Often see some flower extracts recurring in the list of ingredients of the beauty products you use? This isn’t just so that the products can smell nice. Flowers, which are often just considered beautiful in an aesthetic sense, have more to offer than you think. Several flowers as well as their extracts and essential oils are not only fragrant but also come with actual benefits for your skin and hair like warding off acne, rashes, and dry skin and protection from hair damage and scalp infections.
Here are 5 flowers you can use at home as part of your beauty regimen for flawless skin and hair.
1. Chamomile
Chamomile is a daisy-like flower that is a popular part of several herbal infusions. For the longest time, this flower has been consumed and used extensively for medicinal purposes. Its primary active compound bisabolol has been found to contribute greatly to chamomile’s anti-inflammatory and soothing properties, making it effective against skin conditions like rashes and acne. However, a patch test is advised to avoid allergic reactions.1
How To Use
- Add 2 chamomile tea bags to a cup of hot water.
- Allow them to steep for a while till the tea comes to room temperature.
- Dip a soft cloth in the tea and apply it on the affected areas.
- You can also use the leftover tea bags to get rid of puffy eyes.
2. Calendula
Calendula grows extremely well in partial shade to bright sunlight in any soil. Its extract contains compounds known as triterpenoids, which are responsible for its anti-inflammatory properties.2 This makes calendula beneficial for soothing irritated skin caused by sunburn and acne. Using the petals as part of beauty treatments will leave you with glowing, beautiful skin.
How To Use
- Add about 3 tbsp of calendula petals to a cup of water.
- Brew this concoction for 15 minutes.
- Rinse the affected parts of your skin with this extract regularly for best results.
3. Rose
A favorite in the perfume industry, roses are often a part of natural face masks. They are believed to have skin tightening properties, which make them effective against aging signs like fine lines and wrinkles. Rose water, which is often used in beauty treatments, works well against impurities in your skin, leaving it radiant.
How To Use
- Add a few rose petals to 2 cups of boiled water.
- Let the petals soak in the water for about half an hour.
- Dip a soft cloth in this rose water and apply it on your face and other parts of your skin.
- Repeat regularly to keep your skin clean and rejuvenated.
4. Hibiscus
While this flower has a beautiful aroma, the extract of its leaves is great for you if you struggle with poor hair growth.3 Not just that, the extract is also believed to work quite well against dry, damaged hair thanks to its high amounts of mucilage polysaccharides.4
How To Use
- Take 10–15 hibiscus leaves and boil them in water (about a cup) for a few minutes.
- Cool this extract and apply it to your hair after washing it.
- Do this regularly for shiny, soft hair.
5. Jasmine
Jasmine, which is a popular ingredient in cosmetic products, is great for your hair. Jasmine oil, in particular, is ideal for moisturizing dry hair and protecting your scalp from bacterial infections thanks to its antimicrobial properties.5
How To Use
- Take a few jasmine petals and crush them.
- Then, add a few drops of coconut oil and let the petals soak in the oil for a while.
- Massage your scalp with this oil thoroughly and leave it on for about 10 minutes.
- Do this once every few days for healthy, shining hair.
- Alternatively, you could also simply add jasmine oil to almond or coconut oil and use it.
Use these flowers often as part of your beauty treatments at home and enjoy gorgeous skin and hair.
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