How Do Plants Make Up Our Cosmetics?

Biology and skincare colliding into products people use daily. (Editorialist)

Throughout history, women and men alike have been using tools to beautify themselves: cosmetics. These products may have been made of simple ingredients in different times across history, but that is certainly not the case today. 

There are thousands of ingredients used in modern cosmetics, with over 12500 unique ones approved for use in the United States alone. The main ingredient is usually water, free of microbes and other organisms, dissolving other ingredients so your skin can easily absorb the product. However, water needs products called emulsifiers to stick to things like oil. Preservatives like tetrasodium and benzyl-alcohol extend shelf life and kill harmful microorganisms like bacteria and fungi. Thickeners like bentonite give the product a good consistency, and emollients like beeswax prevent water loss. All these ingredients are taken from natural and artificial sources, but the best source for good ones might be plants.

What Are Plants’ Place in Cosmetics?

Plants have been used in a variety of cosmetics throughout world history; to attract suitors, to fight off skin conditions,  religious reasons, or to ward off enemies in battle. In Ancient Egypt, a cosmetic to preserve youth was found to contain mandelic acid from almonds. Body oils dating back to that time period used moringa, an ingredient still widely used today. A Roman face cream from 150 A.D. had starch to feel pleasant, which is still used today for the same reason.

Plants have been and still are essential to making cosmetics. For example, grape seed extract is quite important in cosmetics and pharmacy alike. It encourages the development of collagen, elastin, and other chemicals in your skin that slow skin aging. Along with this, the extract can shield your skin from UVB radiation (decreasing inflammation), and can promote elasticity by moisturizing the skin. 

Aloe vera gel is much more well-known for its benefits, and for good reason. Its polysaccharides, like acemanan, helps to heal and regenerate tissue, keeping the skin’s moisture and helping to inhibit acne. It also greatly helps oily skin due to its hydrophilic nature (it loves to be near water). The gel also contributes to healing flaky skin, removing dead skin cells and making the skin softer.

Lavender oil can have a soothing effect on your skin, in addition to killing germs responsible for acne and blocked pores. It also defends your skin against free radicals, reactive molecules that can cause premature aging of the skin. It’s been included in a variety of products (like soaps, masks, and face creams) due to how versatile it is. Lavender is also a great natural preservative, helping creams and lotions stay fresh and free of harmful microbes for longer.

Biocosmetics In the Future

In addition to all the benefits that plants have in cosmetics, they still have unlocked potential. Plants produce a multitude of vitamins that could be put in other things besides food. If cosmetics contain the antioxidant properties of plants, they could improve our own defense against harmful oxygen byproducts and leave us feeling healthy and happy. So besides improving our skin’s health, cosmetics can improve our overall health as well!

In summary, the usage of plants in cosmetics has a long history and is still widely used today, but still has potential in improving cosmetics. If cosmetics can deliver antioxidants to our bodies, there’s no telling what else we can do.

Sources

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Ayling, L. (2022). The history of botanical cosmetic formulation. In Formula Botanica. https://formulabotanica.com/history-of-cosmetics/

Selwyn, A., & Govindaraj, S. (2023). Study of plant-based cosmeceuticals and skin care. South African Journal of Botany, 158, 429–442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2023.05.039

Cristina-Ştefania Gǎlbǎu, Marius Irimie, Neculau, A. E., Dima, L., Pogačnik, L., Mihai Vârciu, & Badea, M. (2024). The Potential of Plant Extracts Used in Cosmetic Product Applications—Antioxidants Delivery and Mechanism of Actions. Antioxidants, 13(11), 1425–1425. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13111425

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