Slow skincare botanicals - Part 1: 7 time-honoured plants your skin will love
You all know I love my select Australian native botanicals, in particular our Kangaroo Paw, Tasmanian Mountain Pepper Leaf & Sandalwood, and not just because they are ‘trendy’ or are the current marketing hype! There is fantastic research and studies that show exactly why these hardy, resilient plants thrive through some of our tough conditions across the country. I’m also a strong believer that we should learn from the extensive knowledge our traditional Indigenous Australians hold and have come across some fantastic very old books from our local libraries and second-hand stores that have had a wealth of knowledge buried within.
Yarrow from the Reset garden
But this doesn’t mean we should right off other botanicals just because they aren’t native to Australia. As I said, I’m not about marketing hype. There are some very well-known medicinal herbs that have been used for centuries to heal and rejuvenate the skin (and improve our wellness) that originate from all parts of the world. And I have my absolute favourites of these as well. So this is a 2-part blog post, firstly to take a deeper dive into some of these time-honoured worldly botanicals, and then to shine the spotlight on our research- and history-backed Australian botanicals. To note, this list does not include all our loved botanicals which will continue to grow as we introduce some of our newer slow beauty products.
7 time-honoured plants your skin will love
1. Yarrow
Traditionally known as the healing herb, Yarrow is a versatile medicinal herb with soothing, anti-bacterial and antimicrobial properties, making it great for skin prone to irritations or blemishes. The flowers, leaves and stems can be used, with studies showing some of the phytonutrients in the plant include flavonoids, carotenoids and terpenes. It’s also deeply nourishing & restorative for the skin, with its anti-inflammatory compounds able to positively impact the skin’s pH, moisture content and circulation.
The bonus for us, as we have begun growing our own Yarrow, is that it’s also a great garden plant for soil-health. Studies indicate that Yarrow can accumulate nutrients in the soil and thereby improve the health other plants in the garden!
Find it in: Reset Barrier Balm, Quaintrelle Revival Serum
2. Calendula
One of your more well-known & staple skincare plants, Calendula flowers contain anti-inflammatory, calming and healing properties thanks to the flavonoids within. They are fantastic for treating most skin conditions, as well as being strong antioxidants which help to fight free-radicals and slow the breakdown of collagen and elastin.
Find it in: Reset Barrier Balm, Quaintrelle Revival Serum
3. Meadowsweet
Meadowsweet contains salicylic acid which is a natural exfoliator, helping to encourage natural cell turnover, and can act as an anti-inflammatory on the skin. It has astringent properties making this a helpful herb for not only treating various skin conditions, but also for toning, renewing and tightening the skin.
Find it in: Quaintrelle Revival Serum
4. Horsetail
I just love working with Horsetail – there’s just something about its scent that really resonates with me. There’s also no other herb in the plant kingdom as rich in silica as Horsetail – and silicon is what collagen is made of! It’s therefore a fantastic, astringent herb that promotes tone and elasticity in your skin as well as healthy regeneration of the skin tissues.
Find it in: Reset Barrier Balm, Quaintrelle Revival Serum
5. Plantain
The healing, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activity of Plantain makes this a wonderful skincare herb, particularly useful for the relief of itching. A range of biologically active compounds have been found in plantain including lipids, polysaccharides, caffeic acid derivatives, flavonoids, terpenoids and more.
Find it in: Reset Barrier Balm, Quaintrelle Revival Serum
6. Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a super herb, loaded with vitamins, amino acids and minerals including carotene (pro-vitamin A), vitamin D, chlorophyll and more, which all help to boost skin radiance, elasticity & rejuvenation. But the main reason we love including Alfalfa in our skincare is to gain the benefits of its vitamin K content – this is the vitamin you want to reduce dark circles and puffiness!
Find it in: Quaintrelle Revival Serum
7. Gotu Kola
Strong healing and anti-aging benefits can come from this unassuming little plant. Rich in a combination of amino acids, beta-carotene, fatty acids, triterpenes and phytonutrients such as flavonoids, these provide a range of properties the skin needs for well-ageing and arming itself against environmental stressors, as well as boosting collagen formation and circulation.
Find it in: Reset Barrier Balm, Quaintrelle Revival Serum
Further reading:
Simmonds, M., Howes, M., Irving, J. 2016, The Gardener’s Companion to Medicinal Plants,Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London.
https://draxe.com/nutrition/yarrow/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28163113/
Do Monte et al., 2004 – Phytochemistry and pharmacological propertis of Equisetum arvense L
https://innovareacademis.in/journal/ijpps/Vol4Suppl5/4698.pdf
https://life-enhancement.com/pages/gotu-kola-promotes-healthy-veins