How Helichrysum's Harsh Growing Conditions Enhance Its Potent Skin Benefits
Plants like Helichrysum that grow in challenging conditions—such as the dry, arid Mediterranean climate—often develop a range of bioactive compounds and secondary metabolites as adaptive responses to environmental stressors.
These compounds include flavonoids, essential oils, and other antioxidants that help the plant survive by protecting it from oxidative stress, UV radiation, and microbial attacks.
These same compounds are what give Helichrysum its medicinal properties when used in skincare. The anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant effects that are crucial for the plant’s survival also translate into benefits for human skin, such as reducing inflammation, promoting wound healing, and protecting against infections. More about it’s topical actions below.
In summary, the harsh environment encourages the production of these beneficial compounds, making Helichrysum particularly potent in its topical applications for skin health. This relationship between the plant’s growing environment and its medicinal properties is well-supported by phytochemical research.
Here are some common ways it appears in skincare products:
1. Essential Oil
Usage: Helichrysum essential oil is commonly used in serums, facial oils, and creams. It's valued for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, making it effective in treating acne, reducing redness, and promoting overall skin health.
Products: You’ll find it in products aimed at healing scars, reducing wrinkles, and soothing irritated skin.
2. Healing Balms and Salves
Usage: Helichrysum is often a key ingredient in healing balms and salves. These products are designed to promote wound healing, reduce scarring, and soothe burns or skin irritations. Its regenerative properties make it ideal for treating minor cuts and abrasions.
Products: These are commonly used on dry, cracked skin, or areas that need extra healing support.
3. Anti-Aging Creams and Serums
Usage: Due to its antioxidant properties, Helichrysum is a popular component in anti-aging products. It helps to protect the skin from oxidative stress, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and promotes a youthful glow.
Products: Found in high-end anti-aging creams and serums that focus on skin renewal and collagen production.
4. Facial Mists and Toners
Usage: Helichrysum-infused mists and toners provide a refreshing burst of hydration and have calming effects on the skin. These products often target redness, irritation, and inflammation, making them suitable for sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Products: Used after cleansing to balance the skin's pH and prepare it for moisturizing.
5. Scar Treatment Products
Usage: Helichrysum is frequently included in formulations specifically designed to reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks. Its ability to promote tissue regeneration makes it a go-to ingredient for scar healing.
Products: Often found in scar gels, creams, and oils meant to be applied to areas where the skin needs repair.
6. Soothing and Repairing Masks
Usage: Helichrysum is used in facial masks aimed at repairing damaged skin, calming irritation, and boosting the skin's natural healing processes. These masks are particularly beneficial after exposure to environmental stressors like sun or wind.
Products: These are used as part of a weekly skincare routine to nourish and rejuvenate the skin.
Now, let’s use it!
Transforming it into a face + body salve will make this anti-aging ally a less messy and more accessible addition to your anti-aging tool kit.
More about this herb: Its natural anti-inflammatory properties make it helpful for acne-prone skin, irritated skin, and combination skin. It also works as an antioxidant, increasing collagen and promoting cell regeneration and tissue healing, and minimizing fine lines and wrinkles. Likewise, it also has purifying, cleansing, and antiseptic effects on the skin, providing hydration and rejuvenation for the outer layer of skin cells. On a different note, the salve can be massaged onto sore muscles, bruises and joints to reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, and support the healing process.
Note:
Herbal oils, also known as herb-infused oils, are different from essential oils (EOs). Essential oils are highly concentrated and made through distillation using a still. Because of their strength, essential oils can have different effects compared to homemade herbal preparations of the same plant. When applied to the skin, most essential oils need to be diluted to about 2%. On the other hand, herbal oils (herb-infused oils) are much milder and gentler. They bring out more plant constituents and have a less intense fragrance. You can dilute an essential oil in an herbal oil to combine their healing effects, if needed.
Salve ingredients:
.5 ounce of beeswax
2 ounces of herbal infused oil
Once the beeswax is mostly melted, take off the heat and add in the oil. Mix to combine. The oil should never be too hot that you can’t put your finger in it to preserve all herbal constituents.
Once the herbal oil is combined with the wax, add in your EOs, if using.
Tip 1:
When making the salve on the stove, as the beeswax is melting, warm the jar of herb-infused oil in a bowl of warm water so it will blend right into the beeswax. Make sure to wipe the access water off the jar before adding the oil to the beeswax.
Tip 2: For easy clean up, wipe used items with toilet paper before washing with soap and water.
To use the salve: Apply to clean skin as needed. Take time to massage in.
