Nature has many beauty cures. Plants, herbs, and flowers are the foundation, main ingredient, or synthetic ingredient in some of the best skin care products on the market. Many herbs are underutilized. This article covers some plant-based skin-regenerating ingredients as well as the underappreciated benefits of plant power.

ROSEMARY 

Rosemary grows almost everywhere, making it a plant that is widely sustainable. An ingredient is beneficial when it can be easily replaced once removed. For centuries, rosemary has been used to treat wounds and acne. It is an underutilized antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties derived from carnosol or carnosic and ursolic acids. These acids are used in traditional medicine, pharmacy, and cosmetics, which is why many do not think of rosemary as anything other than a natural preservative, atmospheric scent, or kitchen ingredient. With inflammation at the root of almost every skin condition and concern, an anti-inflammatory ingredient like rosemary is critical to any practice. Historically, rosemary has been used to treat inflammatory diseases, wounds, skin cancer, and mycoses. Rosemary has also been implemented to treat cellulite, baldness, ultraviolet ray damage, aging, and a variety of other pathological and nonpathological conditions. It is currently being studied as a treatment for a variety of cancers, including skin cancer, with promising results. Rosemary contains polyphenols, diterpenes, and flavonoids, all of which play important roles in fighting both extrinsic and intrinsic aging. According to some studies, the diterpenes carnosol and carnosic acid account for up to 90% of rosemary’s antioxidant activity. In vivo studies have shown that rosemary reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, which aids in skin health by removing inflammation that can transfer from the gut to skin through the circulatory system. Rosemary has also been linked to the treatment of fungal skin conditions and acne due to its antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Rosemary has been used successfully in both eastern and western medicine to treat neurological, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, menstrual, hepatic, reproductive, respiratory, and other skin disorders. Rosemary’s antiplatelet activity regulates sebum and skin and protects and soothes skin conditions such as impaired barrier, eczema, psoriasis, acne, atopic dermatitis, and other chronic inflammatory conditions. 

Sash Moreaux has been a licensed aesthetician since 2006, a licensed aesthetics instructor since 2017, and CEO and founder of Meaux Co Pro LLC. In this phase of her aesthetics journey, Moreaux leads a team of licensed aestheticians providing free and low-cost advanced skin care education and mentoring to other licensed professionals. A big believer in supporting the aesthetician community and respecting all humans and mother earth, Moreaux supports the aesthetics community with wholesale pricing and no minimum orders, including free mentoring and small batch, handmade skin care that is earth loving and sustainable. All her mentors and educators are licensed as well; she believes skin care advice should come from a professional. Moreaux holds college education from Missouri State University and Arizona State University as well as licensing and certification from Missouri College of Esthetics.