Studying plant extracts from organic cosmetic products: the basics of beauty institutes!
Studying plant extracts from organic cosmetic products: the basics of beauty institutes!
“What’s in this product?”
This is a question we hear more and more in beauty salons and spas. And that's a good sign: today more than ever, we care about what we put on our face and on our body .
However, although this is a good thing, it adds work to beauty salons and beauticians. Because when a customer asks you this question, you need to be able to answer them.
And preferably, you should be able to answer “ Only natural ingredients!” ”.
Well, it's a bit ambitious given that the world of cosmetics is governed by many hygiene rules from which we cannot deviate.
But the fact remains that knowing the composition of natural cosmetic products is essential.
The problem is that we do not always recognize the elements indicated in the composition. We don't always know where they come from, or even what they mean: what is the difference between a hydrosol and a macerate ?
To help you better understand the composition of aesthetic cosmetics, Green Spa presents all the details on plant extracts. Focus on these natural ingredients inspired by nature!
Everything you need to know about plant extracts in your organic cosmetic products
Plant extracts are essential for beauty salons and spas with ecological concerns . Indeed, these are natural ingredients that are inspired and even derived from plants and plant elements found in nature.
Plant extracts are concentrates of active ingredients , which can also flavor cosmetics. They therefore have a dual role, which they play effectively. Let's take a look at plant extracts in the world of cosmetics!
What is a plant extract?
Plant extracts are cosmetic ingredients obtained through the extraction of plants: it's all in the name!
The idea is simple: we know that nature provides everything we need for health and morale. This is why many laboratories and suppliers of organic cosmetic products are inspired by what nature does, to put the active ingredients in their products and benefit from them.
This is the very principle of plant extracts : laboratories recover the active ingredients in plants, and transform them to be able to put them in cosmetics . Facial creams, butter, moisturizing cream ... All can be subject to it!
The extraction technique depends on the nature of the plant. For example, some hide their active ingredients in essences : to extract them, you have to work with their essential oils.
Other plant elements such as almonds hide their active ingredients in fatty substances . They must then be recovered in the form of vegetable oil using aqueous or oily macerates . This recovery allows the active ingredients of the plant to be taken without altering them. They are as is, in all their natural power!
And these are what we call plant extracts. But their recovery method is not always that simple.
How are plant extracts obtained in organic cosmetics?
Plant extraction, as we have seen, is made from the maceration of a plant. Whether its leaves, its stem or its petals , the latter macerates in an aqueous or oily solvent.
In laboratories , they use oil or water in solutions to collect the active ingredients from the plant. After this maceration period, the liquid containing the solvent and the plant is then filtered, to keep only the purest part.
It is this filtered part which contains the active ingredients, and which is called plant extract .
The solvents are chosen according to the active ingredients that we want to obtain from the plant. As well as the duration of maceration, which depends on the nature of the plant in question. It is also possible to add other solvents such as glycol, which exists in different forms.
In all cases, the cosmetics world is very strict on questions of hygiene and conservation of active ingredients. Once these are recovered, they must be preserved by adding certain products called preservatives . But we'll talk about that in another article!
Plant extracts that are often found in the world of cosmetics
Now that you know how the plant extracts found in cosmetics are obtained, you can easily spot them. There are an infinite number of plant extracts, all of which have specific objectives.
They offer certain benefits for the skin , short or long lasting depending on how they are worked.
For example, aloe vera extract is often used in shower gels and moisturizers because it provides many benefits for the skin. It helps with healing , and adds a protective layer to the skin to fight against everyday micro-aggressions.
It is also an extract which has a very appreciable anti-inflammatory nature, in summer as in winter . In addition to acting deeply in hydrating the skin, aloe vera protects it in the long term.
Another extract that you can find in cosmetic products is green tea extract . It is very rich in antioxidants, which makes it an ideal partner in the fight against the signs of aging. Used well in creams, it has an astringent and toning effect. It restores firmness to the skin, and has the particularity of being able to calm inflammation. If you suffer from dryness, redness due to cold or sensitivity to pollution, this is a great alternative.
Finally, the last plant extract that we find in cosmetics in institutes is calendula extract . It owes its popularity to its many long-lasting benefits for the skin: anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant, it has a knack for soothing dry skin. It's a little cocktail of well-being for the skin, which calms irritation, itching and skin problems such as acne, eczema or psoriasis.
To give you an example, organic green tea oily macerate is often used for its antioxidant properties , as well as its toning effect. Organic carrot oily macerate is perfect for fighting against skin aging.
Plant extracts in organic cosmetic products: the quality reference
If you are looking for organic cosmetic products that you are going to offer to your customers during the year, pay attention to the plant extracts that are used! They can be an excellent indicator of quality for your clients' aesthetics.
Do not hesitate to contact the supplier you are interested in to find out the active extraction techniques and the solvents used. And above all, to identify all the benefits offered by plant extracts!
To perfect your choice of organic cosmetic products, there are numerous criteria to take into account: