Grow your own herbs for cosmetics

Herbs useful in cosmetics can be grown in your own garden or on the balcony. Many conventional herbs are suitable for cosmetic use. When growing them by yourself, you ensure the non-toxicity of the plants. You also have a great opportunity to grow special herbs. It is interesting to test them in different cosmetic products. How to choose right herbs for cosmetics? In this post, I will introduce you few plants suitable for cosmetics.

You should grow cosmetic plants yourself

Wild herbs collected from non-polluted places are great for cosmetics. If you would like to use some other plants than wild ones in your products, you have a problem. Plants for cosmetics use should definitely be organic. Picking organic herbs and other organic plants is sometimes difficult. The organic selection in shops is also relatively small. That is why it is worth having your own production.

By growing the herbs yourself, you will have access to plants that are suitable for your skin. There are plenty of powerful, aromatic herbs available but they are not good for everyone. You can choose the gentlest and most caring plants for your own potted garden.

Which plants would I choose?

You have a huge variety of plants to choose from. In this post, I’ll give you just a few ideas. Personally, I would choose plants that are hard to get organic. Many of the plants listed here are not even available dried. That’s why you should grow them yourself.

Roses (Rosa)

Roses are really grateful to grow. If you like to use roses in cosmetics, you should cultivate them yourself. Of course, you can also buy dried rose buds and petals. Their quality just isn’t always very good. The petals of the roses are perfect for bath salt. Fragrant rose varieties should preferably be used for cosmetics. Many of the fragrant roses are shrub roses. Ask tips about suitable seedlings from a plant store.

Remember that all the roses in the plant store are poisoned against diseases and pests. You can use their flowers in cosmetics earliest after a year.

Read more about the rose here

Daisy, (Bellis perennis)

The daisies are summer flowers and very easy to care for. They are like mini daisies. They can be grown on a balcony or patio. The only requirement is a sunny place. In a very shady place, the daisy does not thrive. Often Bellis perennials are planted in the lawn to bring a flower meadow-like atmosphere. It is a base plant that dodges the lawn mower.

Daisies are an important ingredient in skin colour smoothing products. The polyphenols they contain act as tyrosinase inhibitors. Tyrosinase is an oxidizing enzyme that affects the formation of melanin. The extract made from Daisy evens out skin tone and lightens dark areas. Arbutin and vitamin C work in the same way.

Marshmallow, (Althea officinalis)

The marshmallow is a beautiful plant that gives a lot of joy. Marshmallow belongs to the mallow plants. If you have mallow in your garden, you can use it. The marshmallow needs a sunny spot, earthy soil and a long growing season. It can also be grown perfectly on the patio or balcony, in a large pot.

For cosmetics use, the roots of marshmallow are especially used. The thick roots are rich in moisturizing ingredients.

Use marshmallow root for hair care. It gives plenty of texture and moisture to the hair. The extract made from the root of marshmallow is also well suited as a base for creams.

Cowslip, (Primula veris)

Cowslip is one of the first flowers of spring. It is wild in Aland and rare in southern Finland. Cowslips can also be grown in the garden. Cowslip is rich in nutrients and vitamins that are good for the skin. It is an antimicrobial plant. You can use it on impure skin.

A special feature of cowslip is its ability to cleanse the skin. It contains an effective but gentle cleansing natural saponin. Cowslip extract is able to penetrate deep into the skin pores. Your skin will be freshly clean and glowing. Add cowslip to all skin cleansing products. Saponins are soluble in water, so prepare an extract from it in hot water. Only flowers are extracted from the plant.

Use only organic cowslips for skin care. Never use cowslips bought from a shop. They contain lot of toxins.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) 

Rosemary is an aromatic spice plant. Every year I buy a big, bushy rosemary to decorate the yard. You can smell it as you walk by. Rosemary brings a Mediterranean touch to your yard or patio.

Rosemary is also suitable for skin care. Its effect is antimicrobial and soothes the skin. Rosemary is well suited for lotions and creams. I especially prefer rosemary in the treatment of milia. Many well-known cosmetics brands rely on rosemary to destroy milia. I have tried to find out why rosemary is so effective against milia but I have not found a reliable answer. Try it yourself and you’ll see the result.

Rosemary available in food stores is non-toxic as it is intended for human consumption. You can get rosemary from the grocery store or from the florist.

Feel free to choose plants suitable for cosmetics for the summer

The above plants are just a small example of cultivated herbs suitable for cosmetics. Many different plants are useful in skin care. Different plants affect the skin in different ways. By combining plants, you create completely unique cosmetics.

I look forward to summer. I would like to try so many new plants. Do you have already clear vision how your summer garden will look like?