26 Best ultimate skin care plant extracts and natural oils.

What is it about plants that makes them so amazing for skin care and well-being?

Besides the fact that plants are natural and offer vital nutrients, vitamins, minerals and nourishment to both inside and outside our bodies, it's no coincidence that we infuse all of the powerful extracts listed below into our entire skin care and cosmetic line. Do you know their origins? Some are well known while others are a bit of a mystery.

Aromatherapy has been around for centuries offering healing for physical, mental and emotional well-being and health through essential oils and holistic herbs and plants, so some of these remedies are ancient. Each year more people are formulating their own homemade, clean and pure spa products for various reasons, mainly health and purity.

These essential oils and plant extracts offer not only dynamic and comprehensive anti-oxidants but can aid considerably in anti-aging, elasticity, hydration, healing of scars and problem skin like acne, psoriasis and eczema, they also contain anti-inflammatory properties, protect skin from free radicals of the environment, protect against harsh hot and cold weather, regulate the PH balance of the skin, support collagen production and epidermis regeneration so you can ultimately look and feel your most beautiful.

Let's look at a brief overview of the key powerful properties that these natural plant extracts and oils offer, keeping in mind what a huge difference they can make in your skin care routine if used on a regular basis. They all have many important properties in common. Most of these can be beneficial for face, body and hair.

In no particular order of importance or potency:

1. Coconut oil - powerfully vitamin E and iron enriched,  this ancient oil heals skin conditions/wounds, reduces inflammation, provides hydration, is anti-bacterial, provides nourishment and rejuvenation. This potent all-rounder can be used on all areas of the body for massage, face, scalp and hair nourishment and repair. An ancient oil with old origins and a high fat content.
2. Green tea - from tea leaves and buds, this antioxidant rich oil heals problem skin, protects against cancers, reduces dark circles and puffy eyes, acts as a skin toner that reduces pore size and provides sun damage protection. A potent skin rejuvenator rich in nutrients and anti-bacterial properties to help inflammation and reduce fine lines.
3. Olive oil - high vitamin and rich in anti-oxidants, heals wounds, scars and super hydration properties for wrinkles and dryness as well as antibacterial properties.
4. Hyaluronic acid - creates a plumping effect for the skin and reduces fine lines and visible wrinkles as it penetrates the deeper layers of the skin. Derived from fruits, vegetables and leafy greens but also found naturally in the body, this potent serum has anti-aging and healing properties as well as super hydration working at a deeper cellular level. It speeds up healing, prevents breakouts and holds moisture.
   
5. Shea butter - The African shea tree produces nuts that create shea butter. It's powerful properties balance the oils in the skin, rich in vitamins A, E and F locking in moisture and being anti-oxidant rich, it promotes skin growth, healing and circulation, treats problem skin and reduces scars and stretch marks.
6. Avocado oil - deep moisturization and skin regeneration, full of rich anti-oxidants and vitamins to help with problem skin like acne, eczema, psoriasis and speeds wound and scar healing. 
7. Turmeric root - brightens the skin and helps with skin pigmentations, has antiseptic and antibacterial properties and aids with problem skin, fine lines and rich anti-aging antioxidants. Used for hundreds of years as a natural beauty remedy in many cultures.
8. Lavender oil - not only does the scent help calm and relax the mind and calm stress and anxiety, the oil aids in breakouts, infections and problem skin with its antibacterial properties and its soothing nature helps with sleep.
9. Eucalyptus oil - This flowering tree produces an almost minty scented soothing oil that aids in blood circulation and opening nasal and chest passages when congested, it also helps with achy muscles and infections, bites and wounds due to its antibacterial properties. An all rounder for skin and hair health.
10. Rosewood oil - Extracted from the wood of a South American rosewood tree, this oil also offers antibacterial properties, calms, soothes and disinfects, is rich in antioxidants and aids in healing and blood circulation.
11. Sandalwood oil - Extracted from the wood of the East Indian sandalwood tree, like eucalyptus and tea tree oil, this oil aids in minimizing body odor. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties as well as soothing and calming.
12. Chamomile extract - This daisy-like plant produces tea that aids in calming, relaxing and helping with sleep, but did you know that the extract is rich in antioxidants to aid in anti-aging and healing, calms irritations and improves the skin's health and overall glow?
13. Calendula - This flower is part of the daisy family and offers potent wound healing properties as well as aid in problem skin like acne, eczema and psoriasis. It brightens skin and carries anti-inflammatory properties as well as soothing burns, bites and irritations.
14. Cucumber - is mostly water and adds hydration and cooling to the skin. Puffy, dark circles or irritated eyes or skin can be soothed and swelling reduced through anti-oxidant properties. Acne prone, damaged or sunburnt skin does well when cucumber is applied regularly. Create a full mask of cucumber to act as a natural toner and healer. 
15. Aloe Vera - is mostly water too and a succulent plant with so many incredibly powerful uses as a restorative, healer and hydrator. Helping with irritations, burns, problem skin, a natural disinfectant to help with cuts and abrasions, filled with anti-oxidants to fade dark spots and brighten skin and rich in vitamins E and C.
16. Tea tree oil - from the leaves of the tea tree, like aloe vera it has multiple uses for overall skin and hair health and has a beautiful minty smell. An anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, problem prone skin like acne, psoriasis and eczema can be vastly helped with soothing the irritation and any dry patches, redness and swelling. Acting as an insect repellent too it is best to always mix it with another oil such as coconut oil, olive oil or sweet almond oil like our tea tree oil gel does to help with bites and stings. Like Eucalyptus oil and sandalwood oil, tea tree oil greatly diminishes body odor. 
17. Sweet Almond oil - extracted from the almond nut, this oil is beautiful for many reasons mainly to help brighten the skin's complexion with its hydrating properties and working at cell recovery from stresses and sun damage. This oil helps with both oily and dry, chapped skin.
18. Jojoba oil - from the seed of the Jojoba plant, this oil aids with healing of problem skin, is lightweight like most of the oils mentioned here and non-greasy. It penetrates easily and moisturizes at a deeper level while balancing the PH levels of both skin and hair. It's noncomedogenic properties don't allow for clogged pores and create a lovely layer on your skin due to its waxy nature.
    
19. Witch hazel - from the bark or leaves of the Witch hazel tree, this antioxidant rich liquid is a natural anti-septic for swelling, irritation and inflammation and can act as a natural toner to tighten pores and improve skin tone. Helping with puffy eyes, general irritated and problem skin by soothing and removing excess oil build up.
    
20. Resveratrol - is an antioxidant found in all berries, peanuts, dark chocolate and in grapes and therefore can be found in red wine. Several health benefits are attributed to this potent antioxidant including cell regeneration, keeping the skin healthier at a cellular level therefore providing anti-aging properties against wrinkles, fine lines, moles and stretch marks. It also protects against sun damage, hydrates and reduces redness and irritation.
21. Peppermint oil - originating from leaves of a herb found around the world, this delightfully fresh menthol scented oil provides relief against irritations through soothing vitamins C and A. Added nourishment of minerals omega 3 fatty acids and iron to name a few help with problem skin like acne and protect against sun damage. A natural antiseptic against wounds, cuts and sores as well as increased blood flow and helping with muscle soreness. A strong all-rounder like many of these potent oils and extracts.
22. Grape Seed oil - from the crushed seeds of grapes and often left over from wine making, this is an ancient oil which has been used for thousands of years like many oils noted above. Containing Vitamins A, C and D as well as many minerals, it balances the PH levels in the skin, reduces redness, protects against free radicals, hydrates and aids problem skin.
23. Cinnamon - a spice from the bark of several types of tree with a rich aromatic scent used in foods and beauty. It aids in brightening the skin, unclogging pores, helps with problem skin like acne and reduces fine lines. A lovely skin rejuvenator for masks and lips. 
24. Lemon - with a high vitamin C content, lemon juice and lemon oil act as a natural rejuvenator, healer and toner. It is not only an excellent brightener and exfoliator, it can remove blackheads, dark spots and pimples. It is the perfect addition to homemade masks to remove excess oil and help with breakouts.
25. Ginger - from the ginger root, this ancient spice has been used as medicine and a healer for centuries due to its stimulating properties of increasing blood flow. Also a fantastic addition to homemade masks for its rejuvenating and healing properties to tighten and brighten the skin. High in antioxidants to help with anti-aging and cell regeneration, ginger is an all-rounder for the body, skin and hair.
26. Argan oil - from the Argan tree, this oil is rich in Vitamin E and anti-oxidants and an incredible moisturizer, healer and protector from sun damage. Aiding in the help of acne and other problem skin conditions.

How many of these do you use in your life? What are your tried, tested and true favourites? 

Until my next post, cheers for now.

Susan

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