Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia and Officinalis), also known as lavender, is a shrub that usually does not exceed one meter in height. It stands out for its small violet flowers with a wonderful perfume , which are grouped together forming spikes. This plant has been used for its medicinal properties for centuries and is now also a common ingredient in cosmetics. Lavender essential oil and extract are used in massage oils and perfumes, but also in face and body creams, shampoos and other skin and hair care products Kambo.
Lavender blooms in July and it is a real spectacle to see the fields in bloom. Furthermore, you no longer have to go to French Provence to admire it, 100 kilometers from Madrid, in Brihuega (Guadalajara) you can enjoy lavender fields.
What properties does lavender have?
Lavender is attributed with sedative, anti-inflammatory, digestive, antibacterial , healing, antiseptic properties… As for the field of cosmetics, it is stringent, antioxidant and antimicrobial . In the composition of lavender we find mainly tannins (with astringent and anti-inflammatory properties), flavonoids (antioxidants), rosmaniric and ursolic acids (anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant) and terpene alcohols.
Uses of lavender in cosmetics
– Due to its numerous properties, lavender has a lot of uses. Among the best known, it stands out as relaxing . It is used to reduce stress and anxiety , lower blood pressure and facilitate sleep. It is therefore a very common active ingredient in aromatherapy, where it is used in oils and also diffuser mixtures.
– It also promotes digestion and prevents dizziness.
– Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it is used to soothe muscle pain and headaches .
– Due to its antiseptic and astringent properties, it is used in creams and products that help improve different skin conditions such as itching, burns, eczema, and wounds.
– Due to its bacterial properties, it is also used to improve respiratory problems such as colds.
– In cosmetics, its antioxidant power makes it a common active ingredient in anti-wrinkle creams and treatments . It is also used in treatments to combat acne due to its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, and in creams for oily skin, as it cleans pores and regulates excess sebum.
– On the other hand, lavender is also common in hair care products, balancing the pH of the scalp, cleaning deeply, reducing oil, and helping to combat dandruff and hair loss.