A fragrant herb, a powerful cooking ingredient - and a powerful skincare ingredient? It’s true! Turns out that rosemary leaf extract can help address everything from inflammation and acne to more severe signs of aging.
Here’s what you should know.
Understanding the Science: What You Should Know About Rosemary
Rosemary extract contains a ton of beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and analgesic properties. That said, when it comes to topical application, it’s important to distinguish between rosemary leaf extract and rosemary essential oil.
Straight rosemary leaf essential oil contains a ton of volatile fragrance components that can cause significant irritation to the skin, so it’s not recommended that you apply the pure essential oil to the skin. That said, the smaller concentrations of rosemary extract found in cosmetic products are unlikely to pose a risk, which means you can enjoy rosemary’s benefits without any significant drawbacks.
Skincare Benefits of Rosemary Extract
Provides Antioxidant Benefits
Rosemary leaf extract has highly potent antioxidant properties, with an ORAC rating of 11,070 - the same as Goji berries. In simple terms, this means that rosemary can effectively protect the skin against environmental aggressors and free radical damage, ultimately helping to tighten, tone, and prevent signs of premature aging.
Anti-Inflammatory
Rosemary oil contains α-pinene, an anti-inflammatory agent that can alleviate swelling and pain. When it comes to skincare, these anti-inflammatory properties give rosemary the ability to:
- Reduce swelling and puffiness
- Reduce acne-related inflammation
- Heal burns
- Soothe the skin.
Reduces Acne
Rosemary’s acne-busting benefits come from its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal properties, all of which can help effectively address oil and acne.
This combination of properties can help acne:
- Lighten dark spots
- Improve blemishes
- Improve complexion
- Fight bacteria that causes acne breakouts
Fights Signs of Aging
There are many ways that rosemary extract can help fight the signs of aging. It can:
- Reduce under-eye puffiness and inflammation
- Improve circulation for increased glow
- Fight sun damage and free radical damage
- Strengthen capillaries and tighten sagging or loose skin
- Stimulate cell growth to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Soothe Redness
The rosmarinic acid in rosemary extract can reduce redness and soothe irritated skin. This can even help soothe more chronic skin conditions like dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.
Find it in: Bright Side face wash, Welcome to the Scrub coconut body scrub.