Botanical beauty

Botanical beauty

Green is the word: get back to nature this spring by choosing products packed with botanical extracts.

Why botanicals? You’ve seen the word…but what do we mean by botanicals – and why are they so good for our skin?

Very simply, botanicals originate from plants; this could be herbs, berries, roots, flowers, fruits, leaves or seeds. When used in beauty, botanical extracts usually come in oil or powdered form, enhancing the quality of skincare products and providing a natural alternative to synthetic ingredients.

Botanicals have been used for many years (rumour has it, Cleopatra used black cumin seed oil as a beauty treatment) with many ingredients tried and tested exhaustively by skincare specialists to prove their effectiveness.

Many botanicals are extracted from common sources including cucumber, green tea, grape seed and chamomile. Some are more effective than others: the botanical ingredients used commonly in beauty products (lemon, kaolin, lavender, rosehip, rosemary, cranberry seed, mint…) are used so frequently because they have powerful, proven properties. Exotic sounding botanical ingredients are always tempting (and worth trying) – but the old favourites really can be relied on.

Go botanical this spring

Check out our edit of products packed with botanical ingredients at Beauty Flash:

Allowing you to smooth the skin’s surface with botanical extracts, Dermalogica’s Active Moist provides effective oil-free hydration without leaving a greasy after-feel. A lightweight, oil-free lotion for daily moisture protection that actively combats surface dehydration, this product combines lemon fruit, ivy, watercress and burdock (natural astringents that help refine skin) with lavender, mallow and cucumber fruit (soothing extracts that help provide deep hydration).

With a scientific blend of virgin botanical oils and precious floral water, Decleor’s new Aroma Cleanse Bi Phase Cleanser perfectly cleanses your skin and boosts its radiance. Boasting a 99% natural origin, powered by effective actives in a pampering texture, Bi Phase cleanses, refreshes, softens, plumps and soothes even sensitive skin.

Water-soluble bentonite and kaolin clays combine with purifying botanical extracts and refreshing menthol in Dermalogica’s Dermal Clay Cleanser, working to remove excess oils and refine the skin’s texture. Great for deep cleansing oily, congested skin, the naturally astringent plant extracts help to prevent future breakouts.

A 100% natural multi-purpose product, Decleor’s new Cica-Botanic Balm combines centella asiactica, to reduce skin irritation, with powerful essential oils including eucalyptus, rosemary and geranium to soothe, repair and protect. This product nourishes skin and relieves extreme dry patches, leaving skin less irritated and more comfortable.

Medik8’s Gentle Cleanse is a delicate, non-exfoliating yet deeply purifying rosemary infused foaming wash suitable for all skin types. Harnessing the power of organic rosemary, a powerful botanical antioxidant, this sumptuous foaming cleansing wash removes impurities without stripping the skin’s natural, essential moisture. It leaves even the most sensitive skin feeling refreshed and glowing.

A sulphate-free cleanser designed to purify, refresh and gently balance, Balance Me’s 99% natural Pure Skin Face Wash contains spruce knot, a purifying antioxidant, rich in vitamin E and renowned for its balancing and skin regulating properties; botanical rice bran oil, rich in essential fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamin E to balance the skin’s natural protective barrier; and botanical moringa oil, with skin-rejuvenating and anti-inflammatory properties.

Designed for mature or prematurely ageing skin around the eye area, Dermalogica’s Age Smart Age Reversal Eye Complex harnesses antioxidant vitamin C, powerful peptides and botanical extracts, working in harmony to fortify and smooth your skin. It targets areas of concern around the eye area, primarily wrinkles and crow’s feet, plus puffiness, dark circles due to hyperpigmentation and skin sensitivity due to dehydration.

Clinically proven to reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks in just eight weeks, Decleor’s Cica-Botanic Oil contains a unique blend of nine botanical oils including Decleor’s hero ingredient, bourrache oil (also known as starflower oil), which has a high amount of GLA, a fatty acid which has been shown to correct deficiencies in skin lipids and increase skin’s elasticity.

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