Mallow flower: properties and benefits for the skin
Common mallow (Malva sylvestris) flower extract possesses beneficial properties for the skin, and its effects have been known for centuries. In this article, we will tell you about the properties and benefits of mallow flower for the skin and what its main cosmetic properties are.
As often happens, folk wisdom has guided science, which seeks ways to harness what nature provides us in a more effective way.
Mallow extract has medicinal and cosmetic properties, and at Såper, we have found in the flower of this beautiful plant of European origin one of the key ingredients for the care of mature skin.
Mallow Flower: a “sacred” plant
Healing properties of mallow throughout history
In ancient times, various civilizations had their records of edible and useful plants. Occasionally, some were even considered sacred due to the benefits they provided.
This is the case for mallow which, apparently, was considered an 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 to us how, centuries ago, the emollient properties of this plant were already known.
In Roman times, the health benefits of mallow were already well-known, and the plant itself, according to Horace, was used in the kitchen. It seems that Cicero ate mallow sprouts in salads to care for 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, thereby mandating the cultivation of common mallow in all his personal gardens.
During the Middle Ages, the application of this herb for the relief of different types of illnesses granted it the attribute of omnimorbia, a plant that cures all ills.
Until a few decades ago, in peasant culture, mallow flowers were placed in the bride’s trousseau because it was believed they helped to preserve beauty.
Mallow is not only a very common plant that grows spontaneously and is easy to find in temperate zones of Europe, Asia, and Africa, but due to its properties, it has become an element of popular culture.
So much so that we even use this flower in colloquial phrases: “to be as gentle as a mallow” (ser como una malva), and in sayings such as, for example, “The simple mallow flower, saves countless 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 for our health and well-being.
Mallow flower skin benefits
- 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.
- Furthermore, it is rich in tannins, which are active ingredients with antioxidant properties that we find in other plants like helichrysum.
- Always in the flowers of this species, we find a high percentage of plant pigments (anthocyanosides), among which malvin stands out, which is the substance that gives mallow its characteristic color.
Mallow is also a source of vitamins A and C and those of the B group (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 content of mucilage provided by the mallow flower is a precious 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 in cosmetics, it is also used for its soothing, anti-edematous, and exfoliating properties.
Mallow extract in natural cosmetics
Slow-aging cosmetic product line
We offer all the benefits of mallow for hydrating and improving 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 the daily facial cleansing ritual into a relaxing break that delights your senses. With this product, you will be pampering your skin thanks to active ingredients like red clay, which allows for 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 hydrating effects, such as myrrh, helichrysum, aloe vera, mallow flower extract, and sea buckthorn, among others, will make your skin look more luminous immediately after application.
- Anti-Pollution Firming Cream. The texture of this product is designed to facilitate rapid absorption and allow your skin to benefit from all the advantages of its formulation from the very first application. In our laboratory, we have carefully chosen the best first-press organic extracts and oils to offer you high-quality products and visible results. Thanks to the properties of the mallow flower and other plant extracts, you will feel your skin more hydrated with a more uniform and luminous appearance.
Learn about all the ingredients in our cosmetics in the technical product data sheets in our store and discover why we at Såper have committed to Botanical Minimalism.
