Flowers aren’t just good for the environment – many of them are great for your skin too! Packed full of antioxidants, vitamins and other skin-boosting compounds, here are ten floral extracts that your skin will absolutely love.

Lavender

Lavender flowers

Just about everybody can recognize the distinct scent of lavender, with these flowers being among the most versatile when it comes to skin care. While there are over 400 different varieties of lavender out there, English lavender is what you want for your skin.

So, what makes lavender so great?

It tends to be most loved for its anti-aging effects. It basically increases the amount of oxygen that your skin cells receive, which enables them to function better, therefore promoting the growth of new skin cells. This regenerative action quickly gives the skin a healthy, revitalized glow.

Thanks to its powerful antioxidant, lavender is able to help neutralize the free radicals that would have otherwise damaged your skin’s protein fibers, saving your skin from fine lines, wrinkles and sagging.

If all of that was not enough, lavender also acts as an anti-inflammatory, while helping to keep the skin’s pH level balanced too.

Chamomile

Everyone from the ancient Egyptians to the ancient Greeks used to revere chamomile for its medicinal properties, and this hasn’t changed today. When many think of chamomile, the calming tea that is commonly made from the flowers is the first thing that comes to mind. Well, these same calming and soothing properties will translate to your skin too when chamomile is applied topically.

Chamomile boasts a number of impressive properties, such as:

  • Anti-fungal
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Antiseptic
  • Antibacterial

Thanks to its high antioxidant content, along with its hypoallergenic properties, chamomile is also able to reduce skin irritants while providing a few anti-aging benefits too.

While chamomile works well in a wide range of different formulas, you may find it useful to look for a cleanser that contains the botanical.

Why?

Because all of the properties mentioned above enable it to provide an effective cleanse, but in a soothing and gentle way that does not irritate the skin, no matter your skin type. Give the OROGOLD 24K Mousse Cleanser a try – not only does it contain chamomile, but it has also been formulated with several other antioxidant-rich botanical extracts and oils.

Wild Geranium

Loved for its vivid pink, purple and blue hues, wild geraniums contain an extremely potent oil that could benefit your skin in a number of different ways.

To begin with, wild geranium has cytophylactic properties.

Wondering what that means?

This means that the extract encourages skin cell turnover and the growth of new skin cells. This not only makes the ingredient great for skin healing, but also for maintaining a fresh and radiant complexion as you age.

Do you suffer from oily, acne-prone skin?

If so, this wild geranium extract could be a huge game-changer for you…

It boasts antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and also acts as an astringent and toner, thanks to its high concentration of tannins. All of this can really help to fight acne breakouts, keeping your skin looking clear and smooth.

Cactus

Have you ever thought about how cacti are able to survive in such harsh, dry, desert conditions?

It all comes down to the way in which their fleshy leaves and flowers are able to store large amounts of water. When applied topically to the skin, cactus flower extract is able to provide these unique powers to your skin cells – not only does the extract hydrate, but it also strengthens the skin’s natural protective barrier, therefore helping the skin to naturally retain more water on its own.

Cactus flower extract also contains a couple of important vitamins:

Vitamin A – one of the best skin vitamins out there, as it prevents breakouts, has anti-aging effects, and promotes natural moisturizing

Vitamin D – helps to prevent premature skin aging

Vitamin E – a powerful antioxidant that supports cell function and reduces UV damage

Vitamin K – promotes skin healing and also helps with stretch marks, due to its subtle lightening effect

Cactus flower extract may not be a very common ingredient, but it is most definitely powerful. This is a great one for those seeking anti-aging effects, as it softens, smooths and nourishes the skin.

Want to give cactus flower extract a try?

You’ll find this botanical in the OROGOLD 24K Neck Duo Treatment, which also contains several other skincare superstars, including vitamins A, C and E, sodium hyaluronate and multiple botanical extracts.

Hibiscus

Hibiscus flowers

Hibiscus is an extremely popular ornamental plant, because its bright, vibrant colors and trumpet-shaped flowers really make a statement, both in the garden as well as in the home.

While hibiscus is commonly drank as a tea by cultures all over the world, and has a few different internal health benefits, this flower can also work wonders on the skin.

Hibiscus is quite a unique ingredient, because this flower is a natural source of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), including malic acid and citric acid. If you already chemically exfoliate, then you will likely be well-familiar with the different AHAs out there, as well as the harsh effects they can have if over-used.

Well, that’s something you won’t need to worry about with hibiscus. The AHAs in this flower extract gently exfoliate, just like other AHAs do, but without causing any damage or irritation to the skin.

Just like all of the other flower extracts on this list, hibiscus is also brimming with antioxidants. However, where it stands out again is with its high mucilage content, which is a sticky substance that plants produce to help them store food and water. This mucilage helps to keep the plant nourished and hydrated, and applies these properties to your skin when used topically. What’s more, mucilage also makes for an amazing moisturizer, and is gentle enough to be used even on sensitive skin.

Passion Flower

Not to be confused with passionfruit, passion flower’s Latin name is passiflora, and this covers about 550 species of the plant. Each one is slightly unique when it comes to their flowers and foliage, but they all share the same benefits in terms of skin care.

The extract is a fantastic source of linolenic acid, which is an omega-6 fatty acid. Also known as vitamin F, linolenic acid helps to strengthen and protect the skin’s natural barrier, preventing pollutants and UV rays from causing damage, while leaving the skin looking moist and plump. This is a great ingredient for those who deal with dry skin, as linolenic acid can give your skin the push it needs to encourage it to better retain moisture on its own.

Thanks to its vitamin A and C content, passion flower extract can also help with brightening, while promoting skin cell turnover for a fresher, smoother and healthier complexion.

There are a wide range of antioxidants in passion flower – everything from quercetin and rutin to vitexin and apigenin can be found in the extract, making this a great anti-aging ingredient.

Calendula

The vivid yellow and orange flowers of the calendula plant (which some call the common marigold) are always a welcome sight in the summer months. Well, in addition to brightening up your garden, these flowers can also have quite the impact on your skin.

How?

Well, for starters, calendula is a powerful anti-inflammatory. This makes it an effective ingredient for treating:

  • Acne
  • Redness
  • Rosacea
  • Sunburns

Speaking of acne, thanks to calendula’s antiseptic properties, this botanical can actually really help in preventing breakouts.

Those with dry skin can benefit from it too, as calendula helps to condition the skin. It also promotes the natural production of collagen and elastin, making it a popular anti-aging ingredient. This is enhanced by its high antioxidant content, which protects against skin aging.

Some studies have also found that calendula could potentially have UV-protecting abilities. Although not enough is known about this yet to safely swap out your sunscreen for some calendula extract, combining this botanical with your daily sunscreen will likely help to maximize its effects.

For best results, try combining calendula with other soothing but antioxidant-rich ingredients, such as green tea extract and aloe vera. You will find all of these and more in the OROGOLD 24K Collagen Renewal Cream, which has been designed to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, for a complexion that looks smoother, softer and deeply hydrated.

Paracress

Also known as spilanthes acmella, or the toothache plant, paracress is a flowering herb with some very interesting properties…

Many turn to this plant as a natural alternative to Botox, and are happy with their results.

Wondering how this flower actually works?

It targets the muscles that lie beneath the skin, encouraging them to relax. This then smooths out any expression lines on your face, with results visible pretty much immediately. Using this ingredient daily only improves results even further, with this botanical having a cumulative effect on the skin.

The way in which paracress also stimulates fibroblast function helps to reorganize, as well as tighten, the collagen fibers in the skin. Collagen is key when it comes to healthy skin – these protein fibers give your skin its structure and volume, meaning that when collagen production declines with age, fine lines and wrinkles start to appear.

This makes paracress quite the superstar ingredient – not only is it able to provide instant results in terms of reducing the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles, but it also helps to maintain and strengthen the skin’s natural collagen in the long run.

You probably want to give paracress a try after hearing about its miraculous-sounding effects…

You will find the ingredient, along with several other anti-aging compounds, in the OROGOLD 24K Caviar Elastin Restoration – single-dose capsules that contain a silky solution that your skin will adore.

Rose

Rose is becoming an increasingly popular ingredient, and for good reason too. This classic flower brings with it a number of different skin benefits, and is suitable for use on all skin types.

Roses are a good source of many different nutrients, including:

  • Vitamins A, C, D and E
  • Essential fatty acids
  • Calcium

Many don’t realize that roses actually consist of 95% water, which makes them incredibly hydrating. It doesn’t take long for this botanical to plump up the skin, giving it the moisture it needs to thrive.

Roses are also known for their astringent and antiseptic properties, which is why this ingredient is commonly included in cleansers and toners. Many often use rose water on its own as a toner, and this can work quite well, especially for those with sensitive skin.

Cornflowers

A plant that belongs to the daisy family, cornflowers are instantly recognizable for their vivid blue hue – something that not many other plants have. In the past, these flowers have been used as a natural dye, as well as in tea blends, and some cultures have also used it for cosmetic purposes too.

Cornflowers have two main effects when applied to the skin. The first is its astringent properties, which cools and soothes the skin, similar to the way in which a toner works.

Cornflowers also condition the skin, helping to keep it moisturized and nourished so that it functions optimally.

For those seeking out another source of antioxidants, cornflowers are packed with polyphenols; anthocyanins and flavonoids to be precise. These are extraordinarily powerful at fighting free radicals, helping to protect your skin from premature aging, along with the other types of damage free radicals usually cause.

With more and more people turning towards skin care products formulated with natural ingredients, it always pays to know a little more about the many options out there. Flowers are often overlooked by many, but each of these gorgeous blossoms really packs a punch when included in a skin care formula, making it worth trying to incorporate more floral extracts into your skin care routine.