3 Uses of Chamomile for Skin
Plus Benefits of DIY Clean Skincare Alternatives
My skincare regimen has always been minimal. I typically wear a moisturizer and…that’s about it. I’ve experimented with tinted moisturizers, serums, and other things but rarely used them consistently. My skincare minimalism allowed me to spend more money on clean, organic, and plant-based products. I would look for products that advertised herbs and plants like lavender, calendula, rosemary, and chamomile. Then I started gardening and realized all of these plants were growing right outside my door. Can I make my own skincare? Yes, I can!
The greatest gift of gardening has been connecting with plants beyond my diet. It’s the kind of thing I feel silly for saying out loud, because, duh! Obviously, manufacturers are getting their plant-based products from someone who is growing them, right? Turns out I can be that someone for myself and create cleaner products to nourish my skin.
Why should you DIY your skincare?
An obvious benefit of making your own skincare and beauty products is to save money. I was spending so much money on a small amount of product because I saw the benefit of using natural products. Our skin is our largest organ, right? The more I dug into these products the less confident I felt about them. There’s not much transparency in ingredient sourcing, processing, and additives. Many brands advertise as being eco-friendly but they are careful to do so by using vague or meaningless terms to fool us into thinking the ingredients and processing align with our values.
It’s true that making your own skincare and beauty products requires purchasing ingredients but most are single ingredients. It’s a lot easier to find information on sourcing and processing when only one ingredient is involved (and when it’s pronounceable). It’s more likely that you can purchase ingredients in bulk to save money and reduce packaging as well!
Another benefit of making your own skincare and beauty products is to reduce single-use plastics. I mentioned that purchasing in bulk reduces packaging, so that’s one way to reduce single-use plastics. Another is to use glass bottles and jars to store and apply the products. A lot of carrier oils are available for purchase in glass jars that can be reused. Most herbs can be grown in your garden or traded with friends. Making and using shampoo bars and soap bars requires no packaging, so that’s an extra bonus!
I’ve learned that store-bought products can be a lot like medicines. They are effective at one thing but cause a need for another product to fix their side effects. Especially with facial cleansers. My face felt clean after using them but my skin was desperately dry. So, I bought another product to use after cleansing to add moisture back to my skin. And so it goes.
So why chamomile?
I grew chamomile in our garden for the first time last year. Now it’s on my list of must-grow plants. It’s whimsy and it gives off such freeing cottage vibes. It smells amazing. Aurora loves to pick the flowers and add them to our harvest baskets each day. The tea tastes great. It’s a great companion to just about everything you grow in the garden (read more about companion planting here).
Last year we grew it in our flower beds but this year it will be sprinkled among the vegetables to help reduce insect pressure, improve soil structure, and in some cases, improve the taste and flavor of its neighbors. We will be starting some seeds indoors come March and will add a second sowing in late April to keep the harvest going for longer. We collected and dried about 2 cups worth of the sweet little flowers but I’d love to have a lot more! It is such a great herb for hair, body, stomach, and mind! Drinking tea made with chamomile provides relief from allergies, provides anti-inflammatory medicine, and can even help with diarrhea (you may be interested in this post about natural cold remedies for more similar info).
It’s a super plant so it must also be good for your skin! Yes, it sure is. Chamomile contains antioxidants that help renew your skin. It is a natural way to lighten your skin, which if used properly, could be a great benefit for those with sunspots, redness, or other skin conditions. Chamomile also has hydrating benefits.
You’re not going to believe how simple this is…
All you need is a carrier oil, like almond, olive, or jojoba oil, and fresh or dried chamomile. You can do a lot of things with this infused oil, but I’m going to share three uses that don’t require any additional steps!
Chamomile can be infused in oil using a long, slow infusion method. This is a passive method meaning no heat or active labor is required. Simply add the chamomile flowers to a glass jar and cover with the oil of your choice.
There are a lot of different oils you can choose from, each having different pros and cons. Olive oil, for example, is extremely moisturizing but can clog pores if you have sensitive skin. Coconut oil is a pretty universal choice, as is almond oil. Rosehip seed oil is high in vitamin-A, making it a great choice for facial applications. Avocado oil is high in fatty acids that can give your skin an attractive glow if that’s what you’re after. Mountain Rose Herbs is my go-to for herbal products, including carrier seed oils. They also have a huge selection and include a lot of product information so you can pick the oil that works best for your skin type and application.
Once the chamomile is covered in oil, add a tight-fitting cover and store the jar in a cool, dry location. Place it somewhere you’ll see it at least once a week so you don’t forget about it! All of my infusions and ferments live in my linen closet. I check out this closet at least once a week for a fresh towel or bed sheets! The chamomile will infuse in the carrier oil for at least a month but should be agitated by shaking or stirring once a week or so.
When the time comes use a fine mesh strainer to strain out the solid chamomile flowers. The carrier oil will now be infused with chamomile! Be sure to compost the spent flowers.
How to Use Chamomile-Infused Oil
Here are three ways to use the oil without any additional steps:
Shaving Oil: Store the oil in a small pump bottle for easy use in the shower and apply a small amount of oil onto the area to be shaved. Wet your razor and shave as you normally would. The oil may clog the razor so keep a small dish of water to use to shake out the razor or rinse under the shower stream frequently. The oil creates a protective physical barrier between the razor and your skin, moisturizes, and the chamomile will soothe irritated skin.
Face & Body Moisturizer: Store the oil in a small pump bottle and apply a small amount to the face and body as desired. Most carrier oils will leave a slightly greasy look and feel to your skin so I recommend using this at night. The chamomile will provide nutrients and antioxidants to the skin to renew it while you sleep and will help reduce areas of inflammation, redness, or other skin irritations. It’s especially great after a day gardening in the sun!
Frizz Tamer: Store the oil in a small pump bottle and apply a tiny amount to frizzy hair. This is especially effective when sweet almond oil is used as your carrier!
What else can you do with the infused oil?
The options are endless. It can be used to create soap, shampoo, lotion, body butter, calming salves, and more.
Contraindications & Medical Disclaimer
As with all herbs and plants, we need to keep contraindications in mind. A contraindication is a circumstance in which an herb or plant should not be used. Don’t use or consume chamomile in the ways mentioned above if:
You have asthma
You are allergic to chamomile
You are pregnant (essential oil of chamomile is most concerning, but check with your doctor before using infused oils on your skin)
This post does not serve as medical advice. Seek the care and advice of a physician before making any changes or decisions for your health.
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