Your Cart is Empty
FREE SHIPPING Orders $99+ FREE GIFT w/ $125+ Order
One of the anti-aging herbs that should definitely be on your radar? Gotu kola. Let's dive into gotu kola benefits for skin.
When it comes to skincare, we’re all about using natural, effective ingredients with well-proven benefits. Some of these -- like jojoba oil, squalane, marula, aloe, and shea butter -- are now well-known and major staple ingredients in most vanities and skincare regimens thanks to their skin benefits.
Others, though, are more unknown to Western consumers (though you may find they’re in more products than you’d think).
Known by many names - including Centella Asiatica, Indian pennywort, Brahmi, tiger grass, and spade leaf - Gotu kola is an ancient plant that’s native to Asian and African wetlands. Today, it’s had a major rebirth as an anti aging herb -- and for good reason.
Gotu kola has one of the longest histories of all medicinal plants. In fact, there’s evidence that it was even used by prehistoric people. Today, it’s used around the world for its healing benefits:
Needless to say, it has tons of uses around the world, and there’s scientific evidence to back these benefits up.
While Gotu kola is particularly beneficial for dry, reactive, or sensitive skin types, it can provide wide-ranging skincare benefits.
These include:
The number of gotu kola benefits for the skin is pretty impressive.
Gotu kola soothes the skin, and it can actually promote cell growth and increase the production of total protein and collagen. Its detoxifying properties remove harmful toxins, providing all-around plumper, more youthful skin and less noticeable acne marks and scars.
Gotu kola is a powerful anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and known antioxidant. It can soothe and balance out sensitive skin to reduce reactivity to environmental irritants like pollution, sun rays, or scented products. These capabilities have boosted gotu kola use for those who struggle with rosacea, acne, or skin sensitivity.
Collagen and elastin keep the skin firm and young-looking. As we age, we produce less of these substances and, combined with years of sun damage, contribute to the skin losing elasticity and becoming "saggy." Gotu kola's triterpenoid content, a pro-elastic compound, makes it one of the most effective herbs for skin elasticity.
Gotu kola not only stimulates collagen production but also protects existing collagen by helping to create the building blocks it needs to thrive. This can help both externally, by increasing skin firmness and decreasing fine lines, and internally, by repairing aging cells.
Specifically, when taken as a supplement, gotu kola can stimulate type I collagen throughout the body and decrease inflammation. This is why it's one of our favorite herbs that tightens skin!
A major gotu kola benefit is its natural anti-inflammatory abilities that detoxify the skin, protecting the natural pH and dewy texture.This makes it fantastic at balancing moisture and hydrating the skin.
Acne scars, sun spots, and uneven tans are skin no-nos that happen no matter how hard we try to prevent them. Centella asiatica extract, AKA gotu kola, brightens the skin by reducing melanogenesis and reducing the appearance of dark spots.Numerous studies have proven lightening and brightening effects, including under-eye dark circles.
Because of its high antioxidant concentration, gotu kola is a super-anti-aging herb. Antioxidants, of course, help decrease free radical damage to the skin, thereby helping to treat and reverse premature and accelerated aging, including wrinkles and loss of elasticity.
The gotu kola plant targets skin problems from every angle and acts as an overall anti-stress agent for the skin. Whether you use supplements or topical skin creams, you'll be fighting free radicals and boosting collagen production inside and out.
Gotu kola leaves have far-reaching benefits, going way past skin care.
Modern medicine is recognizing the natural healing value of herbs more and more. Researchers have discovered a slew of therapeutic uses for gotu kola leaves backed by scientific findings.
The "cure-all" ayurvedic herb has antiepileptic, antidepressant, and antiviral, exciting doctors and health enthusiasts alike.
In Chinese medicine, the gotu kola plant is called "the fountain of life." They include the herb in their daily diet because of its abundant bodily benefits. Try adding it to a juice, smoothie, or herbal tea.
A simpler and equally as popular method is in powdered capsule form. It comes in a variety of doses depending on the particular benefit you want from it.
Centella Asiatica's skin benefits are so vast, it's a wonder it isn't an industry-wide household name like retinol or hyaluronic acid. It's a primary ingredient in several prescription medications for acne, burns, wounds, and dermatitis. Other studies found that it helps treat psoriasis as well as the appearance of scars and keloids!
Centella Asiatica extract or Gotu kola is rich in many anti-aging and free-radical fighting compounds, including amino acids, chlorophyll, fatty acids, beta carotene, flavonoids, and phytochemicals.
This gives the Gotu kola plant the ability to:
Unlike many other herbs, the benefits of centella asiatica for the skin are science-backed. Let's take a look at the research.
Our skin is the barrier protecting us from the outside world, and it takes a beating from the environment whether from UV rays, toxins, sharp objects, or pathogens.
Gotu kola creams and topical solutions are commonplace in the skincare and pharmaceutical industries to treat various problems. Let's take a look at each.
Gotu kola's antiseptic properties help prevent infections from spreading to surrounding cells. Because it promotes circulation, it accelerates the healing process by delivering nutrients and white blood cells to the wounded area. Lastly, thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects, the herb lessens swelling near the wound. You can see how the many gotu kola skin benefits go further than cosmetics.
In a 2015 study, researchers found that wound dressing containing organic gotu kola could help heal multiple types of wounds, including clean cuts, irregular tears, infected tissue, and blunt force trauma.
Translation? Faster healing acne marks, decreased scarring, and less face hyperpigmentation.
Hyperpigmentation looks like dark spots and is caused by excess melanin production. Though not usually dangerous, hyperpigmentation causes uneven skin tone and most sufferers seek to resolve it. The gotu kola plant contains asiaticoside, a component known to slow the growth of melanogenesis, or, the process that causes hyperpigmentation.
Being such a strong anti-inflammatory agent, gotu kola is used to treat many skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea, whose main symptoms are caused by inflammation. In psoriasis cases, the herb helps repair dry, irritated, broken skin when applied after a breakout.
Centella asiatica for skin is like smoke to an angry beehive. It soothes and calms without disrupting normal functions.
Centella asiatica extract is effective in treating skin infections and actually hastens the healing process for wounds and ulcers. Those in the holistic health community try it first before resulting in antibiotic creams that can have unpleasant side effects.
Cellulite is the dimpled appearance on the thighs, botox, or abdomen - any areas with a higher fat count. It's caused by the composition and distribution of fat cells, not any disorder or disease. Exercise and fat loss are the main ways to combat cellulite, but it's impossible to get rid of it completely. Gotu kola herb can lessen cellulite through topical application.
But, how?
Research studies looking into gotu kola's anti-cancer properties have been extremely promising. The broad consensus is that the herb does work to fight cancerous cells and could be a favorable addition to herbal supplements. Its ability to inhibit melanogenesis is also exciting regarding the gotu kola skin cancer relationship. However, there's no evidence that it would cure cancer or prevent it in people with a genetic disposition for it.
Eight Saints uses gotu kola in so many products because it's beneficial to so many skin concerns! From redness to wrinkles, this magic herb gives the skin the tools it needs to heal and become its natural, beautiful self.
Our Night Shift Hydration Gel is packed with vitamins and nutrients that combat dryness and aging. The lightweight formula provides year-long moisture without being too heavy for those humid summer nights.
The Daydreamer Natural Face Moisturizer contains hydrating natural ingredients already existing in the skin to complement and support its natural glow. Gotu kola benefits for skin in this daytime cream allows you to fight redness so you can feel confident all day long.
Looking for a product that fades sun spots and prevents new ones? Look no further than the Cloud Whip Face Cream. It's got SAP Vitamin C to brighten the skin, antioxidants to fade discoloration, and all the benefits of gotu kola that reduce the appearance of wrinkles and dark marks.
Next up is our Up The Anti Anti Aging Cream, a natural cream that firms skin and lets one age with grace. This anti-wrinkle cream has niacinamide and gotu kola to promote collagen, keratin, and elastin production. Get the plump, dewey skin you've been aiming for!
Eight Saints' skin treatment products address one or two skin concerns to the max.
Our Soulmate Brightening Treatment targets dullness and dark spots to provide extra hydration and promote rapid cell turnover. This means new, healthy cells come in and replace old, muted ones. Glycolic acid combined with the benefits of gotu kola is the ultimate regrowth combination for radiant skin.
Quality Control Acne Spot Treatment works by shrinking pimples and working hard to heal them quickly and naturally. The salicylic acid clears clogged pores and reduces redness, witch hazel soothes the skin and reduces oil production, and gotu kola stimulates blood flow to speed up healing. What more could you ask for?
Our Zen Out Of Ten Face Scrub is a full-blown spa day in a bottle. Exfoliate your skin with all-natural ingredients for a softer texture and brighter smile. This scrub will make your skin baby soft every time.
At this point, you're probably convinced an organic, gotu kola-filled face cream or serum will be a game changer. Here's a glimpse at a few of ours:
Pep Rally Face Serum is an anti-aging staple that brightens and smooths skin, making you appear well-rested and refreshed!
Our Seeking C Face Serum, designed for daily use, has nourishing oils and detoxifying herbs designed to reduce inflammation, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation. Brighter skin here we come!
The face is the window to the world, but the rest of your skin is just as important and needs TLC just as much.
We make divine Gotu kola cream for hands with almond butter, vitamin c, and a ton of other nourishing goodies. This lotion is ideal for healing rough, cracked skin and calming irritations from a hard day's work.
Our Coco Cocoa Creme Body Butter will make you feel as soft as butter. It's triple-whipped for ultimate absorption and thick enough to deliver long-lasting moisture. We love it after a shower to restore the skin's natural pH and even to start the day off feeling dreamy and confident.
A few things to keep in mind:
Taking extremely high quantities of the herb has resulted in some undesirable gotu kola side effects:
This is more of a problem when taking an oral supplement and not following the recommended dosage.
Doctors advise and urge not to take centella asiatica extract orally while pregnant or breastfeeding. The effects on a baby are unknown and potentially harmful.
As you can see, gotu kola's benefits are vast and exciting for the natural skincare movement. Not only is it vegan and organic, but its health impacts have been proven time and time again by scientists around the world.
Stay radiant and enjoy your skin's healthiest look by adding gotu kola products to your daily routine!
Ready to get started? Find Gotu kola in Cloud Whip day cream, Night Shift night gel, Pep Rally day serum, and Zen out of Ten face scrub.
