Homegrown Plants to Nourish Your Skin This Winter

Whenever we’re faced with a skincare problem, it’s always worthwhile to consider the many all-natural, plant-based healing possibilities offered to us.

 

Winter’s frosty air, biting winds, and indoor heat can leave our skin feeling dull and parched. Fortunately, plants can provide salvation for our skin during this desiccating season, both in the form of natural skin care products and easy-to-make homegrown herbal remedies. Winter plants not only brighten the season with their resilience and beauty but also offer incredible benefits for natural skincare remedies, making them a thoughtful addition to any routine. Here are five remarkable plants that can help you soothe your skin this winter, as well as some rejuvenating professional care alternatives!  

 

Addressing Winter Redness and Irritation with Plants

Plants like chamomile and aloe vera are incredibly effective at healing common winter skin redness and irritation. A chamomile-infused facial mist or aloe vera gel can work wonders by calming irritated skin, reducing redness, and restoring a healthy complexion. Including these plant-based remedies into your routine offers relief from winter irritation and a natural approach to nurturing your skin during the colder months. Here are five easy-to-grow plants that work wonders for your skin, along with how you can incorporate them into your winter skincare regimen this year:

 

1. Lavender: The Soothing Elixir

Lavender is more than just an aesthetic garden favorite; this versatile plant has well-known soothing properties that make it a popular addition to herbal tea blends and skin care products. To unlock its benefits for your skin, add fresh lavender to a warm bath or infuse it into homemade soaps.

To grow your own lavender plants indoors, provide them with well-draining soil and a sunny spot. Ensure you water it sparingly, as lavender prefers drier conditions. 

 

2. Aloe: Nature’s Healing Touch

Aloe vera has been cherished for its skin-healing properties for centuries, as the gel stored within its succulent leaves is a ready-made remedy for sunburnt, dry, or irritated skin. For winter skin care, aloe gel can be used as an after-sun salve or transformed into a moisturizing face mask. To do so, simply mix aloe vera gel with a teaspoon of honey, apply the mixture to your face, leave it on for 15-20 minutes, and rinse with warm water. Your skin will thank you for the natural hydration and healing care your DIY mask provides!

Growing aloe as a houseplant is as easy as it gets; just place it in bright, indirect light and let the soil dry out between waterings. 

 

3. Chamomile: The Calming Balm

Chamomile, with its dainty white flowers and apple-like fragrance, is renowned for its calming, anti-inflammatory properties. Harness the power of chamomile by infusing dried flowers into a mild, unscented liquid soap to create a gentle facial cleanser. This concoction will cleanse your skin without stripping it of natural oils. Alternatively, you can create a relaxing chamomile-infused bath soak that soothes both your skin and your senses by adding a handful of dried chamomile flowers to your bath water.

Growing chamomile indoors is a joy, as it thrives in well-lit spaces. Water it consistently, but ensure the soil is well-draining. 

 

4. Mint: Winter’s Cooling Ally

Mint is a refreshingly-cooling companion for winter skincare. Create a revitalizing, minty body scrub, or a mint-infused foot soak to pamper your skin during the colder months. For a quick and easy mint body scrub, blend fresh mint leaves with sugar and coconut oil. Gently massage this exfoliating mixture onto your skin to slough away dead cells and reveal a radiant glow. Alternatively, add a handful of fresh mint leaves to warm water for a soothing foot soak that will revive tired feet.

Growing mint indoors is a breeze, as it thrives in a variety of conditions. Just ensure it has well-draining soil and receives adequate sunlight. 

 

5. Lemon Balm: Zesty Bliss for Winter Skin

Lemon balm, a member of the mint family, boasts a refreshing citrus aroma and is celebrated for its antiviral and antibacterial properties. Incorporate lemon balm into your winter skincare routine by creating a rejuvenating face mist. Steep fresh lemon balm leaves in distilled water or DIY a lip balm by combining dried lemon balm leaves with melted coconut oil and beeswax. Spritz the mist on your face for an invigorating burst of hydration, and apply the soothing balm to your lips to keep them soft and supple.

Lemon balm is probably one of the easiest houseplants to grow; simply provide it with well-draining soil and partial sunlight, and keep the soil consistently moist. 

 

Choosing the Right Plant-Based Cleansers for Winter

We recommend Clean Circle for professional winter skin care products, as they prioritize the health of both people and the planet. Their reusable clothes are made from certified bamboo fabrics, a renewable resource that requires no pesticides to grow. They also draw on the natural gifts of medicinal plants in their numerous soaps and balms to create healing products for all skin types. Each product lists the specific plants used and their benefits, so you can rest easy knowing that what you’re putting on your skin is both all-natural and effective.  

Whenever we’re faced with a skincare problem, it’s always worthwhile to consider the many all-natural, plant-based healing possibilities offered to us. Cultivating lavender, aloe, chamomile, lemon balm, and mint at home gives us a ready-made collection of remedies for the winter and beyond. To get started with your DIY skincare garden or to browse our selection of plant-based winter skincare products, visit us at our garden center in Glenside, PA, today!