Chamomile has been a vital part of folk medicine for centuries due to its gentle, soothing properties. Today, many people harness the ancient wisdom of chamomile flowers to create nourishing teas and skincare products.
Here’s what you should know about the soothing and nourishing benefits of chamomile for the skin.
What Is Chamomile?
Chamomile is a dainty flowering herb with native variants in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Chamomile can grow and thrive almost anywhere, and it’s been cultivated in the U.S. for a few hundred years. Chamomile flowers look a lot like small daisies, and while both can be beneficial for your skin, chamomile’s gentle soothing effects make it a skincare favorite.
There are nearly a dozen types of chamomile — most of these varieties of chamomile are wild-grown herbs that serve to promote a vital balance in the harmony of nature. Most types of chamomile are used simply to add beauty to a garden or hillside; however, there are two types of chamomile that have powerful soothing abilities for the body.
Chamomile has been used throughout history to create herbal preparations for digestive upset, skin concerns, and mood modulation. It’s one of the most historically important flowers in the foundation of apothecary science.
The two most commonly utilized species of chamomile are Roman chamomile, a fragrant ornamental variety that people use to create decorative chamomile gardens, and German chamomile, the phytonutrient-rich variety of chamomile used to create wellness and self-care products.
What Is Chamomile Used for?
Chamomile is a versatile herb that can be ingested or applied topically, and the benefits depend on the way you choose to use it. Ingested chamomile won’t work quite the same way as the chamomile you apply to your face or body, and vice versa.
Teas and Tonics
Chamomile flowers have a very herbaceous flavor and aroma. It’s a distinctively earthy smell and flavor that many people find soothing.
Chamomile is used to flavor teas and tonics while infusing them with soothing benefits. It’s often the primary ingredient in herbal bedtime teas, where it’s included as a natural calming aid to help you unwind.
Skin and Body Care Products
Chamomile can also have soothing benefits for the skin. Chamomile is packed with skin-healthy antioxidants that work to protect the surface of the skin from the damaging effects of free radicals. Free radicals are a part of everyday life, and over time, they can cause signs of aging like dullness, wrinkles, and dark spots.
Chamomile naturally defends itself in the wild against bacteria, fungi, and pests. These natural defensive properties can lend a hand to a balanced skin microbiome, which in turn supports your skin’s ability to resist blemish-causing bacteria.
Chamomile may also work to reduce visible redness in sensitive, breakout-prone, or chapped skin, and it can help support overall skin health by strengthening the protective barrier your skin needs to heal. Essentially, this flower can support your skin as it works to naturally find its proper balance.
Who Should Use Chamomile-Infused Skincare Products?
Chamomile skincare products are gentle and versatile enough for almost everyone to use. Chamomile is a gentle, natural ingredient suited to most skin types. Those with mild skin irritation or sensitive skin may find that using chamomile can help soothe irritation and restore a healthy-looking glow.
Chamomile can also help support your skin through its natural healing process. If you’ve recently exfoliated your skin or had a chemical peel, chamomile can help to soothe any residual redness and support your skin’s natural barrier.
Chamomile may also soothe dry and irritated skin. In an age where people are more interested in effective, natural, and gentle remedies for their skin concerns, chamomile is a powerful and ancient remedy that brings the best that Mother Nature has to offer.
How Can You Use Chamomile in Your Skincare?
Skincare products enriched with chamomile are easy to use, as there are no special preparations or indications for chamomile skincare products. They can be used on a daily basis in conjunction with your other skincare products.
Oil derived from chamomile flowers is typically used to make skincare products with a balm or salve-like texture. Chamomile is rich in fatty plant acids, which makes chamomile extract very thick and rich.
When you use a chamomile balm or salve, your body heat will naturally melt the balm as your skin absorbs the nutrients. While you massage it into your skin, the chamomile can impart its soothing and nourishing benefits.
Since chamomile can work to support the skin barrier, try to use chamomile products that contain other nourishing ingredients, such as organic, extra virgin olive oil or cocoa butter. After all, every product you apply to your skin will have an effect. This is why it’s so important to use ingredients that will help your skin, not harm it.
Chamomile-infused moisturizers or cleansing balms can leave a safe, protective layer of active botanical oils and antioxidants behind, even after you rinse your face. These products can act as a natural shield throughout the day as they continuously impart nourishing benefits.
Soothe Your Skin With Furtuna Skin Cleansing Oil Balm
Our Cleansing Oil Balm is more than just a cleanser.
Traditional cleansers strip the skin’s natural barrier as they wash away dirt and makeup residue. In contrast, Furtuna Skin’s Cleansing Balm is powered by active botanicals that work to nourish the skin while gently removing impurities.
In this luxurious formula, chamomile works in conjunction with active botanicals like wild organic mallow, wild organic beet, and wild organic poppy to moisturize the skin and create an antioxidant barrier to help protect the skin from environmental damage.
It’s a cleanser that continues to provide benefits even after you’ve washed your face. After all, active botanicals belong on your skin — not in your sink.
Sources:
Chamomile | American Botanical Council
Antioxidants in dermatology | National Institutes of Health
German chamomile Information | Mount Sinai - New York
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