Stories are told through our faces. Every memory, joy, sorrow, or challenge has been filtered through our body’s largest organ – the skin. Our experiences, heartbreaks and all the hard work we’ve endured show up as lines, freckles, or coloration in the beauty of our innate features. While our modern world tells us to cover up lines or inject or mold our way to younger, smoother-looking facades, nature begs us to use the healing tools already available – not to change, but rather soothe, nourish, and naturally beautify the skin that echoes our ancestors.
As we strike that delicate balance between celebrating what we’re born with and enhancing our natural beauty, we highlight the top three top herbs for skin as well as our three top oil picks that help bring out our true radiance, joy, and truth that shines from within – all while helping soothe, smooth, and nourish the skin.
Meet the Herbs for Skin: A Trio for Supple Skin
One herb is powerful, but three create alchemy to transform your innate beauty from the inside-out. Let us introduce you to the vital skincare herbal trio: yarrow, plantain, and calendula, which are found in our products and make incredible herbs for skin health.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow, this white fern-like flower can be found scattered around your nearby river or forest and is native in the Northern Hemisphere (North America, Europe, and Asia). Legend has it that yarrow got its name from Achilles, a Greek mortal hero who used the plant to stop the bleeding in his wounded soldiers, and has been relied on for centuries around the globe for a wide variety of ailments. Containing flavonoids to ease redness, it also has moisturizing properties to soothe and nourish skin.
Plantain (Plantago spp.):
In traditional uses, the plantain leaves (not to be confused with the fruit, which are an entirely different plant), were crushed and chewed to be used topically on wounds. Originally hailing from Europe and Asia, plantain is now found across the world and in North America. It helps ease dry, irritated skin while soothing minor burns and insect bites. It may also have astringent properties to help tighten pores and balance oil production.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Calendula’s golden, orange flowers reflect the vitality of the sun. Native to the Mediterranean and now growing worldwide, calendula is a top choice of herbs for skin for herbalists everywhere: it has powerful digestive properties as well as calming and soothing assets for your skin. Pacifying minor wounds, bruises, burns, and stings, this golden plant also contains a high amount of flavonoids (plant-based antioxidants that protect cells from free radicals*). Not only is it great for your skin, its golden hue warms the spirit.
Meet the Oils for Skin: A Radiant Trio
People have been using oils for health and beauty around the world for centuries. In our modern era, moisturizers and creams have been leading the skincare show for a while, and although they have the right intentions, many of them are laden with harsh chemicals and water, which can lead to skin dehydration or disruption. Oils, the purest form of hydration, have been used since time immemorial and come straight from the source (with only one ingredient - oil). Their deeply penetrative effect moisturizes and nourishes your skin in all its layers.
Here, we introduce the powerhouses of three different oils for your skin: sesame, sunflower, and jojoba.
Sesame (sesamum indicum)
Ayurveda enthusiasts know all about sesame oil. Ayurveda, an ancient practice from India meaning “the science/wisdom of life,” reveres sesame oil as the “king of oils” for its thick, warming, and grounding properties that pacify vata dosha (aka, too much air in the body and mind). Growing in tropical climates, sesame has a propensity to act as a barrier against harsh conditions and also helps nourish the skin, especially in the dryer winter months.
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Another sun-flavoring plant, sunflower oil is a wonderful solution for the skin with its beneficial Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids. It helps to soothe wounds, protects the skin from the sun, may shield the skin from damage caused by free radicals and has a skin-barrier effect while calming irritation, contributing to hydrated, supple skin. This is for those who love the sun, or want a warming, glowing effect.
Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis)
You’ve likely seen jojoba oil in some of your products, but have you gotten to actually know the plant? The jojoba shrub is native to the southwest United States, the oil coming from the nut itself. It boasts cleansing and antioxidant properties and contains Vitamin E and other essential minerals to hydrate your skin and support its elasticity. Mimicking your skin’s natural sebum, jojoba oil provides long-lasting hydration without clogging pores.
Any kind of oil acts as a carrier for the powerful effects herbs provide, but when you use skin-satiating oils, you receive twice the benefit to achieve supple, glowing skin that comes straight from the earth. That’s why we infuse our oils with skin-supporting herbs with the skincare trio: yarrow, plantain, and calendula. Herbal body oiling and using herbs for the skin is a great way to connect to nature’s healing power to restore your natural beauty. Check out our Herbal Infused Body Oil and Everything Salve for everyday skin nourishment.
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*For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
