Nature’s Pharmacy: How Herbs Are Revolutionizing Skincare

As a young mother, I kept a small vegetable garden and stocked a few simple herbs in the medicine cabinet - peppermint for an upset stomach, chamomile tea to ease pink eye. But that was just the beginning . It wasn’t until I officially launched my soap business a few years ago that I truly began to explore the incredible potential of plants. That journey opened my eyes to their remarkable healing properties, and I came to see them not just as useful, but as almost magical allies in our everyday lives.

In a world saturated with lab-made skincare formulas and complicated ingredient lists, many, like me,  are turning back to what nature has always offered - herbs. For centuries, cultures around the globe have harnessed the healing power of plants to care for the skin. Now, with a growing interest in clean beauty and holistic wellness, herbs and wild plants (some known as weeds) are having a major moment in skincare.

But what makes herbs so special for our skin? Let’s explore how some of nature’s most powerful botanicals are revolutionizing modern skincare routines.

The Power of Herbs in Skincare

Herbs and wild plants are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and natural compounds that support the skin's healing processes. Whether you’re dealing with acne, dryness, sensitivity, or signs of aging, there’s likely a plant-based solution rooted in centuries of traditional use, and increasingly backed by modern science.

Three Herbs Your Skin & Body Will Love

Let's talk about some of my favorite herbs to use in skincare products:

1.  Green Tea

Green tea makes a tasty beverage and is incredibly beneficial because it's packed with polyphenols, especially catechins, which help neutralize free radicals in your body.  But did you know the same compounds that make green tea so good for your body are also really good for your skin?  These compounds protect skin from oxidative stress caused by UV rays, pollution, and pesticides, and help fight environmental stressors that lead to premature aging. 

 

By combating free radicals, green tea helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles and improves skin elasticity and firmness over time.  I use green tea in my dual purpose Moisturizing Eye & Face Balm, a formula that revitalizes the skin on your entire face.

2. Calendula (also known as Pot Marigold)

Calendula is a bright, cheerful flowering plant known for its yellow to deep orange blooms. It’s native to Southern Europe but cultivated around the world. Did you know calendula is edible? I sometimes use the pretty petals to jazz up my salads. 

 

This incredible herb is rich in antioxidants (flavonoids and carotenoids) and is known for its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and wound healing properties.  It's a powerful skin soother, and helps with dry or sensitive skin, minor wounds, rashes (including diaper rash), eczema, and sunburn. 

 

I grow this beauty in my little garden and steep the petals in olive oil to make Eczema Relief Balm and Healing Skin Salve .

3. Geranium

This flowering plant (specifically Pelargonium graveolens, also known as rose geranium) is a popular ingredient in natural skin care for its balancing, soothing, and regenerative properties.  When I was a child, my mother used the leaves of this everyday garden plant to flavor rice pudding (yum, the memories!) 

 

Rose Geranium is commonly used in the form of geranium essential oil and supports skin homeostasis, which means it encourages your skin to return to a healthy baseline - neither too oily nor too dry.  It has anti-inflammatory and soothing properties helpful for sensitive skin and rosacea, along with antimicrobial and astringent properties making it a good choice for refining skin texture and minimizing pores. It also stimulates circulation and supports cell regeneration, contains antioxidants that fight free radicals (helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles), and it supports skin elasticity and firmness.

 

Geranium essential oil is a star ingredient in Revive Face Oil and plays a supporting role in moisturizing Cuticle Oil.

 

How to Add Herbs to Your Skincare Routine

Adding herbs to your skincare routine is a beautiful, natural way to support your skin’s health. You can incorporate them in many forms, depending on your needs and preferences:

1. Herbal Infused Oils

Infuse dried herbs (like chamomile or lavender) in a carrier oil, such as jojoba, sweet almond, or olive oil, shaking daily over a six week period to extract all of the herbal goodness, and use it for moisturizing, calming inflammation, and delivering herbal benefits directly to your skin.

2. Herbal Teas as Toners or Face Mists

Brew a strong herbal tea using rose petals, green tea, or rosemary, let it cool, and apply with a cotton pad or spray bottle. This concoction gently tones, hydrates, and soothes skin without synthetic ingredients. Be sure to store your herbal tea in the refrigerator and use up within 7 days. Without a preservative, it's prone to growing mold and other nasties you don't want on your skin. 

3. Herbal Steams

Add herbs like chamomile, lavender, or thyme to a bowl of hot water. Drape a towel over your head and let your face absorb the steam for 5–10 minutes. This opens pores, loosens impurities, and allows herbal goodness to penetrate the skin. Do this with eucalyptus leaves and breathe in the steam to open stuffy noses or relieve sinus congestion.

 

A Note on Safety

Natural doesn’t always mean risk-free. Some herbs may trigger allergic reactions or interact with medications. If you’re pregnant, nursing, or have sensitive skin, consult a dermatologist or herbalist before experimenting.

 

Final Thoughts: Skin Deep, Nature’s Way

As a student of herbalism, I’m continually deepening my connection to the plant world, and herbs have become an essential part of both my daily life and the products I create and use. Many of these powerful allies are often dismissed as common weeds, but they hold centuries of wisdom and healing within their leaves, roots, and flowers. Herbs have stood the test of time because they truly work - offering a gentle, effective, and holistic alternative to conventional skincare. Whether used alone or blended into nourishing serums, balms, or infusions, they support the skin in ways that are both restorative and sustainable. Embracing herbs in skincare is more than a trend; it’s a return to harmony with nature, where beauty rituals nurture not just the skin, but also the earth and our connection to it.

 

Let me know in the comments if you use herbs in your skincare regimen and how they have helped you. Oh, and if you enjoyed reading this post, feel free to share on your social media platform.

 

(All photos are the property of Blue Jewel Handcrafted and its owner)