Commonly featured in natural and organic cosmeceuticals, botanical ingredients derived from plants play an essential role in achieving a product’s desired effect. In addition, botanical ingredients affect many consumers’ product choices. We all enjoy knowing what goes into our beauty products, and familiar ingredients take center stage in the organic cosmeceutical space.
What are Botanicals?
A common category of active ingredients in cosmetic products is Botanicals. These active ingredients are wholly derived from plants and tend to contain multiple effects that other common active ingredients aim to achieve. Botanical ingredients are often found as plant oils, extracts, or teas. While these products come from familiar places, they aren’t always for everyone. People with allergies need to be especially careful with their botanical products, as some products may cause allergic reactions. Before buying, always read the product’s ingredients list.
Common Botanicals in Cosmeceuticals
With such a wide variety of plants, botanical products cover a wide range of effects, from skin brightening and exfoliation to improving hydration and treating scar tissue. Popular botanicals include:
Green Tea Extract
Green tea contains many antioxidants and is known mainly for its health benefits as a beverage. Skin care products containing green tea as an active ingredient hold more benefits than you may be thinking. Studies have found that the primary polyphenolic compound in green tea, EGCG, holds numerous skincare benefits. In skincare, green tea extract’s essential compound, EGCG, can reduce redness, swelling, and irritation caused by acne, rosacea, dermatitis, alopecia, and keloids. In two studies conducted in 2005 and 2013, green tea has also proven to improve skin elasticity and moisture, reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
Bromelain Enzyme
Because it comes from pineapple stems, bromelain enzymes are rich in vitamin C and vitamin E, considered by many as two of the essential vitamins to improve the look of your skin. Bromelain enzymes are proteins which are frequently used in the Americas to treat Arthritis, sinus inflammation, and infections. However, these internal effects have yet to be confirmed. Skincare products containing the bromelain enzyme are often used as gentle exfoliators to remove dead skin cells from the face and body. Bromelain is a proven anti-inflammatory agent and dermal cleanser. Ideal for reducing inflammation and gently removing dead skin, Bromelain enzyme is a popular ingredient in burn creams. The ingredient is best applied in the mid to late stages of burn recovery to remove dead skin and reduce irritation. The ingredient does not only help get rid of dead skin cells, it gently reduces blackheads, along with redness and swelling in blemishes.
Papain Enzyme
Another tropical enzyme, Papain, comes from the papaya plant. It’s an excellent treatment for several ailments, including sore throats, poor digestion, and even shingles symptoms. In cosmeceuticals, papain enzyme is yet another anti-inflammatory agent. Alongside inflammation, papain can also reduce topical pain caused by minor injuries like sunburn. Ideal for speeding up the healing process, papain creams and salves are best applied to reduce skin tightness, dryness, and other irritation associated with healing scar tissue and scabs.
The papain enzyme is used in skincare products to gently remove dead skin cells, making it an excellent option for exfoliation. The papaya enzyme makes your skin cleaner and brighter and can also unclog pores and reduce inflammation from blemishes. For these reasons and more, finding products with papain enzyme as one of the active ingredients will undoubtedly do wonders for your skin.
Albizia Flower Extract
Originating from southern and eastern Asia, the Albizia flower is a beautiful bloom from the silk tree. Also known as Albizia julibrissin extract, this tree-based extract often treats redness and swelling from insect bites, acne, and other skin irritants. Alongside albizia julibrissin, the African variety Albizia adianthifolia contains similar compounds and effects. Both varieties contain beneficial compounds like dipeptides, elliptosides, fatty acids, flavonoids, and histamines. The albizia flower helps prevent your skin from premature signs of aging, significantly reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Having albizia flowers as an active ingredient ensures that your skin will be bright, even, and youthful.
Bellis Perennis Extract
Better known as Daisy Flower Extract, Bellis Perennis is a natural alternative to hydroquinone, a common skin brightener. Amongst the benefits of Bellis perennis as an active ingredient in skincare are its anti-inflammatory properties. Having daisy extract in your skincare products can also reduce dark spots and signs of aging by balancing your skin tone and giving your face a brighter, youthful appearance .Ideal for reducing redness, hyperpigmentation, and swelling, daisy flower extract is a common tool in the natural esthetician’s lineup for treating skin conditions like rosacea and dermatitis.
Bearberry Extract
High in antioxidants and a natural alternative hydroquinone, bearberry extract is a popular skin brightener. Derived from the bearberry evergreen, bearberry extract contains the antioxidant berberine, a powerful anti-aging agent that reduces wrinkles, fine lines, and inflammation. In addition to its anti-aging properties, berberine holds anti-bacterial properties as well.
There are many incredible naturally-derived alternatives that we have used in our SB-7 Skin Brightener and Lucent Power Pads. Another natural alternative is bearberry extract for your skin. While it does not contain hydroquinone, bearberry extract has many of the same benefits. Choosing skincare products with bearberry extract as an active ingredient helps tackle dark spots, making them safer. As an alternative to hydroquinone, bearberry extract is an excellent natural alternative for treating redness and hyperpigmentation caused by scars, acne, and chronic skin conditions like dermatitis and rosacea.
Saffron Creams
The final ingredient on our list, saffron cream, comes from the saffron crocus. Mainly used as a spice, saffron is an antioxidant that can aid the skin when used in creams and lotions. As an antioxidant, saffron can reduce inflammation and protect against the sun’s UV rays, which can be caused by the buildup of oxygen free radicals in the skin. Saffron-based creams can also reduce redness and hyperpigmentation when applied to the skin, and saffron oil salves can promote cell growth and development in wounds, making the ingredient perfect for treating psoriasis.
Along with its value as a lightening agent, saffron is perfect for treating other issues that you may be facing with your skin. Saffron helps repair cell damage to your skin, which is increasingly important as the weather begins to shift between seasons. Saffron also reduces pigmentation and is an anti-inflammatory ingredient, perfect for treating redness and blemishes.
Final Words
Finding the right skincare products for you requires looking into the active ingredients. By doing this, you are doing your skin a big favor. Prioritizing some of the ingredients listed above is the perfect place to start your reinvented skincare routine.
At Hale, we prioritize cosmeceutical products free of parabens, dyes, artificial fragrances, phthalates, and formaldehyde. Among these products come botanical cosmeceuticals. The list of beneficial active ingredients doesn’t stop there. For those who want to learn more, check out the different active ingredients found in products from Hale Cosmeceuticals.
