Fondly dubbed as ‘nature’s botox’, it’s fair to say that hibiscus has made its mark on the anti-aging skincare world. Although you’ve probably heard of hibiscus being enjoyed as a tea in various cultures around the globe, the oil which is typically extracted from its leaves and flowers contains a host of anti-aging benefits. With antioxidants, AHAs and mucilage on its side, it truly packs quite the punch, especially on maturing skin.
Starting with antioxidants, hibiscus oil contains plentiful amounts of vitamins A and C, which are known to house antioxidant properties and are praised free radical fighters. Vitamin A has a prominent role in dermal healing, capable of triggering fibroblast production, which are known to be instrumental in the growth of firmer, healthier dermal tissue. Vitamin C has similar benefits, made famous for being instrumental in both collagen production and dermal repair, not to mention having a naturally lightening effect on the skin. This makes it a great candidate for staving off wrinkles and the visible signs associated with aging such as hyperpigmentation. Aside from vitamins A and C, hibiscus also contains anthocyanosides, which are antioxidants that not only help to fend off free radicals, but harbor anti-inflammatory and astringent qualities, which have a soothing effect on the skin as well as helping to tighten pores. Naturally calming, they’re excellent for skin that’s prone to sensitivity, or been aggravated.
The AHAs (i.e. alpha hydroxy acids) found in hibiscus are gently exfoliating, which are great at helping to brighten the skin by boosting cell turnover, dissolving dead cells, and increasing dermal hydration levels by elevating your natural hyaluronic acid production, thus helping to maintain balance. On the subject of moisturization, hibiscus is rich in mucilage, which is a substance likened to gel in texture and makes for an effective natural moisturizer, promoting dermal hydration, which is especially helpful for mature and sensitive skin.
In addition to the benefits listed above, hibiscus oil’s crowning glory is its ability to inhibit elastase, which is an enzyme that causes elastin breakdown in the skin. By slowing this process down, hibiscus significantly contributes to the maintenance of more youthful-looking skin by promoting firmness.
For further reading about how to treat the skin types we mentioned in this article, visit our blog posts on How To Treat Sensitive Skin and How To Treat Mature Skin. For more information about hydroxy acids, visit our blog post on What Are AHAs and BHAs? If you’re interested in creating a skincare routine for your specific skin type, visit our Skin Types hub.