13 Flower Extracts with Unique Healing Properties

According to Katie Hess, flower alchemist, founder of Lotus Wei, and author of Flowerevolution: Blooming Into Your Full Potential with the Magic of Flowers, each flower has its own unique healing quality. “Some bring us joy, others invoke love, peace, or even help us sleep more deeply,” she says. “Including flower therapy in spa treatments brings in an extra element of emotional healing.” While the beautiful colors and scents associated with flowers can help induce positive feelings, many flowers are also rich in nutrients that have proven to be beneficial to the skin. Here’s a look at some of the most common flowers and flower extracts used in skincare today.

Blue chamomile provides a calming effect, especially on skin that has sunburn, rashes, rosacea, and post-surgical scarring.

Because of its antiseptic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects, calendula oil is great for use on dry and rough skin and skin with eczema and psoriasis. It promotes blood flow to the skin cells, provides antioxidant protection that reduces the appearance of wrinkles and ages spots; reduces pain, swelling, and irritation; and helps heal cuts, scrapes, scars, and minor wounds.

Chamomile diminishes puffiness and inflammation. 

Cornflower helps reduce puffiness around the eyes and on the skin.

Echinacea reduces inflammation and improves skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

Green and white tea flowers help reduce the signs of sun damage and environmental stress.

Jasmine oil helps maintain the skin’s suppleness and helps prevent the appearance of stretch marks. It is especially good for mature skin types, as it helps the skin maintain moisture. Jasmine also has a positive effect on
a person’s mood.

Regenerative and mildly antiseptic, lavender is useful in treating acne and dull, congested skin, leaving it clearer and brighter. It provides a soothing and calming effect and can help clients become more emotionally balanced, calm, and relaxed.

Ylang ylang can help balance oily complexions.

Ideal for treating cuts and wounds, neroli offers rejuvenating and regenerating benefits for all skin types, especially oily and acneic skin.

A serene solution for delicate, dry, and sensitive skin, rose offers cooling, anti-inflammatory, and mildly astringent benefits. It also helps to stimulate microcirculation, improve dryness, reduce redness, and revitalize aging skin.

Wild pansy is often used in skincare because of its anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing benefits.

Because of its astringent and antiseptic properties, yarrow is ideal for treating acneic and blemished skin. It also offers many benefits for rosacea, because of its ability to make broken capillaries look smaller and stop bleeding in wounds.

Ylang ylang is nourishing and moisturizing to the skin and helps to balance oily complexions.