What is Plant Based Skincare?

Plant based skin care refers to natural ingredients that come from plants. Look for organic and farmed ingredients (like squalene that comes from shark liver oil or stearic acid from tallow) to ensure you are getting the best results and helping prevent overharvesting.

Many plant-based products also feature natural humectants and hydrocolloids that can add a nice, natural texture to the skin. This is a great way to avoid chemical polymers that can damage the skin and the environment.

Nourishing

The ingredients in plant-based skin care are nourishing to the skin. Ingredients such as fatty oils like avocado, sesame and olive can help improve dryness while other ingredients may be used to soothe and calm the skin.

You will notice that your skin looks more glowing and healthy when you use a plant-based product. This is a result of natural and organic plants providing nutrients to your skin that synthetic products cannot.

You also have the bonus that many of these nutrient-rich plants are organically grown or farmed which helps prevent overharvesting in the wild and support farmers around the world. Look for notation on the ingredients list to see these organic ingredients. It is also important to note that if you are looking for a truly plant-based product that the plant ingredients should make up the bulk of the ingredients on the label. If you do not see this, you could be purchasing a plant-based product that is a mix of plants and synthetics.

Gentle

Plant based skincare is gentle to the skin, especially when they contain natural plant extracts like aloe vera and tea tree oil. These ingredients offer a variety of benefits to the skin, such as soothing, moisturizing, and antimicrobial properties.

One of the reasons plant based skincare is so gentle is that plants are rich in phytonutrients, which are beneficial compounds that cannot be replicated in a lab. This makes it easier for plant based skincare to have more powerful effects than synthetics, which often contain only a single chemical ingredient.

When it comes to choosing a plant based skincare product, look for the plant ingredients listed first on the ingredients list. A good rule of thumb is to choose a product that contains mostly plant derived ingredients and only a few synthetics. You can also check the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database or the Think Dirty app for easy ways to learn about a products potential toxicity before you buy it.

Environmentally friendly

Plant-based skincare often uses natural, non-toxic ingredients that are not harmful to the environment or your skin. They also do not contain any harsh chemicals like parabens, sulfates and phthalates that can have harmful long-term effects on your skin.

Unlike synthetic ingredients, natural, whole plant-based skincare contains a wide range of different nutrients and beneficial properties. For example, aloe vera reduces trans-epidermal water loss to hydrate the skin; chamomile extract soothes, detoxifies and replenishes; lavender oil provides anti-inflammatory benefits for all skin types.

In addition, many plant-based skincare brands are environmentally friendly and ethical. They use organic ingredients and are cruelty free, and they source their products from farms that do not deplete soil fertility or hinder biodiversity.

They also use paperboard packaging and glass jars that are recyclable, biodegradable or compostable. And they make an effort to avoid cultural appropriation, which involves using names or images from another culture without permission. This can harm that culture and cause confusion and misappropriation of its symbols, traditions and heritage.

Vegan

For those who are vegan or just want to reduce the amount of animal products in their beauty routine, plant based skincare can be the answer. These products are often formulated with raw, unprocessed plant oils that nourish the skin and leave it feeling silky soft.

They are also usually formulated with natural ingredients like green tea extract which has been shown to protect the skin from free radicals and improve its elasticity. This is especially beneficial for people with sensitive skin.

Another benefit of using plant based products is that they are usually free from drying chemicals and fragrances that can irritate the skin and cause it to react. When choosing a plant based product look for the ingredients list and make sure that the majority of the listed items are plant derived (you can often tell this by their Latin names, so don’t be alarmed if an ingredient looks like it may be a magic spell – Glycyrrhiza glabra is the botanical name of licorice, after all). The products should also be cruelty-free and not tested on animals.