While natural ingredients include an entire range of produces derived from plant leaves, roots, bark, fruits, and even extracted oils, herbal skin care products derive their beneficial effects from herbs. Herbs are low-growing aromatic plants that can be used either fresh or dried; these include annuals (which must be seeded each year) as well as perennial herbs (which survive the winter to grow again in the spring). Usually, it?s herbs? leaves that are used to enhance skin care products? benefits.

The Herb Research Foundation classifies herbal & organic skin care products into one of four groups, depending on the herbs that the products include, and the scale of sale. The four groups are Ayurvedic, Chinese, General, and Commercial.

Ayurvedic herbs are the herbs used in India, including ginger, turmeric, and frankincense as well as pants that are less well known in English such as ashwagandha. These four, in combination, have been shown in texts to decrease rheumatoid factor and interleukins, which are the biological markers of rheumatoid arthritis activity.

It?s a little-known fact that Chinese herbs are seldom used alone, but are more often used in formulas of four. In Chinese herbal medicine, the formula is assembled just like the individuals in a royal court. There?s a King Herb that has the strongest effect, a Minister Herb that addresses the min pathology as well as a secondary pathology, and assistant herbs. Assistant Herbs can be helpful and strengthen the King?s effect, corrective and eliminate the King or Minister herb?s toxic effect, or opposing in order to decrease the King?s effect.

General herbs are those with entries in reference publications such as the Encyclopedia of Popular Herbs that describe their medicinal properties. The names of many of these will be familiar to you; you may have seen seeds to grow them in the grocery store, or you may actually have some of them growing inside or near by your house. And commercial herbs are those wholesalers sell in bulk.

Herbs have been used for a wide variety of health care remedies since the beginning of time. Using elements that occur naturally can effectively treat acne and other skin conditions. Herbal skin care is affordable, accessible and less like to cause skin irritation and sensitivity than traditional medications. When certain herbs are applied to your skin topically, they can be a healthy alternative solution to prescription medications.

Eucalyptus: This essential oil comes from the eucalyptus tree, which is one of the tallest known trees in the world and can be found in Australia, Africa, North America, India and Southern Europe. Eucalyptus is the most powerful antiseptic in its class and has outstanding astringent qualities, which aid in the treatment of acne-prone skin.

Papaya Enzyme: The papaya is a tropical fruit that has a nutrient-rich enzyme called papin. This enzyme is used to dissolve unwanted proteins and other dead materials on the surface of your skin. The papaya enzyme works to open pores, exfoliate, promote the turnover of skin cells, soften and smooth skin and improve your overall skin tone.

Sage: This silvery-green plant has fragrant leaves and is found growing in the Mediterranean and North America. Sage oil contains chemical substances and other constituents, such as as camphor, cineole, rosmarinic acid, tannins and others. The substances found in sage oil have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral effects, which make it an outstanding medicinal skin treatment.

Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is obtained from the leaves of the native Australian Melaleuca alternifolia tree. This oil has natural antibacterial qualities, contains antiseptic compounds and is proven to be a very good skin disinfectant. When used to treat acne, it is just as effective as 5% benzoyl peroxide and less drying. However, the results of treatment with tea tree oil take just a little bit longer to see than with benzoyl peroxide.

Thyme: Thyme is the general name for herbs of the Thymus species, which are native to the western Mediterranean region. The essential thyme oil is located in the small glands on the leaves and contains thymol, linalol and paracymene. Thyme is effective in treating acne-prone skin because of its multiple actions, including antibacterial, antioxidant, antiseptic and astringent.

Witch Hazel: Witch hazel is the common name for a genus of shrubs known as Hamamelis and is rich in natural astringents such as volatile oils and tannins. Witch hazel has antiseptic capabilities that tone the skin and blood vessels, as well as draw out clogged pores.

Exploring holistic remedies can give you clearer, more healthy skin. Incorporating herbal skin care products with natural ingredients into your daily skin care regimen will improve your skin’s overall appearance over time.

About the Author:

Ryan Cote is the owner of ChinaDollSkin.com, a professional skin care company providing spa-quality skin care products and free skin care resources. http://www.ChinaDollSkin.com

Skin care is not a new topic; it has been around since ancient times, when herbal skin care was probably the only way to take care of skin. However, modern skin care has transformed in a big way. Traditional herbal skin care routines have been replaced by synthetic/chemical-based skin care regimens. The herbal skin care recipes which once used to be common place are in disuse today, and even unknown to the mainstream population.

The transformation from herbal skin care to synthetic can be attributed to three things - our laziness the fast pace of modern life, and the commercialisation of skin care. Even herbal skin care products have been commercialised. Commercial herbal skin care products are mixed with preservatives in order to increase their shelf-life, hence making them less effective than fresh mxtures made at home. However, things change fast and now more people are opting for natural and herbal skin care routines. But still, none want to make them at home and hence the commercial market of herbal skin care products is on the rise.

So what are the herbs of herbal skin care?

Aloe vera, which is an extract from Aloe plant, is one of the best examples of herbal skin care product. Freshly extracted aloe vera is a natural hydrating agent that helps in soothing skin. It also helps in healing cuts and treating sun burns.

A number of herbs are known to possess cleansing properties. Dandelion, chamomile, lime flowers and rosemary herbs, are a few examples of such cleansers. Their herbal skin care properties get invoked when they are combined with other herbs like tea.

Antiseptics are another important part of Herbal skin care. Lavender, marigold, thyme and fennel are good examples of herbs that are known to possess antiseptic properties. Lavender water and rose water also form good toners.

Tea plays an important part in herbal skin care. Tea extracts are used for treatment of skin that has been damaged by UV radiation.

Oils prepared from herbal extracts present another means of herbal skin care. Tea tree oil, Lavender oil, borage oil and primrose oil are some popular oils used in herbal skin care. Some fruit oils (e.g. extracts from fruits like banana, apple and melon) find use in shower gels (as a hydrating mix)

Herbal skin care is good not only for the routine nourishing of skin but also for treatment of skin disorders like eczema and psorasis. Most herbal skin care products don’t have any side effects (the most important reason for preferring them over synthetic products) Moreover, herbal skin care products can be easily made at home, hence making them even more attractive.

So you can see why herbal skin care is the way to go. However, this does not mean that you totally discard synthetic products. The fact is that some skin orders call for the usage of clinically proven non-herbal skin care products and medications.

About the Author

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