Glossary of Natural Ingredients

Intro

 

There’s so much that nature can teach us and give to us. That’s why so many natural ingredients are used in natural skincare products. They have plenty of benefits and bring us all closer to nature. Take a look at the natural ingredients we use in our Palmolive products.

Almond

We know that almonds are good for us, they have loads of healthy fats in them, which is great in our diets. There’s something more interesting about them, though. The flower of the almond tree, which grows in the Mediterranean region, is a powerful antioxidant and has moisturising properties, which is brilliant for natural skincare products. They also have a sweet, fabulous fragrance.

Aloe Vera

Queen Cleopatra and Nefertiti thought aloe vera was the fountain of youth and used it to protect their skin against the sun. That was more than 3,000 years ago, and it seems they knew about its benefits way back then. Today, we know that aloe vera has many other benefits, like it’s natural moisturising, and that’s why it’s used in natural skincare products.

Avocado

We all love guacamole and know that avocado is really good for us. It’s also good for our skin. It’s likely to have originated in south central Mexico and was originally used by the Aztecs as a delicacy and an aphrodisiac. We now know there are many other avocado benefits and its oil is often used in natural skincare products like avocado shower gel and avocado soap. The oil has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help your skin stay smooth, strong and elastic. It also helps to hydrate, protect and moisturise to keep your skin feeling fabulous.

Basil

Pesto is absolutely brilliant. We love it in a pasta dish, even though basil isn’t from Italy. It probably originated in India but was also used in China. We discovered the ancient Egyptians used it as an embalming and preserving herb. We now know it’s more than just a herb for cooking. There are many basil health benefits including basil for skin. Its beneficial plant compounds give you antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other health benefits.

Bergamot

Bergamot reminds us of a summer garden. It’s extracted from the rinds of citrus fruit that grow on bergamot orange trees. The bergamot scent is fabulously soothing and citrusy, and it has several compounds in its oil that have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it the perfect ingredient for natural skincare products. 

Camellia oil

Englebert Kaempfer, a German botanist, called the camellia the Japan Rose, and we agree with him. They were cultivated in the gardens of China and Japan centuries before they were seen in Europe. It’s such a striking flower that it’s no surprise it has 900 names in Japanese. Camellia oil comes from the seeds of the camellia plant, and for years it’s been known as a skin miracle because it naturally moisturises and has powerful antioxidant properties to give your skin support and flexibility.

Citrus

Whether it’s lemons, limes, mandarins or oranges, citrus fruit has a distinct and wonderful citrus scent. They’re rich in vitamins and plant compounds and have many citrus healthy benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Clay

We know that clay has been used since the beginning of time for jars and ceramic figurines. But apart from being just used for creating beautiful ceramic pieces, clay has been used in natural skincare for hundreds of years. Clay soap has many benefits such as absorbing impurities from your skin, detoxing and clearing pores, absorbing excess oil without drying out your skin and many more.

Cocoa

Coca is so much more than just the ingredient for the chocolate we all love. It’s also been used in medicines for around 3,000 years. We know there are many cocoa benefits when used in natural skincare products such as cocoa shower gel and cocoa soap. Because cocoa butter is high in fatty acids, it’s often used for its ability to hydrate and nourish your skin as well as improve its elasticity.

Coconut

Coconuts remind us of summer island holidays, but it’s so much more than that. Its oil is traditionally made by extracting the oil from raw coconuts or dried coconut kernels. When you use coconut for skin, you’ll experience a range of coconut benefits including possible anti-inflammatory properties, natural moisturising and, of course, the fabulous coconut scent.

Currant

We know that blackcurrants are powerhouses of vitamins. They come from northern Europe and Asia, but you’d also see them flourishing in Russian monastery gardens.  All those years ago its leaves, bark and roots were used in different kinds of remedies. They’re great to eat and have many health and skin benefits. They’re rich in vitamin C, organic acids and essential oils and have anti-inflammatory properties that can nourish your skin.

Essential oils

Whether you’re using essential oil for stress, for a massage or to add to a relaxing bath, we know they can do good for us. They’re compounds extracted from plants and natural sources – truly tapping into nature. They capture the plant’s scent and flavour, or ‘essence’ and you’d be surprised to know there are more than 90 different types. Essential oil for skin is often used in natural skincare products and can include the fabulous scents of lavender, sandalwood, bergamot, rose, ylang-ylang, jasmine, lemon and many others. They have even more benefits like anti-inflammatory, calming or invigorating properties. You can also use essential oil for sleep.

Clay

We know that clay has been used since the beginning of time for jars and ceramic figurines. But apart from being just used for creating beautiful ceramic pieces, clay has been used in natural skincare for hundreds of years. Clay soap has many benefits such as absorbing impurities from your skin, detoxing and clearing pores, absorbing excess oil without drying out your skin and many more.

Grapefruit

We know that a touch of sugar can transform a sour grapefruit into a fabulous breakfast fruit, but it’s so much more than that. Its essential oil is extracted from the peel and used in many natural skincare products. There are many grapefruit benefits like its rich nutrient content as well as its antibacterial and antioxidant properties. The grapefruit fragrance is also used for its delicious scent in products.

Honey

They buzz around us on picnics and we know they’re essential for creating the magical colours of flowers. And they also make honey, which has been around for at least as long as recorded history. Even though today it’s great in tea and the honey scent is sweet and delicious, there are other honey health benefits. Honey for skin is also used for its antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Jasmine

The jasmine scent is distinctive and intoxicating as it wafts over a breeze. It’s so iconic that it’s even considered the national symbol of several countries. The jasmine scent is beautiful and is often used in jasmine shower gel and jasmine soap. But there are so many other benefits. Jasmine oil has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that can be useful in natural skincare.

Lavender

We love the purple flowers and lavender scent. It’s a treat for the senses. Its essential oil was even used in ancient Egypt. It has so many uses and benefits like lavender for sleep and lavender for skin, and it’s often used in lavender shower gel, lavender hand soap and lavender soap. Its oil can even kill certain bacteria on the skin and it also has antifungal properties. This brilliant oil can also reduce inflammation and help cleanse skin. It’s a powerful antioxidant and may even help to heal wounds.

Lime

They’re used in cooking and even a little gin and tonic. But there’s so much more to the humble lime. We think Arabian traders took limes and lemons from India to the eastern Mediterranean countries and Africa in about 1000 C.E. They’re also powerhouses of nutrition, being high in vitamin C, antioxidants and other nutrients. They have so many benefits, like possibly boosting immunity and promoting your skin health through its powerful antioxidants.

Macadamia

There’s nothing quite like the subtle buttery flavour and creamy texture of macadamia nuts. We love them in all their forms, and they have so many other benefits besides being great in our diets, which makes them a perfect ingredient for natural skincare products like a macadamia shower gel. Macadamia oil is rich in fatty acids and potassium and its concentration of palmitoleic acid is thought to smooth skin. The oil also contains antioxidants which could help your hair to recover from exposure to things like pollutants in the air.

Magnesium

Our bodies are amazing machines and use magnesium benefits to play an important role for the health of our body and brain. It’s also the fourth most abundant mineral in your body. This amazing mineral is also everywhere in nature. There are so many magnesium benefits like magnesium skin, magnesium sleep and magnesium stress benefits, which is why it’s used in products like magnesium soap. If you don’t have enough of it in your body, your skin may be less elastic and drier.

Mango

Mango is known as the “king of fruits” and we’d have to agree. Its juicy, sweet flesh is a treat and it’s been cultivated for over 4,000 years. We found studies that link mango and its nutrients to health benefits such as improved immunity, digestive health and eyesight. It’s also high in antioxidants, which protect your cells against free radical damage. It has a high vitamin C content, which can give you healthy hair and skin as this vitamin is essential for making collagen. That’s probably why you can find it in natural skincare products like a mango shower gel.

Milk

It’s an age-old remedy to drink a warm glass of milk for sleep. And it may just work for you. It’s highly nutritious and we know it’s used for a huge variety of food such as cheese, cream, butter and yoghurt. Milk also has almost every single nutrient your body needs. There are some benefits of milk for skin and a study has shown it helps to remove dead skin cells and stimulate new cell growth. That’s why it’s sometimes used in milk soap.

Mint

We know mint comes in many forms and we love its cooling, soothing sensation. But there’s much more to this refreshing herb, that’s why it’s used to put onto your skin or for breathing in. You’ll often find it in natural skincare products such as mint shower gel and mint soap. It contains an agent that may soothe and calm your skin and, because it contains vitamin A, it may strengthen your skin tissue and even reduce oiliness.

Olive

You’ll know that so many recipes start with a splash of olive oil and we all know it’s healthy for us. But there are so many other benefits of olive oil, which is why they’re also used in natural skincare products like olive shower gel and olive soap. Olive oil is an antioxidant that targets free radicals and it’s possible it may even prevent premature ageing. The oil is also rich in vitamins A, D, E and K, which are useful in treating a range of skin conditions. Also, you probably know that olive oil is often used to moisturise and soften skin.

Orchid

We don’t think there’s any more beautiful, sweet smelling flower than an orchid. Besides their beauty, their oils are perfect for natural skincare because they have so many benefits. The oil contains calcium, magnesium and zinc, which are all good for your skin. It moisturises and soothes your skin.

Palm fruit

The oil palm comes from west and southwest Africa and we’ve been using it for almost 5,000 years. We use it in many food and natural skincare products because it has antioxidants and moisturising benefits for your skin.

Peonies

Peonies have a fabulous history with many tales about how it got its name. One of those comes from Greek mythology where Zeus saves Paeon’s life by turning him into a beautiful flower – the peony. Peonies are beautiful, fragrant, flowering plants that come in so many colours. They’ve also been used in Chinese medicine for centuries because of their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Pomegranate

Pomegranate seeds are like little rubies that tumble from their skin. We also know they’re among the healthiest fruits on earth. There are many pomegranate benefits and you can even use pomegranate for skin. The fruit may lower inflammation and it has powerful antioxidant nutrients. There are many uses of pomegranate for skin, like using it for its potential anti-ageing properties and antimicrobial benefits.

Raspberry

We’re sure you love lashings of raspberry jam in desserts. They don’t just taste great, they also have a fabulous raspberry scent. Raspberries have many nutrients and are a great source of fibre. They have potent antioxidant properties, which could help reduce signs of ageing by fighting free radicals in your body. They’re also high in vitamin C, which is essential for healthy skin. It might even improve collagen production, but we still need to do more research. You can indulge in its beautiful natural scent by using raspberry shower gel and raspberry soap.

Rose oil

Roses have always been important in our lives. They even have poems written about them. We know them especially for their amazing scent which you can find in rose oil soap. There are also many benefits of rose oil for skin. We’ve found that rose essential oil could have antibacterial and antifungal properties, and may even have anti-inflammatory properties. This fabulous flower’s oil is also known for moisturising and nourishing.

Sea salt

We all know that life is bland without a touch of salt. Besides making food taste great there are many other potential sea salt benefits, like sea salt for skin. There’s a difference between sea salt and normal salt. Sea salt is rich in magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium. Sea salt for skin may help your skin hold onto its moisture, balance oil production and naturally exfoliate. That’s why it’s often used in natural skincare products like sea salt shower gel and sea salt soap.