Growing A Skin Care Garden (featured in Autumn 2023 issue of Willow & Sage and In Her Garden)
The first time I discovered the potential of cultivating my own skincare ingredients it was a revelation. I was on a mission to adopt a low-waste lifestyle and had taken to creating my own personal care products from scratch to avoid unknown ingredients and packaging waste. It was not only enjoyable but also empowering as I honed in on these new skills. I started simply with a herbal-infused body oil to replace my store-bought body lotion and a herbal wound-healing salve for my kids' scraped knees. The more I gained insight, knowledge, and skill in what I was doing, the more my products evolved.
Instinctively, I looked to nature for answers. I have always held a deep appreciation for natural skincare, stemming back to my college days when I experimented with infusing herbal extracts to make my own antiseptic face wash. And, to my surprise, I found myself right back where I had left off over 25 years ago. Now, I view my skincare regimen as an extension of my overall holistic and healthy lifestyle, akin to how I approach my diet, choosing plant-forward meals and avoiding unnecessary chemicals and synthetic ingredients. To ensure that the products I use on my skin align with this principle, I prioritize ingredients that are grown organically and naturally from earth.
I began studying herbalism and experimenting with growing plants in my backyard garden on Eastern Long Island. One spring, while out in my garden, I noticed that a patch of purple violets was coming up, herbs that I didn't plant, and it dawned on me that there must be a reason for their timing. And, sure enough, the herbal actions of violets are exactly what our bodies, and the bodies of the animals who eat them, need after a long, cold, sedentary winter. Same with dandelions, red clover, and nettles. Everything came together for me at that moment. Nature's intelligence, growing what is needed when it's needed most. Gifts. As I expanded my knowledge through my studies at "The School of Evolutionary Herbalism", I deepened my knowledge of herbalism and ignited a passion for understanding the unique properties of each plant. In the process, I became deeply rooted in nature which became my sustainable why—my reason to stay low waste, and to continue growing and making my own products.
Soon enough, I was cultivating herbs for use in everyday essential bath and body products. The first year I started with the plants that I needed but were also easy to grow, like sage, calendula, chamomile, lavender, arnica, and rosemary. By the next year, I was cultivating yarrow, cleavers, roses, plantain, and tulsi. I dried, preserved, and stored herbs for later use. I infused them in oils and vinegar, not just for skincare purposes, but for cleaning products as well. There are many ways to create different preparations, such as infusions, tinctures, syrups, and infused oils. Some variations and methods cater to different skill levels and preferences.
As my curiosity grew, I learned a unique method of herbal extraction that draws off a broader spectrum of a plant's medicinal potency, resulting in a holistic and therapeutic experience for the body, mind, and skin. I paired this with experimenting with skincare blends that have stimulating, nutritive, healing, and moistening actions. Five years later, I've created a line of potent herbal-infused face and body products under the brand "Mommy Turns Green" with the guiding principle "From Earth, For You, To Earth". Each product is a specially formulated blend of herbs grown, dried, and infused in jojoba oil by me, to give you a concentrated and easily absorbed formula that delivers a pure, healthy, and more effective dose. All my products are handmade from scratch in small batches and use low-waste packaging to align with the principles of sustainability.
Starting a skincare garden can be a bit daunting, with so many herbs to choose from. But, just like selecting vegetables for your garden, it's important to focus on what you love or would love to use in your skincare routine. There's no need to plant herbs that don't appeal to your skin type. I've listed my top five favorite skincare herbs. Trust me, herbs are so simple to grow, you'll likely end up adding even more to your garden next year. Happy gardening!
YARROW (Zones 3-9)
Parts Used: flowers
Yarrow is a perennial herb that is native to Europe and Asia. It is known for its feathery leaves and clusters of small, white, or yellow flowers. It is easy to grow and requires well-drained soil and full sun. Yarrow can be propagated by seed or division and once established, it can be quite drought tolerant. Yarrow's topical benefits include:
• Astringent properties to improve elasticity and tone, and provide antioxidant protection
• Vulnerary properties to assist deep healing from the inside out, help with the regeneration of new cellular growth, and provide a topical antiseptic effect
• Circulatory stimulant properties to promote local circulation and relieve superficial tension in the pores
• Cooling and inflammation-modulating properties to soothe redness due to minor skin irritations and wounds
• Provides healing benefits to the skin
CALENDULA (Zones 2-11)
Parts Used: flowers
Calendula, also known as Pot Marigold, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the daisy family. Resina is said to have the highest concentration of resins which makes it the most potent for herbal uses. It is native to the Mediterranean region and known for its bright yellow or orange flowers. It is easy to grow from seed and prefers well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. Calendula is a hardy plant and can tolerate a range of growing conditions. Calendula's topical benefits include:
• Astringent, to improve elasticity and tone and prevent scar tissue
• Vulnerary, to assist deep healing and help with the regeneration of new cellular growth
• Lymphatic, to maintain a healthy flow of lymphatic fluids
• Inflammation-modulating, to soothe redness due to minor skin irritations and wounds
• Provides antioxidant protection
TULSI (Zones 5-10)
Parts Used: flowers, leaves
Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil, is a perennial herb that is native to the Indian subcontinent. It is known for its green leaves and small, purple or white flowers. It is relatively easy to grow and prefers well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. Tulsi is drought tolerant once established and can be propagated by seed, cuttings, or division. It's a low-maintenance plant and can be grown in gardens or pots. Tulsi's topical benefits include:
• Antioxidant properties to neutralize free radicals and prevent oxidative stress and inflammation in the body
• Cooling and inflammation-modulating properties to reduce inflammation and redness on the skin and soothe irritated skin
• Antimicrobial properties to help prevent and treat skin infections and promote wound healing
• Promotes cell regeneration, hydration, and collagen production, slowing down the aging process
• Can help prevent and treat skin infections, reduce inflammation and redness and promote wound healing.
CHAMOMILE (Zones 3-9)
Parts Used: flowers
Chamomile is a perennial herb that is native to Europe and Asia. It is known for its small, daisy-like flowers and feathery leaves. It is relatively easy to grow and prefers well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. Chamomile is drought tolerant once established and can be propagated by seed, cuttings, or division. It's a low-maintenance plant and can be grown in gardens or pots. Chamomile's topical benefits include:
• Soothes redness and swelling associated with inflammation
• Has antimicrobial properties to cleanse and disinfect wounds
• Promotes faster healing of wounds
• Helps prevent suppuration and stagnation of fluids
• Modulates local inflammation
ARNICA (Zones 3-8)
Parts Used: flowers
Arnica is a perennial herb that is native to Europe and North America. It is known for its yellow, daisy-like flowers and hairy leaves. Arnica prefers well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. It can be propagated by seed, root division, or stem cuttings. Arnica is considered a low-maintenance plant and can be grown in gardens or pots. Arnica's topical benefits include: (Note: Arnica not be used on broken skin or taken internally.)
• Anti-inflammatory properties to reduce inflammation and relieve pain and discomfort associated with conditions such as arthritis, sore muscles, muscle strain, bruises, and sprains
• Analgesic properties to help reduce pain
• Circulatory stimulant properties to open up the capillary beds and drive blood, allowing stagnant blood to move, muscles to get fresh oxygenated blood, carry away waste products, reduce inflammation, heal wounds, and promote the growth of new tissue.
