Three steps to healthy and glowing skin are cleanse, moisturise and nourish. Skin friendly and earth-friendly Ayurvedic creams are loaded with nutrients and antioxidants to nurture your skin and rejuvenate it. They nourish your skin from inside to improve its elasticity, suppleness and strength. Ayurvedic beauty creams also contain herbs with antiseptic and antifungal properties to help prevent and combat skin infections.These creams are made using herbs, leaf juice, essential oils, minerals and carrier oils.
In this blog, we’ve tried to list popular herbs used in herbal creams. However, one herb is not just for managing one kind of skin condition, but can be used for various skin conditions. For example, cucumber is hydrating, which makes it a great choice for moisturising the skin. At the same time, it also heals damaged skin. So, when you choose ayurvedic creams, check the major herbs used in the formulation to identify its effect.
Herbs used in herbal creams for fairness and skin whitening
Padmaka
Padmaka or wild Himalayan cherry is one of the herbs used for skin whitening. This herb contains zinc, copper, and iron to nourish the skin from the cellular level. It also locks moisture in the skin to make it soft and supple.
Manjista
A red-coloured pigment is extracted from the roots of this herb. This pigment helps manage uneven pigmentation and brightens the skin tone.
Saffron or kesar
This exotic and expensive herb is used in many skin whitening creams. Pure saffron is deep red in colour and has orange tips. It contains antioxidants and vitamins that nourish the skin.
Fenugreek seeds
Fenugreek has many beneficial effects on the skin. It contains vitamin C that naturally lightens the skin tone. Coarse fenugreek seed paste can also be used as an exfoliator to remove dead skins from the skin.
Nutmeg
This spice is also used in skin whitening creams as it helps combat hyperpigmentation. It also tightens skin pores and restores oil balance of the skin.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a beautiful scented herb that’s suitable for all skin types. It’s rich in antioxidants and nutrients and reduces the effect of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles. Rosemary helps lighten dark spots and blemishes on the skin to give you a lighter skin tone.
Papaya
Papaya has an enzyme called papain that stimulates cell growth and skin renewal. This enzyme is also associated with lightening skin tone. Herbal creams for fairness generally contain papaya extracts.
Herbs used in herbal creams for oily skin
Mint/Peppermint
This herb helps cleanse and tighten the skin, reducing puffiness. Mint helps reduce oiliness of the skin.
Sage
The oil extracted from the sage leaves are effective in controlling sebum, which is a major cause of oily skin. It improves blood circulation, enhances skin elasticity and closes open pores.
Sandalwood
The astringent properties of sandalwood suit oily skin. This oil also improves blood circulation in the skin and makes the skin radiant.
Lemon
Lemon has citric acid that removes excess oil from the skin. Lemon also softens and lightens the skin.
Tea Tree
Tea tree oil is a natural astringent that offers deep cleaning action. You can also use tea tree oil after removing makeup to restore and soothe the skin.
Lemon grass
This grass has astringent properties that help balance oil levels of the skin. It tightens skin pores to prevent formation of acnes. Lemon grass oil has also been found to be effective in reducing wrinkles.
Jasmine
Jasmine is excellent for managing excess oil produced by the skin. Its antiseptic properties help reduce skin infections. Plus, the fragrance is relaxing.
Herbs used in herbal creams for dry skin
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera gel hydrates the skin to make it soft and supple. This succulent stem contains nutrients and enzymes that have antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It is a natural UV block.
Cucumber
Nothing cools and moisturises dry skin like cucumber that has high hydration properties. Plus, they’re loaded with nutrients and have anti-inflammatory properties to improve skin health.
Horsetail or Shava grass
This herb is generally used in powder form. It contains silica, vitamin C, zinc, magnesium, calcium, selenium, niacin and riboflavin. This grass extract helps improve skin texture, cleanses and moisturises the skin. It’s suitable for dry and sensitive skin.
Rose petals
The essence of rose petals ispopularly used for enhancing the scent of the creams. However, rose essence is refreshing and helps maintain the skin’s natural moisture.
Cocoa butter
Ayurvedic creams with cocoa butter are great for extremely dry and itchy skin. Its velvety texture is soothing on dry skin. Also, cocoa butter has antioxidants that improve skin health and prevent drying and cracking.
Shea butter
Shea butter softens, conditions and moisturises the skin from deep within. It nourishes the skin and improves its elasticity.
Herbs used in herbal creams for clear skin
Chamomile
Chamomile flowers contain alpha-bisabolol that helps reduce wrinkles for a silky smooth skin. It also contains polyphenols, phytochemicals and antioxidants that reduce free radicals and enhance cell development for smoother and healthier skin.
Basil
This holy herb contains plenty of nutrients and antioxidants that help in clearing pimples, blackheads and acnes. It also destroys the free radicals on the skin to boost the health and glow.
Calendula
Extract of this flower containscarotenoids, an oil-soluble compound that nourishes your skin. It also has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that heal age spots, stretch marks, varicose veins and rashes.
Moringa
The leaves of moringa, commonly known as drumstick, have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces the formation of wrinkles and fine lines.
Ashwagandha
This ayurvedic herb has loads of antioxidants that destroy free radicals to reduce the formation of wrinkles, fine lines, blemishes and dark spots.
Herbs used in herbal creams for skin infections
Cinnamon
This spice is loaded with antioxidants that help prevent skin damage and bring a healthy glow to the skin. It also prevents the formation of zits and acne for a blemish-free skin.
Turmeric
This quintessential herb is used in ayurvedic creams used for treating or preventing skin infections. It is anti-inflammatory and has healing properties, which makes it the best choice for treating a wide variety of skin infections.
Lavender
Lavender helps soothe itching and irritation caused due to eczema and acne. It can also be used for mild insect bites and burns.
Homemade herbal creams
You can find plenty of ayurvedic herbal creams in the market for skin whitening or restoring damaged skin. There are special creams for dry skin or oily skin. However, if you are not comfortable with commercial cosmetics, even though they are herbal, you can prepare a few basic skin creams, lotions and masks at home.
Conclusion
Improve your skin tone and skin health with natural ayurvedic creams and lotions. They are safe for your skin and give you lasting results. However, it’s recommended to do a patch test or check if you are allergic to the herbs before you use their formulations. Whether you use homemade ayurvedic creams or buy herbal creams from reputed brands, you need to use them regularly to get the results that you want.