If you care at all about skincare, you likely know the “dos” and “don’ts.” For example, you know retinol is great for stopping signs of aging, and you should avoid formaldehyde (a known carcinogen). But some less-talked-about ingredients in skincare are botanical extracts, although they should get more attention. Keep reading to discover why they are important and highly beneficial for your skin.
What Are Botanical Extracts?
Before we dive into why botanical extracts are important for your skin, let’s take a moment to discuss what botanical extracts actually are. Put simply, they are plant-based substances that are “extracted” from certain plants — hence the name. The extraction process ensures the active nutrient-rich components remain intact, ensuring potency in all of your beloved skin care products.
Eight Benefits of Botanical Extract for Your Skin
If you look at the best face moisturizer or cleanser you own, you’ll likely find it contains botanical extracts. There’s a reason for this: botanical extracts provide the following benefits for your skin.
1. Deep Hydrater
Whether you’re prone to dry skin or not, hydrating your skin is essential. Skin that’s adequately moisturized will be plump and healthy while combating the signs of aging — plus, you can also tackle other common issues such as redness and irritation.
Thanks to the intense hydration found in certain botanical extracts, such as chamomile and aloe vera, they’re an express lane to your most moisturized skin yet.
2. Thorough Cleanser
A product or ingredient that deeply hydrates won’t do you any good if it can’t penetrate the skin. Thankfully, botanical extracts like neem and eucalyptus act as natural exfoliators, ensuring you get a thorough cleanse with every use.
3. Oil Controller
At this point, those with dry skin are probably elated at the thought of adding botanical extracts to their daily regimen. But are they beneficial to those with oily skin types?
You bet!
Botanical extracts like green tea and rosemary can work wonders for you if you’re struggling with oily skin. Not only can they help cut down on the excess oil production you’re dealing with, but they can simultaneously minimize the look of pores.
4. Anti-Aging Powerhouse
Free radicals and aging go hand in hand. In a nutshell, free radicals are unstable molecules that damage the cells and cause the onset of premature aging, like fine lines and wrinkles. Not managing your stress is one of the surest ways to age prematurely, which is why extracts from plants like ginseng, Ashwagandha, and Aloe Vera can help combat the external signs of turmoil. In any case, free radicals are something most people want to avoid, and botanical extracts can help you get there. Extracts like those from rose and hibiscus work as free radical scavengers, ensuring you can fend off signs of aging and maintain a youthful glow.
5. Gateway to Radiance
Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought your skin appeared “dull?” Your eyes are not deceiving you. Dull skin is a real issue that can be caused by many different things, from diet to environmental factors and everything in between.
Rosehip seed, papaya, and seaweed extracts can help give your skin the radiant makeover it rightfully deserves. They can exfoliate dead skin cells while boosting hydration, immediately unmasking a more radiant appearance. They also work to improve your skin’s overall circulation and pack a powerful antioxidant punch with every use, ensuring a long-lasting glow.
6. Acne Fighter
Acne is a tricky thing to fight. It is typically caused by bacteria, triggering an inflammatory response. Because of this, you have to find something that can tackle both issues simultaneously. Plants help here, too — certain botanical extracts, like tea tree oil and witch hazel, contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which create an acne-fighting duo that won’t disappoint.
7. Complexion Balancer
Struggling with skin discoloration issues? Whether it’s age spots, dark circles, or other unsightly problems, botanical extracts may be able to help. Certain plant extracts inhibit the overproduction of an enzyme known as tyrosinase, which is responsible for causing a range of conditions that cause uneven skin tones.
The result?
Skin that’s even and glowing!
8. Gentle Enough For All Skin Types
We have all dealt with this problem: we walk into a store and find a product that sounds life-changing, only to become disappointed when we find out it won’t work with our skin type.
This brings us to the final reason why botanical extracts are so wonderful: they’re gentle enough for most skin types.
Unlike other harsher ingredients, botanical extracts can generally be used regardless of your skin type. So, whether you’ve got dry skin, oily skin, or land somewhere in between, you can safely use botanical extracts to achieve beautiful skin.
Botanical Extracts Are a Gateway to Beautiful Skin
To say that botanical extracts can do it all would be an understatement. Ideally, you should seek them out in all of your products. From hydrating to cleansing to halting the appearance of aging and acne in its tracks, botanical extracts are undeniably a powerhouse in the skincare community.
