Lets not forget that true beauty lies inside us all. To find true properties that we need in our personal care products we must look inside the plants our earth has on offer. True beauty lies inside. Nutrition and extracts for skin care can all be found on our Earth naturally. Many have been tested on Humans for over 1000 years by herbalist, natural therapist and nutritionist.

The use of herbs, seeds, nuts and leaves extracts used in skin and hair care preparations is anything but new. Botanicals were the basis of the cosmetic and pharmaceutical treatments for centuries, prior to the discovery of the fantastic and wonderful synthetic man made chemicals of recent time. Synthetics that are claimed to offer a quick fix for all your skin problems.

Although the range of plant extracts used in pharmaceuticals is much narrower today, the number of extracts from plants used in personal care is constantly increasing. Their benefits are being rediscovered and with the aid of new technology we can better understand their make-up and properties.

Plants are composed of living cells, which serve a variety of functions. It is the liquid within the living cell, which forms the basis of most plant extracts. The extracts can be made from both fresh or dry plant material. With fresh plants the most common means of extraction involves crushing, to rupture the cell walls, followed by solvent extraction, to dilute and leach out the contained liquid. The common solvents for cosmetic use are water, alcohol or glycols.

Oils can be extracted from plants through crushing, cold pressing or solvent extraction. Essential oils are usually distilled and used for their high aromas or antiseptic qualities while fixed vegetable oils are emollient and moisturizing.

One of the most popular plant extracts used in toners and astringent preparations is an extract of the shrub Witch hazel, a native of Nth America. Other astringents include birch, golden rod, nettle and yarrow. The natural juices of some fruits and vegetables contain minerals, vitamins and amino acids. The Australian Kakadu plum for example offers the highest variability of vitamin C, greater than oranges, rosehips or Hibiscus flowers. Cucumber extract have a softening effect on hard roughened skin. Cucumbers is used traditionally in tonics, fresheners and cleansers.

Natural occurrences and organically grown extracts obviously a factor in popularity of plant extracts in personal care products today. So much is said about the dangers of synthetics that many have yet to be seen as toxic. It goes without saying that the more we use plant extracts the closer we become in not only protecting our skin and the planet, the closer we become to benefit from what the Earth has to offer. For an example a well excepted oil (wax) that has been rediscovered that is safe and non-toxic is Jojoba oil. Environmentalist welcomed jojoba in the 1970s as a substitute for sperm whale oil. The oil is an excellent emollient in skin creams and has proved to be a great treasure.

Ginseng is a native of China and Korea and is applied in creams and lotions for its ability to rejuvenate the skin and is said to promote hair growth. So to nettle, burdock and horsetail herb are also known to have strengthening and hair growth capabilities. Chamomile is used treat dry skin, highlight hair and for its mild anti-inflammatory properties.

The major effects of Aloe Vera extract in preparations for the skin and hair are known to increase healing and have anti-inflammatory properties as well. Testimonial to the efficiency of Aloe Vera is its use in skin treatments products by large cosmetic houses and has been documented as early as 1552BC.

Coconut oil has been popular to promote suntan, it does keep the skin moist and this enhances rapid tanning. You would be wise to look at formulas that have sun-screening benefits, as we are all aware of the dangers of prolonged exposure to the sun. Sesame and rice bran oils have some sun-screening properties but should not be used alone for protective or sun block action.