Plants To Grow At Home For Skincare

You’re not alone if you’ve ever wanted to save money on skincare products. Skincare products are expensive and it’s hard to feel comfortable about some of the ingredients that you would trust more if they came from your garden. That’s why we put together a comprehensive guide of the best plants to grow at home for skincare. 

The best plants to grow at home for skincare include cilantro, rosemary, and aloe vera. Lavender, calendula, and turmeric are also great for your skin because of their antioxidant qualitites. Mix these plants with carrier oils, like coconut oil and olive oil, to turn them into essential oils for your skin. 

You can also ingest many of these plants and enjoy the skincare benefits without using them topically. However, it’s worth turning them into essential oils. Follow along as we highlight the best plants to grow at home for skincare. 

What Are The Best Plants For Skincare At Home?

1. Cilantro

Cilantro has many health benefits, whether you eat it or use it topically. You can turn cilantro into an essential oil, or simply use it as is. For example, some people mix ground cilantro with plain yogurt, rice powder, and coconut milk. 

You can rub this mixture on your face to help brighten dull-looking skin. Otherwise, you can blanch it, rinse it, mix it with oil, and blend it to create an essential oil. This is a great option if you don’t want to rub a complex solution on your face that you must wash off later. 

2. Rosemary

Rosemary is a plant that you don’t need to use topically to boost skin health. That’s because it’s loaded with antioxidants, which can reduce free radicals and protect your skin. Rosemary can also help with digestion, joint pain, and brain function. 

You can enjoy the skin benefits if you ingest rosemary via tea and food as well as use it topically. The best way to use rosemary topically is to turn it into an essential oil. It’s an easy process that can help you save a fortune on buying essential oils. 

All you must do is cut and dry the rosemary, then put it in a jar with carrier oil. Seal the jar, place it in a sunny spot near a window, and let it sit for up to 3 weeks. Use it a few times a week to boost your skin health. Of course, it isn’t a miracle cure, but it won’t hurt!

3. Lavender

Lavender is a garden staple that can brighten up many dishes, and it’s a great homegrown tea option. Ingesting lavender can help with headaches, cramps, and even mild insomnia. However, it can also work wonders to help boost skin health. 

You must wait to harvest lavender until at least 1/3rd of the flowers have opened. Next, cut the lavender back until it’s only about 6” tall. Store the stalk and flowers in a dry, dark space for a few weeks until the lavender is dry.

Now, you put the lavender in a glass jar and fill it with carrier oil. The carrier oil will infuse with the lavender, then you must strain the plant matter out. All that will be left behind is lavender oil, which you can put on your face. 

4. Calendula

Calendula is a common herb that is full of antioxidants, meaning it offers many health benefits. The presence of antioxidants alone has the potential to help keep your skin healthy. You can’t go wrong with keeping as many antioxidant-heavy herbs in your garden as possible. 

The best part is that you don’t even need to use it topically to enjoy the skin health benefits. It’s also effective for healing skin wounds, so it’s worth drinking calendula tea if you have cuts. Calendula tea tastes great, as it’s naturally mild and sweet. 

However, it doesn’t have a particularly strong taste, so it’s worth adding some lemon juice. Add stevia if you want to sweeten it, as it’s healthier than cane sugar. 

5. Turmeric

Curcumin is the main compound in turmeric, and it is great for skin health. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties can help keep your skin healthy and aid in wound recovery. Luckily, you can enjoy the benefits of turmeric whether you brew it as a tea or cook with it. 

Turmeric is consumed as commonly in the United States as it is in India, and it’s worth adding to your diet. Luckily, you can easily grow turmeric in your garden if you live in a humid, warm climate. Ideally, you should plant it in a spot with full sunlight exposure, but it can tolerate partial shade. 

Try to keep the top layer of soil consistently damp to encourage healthy growth. You can even grow turmeric indoors if you have grow lights. 

6. Chamomile

Not only is chamomile delicious but the presence of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds means it’s also quite healthy. Azulene is an anti-inflammatory compound found in chamomile, and many skincare products contain it. You can use it to reduce skin redness and keep your skin moist if you struggle with dryness. 

Azulene is invaluable if you’re sensitive to allergens that cause skin irritation. While you can eat chamomile, most people brew it as tea and drink it. You can kill two birds with one stone if you mix chamomile with lavender to enjoy more benefits. 

Growing chamomile at home is easy if you plant it in a bright, sunny area. You only need to give chamomile an inch of water per week throughout most stages of the growth cycle. Harvest it when it’s in full bloom, dry it, and drink it. 

7. Aloe Vera

You most likely know about aloe vera if you’ve tried several store-bought skincare products. This may lead you to believe that it’s only helpful if you use it topically. However, you can also enjoy aloe vera’s health benefits if you ingest it. 

To use aloe vera topically, you must extract the gel from the thick leaves. The best way to do this is to cut the leaves into small pieces and mix them with olive oil or coconut oil. Heat the mixture and strain it to remove the leaves, so only the oil remains. 

Store the aloe vera oil in an airtight container, and keep it in a dry, dark location. Now, all you must do is rub it on your skin as needed to enjoy smooth skin.

Summing It Up

Cilantro, rosemary, lavender, and calendula are some of the best plants to grow at home for skincare. You can also easily grow turmeric, chamomile, and aloe vera, which are all helpful for skincare. Many people turn these plants into essential oils using olive oil or coconut oil. 

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