Botanical Extract Benefits

Do you ever turn over your skincare products and read the ingredient list on the back, wondering what all those words mean? What is salicylic acid, what’s in benzoyl peroxide, and how do you know that all those other confusing chemical names aren’t something harmful? Shouldn’t there be a healthier way for you to get the skin care you need using all-natural ingredients? Botanical extracts are a great way to get glowing, beautiful skin without a bunch of harsh, artificial chemicals. Botanical extract benefits can include reduced puffiness, less irritation, and even reduced acne.

Read on to learn more about botanical extracts, what they are, and how they can help you get the beautiful skin you want the natural way.

What Are Botanical Extracts? 

Before we dive into all the benefits botanical extracts can provide, let’s talk some about what they are. As the name suggests, botanical extracts are the extracted essence of various plant materials. These extracts may come from the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, or bark of different plant varieties. 

If you’re familiar with essential oils you may be thinking this sounds a lot like the same sort of product. While the two are similar, however, they are not the same and should not be used in the same ways. Essential oils are the distilled aromatic compounds of plants, while botanical extracts are more of a tincture or infusion.

How Are They Made?

There are a few different ways to make botanical extracts, but in general, plants get dissolved in a special solvent. This brings out their most important components of the plant, and the rest gets strained out as insoluble material. Sometimes, these extracts will go through additional processing to turn them into a powder.

This overall dissolution and extraction process can take several different forms. Manufacturers may use steam distillation, or they may use the solvents we mentioned to extract those potent components of the plants. They may cold-press plants, use CO2 extraction, or infuse the plants in oil or alcohol to pull out the important substances.

Chamomile

One of the most popular botanical extracts is chamomile, a flower that you may recognize from its popularity in soothing teas. As you know from drinking chamomile tea, this flower can be a mild sleep aid, soothing and relaxing you before bed. It may also help with nausea and can help soothe colds and other mild illnesses.

Chamomile extracts can help to reduce inflammation in the skin, which can reduce redness and puffiness. It may also help to improve skin healing, which can improve the appearance of acne and scars. And some proponents say chamomile can neutralize free radicals and other skin irritants, leaving your skin purified and refreshed. 

Mint 

Just the word “mint” is enough to remind many of us of its refreshing, invigorating scent. This herb has been used for years to restore energy, improve mood, and make chocolate that much more delicious. This cooling property can also help to reduce redness and inflammation in your skin. 

In addition to improving inflammation, mint may help to fight acne thanks to the fact that it contains salicylic acid. It can also gently exfoliate your skin, meaning it removes the top layer of dead skin cells. This keeps your pores from getting clogged and can give you clear, beautiful skin the natural way.

Aloe Vera

Many of us are familiar with some of the skin benefits of aloe vera thanks to its popularity as a sunburn treatment. The cooling plant can help to soothe the pain of a sunburn and promote healing. It also restores some of the moisture that a sunburn strips away from your skin, rejuvenating the fresh skin beneath. 

These moisturizing benefits carry beyond just recovering from a sunburn, however. Even for people with oily or combination skin, aloe vera can act as a natural moisturizer, thanks to its low oil content. The fact that it’s packed with beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E may also provide some antioxidant and anti-aging benefits. 

Comfrey

Unlike the previous three botanicals we’ve discussed, many of us may not have heard of comfrey before. This flowering plant is a member of the forget-me-not family and produces beautiful purple blooms. Its leaves, roots, and stems can all be used to make powerful botanical extracts.

Comfrey leaves may contain anti-inflammatory properties that make them great for people with eczema and psoriasis. The roots are also thought to contain acne-fighting properties for those struggling with zits. You may also find face creams and toners that contain comfrey flowers, due to their potential ability to even skin tone. 

Green Tea

Green tea is another of those botanicals we’re all familiar with; you may have even heard recent buzz about its health benefits. Some recent studies have shown that drinking green tea may improve brain function and even protect against cancer. It is also thought to promote fat loss and help lower your risk of heart disease.

In addition to all these wonderful benefits, green tea extract is thought to be one of the best anti-aging botanicals on the market. It may help to target both inflammation and oxidative stress, which can make your skin age more quickly. Green tea may also be combined with a traditional sunscreen to provide a little more UV protection for those with sensitive skin. 

Roses 

We all love roses – they’re beautiful, romantic, and they smell wonderful. There are few finer joys in life than taking a bath with rose petals floating on top of the water and a glass of rosé in hand. But rose extract can also have some amazing benefits for your skin health. 

Rose extract is thought to be both a gentle antiseptic and astringent, meaning it may help to cleanse your skin. Rosewater and rose extracts can be useful as a natural toner, helping to balance your pH levels back out after cleansing. Some rose proponents also say that rose extract may help to refine skin texture, treat acne, control psoriasis, and calm redness.

Soy

With the rise of alternative meat and dairy options, soy and soy products have become a much more routine part of our lives. And while these make great substitutes for vegetarians, vegans, and ethically-conscious people, soy can also provide some amazing skin benefits. In fact, some recent scientific studies have suggested that soy can improve a number of skin complaints. 

One recent study showed that soy extract may help to moisturize your skin and improve its elasticity, reducing the appearance of wrinkles. It may reduce hyperpigmentation, giving you a more even skin tone. And soy can help to control oil production, a factor which can be very important for people fighting acne.

Coffeeberry

Coffee plays an important role in all of our lives, but did you know coffee beans aren’t beans at all? Instead, they’re the seeds of bright red berries (there’s even a specialized type of coffee whose manufacturing process involves a civet digesting these berries and pooping out the beans). These berries can also provide extracts with a variety of skincare benefits. 

Coffeeberry extract is one of the richest sources of antioxidants available and can be amazing for skin rejuvenation. It can help to reduce appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and other skin aging complaints. This amazing extract may even help to prevent skin cancer when used properly. 

Tea Tree

If you’ve ever used essential oils, chances are you’re familiar with tea tree oil. This popular extract comes from the leaves of the Australian Melaleuca Alternafolia tree (which, incidentally, does not produce tea). In addition to the benefits the essential oil form can provide, tea tree extract can have some wonderful skin benefits. 

Proponents of tea tree extract say it can have powerful anti-acne properties. It may have some anti-microbial properties that can help prevent the infections that cause acne from developing. There have even been studies comparing tea tree extract and benzoyl peroxide which have shown it can have fewer side effects than the popular acne treatment.

Cucumber

You may already know that cucumber can have nourishing skin benefits thanks to its popularity in spa treatments. Cucumber slices over the eyes aren’t just a TV trope; this cooling veggie can reduce puffiness and bags under your eyes. So, it should come as no surprise that cucumber extract can have a variety of benefits for the rest of your skin, too.

Cucumber extract can be very soothing and may have anti-inflammatory properties to reduce puffiness. Although it’s a mild astringent, it can also be very hydrating, making it the perfect facial cleanser. And thanks to its purported anti-irritant properties, it may be a great option for people who struggle with sensitive skin or acne.

Calendula 

Although you may not recognize the name, you’re probably familiar with calendula – you likely know it as marigold. This flowering plant is a member of the daisy family and has been a part of medical treatments for thousands of years. Today, it’s a popular part of natural skincare regimens.

Calendula has some amazing calming properties that can be wonderful for anyone struggling with redness or skin sensitivity. It may be anti-inflammatory, so it could help to reduce puffiness or manage skin conditions like eczema. It’s also very soothing, so you can use it during times when your skin is undergoing a lot of stress or damage. 

Horsetail 

Horsetail is an herb that tends to grow in the northern regions of the world. It gets its name from its appearance; the plant has a fuzzy, tail-like quality that may have reminded early healers of swishing horsetails. Today, we know it may have a variety of benefits as a skincare component.

Horsetail is thought to be an astringent, and it may help to improve circulation to your skin. This can help to promote wound healing, which can be important for people with acne scars. Horsetail is also popular as an antioxidant, as well as possibly offering some UV protection in combination with traditional sunscreens.

What to Look for in Botanical Extracts

While botanical extracts can be a wonderful, natural way to care for your skin, you do need to take a few precautions. First and foremost, always make sure you’re buying from reputable sources. Because there is no regulatory body that guarantees the quality of botanical extracts, some vendors may try to take advantage of you and sell you fake or low-quality products. 

You should also check on where the plants in your botanical extracts are sourced and how they’re processed. Some lower-quality manufacturers will use harsh chemicals in the growing or extraction process. Make sure you buy from a provider who takes care to keep your all-natural solutions just that – all-natural.

Discover Botanical Extract Benefits for Yourself

Botanical extracts can be a wonderful way to care for your skin without involving harsh chemicals or heavy-duty medications. Depending on which skin issues you have, there are a variety of extracts that could help you find the balance you need. Give some of the extracts we’ve discussed here a try and see how your skin responds to these gentler, more natural treatments.

If you’d like to discover botanical extract benefits for yourself, check out the rest of our site at LYF Fit. We have everything you need to get your ideal body, from the skin on down, including vitamins and other natural supplements. Shop our vitamins today and start building the body you want to live in the healthy, natural way.