Herbs have been used for centuries for their medicinal, culinary, and aromatic properties. Herbs add flavor to your favorite dish, garnish chic cocktails and are often essential components of many over-the-counter medicines.
These medicinal herbs also serve a powerful purpose in skin care – they add fragrance, functional and healing elements to many of the beauty products that you use on a daily basis. Since herbs are such an important part of daily life in terms of both health and beauty, we've selected a few strains to explore in more detail.
Yellow sweet clover
Yellow sweet clover was used by Henry VIII, which led to the common name royal clover. The Tudor farmers hated this herb because it overgrown pastureland and ruined crops. Throughout history, this medicinal herb has been used topically for inflammation, ulcers, wounds, and rheumatism.
Yellow sweet clover is the main ingredient of our Yellow Sweet Clover Anti-Redness Masque. This herb, together with the stone harvest, reduces the appearance of red, dry skin and leaves your skin looking radiant, youthful and even. Thanks to jojoba oil and calendula, the mask also reduces the appearance of fine lines.
lavender
It is not without reason that lavender is found in a variety of tea and night care products. According to Elisa Kosonen, Best health magazine, "The oil in its pretty flowers gives the herb a fragrant fragrance that has a calming, calming and calming effect." In addition to its relaxing and sleep-promoting properties, lavender also has natural antiseptic properties and supports blood circulation and supports the natural healing functions of your body.
If you'd like to try our products with this fragrant herb, try our Lavender Age Corrective Concentrate and Lavender Night Eye Cream. In both products, lavender softens the complexion by replenishing moisture.
chamomile
Lavender isn't the only popular herb to help you get into a comfortable state of calm – chamomile is another go-to if you want to relax. In addition to its soothing properties, chamomile has regenerative, soothing, and repairing properties that make this daisy-like herb an extremely effective skin care product.
Recommended products that contain chamomile include Herbal Eye Makeup Remover, our Calming Chamomile Tonique, and our Calm Skin products – try our Calm Skin Starter Set.
A reviewer, Tracie K., said of the soothing Chamomile Tonique: “A wonderfully calming toner! I bought this chamomile (tonic) to use after the Yam & Pumpkin Enzyme Peel. I also often spray it over the Sun Defense Minerals. Its wonderfully calming scent is a welcome little splash at any time of the day! "
Echinacea
Echinacea is most commonly known as a popular cold and flu medicine, and has many other healing benefits that are worth taking advantage of. According to Best Health, “Many studies support echinacea as an aid to strengthen the immune system, reduce inflammation, and provide antiviral benefits. It is also particularly useful for relieving symptoms of upper respiratory infections, sore throats, and constipation. "
This floral medicinal herb also has the ability to boost the skin's natural immunity and protect it from environmental stressors. We recommend our certified Biodynamic® Echinacea Recovery Cream from our Beyond Organic collection, which helps prevent problem skin from occurring. Echinacea, yarrow, and evening primrose oils help repair the visible signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles. You can also enjoy our Apricot Calendula Nourishing Cream, which contains Echinacea. Its formula makes the skin appear soft and supple.
Comfrey
The roots and leaves of the comfrey are used in traditional medicine in many parts of the world. In Japan, the plant has been harvested and used as a traditional medicine for over 2,000 years. If you've got dry, devastated skin on your lips, our Eminence Organics Rose Hip and Lemongrass Lip Balm SPF 15 contains Comfrey and was named "Winner of Best Organic Lip Balm with SPF" in 2019 thanks to the Women's Health Editors Choice Awards is enriched with organic ingredients such as rose hip oil, extra virgin olive oil, lavender and comfrey to provide moisture and protect dry lips from harsh climates.
thyme
The thyme herb has more uses than a food spice. Thyme has antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. It is widely used as a preservative in food, cosmetics, and toiletries. As Healthline notes, there is some evidence from a UK study that thyme supplement fights pimples better than many popular anti-acne products.
peppermint
Peppermint is an antioxidant that relaxes mind, body and skin thanks to its cooling and refreshing scent. The mint herb is one of the oldest medicinal herbs used in European, Chinese and Japanese folk medicine and ointment. If you're looking for a relaxing aromatic product, the Vanilla Mint Hand Cream and Tea Tree & Mint Hand Cleanser contain both peppermint and aloe to soothe the skin. The inclusion of tea tree oil aloe and soothing chamomile will help even out the appearance of your skin.
rosemary
Last but not least, rosemary is another indispensable herb for your health and wellbeing. From relieving digestive problems to lowering blood pressure, this nettle-like herb is a powerful remedy. It also has anti-inflammatory and natural astringent properties that slow the skin's aging process by eliminating free radical damage.
Our Calm Skin products contain rosemary to rejuvenate and soothe the skin. Try the Calm Skin Starter Set, four products that come in a cosmetic bag made of woven synthetic leather with a bamboo zip. It contains the Calm Skin Chamomile Cleanser, Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer, Calm Skin Arnica Masque and Calm Skin Arnica Booster Serum.
Healthy skin is a reflection of what you put into your body from within. Medicinal herbs like lavender, chamomile, echinacea, and rosemary are just a few of the many natural ingredients you can incorporate into your diet (and skin care routine) for a healthy body and beautiful skin.
What are your favorite medicinal herbs? Tell us in the comments below.
This article was originally published in March 2015.