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The skin is a special organ constantly renewing itself, it is much more than a simple protection as it is the heaviest organ (3-4 kg) and the largest of the human body (from 1.5 to 2 m²). Always connected with other organs, it can also contribute to the transmission of various dysfunctions and pathologies, in addition to strictly epidermal ones. It has 3 fundamental functions:
The skin, in fact, protects the entire body from mechanical, physical, chemical, or bacterial attacks from the external environment, thanks to cells, immune mechanisms, impermeability, resistance, and adaptability. It also has the task of transmitting information between the body and the external environment through nerves that receive stimuli, for example, tactile and thermal. Through this organ, various exchanges between the body and the outside world take place: in fact, the skin is involved in complex mechanisms such as the control of body temperature (through heat elimination and sweat evaporation thanks to sweat glands), the elimination of harmful substances, and the synthesis of vitamin D. This is why it is essential to take care of it with natural products and remedies. There are many topics and treatments that could be discussed, but we have chosen to focus on natural remedies for the skin and on some of the many plants that can benefit this important organ. Let's discover this world together!
Argan, aloe vera, rosehip, and turmeric: these are some of the natural skin products that we can use to take care of our beauty naturally. Most of the time, these are remedies known for centuries that truly deserve to be rediscovered.
From the Chilean rosehip, an ornamental and medicinal plant, rosehip oil is obtained, a natural remedy effective against wrinkles, stretch marks, and scars. It is mainly used on the skin for its ability to reduce wrinkles and superficial spots.
Oats and especially oat flour are perfect as a beauty remedy because they are used to make body scrubs, face masks, soothing and moisturizing baths.
Argan or argan tree (Argania spinosa) is the Moroccan tree from which argan oil is obtained, considered one of the most precious natural remedies available to counteract skin aging, maintain elasticity, and take care of hair. Argan oil is used to prepare beauty packs and masks.
Aloe vera is renowned especially for the properties of the natural gel contained in its leaves, which has a soothing and regenerating effect on the skin. Applying aloe vera gel is useful to keep the skin of the face and body luminous and healthy and to relieve redness in case of sunburn and itching due to insect bites, and it is also very useful to soothe teenage acne.
Tomato is not only one of the most famous vegetables but is also excellent as a beauty remedy, useful for preparing, for example, face and body masks, exfoliating masks, as well as to soothe the skin in case of sunburn.
Shea butter is a substance obtained from the seeds of the Vitellaria paradoxa, a plant of the Sapotaceae family widespread in Africa. Its seeds are also simply called shea nuts. Shea butter is mainly used to nourish the skin and in case of chapping and sunburn.
Turmeric is a spice with extraordinary healing properties but is also useful in the field of beauty as well as for our health. In fact, you can prepare turmeric oil, or turmeric oleolite, to use on the skin as a beauty oil. Moreover, a series of recent studies show that an active component of turmeric, curcumin, can be used as phyto-medicine to treat a variety of dermatological diseases.
For less young skins, the novelty in anti-aging is the Bacopa monieria, a plant from Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia rich in compounds that protect against the action of free radicals, the cause of oxidative damage and therefore aging. But in general, all extracts rich in antioxidants have excellent anti-aging action; for example, those based on green tea, grape seeds, ginkgo biloba, sea buckthorn, and lemon balm.
Chamomile and calendula help us! The first (Chamomilla Recutita) has anti-inflammatory action (here a brief summary of the best anti-inflammatory herbs), due to the flavonoids it contains, it also has a slight antiallergic action that helps calm skin irritations, protecting it from external aggressions. Also, calendula (Calendula Officinalis) has an anti-inflammatory action, its extract is also able to promote tissue healing as it stimulates the activity of fibroblasts, the cells that ensure firmness and elasticity to the skin and the production of hyaluronic acid, essential for its hydration.
But that's not all. Taking care of your skin also means addressing any issues that may arise. So it is useful, for example, to have a disinfectant like tea tree oil or Tree Tea Oil, a natural antibiotic effective against bacteria, fungi, and even some viruses like Herpes simplex or to treat acne. The other plant we shouldn't miss is St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum), also known as St. John's wort because its flowering reaches its peak around June 24th. It is used in the form of oil to treat minor burns, small wounds, cracks, eczema, and sores. St. John's Wort is also used in combination with lavender oil to take advantage of its regenerative properties. There are also many essential oils with good antiseptic properties. Among these, we recommend clove, thyme, savory, oregano, and juniper. In addition, recent studies have indicated that licorice (for example as an infusion) has an anti-inflammatory action and can be used to treat psoriasis, eczema, and atopic dermatitis.
Oleolites and essential oils are prepared by macerating one or more parts of a plant (flowers, leaves, fruits, resins, barks) in a natural base oil such as olive oil (recommended because it contains vitamin E which helps preservation), sweet almond oil (emollient and nourishing - although it is better to use less of this oil, as it immediately starts to emit a sour smell), jojoba oil (moisturizing and toning), rice bran oil (very resistant to oxidation), apricot kernel oil (ideal for dry skin), Rosehip oil (rich and nourishing, as well as tissue repair), sesame oil (best for oily skin), coconut oil, etc. These oils can then be used as a base for maceration in order to create oleolites that combine the active ingredient of the plant used, chosen based on the desired benefit, with the properties of the base oil to which it has been added. To create your oleolite, you will need to use dried plants (there are exceptions like St. John's Wort - see recipe below) and then proceed with the maceration phase. There are two types of maceration:
Essential oils are the most concentrated product. These are obtained from the flowering parts of selected plants, through pressing, solvent extraction, enfleurage, and steam distillation. They are very concentrated because, to obtain a few drops of essential oil, many kilograms of the plant part from which the active ingredient is to be extracted are usually needed. They do not have common chemical characteristics among them, it is simply a conventional categorization that indicates mixtures of volatile substances obtained by distilling aromatic plants in a current of steam: they are insoluble in water (on which they float like oil) but soluble in alcohol and oil. They are called "essential" because they encapsulate the essence of the plant from which they are derived, its properties, that highly volatile and ethereal part that gives the plant its scent. Being very powerful, essential oils can also have specific contraindications, for example, they are photosensitive and it is therefore not recommended to use them on the skin if you are exposed to the sun.
Calendula oleolite has soothing, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties. Let's see how to prepare it! Let a handful of fresh calendula flowers dry in the sun. Then, pour them into a glass jar (tip: sterilize the jar by boiling it in water for at least 10 minutes, let it dry, and make sure to proceed without touching the inside) and fill it with extra virgin olive oil. The ratio between flowers and oil should be about 1:10. Expose the jar to the sun for 3-4 weeks. After the resting and maceration phase, filter everything with gauze and store the calendula oleolite in a dark glass bottle.
St. John's Wort has anti-inflammatory properties, is excellent for after-sun care, and for its soothing abilities, it is useful for muscle and rheumatic pains, it is excellent for burns as a healing agent, and you can also use it in the kitchen by adding a few drops to a salad for an antidepressant effect. Attention: It should NOT be used before or during sun exposure because it is photosensitive, meaning it can cause permanent spots on the skin. How to make it: To produce the oil, fresh flowers collected on the night of St. John's Day, June 24th (as the date of maximum St. John's Wort flowering!!) are used, but dried ones will work just as well. Usually, the ratio is 80 grams of flowers to 250 grams of oil. Follow the processing instructions mentioned above for calendula oleolite but consider that you can macerate St. John's Wort for 40-45 days. Tip: The jar should be exposed to the sun during the day and stored indoors in the evening, well protected by a cloth or blanket to retain the accumulated heat throughout the day. When filtering the oleolite, use a filter paper or tissue and place it in a strainer to avoid passing residues into the jar; the product can be used immediately and should be stored tightly closed, taking care not to contaminate it when taking the necessary amount for use. Now you are almost ready to create your oleolite, you just have to choose the right plants to improve your body and skin. Visit Terza Luna to discover which ones are most suitable for you!
