To put it quite frankly, botanical extracts used in skincare are basically plant extracts. You know, the aloes or the soy, or the green teas or the black…or the white. Sometimes, it might seem a bit far-fetched with the way brands market them: “plant-based formulations” or “all natural formulas” but more often than not, they’re poorly defined. After all, certain synthetics have to be used to stabilise formulas and to put it simply, stop your skincare from going bad too fast.
What is the point of this story about botanic extracts in skincare then? To be frank again and in the simplest way possible, the concentration of the extracts are high enough to really make a difference. The proof is sometimes in their pudding-like formula for some of them.
Pictured Above: Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask: Working in tandem with your skin’s nighttime recovery process, the black tea extract and firming peptides visibly lift the skin with two to three uses while hyaluronic acid blankets your skin in soothing hydration. You can even leave it on in the day as an ultra-hydrating mask.
Leonor Greyl Crème Régénératrice: Free of all the nasties like SLS, silicones, parabens and coal tar, the key ingredient in this formula is a bamboo extract that revives even the most damaged of hair. And yes, it even works on coloured hair from the darkest shade of red to the most vibrant of green without stripping it.
Malin+Goetz Grapefruit Face Cleanser: The botanical extracts used in this skincare is a natural grapefruit extract that is high in Vitamin C which doesn’t cause sensitisation and a coconut based one that helps it foam up to a thick cream. It even contains amino acids that enhances the moisture level of the skin.
Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask – Extreme Detoxifying Hydrator: 10 kinds of botanical extracts in this skincare product each have a different purpose. Ones like orange, lemon or papaya gently chemically exfoliate away dead skin cells and soothing ones like cucumber and aloe vera help to hydrate and soothe away sensitisation.
Porcelain Natural Skin Refiner: An enzyme based exfoliator that works even better than a manual one, the botanical extracts are aloe vera and soy beans that condition and soothe. The exfoliating part comes from natural based enzymes like Vitamin A and C that does the job without causing sensitisation.
Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge™ Pore Remedy Moisturizer: The cooling sensation from one of the most potent use of botanical extracts in skincare comes from the use of eucalyptus that works with green tea and kelp to absorb excess oil. It even contains two kinds of acids that lifts and loosens dead skin cells.
Origins DRINK UP™ Nourishing Avocado Lip Butter: Eight kinds of botanical extracts are used in this 2-in-1 treatment but the stand outs are apricot oil, avocado butter and mango seed butter that locks in moisture post-use and into the next morning. The % used? A whopping 94%.
Once you’re done with this story about botanical extracts in skincare, click here to catch up with our October 2021 issue.
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