10 Herbs For Healthy, Glowing Skin

Who can resist healthy, glowing skin?

Especially when that glow is all-natural!

Beauty companies may tell us that healthy skin results from using their expensive soaps, creams, and toners…

Yet, many of those products are full of chemicals that harm our bodies, not heal them! And unfortunately, all-natural alternatives can be even more expensive.

The good news? We do not have to spend hundreds of dollars to enjoy beautiful skin!

How Can We Achieve Healthy, Glowing Skin?

Our skin is our largest organ. It often acts as a window into the health of our entire body. If our body is healthy, our skin will be, too.

In other words, beauty comes from the inside out. Healthy skin begins with eating well and staying hydrated.

10 Herbs For Healthy, Glowing Skin

In addition to diet, nature has provided us with many healing plants that nourish our skin. They also help to alleviate common skin problems such as eczema and acne.

You may even be able to find some of these plants in your own backyard!

#1 — Aloe Vera

Aloe moisturizes, heals inflammation, and can act as a natural sunscreen (Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health, page 309). Use it to soothe burns (including sunburn!), wounds, and irritated skin. It helps reduce acne scarring and redness and is full of antioxidants to keep skin youthful.

If you grow it indoors (it’s incredibly easy), you’ll always have fresh aloe at hand!

To use, break off a leaf, slice it down the side, open it, and scrape out the gel. Apply the gel directly to your skin. If there’s any extra, refrigerate it for up to 2 days.

If you don’t have your own plant, aloe is easily purchased, too.

#2 — Burdock Root

Burdock is such a common weed in many parts of the world that it makes a readily available herbal tonic! It is anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory. Use it both internally and externally to treat eczema, psoriasis, acne, and dry or scaly skin — even oily skin (Medicinal Herbs, page 108 and Rodale’s 21st-Century Herbal, page 372)!

If internally, take as a tea or tincture. If externally, make the root into an herbal oil or decoction and apply to the skin as you would a toner.

#3 — Calendula

This is one of my favorite garden flowers — and one of my favorite herbs for the skin! Calendula is antiseptic, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and astringent. It helps heal a wide variety of skin complaints, from sunburn to bruises to wounds (Rodale’s 21st-Century Herbal, pages 122 and 372).

To use, make the flowers into an herbal oil or a soothing salve.

#4 — Chickweed

Chickweed is another common weed found in many areas of the world. It relieves itching and helps heal cuts, wounds, and other skin irritations (Medicinal Herbs, page 122).

To use, apply to the skin as a poultice, make it into a salve, or infuse it in bathwater for a soothing bath.

#5 — Chamomile

Although chamomile is known for being calming, it is also antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. It soothes skin irritations including acne, eczema, minor burns, cuts, and scrapes (Rodale’s 21st-Century Herbal, pages 138 and 372).

To use, drink as a tea or apply topically as an herbal salve. If you have a garden, chamomile is also easy to grow.

#6 — Stinging Nettle

Nettles are another common weed. They strengthen and support the whole body, including the skin. Used externally, they may be especially helpful for those suffering from skin inflammation. (Rodale’s 21st-Century Herbal, pages 293 and 373).

To use, brew nettles into a tea or make a tincture or salve. Harvesting your own nettles? Wear gloves to avoid the sting!

#7 — Plantain

Plantain (Plantago major) is one of my favorite herbs thanks to its healing power and easy availability. This prolific plant remedies bites, scrapes, stings, and sores.

To use internally, brew into tea. For external use, apply as a poultice for immediate relief or make a salve.

#8 — Red Clover

Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, red clover is a wildflower that helps with chronic skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis. As a blood purifier, it also removes toxins from the body. (Rodale’s 21st-Century Herbal, pages 286 and 373.)

To use, take it as a tea or tincture, or make a salve. It’s also safe for children. You can easily grow it or harvest it from the wild!

#9 — Witch Hazel

Witch hazel, a natural astringent, is often recommended for bleeding, bruising, and varicose veins (Holistic Herbal). It is also antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and relieves itching. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, this may be the herb for you (Rodale’s 21st-Century Herbal, pages 176 and 373)!

To use, apply on its own in the form of a liquid extract, mixed with aloe vera gel, or added into a lotion or cream.

#10 — Yarrow

This common wildflower has a rich herbal history. Its Latin name, Achillea millefolium, comes from the Greek hero, Achilles. According to legend, Achilles used the herb to heal the wounds of fellow warriors on the battlefield.

As a natural antiseptic, it helps to heal wounds, stop bleeding, and reduce inflammation. It’s also helpful for oily skin. (Medicinal Herbs, page 213.)

If applied to the skin, it heals boils, sores, swelling, burns, cuts, rashes, and eruptions.

To use, take as a tea or tincture, or make a poultice, oil, lotion, or salve. You can grow it easily in the garden!

Are herbs part of your skin care routine?

Disclaimer: Herbs are powerful medicine. Many herbs are contraindicated for pregnant or nursing women, those currently taking medications, or those suffering from medical conditions.  I’m not a doctor. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You are responsible for your own health and for the use of any remedies, treatments, or medications you use at home.