Herbal anti aging facial masks aren’t a new trend but one that has gained popularity and effectiveness as we blend certain ingredients together to achieve the most potent result. There is more to it than just ending up with healthy facial skin. An herbal anti aging facial mask can offer the body nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins that are absorbed through the facial skin and passed through the entire bloodstream promoting overall body wellness. However, to accomplish this sounds easier than it is. There are nearly an infinite amount of natural facial skin care ingredients. Lets examine some of the most effective ingredients found in herbal anti aging facial masks.

Rosemary – The anti aging compounds in rosemary strengthen tiny capillaries and stimulate circulation, promoting, toning and binding of loose facial skin.

Lavender – Well known for its gentle, soothing, relaxing and anti aging balancing effects, lavender calms facial skin irritations and has anti-microbial and anti-parasitic properties. Lavender prevents facial tissue degeneration and promotes the growth of new facial skin cells. It is one of the most useful natural ingredients for overall healthy facial skin and balances all skin types.

Aloe Vera – Widely used in herbal medicine, and originally an African plant, aloe vera has therapeutic properties including anti-inflammation, anti-fungal, anti-viral and promotes overall facial skin rejuvenation. Its compounds stimulate epidermal growth and cellular repair ideal for an anti aging facial mask.

Basil – A native Asian herb, basil is used in Ayurvedic medicine to balance the facial skin and reduce cellular fatigue. It has anti aging properties, which include cellular stimulation and elasticity toning.

Green Tea – A highly antioxidant herb with potent anti-inflammatory agents. Green tea proactively reduces free radicals and helps maintain the quantity of collagen found in skin cells. These anti aging characteristics keep facial skin firm and elastic, while flavonoids provide vitamins to protect the facial skin. Methylxanthines in Green Tea stimulate microcirculation and positively influence the tone and overall health of the skin.

Mint – An aromatic facial herb used for its cleansing and refreshing properties, it also has natural anti-bacterial properties as well as its anti aging characteristics.

In addition to these top herbal anti aging facial mask ingredients, there are vitamins that offer substantial anti aging and nutritional value.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) – Vitamin C is an antioxidant directly responsible the production of collagen. This vitamin helps prevent premature skin aging and balances the pH of the facial skin.

Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate) – This plant derived antioxidant used to stabilize and assist in the absorption of other skin care ingredients. Vitamin E protects facial skin against UV damage, prevents premature skin aging through moisturizing, reducing free radicals, and preventing cross-linking of proteins related to DNA degradation. It also protects natural enzymes found in skin cells, which keep the skin functioning and healthy.

Vitamin B – An essential micronutrient needed for cellular regeneration. It is a key element in energy metabolism. It also is required for nerve and muscle growth, all crucial elements in anti-aging.

Each anti aging facial ingredient plays a crucial role in providing the most effective synergistic combination. With the increase of organic farming many of these herbal anti aging ingredients have become more available on a global scale. The end result is a superior natural skin care product that has stood through the test of time and been refined to near perfection. Herbal anti aging facial masks are available through a select group of natural skin care companies focused on providing chemical free skin care products. Be sure to research the type of anti aging product you are using and give an herbal anti aging facial mask a try.

Visit www.momsskincare.com to learn more about herbal anti aging facial masks

Anti oxidant rich ingredients like cranberries, goji berries, and blueberries are being infused with traditional natural skin care products to offer more than just a skin product for your body. These natural skin care infusions are being studied to determine the ultimate effects on the nutrition of the body. Many are finding the skin is able to absorb these ingredients the same way as when the body ingests them. This could mean big things for the natural skin care product market. Essentially people could get some of there daily nutritional needs from that application of topical skin care products.

Although this seems like a new concept natural skin care practices like this have been found for centuries in holistic medicine. The skin offers an incredible versatile delivery system for the body. The key is to create a natural skincare ingredient which includes the type of anti oxidant which can be absorbed and penetrate the skin. Obviously smashing some blueberries on your skin will not have the same effect as eating them. However with advancements in bioactive ingredients which will allow attachment of anti oxidants from natural fruits and berries, the percentage rate of absorption sky rockets.

The natural skin care product market is able to join the advancement scientific research to offer more than before. This means many natural skin care product ingredients which could not be used for cosmeceutical purposes now can. Natural skin care has the support of an aging population looking for improved alternatives to their health. As new natural skin care ingredients are introduced the more demand they create meaning the supply will continue to grow and support the additional development of these new infusion based natural skin care anti oxidant ingredients.

The purposes of prostaglandins include lowering blood pressure, reducing risks of blood clotting, stimulating the immune system, and regulating brain function. Animal studies at the University of Pennsylvania have also shown them to prevent arthritis. This is also being studied in humans trials in Europe with similar results. The source of EFA’s in these studies has been Evening Primrose Oil.

Preliminary studies in Sweden are relating Evening Primrose Oil to an anti-oxidant in that it also counter acts the formation of free radicals. Free radicals are most often associated with the aging process. Maintaining health is just one of the benefits of Evening Primrose Oil. It is also being studied extensively in England and Europe for its pain reduction in association with arthritis, controlling complications of diabetes, controlling liver and kidney damage due to alcohol, depression, Multiple sclerosis, skin/hair/nail repair, and most impressively, controlling sever symptoms of PMS.  It is extremely effective as a natural skincare ingredient to treat dry skin and eczema.

A study at St. Thomas Hospital in London found that when PMS suffers were given evening primrose oil three times daily, 67% of the participants were symptom-free and 22% achieved partial relief. (In all total, 89% had positive results with the evening primrose oil.) Although not as popular in the United States, Evening Primrose Oil is available at most health food stores and nutrition centers. And, as more studies become available, we will find why Evening Primrose Oil was commonly called the “King’s Cure All” in 17th Century England.

Sage belongs to the mint family, which consists of several fragrant herbs whose volatile oils are valued by those who appreciate their healing value. Sage also works in decreasing perspiration. This is of value to people who live in extremely warm climates and also in deodorant preparations. The essential oil in sage is comprised of camphor, cineole, thujone and borneol. These put together are antimicrobial, which destroys or stops the growth of disease causing microorganisms, and antispasmodic, which relieves or prevents spasms. An antioxidant compound called a flavonoid is present to add to the antimicrobial action in sage extract. Phenolic acids are also present as strong antioxidants and explain sage’s ability to preserve.

Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii)

Shea butter is known especially for its cosmetic properties as a moisturizer and emollient. It is also a known anti-inflammatory agent. Shea butter is marketed as being effective at treating the following conditions: fading scars, eczema, burns, rashes, acne, severely dry skin, blemishes, dark spots, skin discolorations, chapped lips, stretchmarks, wrinkles, and in lessening the irritation of psoriasis. Due to its emollient properties it helps in relaxing the tension in the face skin thus easing skin respiration.

Safflower Seed Oil (Carthamus Tinctorius)

It has a high content of unsaturated fatty acids but should be mixed with anothercarrier oil with good antioxidant qualities to increase the shelf life of this oil, since it can go rancid quickly. Safflower oil would be a suitable base to work from, but it is recommended to add other carrier oils to it. Safflower massage oil has great moisturizing qualities which makes it a good choice to include when mixing a massage oil or preparing a carrier oil blend.

Sorbitan Olivate

This is an olive oil derived ingredient used as an emulsifier (helps blend ingredients that can’t usually blend together) or to make a gel-like formula. It is usually used together with cetearyl olivate Sorbitan olivate can cause an allergic reaction for some

Stearic Acid (coconut source)

A fatty acid derived solely from vegetable oils that help the consistency of emulsions

Sucrose / Glycerlyl stearate (sugar emulsifier)

Plant sugars combined with plant oil fatty acids by simple, non-toxic processes to make a biodegradable surfactant and emulsifier. It is gentle to the skin with a softening, cooling, moisturizing and anti-microbial effect. Naturally, BSE and GMO free.

Sunflower oil

In cosmetics, it has smoothing properties and is considered noncomedogenic. Only the high-oleic variety possesses shelf life sufficient for commercial cosmetic formulation.

 Titanium Dioxide

Titanium dioxide is a non-reactive, stable compound that has virtually no dermal penetration in tests. It provides a opacity and physical barrier which does not penetrate the skin. Titanium dioxide has a high refractive index and high UV aborbtion capabilities. Because of these properties, it is commonly used in sunscreen as an active SPF ingredident.

Tocopherol (Vitamin E)

Natural Vitamin E and related tocopherols can be derived from many plant oils, especially wheat and soy. Vitamin E has antioxidant effects, which help to support the stability of other ingredients (oils, fats) in a cosmetic product. Especially effective is a combination of tocopherol and ascorbyl palmitate. Ascorbyl palmitate has a synergistic effect and increases the efficacy of tocopherol.                               

Undecylenoyl Glycine

Undecylenoyl glycine (UG) is an esterified derivative of glycine, its chemical structure is similar to natural lipo-amino acid such as lipoprotein in live biological body. UG is an important ingredient in cosmetics. It can keep skin natural ecosystem, effectively eliminate acne and kill a lot of G+ and G- bacteria. It is suitable to oily and neutral skin.

Vegetable Glycerin

Vegetable glycerine is used in cosmetics and body care products to assist in retaining moisture and is helpful in pulling oxygen into the skin. Vegetable glycerine is a natural emollient that adds a cooling effect on the skin and has become a predominant ingredient in most skin care products and soaps. Vegetable glycerine is also the principal medium for the manufacturing of non-alcohol based herbal extracts, which are called glycerites. This makes for a sweet alcohol free extract that can be easily administered to children, animals and those with alcohol sensitivities.

Xantham gum

A natural carbohydrate gum produced by a yeast-like organism. Used as an emulsifier and thickener to help with consistency and stability of creams. Xanthan gum is not affected by temperature, salt, pH or enzymes In cosmetics xanthan gum is used to prepare water gels usually in conjunction with bentonite clays. Is also used in oil-in-water emulsions to help stabilise the oil droplets against coalescence. It has some skin hydrating properties.

 Ylang ylang oil

The essential oil of ylang-ylang is used in aromatherapy. It is believed to relieve high blood pressure, normalize sebum secretion for skin problems, and is considered to be an aphrodisiac.

Zinc Oxide

Zinc oxide is a white mineral pigment with skin-protecting properties including deodorizing and antibacterial. It is a used as a barrier ingredient which repels water and moisture.  Zinc has strong reflectant and UV absorbing properties so it is commonly used in sunscreen as an active SPF ingredident.

The essential oils are aromatic essences extracted from plants, flowers, trees, fruits, bark, grasses and seeds with distinctive therapeutic, psychological, and physiological properties, which improve and prevent illness. There are about 150 essential oils. Most of these oils have antiseptic properties; some are antiviral, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, antidepressant and expectorant. Other properties of the essential oils which are taken advantage of in aromatherapy are their stimulation, relaxation, digestion improvement, and diuretic properties. To get the maximum benefit from essential oils, it should be made from natural, pure raw materials. Synthetically made oils do not work.

Aromatherapy is one of the fastest growing fields in alternative medicine. It is widely used at home, clinics and hospitals for a variety of applications such as pain relief for women in labor pain, relieving pain caused by the side effects of the chemotherapy undergone by the cancer patients, and rehabilitation of cardiac patients. There is a growing body of scientific evidence for the many skin benefits of essential oils. Dr. Pratima Raichur, author of Absolute Beauty , (Harper Collins, 1996), points out that nearly all essential oils are anti-microbial and recommends them as part of her Ayurvedic approach to each skin condition, which, according to Ayurvedic principles, is determined by one’s specific body type, or “dosha.” For most oily or “Kapha” skin, she recommends lavender and clary sage to normalize oil production. For sensitive, “Pitta” skin, and acne rosacea, sandalwood, rose and jasmine to calm the skin. For dry, “Vata” skin, neroli, sweet orange and geranium to balance and hydrate.

Essential oils stimulate the powerful sense of smell. Many know the odors we smell have a significant impact on how we feel. In dealing with patients who have lost the sense of smell, doctors have found that a life without fragrance can lead to high incidence of psychiatric problems such as anxiety and depression. We have the capability to distinguish 10,000 different smells. It is believed that smells enter through cilia (the fine hairs lining the nose) to the limbic system, the part of the brain that controls our moods, emotions, memory and learning.

Studies with brain wave frequency has shown that smelling lavender increases alpha waves in the back of the head, which are associated with relaxation. Fragrance of Jasmine increases beta waves in the front of the head, which are associated with a more alert state.
Scientific studies have also shown that essential oils contain chemical components that can exert specific effects on the mind and body. Their chemistry is complex, but generally includes alcohols, esters, ketones, aldehydes, and terpenes.

In addition to their balancing effects, using essential oils and products made from them instead of conventionally scented skin and bath products, will spare your skin the stress of the number one ranking skin irritant: synthetic fragrance. Essential oil blends for a variety of skin types that also include super-antioxidants and marine extracts in their formulas and several others all offer balancing oils that actually can detoxify, regenerate and balance oil production in the skin.