Benefits of Natural Products

Rose (Rosa damascena, Rosa centifolia)

This gorgeous flower is used in many beauty preparations. Rose petals are steam-distilled to produce essential rose oil. The hydrosol portion of distillate is used to make exquisite rose water, a highly emollient and soothing fluid. Essential rose oil, also known as attar of rose and rose absolute, contains more than 300 compounds, among them citronellol, geraniol, linalool, farnesol, pinenes, terpinene, limonene, and many others. In recent studies, citronellol has demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, probably due to the presence of antioxidant quercetin, discovered in rose petals by German scientists in 2006. This makes rose oil and rose water valuable ingredients in any green beauty preparation.

Saffron (Crocus sativus)

Although traditional herbal medicine used saffron for centuries, modern medical science only recently discovered cancer-suppressing, mutation-preventing, and antioxidant-like properties in this ancient spice. Medical studies have demonstrated that crocin, the main ingredient of saffron extract, may prevent the development of chemically induced skin cancer.

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Common sage is used in infusions that make great deodorants and mouthwashes with a soothing and mildly antiseptic effect. However, sage is known to inhibit milk production and therefore is not recommended for use during breastfeeding.

Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)

This bright orange berry is a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols, carotenoids, and flavonoids, and it is filled to the brim with the powerful antioxidant proanthocyanidin, which can protect skin from different types of free radical attacks, including ionizing radiation. Thanks to its antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, sea buckthorn extract can serve as a natural preservative in cosmetic products.

Sea Salt

Sea salt usually has a higher mineral content than table salt. It is commonly used in bath preparations, physical exfoliants, and hair-styling products for its ability to temporarily evict water from hair shafts, making hair stiff and curly.

Shea Butter

This natural butter, extracted from shea nuts (Butyrospermum parkii), is an exceptionally good moisturizer and emollient with anti-inflammatory properties. Shea butter is great on its own and truly shines when used in preparations for fading scars, and alleviating eczema, burns, rashes, acne, stretch marks, and even psoriasis. Shea butter provides natural UV protection of approximately SPF6, but you should never rely on shea butter alone for sun protection! You can buy pure shea butter and use it as a face and body cleanser and moisturizer, or you can mix it with active natural ingredients to suit your needs.

Silver

Colloidal silver is a water suspension of ionic silver. Since medieval times, silver has been used as a bactericidal agent that helps heal skin abrasions and burns. Colloidal silver has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for disinfection purposes in hospitals. Colloidal silver sprays are commonly used to treat burns and throat infections. In natural cosmetics, colloidal silver makes a safe and non irritating preservative with an added anti-inflammatory bonus.

Soy (Glycine Soja)

Soy is one of the mainstays of green beauty, and it’s the only basic ingredient that should always be certified organic or GMO-free if you find it in an ingredients list. Soybean oil is made of linolenic, linoleic, oleic, stearic, and palmitic acids, which make it a great emollient, and soybean protein isolate can nourish and moisturize skin and hair. Yet, soy is rich in isoflavones, called genistein and daidzein, which are potent phytoestrogens. Women with current or past breast cancer, as well as those with a family history of breast cancer, should be aware of the risks of potential tumor growth when using soy-rich cosmetic products for a prolonged period. At the same time, women in Japan and China, where soy is a dietary staple, have significantly less severe menopausal symptoms and enter menopause at a later age. Soy may have a protective effect on the brain and cardiovascular systems. However, until science knows more about what effect phytoestrogens have on humans, I recommend refraining from using cosmetic preparations containing high concentrations of soy isoflavones.

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

An extract from the bark and leaves of this plant is highly astringent and antiseptic. Witch hazel is traditionally used for the treatment of sores, bruises, swelling, hemorrhoids, and postpartum tears of the perineum In cosmetics, witch hazel extract is commonly used in cleansers and toners for acne-prone skin, in aftershaves, and in topical treatments for insect bites. To prepare your own witch hazel toners, look for steam distillates of witch hazel, also called hydrosols or hydrolats, rather than conventional witch hazel, which contains alcohol.Green Beauty Recipes