Chamomile is one of the oldest garden herbs present in the twenty first century that were favoured by herbalists many centuries ago.
Its use can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians who revered the plant for its virtues and in their belief of its power to cure several illnesses and conditions.
The British were also known to grow the herb back when they were colonising African nations.
Apparently the herb had so many uses back then that it was a waste of time to try and name them all.
Well, today, in the twenty first century, the herb is just as relevant as it was back hundreds of years ago.
In fact, its uses have even increased to not just treating illnesses but also in the production of cosmetic products that help maintain the skin tone and the elasticity of skin.
Before I get into the skin care benefits of Chamomile, I have to clarify a few points.
There are two plants that go by the name of Chamomile; namely the German Chamomile and the Roman Chamomile.
Of the two, the German Chamomile is considered to be the stronger and more effective.
This plant has a much stronger action because of its higher Chamazulene content.
So, what are some of the uses of Chamomile in skin care products? There are several of them.
In order to list them all we would actually be required to write a book about Chamomile.
However, this post will touch on a few common uses of this herb that concern skin care.
Chamomile is an ingredient that is included in general skin care products that are required in the treatment of inflammation and irritation among other forms of rashes and skin conditions.
This is because the Chamomile herb ingredients promote granulation and cell regeneration.
Chamomile also contains ingredients from phenols that have antiseptic and healing qualities that have proven to be very helpful in relieving skin congestion.
The phenol derivatives are usually included in anti- aging skin care products to soften the skin of users.
Patients suffering from Psoriasis and hypersensitivity are encouraged to apply Chamomile oil since it contains wound healing properties.
Apart from that, the oil also contains lipophilic and flavonoid compounds that help to reduce the fragility of the capillaries in the skin.
This in turn helps by strengthening the skin.
The oil is also credited with possessing vasoconstrictor properties that ultimately reduce the redness of skin that is caused by the enlargement of blood capillaries.
Other amazing properties that Chamomile oil contains include famous skin care ingredients such as alpha-bisabolol, bisabolene oxide A, bisabolol oxide B as well as Chlorogenic acid which are all significant chemical components in skin care products.
On a closing note, there is a very small possibility that cosmetic products manufactured using Chamomile oil can actually cause an allergic reaction.
However, this does not mean that we should throw caution to the wind and apply chamomile products the way we like.
Reactions of this type are extremely rare, but if you have concerns please consult with your physician especially if you're pregnant.