Mallow flower, properties and benefits for the skin
Common mallow flower extract (Malva sylvestris) has beneficial properties for the skin, and its effects have been known for centuries. In this article, we'll tell you about the properties and benefits of mallow flowers for the skin and its main cosmetic properties.
As is often the case, popular wisdom has guided science, which seeks ways to make the most effective use of what nature offers us.
Mallow extract has medicinal and cosmetic properties , and in the flower of this beautiful plant of European origin at Såper we have found one of the key ingredients for the care of mature skin .
Malva flower: a “sacred” plant
Healing properties of mallow throughout history
In ancient times, various civilizations kept records of edible and useful plants. Sometimes, some were even considered sacred for their beneficial effects.
This is the case of mallow, which was apparently considered a herb of great properties by both the Greeks and the Romans.
In fact, the origin of the name comes from the Latin malva , which means soft and indicates how the emollient properties of this plant were known centuries ago.
In Roman times , the health benefits of mallow were already known, and according to Horace, the plant itself was used in cooking. Cicero seems to have eaten mallow shoots in salads to protect his voice, and Martial recommended its use as a laxative.
Charlemagne included it in the list of plants in the legislative act Capitulare de villis vel curtis imperii, thus requiring the cultivation of the common mallow in all his personal gardens.
During the Middle Ages, the use of this herb to relieve different types of illnesses gave it the attribute of omnimorbia , a plant that cures all ills .
Until a few decades ago, in rural culture , mallow flowers were placed in the bride's trousseau because it was believed that they helped preserve beauty.
Mallow is not only a very common plant that grows wild and is easy to find in temperate zones of Europe, Asia, and Africa, but its properties have also made it a fixture in popular culture.
So much so that we even use this flower in colloquial phrases: “to be like a mallow”, “to be raising mallows” and proverbs such as, for example, “ The simple mallow flower saves infinite lives.”
However, the most interesting thing is that today, thanks to science, we are able to study the active ingredients of plant origin and understand why some plants are beneficial to our health and well-being .
Mallow flower benefits for the skin
- In mallow flowers, one of the benefits that stands out for the skin is the anti-inflammatory and demulcent effect due to an abundant presence of the substance mucilage.
- In addition, it is rich in tannins, which are active ingredients with antioxidant properties and which are found in other plants such as helichrysum .
- In the flowers of this species we always find a high percentage of plant pigments (anthocyanosides) among which malvina stands out, which is the substance that gives mallow its characteristic color.
Mallow is also a source of vitamins A and C and group B (B1 and B2) and mineral salts such as magnesium, calcium and iron .
Cosmetic properties of mallow for the face
The presence of water in the most superficial layers of the skin is what allows it to maintain a certain elasticity and fulfill its barrier function.
The high mucilage content of the mallow flower is a valuable ally for skin health in this regard. These substances have a great capacity to retain water , and thanks to this action, they contribute to greater skin elasticity.
In other words, wild mallow extract acts as a regulator of skin hydration and is also used in cosmetics for its soothing, anti-edema, and exfoliating properties.
Mallow extract in natural cosmetics
Slowaging cosmetic product line
We offer you all the benefits of mallow to hydrate and improve skin elasticity in our Anti-Aging and Anti-Wrinkle Line .
In our formulations, we harness the synergy of plants like sea buckthorn and mallow to care for your skin naturally with high-quality ingredients.
At Såper , we offer three products rich in active ingredients that delay premature aging and are ideal for the care and hydration of mature skin:
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Cleansing balm . Its aroma and texture transform your daily facial cleansing ritual into a relaxing break that delights your senses. With this product, you'll be pampering your skin thanks to active ingredients like red clay, which provides light exfoliation, and mallow flower extract , which provides hydration and helps soften the damaging effects of environmental factors.
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Antioxidant Serum . The combination of plant extracts with antioxidant and moisturizing effects, such as myrrh , immortelle , aloe vera , mallow flower extract, and sea buckthorn , among others, will make your skin look brighter immediately after application.
- Anti-Pollution Firming Cream . The texture of this product is designed to facilitate rapid absorption, allowing your skin to reap all the benefits of its formulation from the first application. In our laboratory, we have carefully selected the finest organic, first-pressed extracts and oils to provide you with high-quality products and visible results. Thanks to the properties of mallow flowers and other plant extracts, your skin will feel more hydrated and appear more even and luminous .
Learn about all the ingredients in our cosmetics on the product data sheets in our store and discover why Såper has opted for Botanical Minimalism .
