The scientific name of the rosemary herb that we know is salvia rosmarinus. We usually think of rosemary being used in cooking to lend a slightly bitter and astringent taste to food as well as its unique slight mustard-like and charred woody aroma to food and drink.
Aside from flavouring our favourite dishes, rosemary has several health benefits to us. In skincare particularly, it displays anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Rosemary is traditionally used for skincare in the form of rosemary essential oils. The oil is extracted by distillation after steaming the twigs.
Rosemary essential oil has several functions :
- Anti-bacterial : helps fight bacteria that cause acne. Rosemary oil itself is non-comedogenic (does not clog pores) so you can be assured that your pores do not clog up and end up with a build-up of sebum and bacterial growth.
- Tightens and firms skin : can help to shrink pores to make your skin look finer and smoother. Rosemary oil is able to improve lymphatic system flow and circulation to remove toxins and cellulite It would also help in moving excess water out of tissues for a tighter look.
- Natural antioxidant : neutralizes free radicals which cause the appearance of fine lines and loss of skin elasticity.
- Anti-inflammation : when you face skin irritation, skin allergies and eczema, Rosemary Oil is able to reduce the symptoms of these conditions such as redness and unsightly puffiness. The antibacterial effects and antioxidants in rosemary oil also help to combat any bacteria that might be attacking the skin and also combat any free radicals working against your skin.
We primarily use Rosemary extract in ioula for its anti-inflammation properties and its ability to maintain your skin’s youthful look by tightening the skin.
images courtesy of David R. Tribble and Manuela Böhm