Naturally beautiful: The great possibilities of Artemisia annua in cosmetics
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Lesezeit 4 min
There's so much to discover in the world of Artemisia annua, also known as annual mugwort. From leaf cuttings to leaf powder to essential oils and numerous other products, there's nothing this special plant can't enrich us with. However, there's one area that's often overlooked, but no less valuable: the world of cosmetics.
Here, too, Artemisia annua reveals its impressive properties. Its many powerful ingredients, such as artemisinin, chlorophyll, vitamins, and minerals, offer a whole range of potential uses for gently cleansing and caring for your skin and hair. Artemisia annua is officially approved as a cosmetic ingredient in the EU and is used in numerous creams, lotions, ointments, soaps, and even perfumes .
In this article, you'll find an overview of the various uses and benefits of Artemisia annua in cosmetics. Join us as we delve into a new and exciting world of annual mugwort!
Contents:
The history of Artemisia annua The ingredients of Artemisia annua Vitamins, minerals and amino acids The benefits of Artemisia annua products in cosmetics Possible applications of Artemisia annua in cosmetics Creams, lotions and serums Soap Lip care and lipstick Perfume Pure nature for your skin: The Artemisia annua anamed ointment Conclusion
The history of Artemisia annua
Artemisia annua originates from Asia . It has been cultivated for centuries, particularly in the mountains of the Chinese provinces of Chahar and Suiyuan, to exploit its numerous potential benefits. There, it is known as "Quinghao."
Meanwhile, annual mugwort has also conquered other regions of our globe – in fact, there is almost no climate zone in which it is not at home. It is not even afraid of the dry climate of deserts and semi-deserts, finding a place to grow there. Nevertheless, it thrives primarily in subtropical, tropical, and temperate climates – especially Europe, Asia, and Africa. Here, we find it both in the wild and in cultivated areas.
The ingredients of Artemisia annua
Artemisia annua contains over 600 valuable ingredients that, when used cosmetically, reveal their tremendous potential for skin and hair. These include:
Essential oils
Artemisia annua is rich in valuable essential oils such as alpha-pinene, camphor, limonene, alpha-terpinene, beta-pinene, carene, eucalyptus oil, artemisia ketones, copaene, caryophyllene, menthol, and alpha-terpineol. These oils make it a particularly popular additive in cosmetic products because they are associated with many beneficial properties for the skin.
Chlorophyll Artemisia annua also contains abundant chlorophyll, the natural pigment that gives plants their green color. This plant pigment is particularly popular in cosmetics because it is said to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties . Flavonoids Artemisia annua contains a variety of flavonoids, including quercetin and luteolin. Flavonoids are secondary plant substances and are primarily known for their antioxidant properties.
Vitamins, minerals and amino acids
In addition, Artemisia annua is rich in vitamin E and minerals such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, zinc and iron - these ingredients are particularly valuable for your skin.
Vitamin E, for example, is known as a powerful antioxidant, and zinc contributes to maintaining healthy skin and protecting cells from oxidative stress. Artemisia annua also contains a variety of amino acids such as tryptophan, threonine, and arginine. Arginine plays a role in skin regeneration, while threonine is the building block of collagen and elastin, thus keeping our skin firm and elastic.
The benefits of Artemisia annua products in cosmetics
The valuable ingredients of Artemisia annua offer a wide range of benefits in cosmetics. Some of these include:
Caring
Our entire body needs to be supplied with nutrients – and so does our skin. Only then is it able to regenerate and protect itself, maintaining a naturally balanced complexion . Artemisia annua is the perfect companion. Thanks to its many valuable ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and essential oils, it's practically the perfect nourishment for your skin.
Calming
Due to its valuable plant compounds, Artemisia annua ointment can have particularly soothing effects on the skin. It can relax stressed skin and neutralize minor irritations and redness.
Antioxidant
As you've already learned, many of the ingredients in Artemisia annua (especially flavonoids and vitamin E) are antioxidants. Therefore, it's hardly surprising that Artemisia annua cosmetic products are particularly antioxidant-rich.
Antioxidants help minimize cell damage caused by free radicals and can thus slow the skin's aging process . For this reason, antioxidants are often used in anti-aging care . The antioxidant activity of a substance is described using the ORAC value. This indicates how many free radicals can be neutralized per gram of the substance. Artemisia annua has a sensational ORAC value of over 70,000 . By comparison, the ORAC value of the "anti-aging miracle" Q10 is just between 5,000 and 7,000.
Possible uses of Artemisia annua in cosmetics
Let us now turn to the various uses of Artemisia annua in cosmetics, which result from its great benefits.
Creams, lotions and serums
Due to its potential skincare benefits, Artemisia annua is very popular in creams, lotions, and serums. It is used in a variety of areas:
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Anti-aging care: The high antioxidant value of Artemisia annua makes it a perfect ingredient in various anti-aging products. The numerous antioxidants can help slow the skin aging process and maintain a firm, youthful complexion well into old age.
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Dry skin: The many bioactive compounds (flavonoids, polyphenols, etc.) in Artemisia annua can help bind and retain moisture in the skin, resulting in hydrated, supple skin.
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Sensitive and irritated skin: Due to the many antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of the ingredients, it can also help soothe sensitive and irritated skin.
- Skin problems such as redness and inflammation: Here, too, ingredients like artemisinin, chlorophyll, and flavonoids are a valuable companion. They can help gently alleviate minor skin problems and inflammations such as acne.
