By Rayanna Boodram
If you go to any beauty counter, it is guaranteed that you will find rows of skincare products featuring plant-based extracts. There are two key messages at play in the world of high-end beauty: Plants can heal us from the outside and inside and the mystique created around botanical extracts. I am positive that the ladies in every family share their own natural beauty tips! In my family, these were passed down from our grandmother. This article we will explore the top three plants that are widely used in the cosmetic industry and how you can create some of these on your own!
In the world of beauty, rose water has been in use for this purpose for thousands of years. Water derived from the rose plant is a strong anti-inflammatory agent and can solve itching from eczema, reduce skin redness and puffiness under the eyes and can even out skin tone. The petals contain antioxidants useful for tissue restoration, making it a huge assist in hair growth. Those characteristics, along with the plant’s antiseptic abilities, allow rose water and rose oil to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and heal scars faster. Another benefit of rose water is that it makes for a great, natural toner when it comes to make-up application. Topical use of this results in softer, cleaner skin. Making rose water is actually a very hassle-free process if you follow the below steps:
The aloe vera plant has been well-known for the soothing of burns from the sun or accidental kitchen mishaps but it also has other tremendous, cosmetic uses. High in antioxidants, healthy enzymes and many vitamins, the anti-inflammatory properties of this plant can be used to also treat superficial acne and dried out skin. While the enzymes in it make it great for exfoliation and moisturising, over-use can result in skin that is too oily or too dry so, as with everything, use in moderation.
This plant is also quite useful for treating issues of dry scalp and dandruff by applying the gel to your hair. Aloe vera has recently been gaining huge attention for its benefit to noticeable and healthy hair growth, especially for individuals with curlier hair. It is quite easy to achieve the benefits of aloe vera by making your own multipurpose gel at home by following the below steps:
The fragrant herb, rosemary, has been famous for its health benefits and its aromatic contribution to food, also has many beauty benefits. Firstly, rosemary oil can be used to treat hair loss, especially in men. Baldness and beard patching can be reduced with this plant. It is high in Vitamin Bs that stimulate cell and tissue repair. These same properties and the antioxidants in it, make it useful in increasing the elasticity of the skin, making it less prone to wrinkling and age spots.
This makes rosemary a great preservative, not just for food, but for your skin as it is anti-microbial. Being a natural antiseptic, rosemary oil serves an effective astringent, therefore adding combating acne and rashes to its list of various uses. Rosemary oil can be prepped at home in many ways but this method allows for the longest shelf life of one year:
Please note that if you have any allergies to these, however, if you are in the clear, I hope you give these a try!
Send questions to rayannaboodram@hotmail.com.