activity. The strongest of these in the plant world is the flavonoid of Siberian larch. And in combination with vitamins C and E, this substance is even safer and more effective. Among other things, it is an excellent vascular tonic and capillary protector and ensures uninterrupted nutrition of connective tissue - the basis of the organs and systems of our body. Ascorbic acid is also a catalyst for many biochemical processes. This promotes the formation of collagen fibers, which is also of great importance for strengthening the skin and increasing its elasticity.
The multivitamin part of the complex consists of only two components. But what a! About 250 useful substances are contained in the royal jelly contained in the preparation, and more than 100 more in bee pollen (flower pollen). This list contains 20 amino acids, including essential ones, about 30 macro and microelements, dozens of vitamins, free fatty acids and enzymes that help ensure that all of the above amino acids are absorbed in the best possible way. The icing on this nutritional cake are the hormone-like substances in royal jelly, which in particular ensure a natural increase in estrogen levels. And the latter, as we already know, are extremely important for preserving a woman's natural beauty and preserving youth.
However, men should not ignore the complex either. The combination of bee products in the drug promotes the production of your own testosterone - the hormone of strength, self-confidence and sexual activity. So everyone will definitely win. Stay healthy, the rest will follow!