This time of year is a joy for flower lovers. Beautiful, often fragrant, they make the bees happy and a bunch of blooms can lift our mood. But their beauty lies much deeper than just their appearance. Flowers have some many benefits for our skin too which is why they have been used in natural skincare products for centuries.
Certain flowers have properties that benefit our skin and can help improve certain skin care conditions: from calming inflamed skin to repairing damage, clearing congested skin and nourishing dry skin; rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants; the flower really does hold the power when it comes to our skin.
Some of the most popular types of flowers you will find in natural skincare products and that are some of my personal favourites are:
Rose...
Rose is popular and widely used in natural skincare products because it is rich in vitamins A and C, which can help to brighten the skin. Rose is also good for soothing dry skin; I use the petals to make a strong infusion which I then use for their pore-cleansing properties. That’s why you will find it in things like Sweet Cheeks cleanser, Scrub Up exfoliator and Perfect Pores serum. Let’s also not forget the power of rosehip too – it’s a personal favourite of mine.
Chamomile...
Chamomile is another popular flower for skincare products because it has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
Chamomile can help to soothe irritated skin and reduce inflammation and you’ll find it in my Clean Sweep cleansing balm.
Lavender...
Lavender is probably one of the most popular flowers for skincare products because it has calming and relaxing properties.
Lavender can help to reduce stress and anxiety and some find it helps improve sleep. It’s why I use it in my natural body wash, Dream A Little Dream.
Calendula...
Calendula is a popular flower for skincare products because it has anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties.
Calendula can help to soothe cuts, scrapes, and burns. I’m about to use this in my hand cream which I’m hoping will finally be ready in the Autumn.
Wild Pansy...
Pansy is a popular flower for skincare products because it has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties and it can help to improve and clear congested skin and it’s the reason whey I use a wild pansy infusion in Tone Up.
Electric Daisy...
Not such a popular ingredient but it should be! You’ll be seeking out products that contain this amazing skincare power house.
It helps to put back some of the structure in our skin that is lost as our skin ages. It helps firm & tighten our skin, smoothing out the appearance of wrinkles & giving our skin a youthful boost. TV botanist James Wong, refers to this as “the plant kingdom’s very own natural botox”.
It will come as no surprise that I use this in a lot of my products: You’ll find it in my natural serum, A Little Lift; my nourishing night balm, Rest & Regenerate; my pore perfecting serum, Perfect Pores; my organic facial oils, Balanced & Beautiful and Repair & Renew; and my daily moisturiser, Balancing Act.
Garden flowers can also be used in natural skincare products in a variety of ways. Some of the most common ways to use garden flowers in skincare products include:
Extracts...
Garden flower extracts are made by extracting the active ingredients from the flowers using a variety of methods, such as steam distillation or cold pressing.
Essential oils...
Garden essential oils are made by distilling the flowers using steam. Essential oils can be added to skincare products to provide the benefits of the flowers and to add a pleasant scent.
Hydrosols...
Garden hydrosols are made by steam distilling the flowers and then collecting the water that is left behind. Hydrosols are a gentler alternative to essential oils and can be added to skincare products to provide the benefits of the flowers.
Fresh and dried flowers...
I make floral infusions (sometimes called floral teas) that I then use in toners, serums and cleansers.