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Healthy Leaves For Skin Care

By Bhadra Kamalasanan

Little do we realise how much the aura of neem leaves bestows their amazing benefits when they gush through our skin during a morning stroll.

Seldom have we paid attention to nutrients we got while eating on a banana leaf at a South Indian neighbour’s home. Nature has in abundance a treasure of “skin care” leaves that not only offer a host of benefits when applied, but also act as powerful shields against chronic skin diseases.

Amidst our every day chores, we overlook the greenery that is rich around us. The ignorance is so well grounded that the beauty industry has nibbled all the resourcefulness of the environment and squeezed them to prepare creams and other chemicals and stuck ”Use me for beautiful skin” tag on them.

Why spend a fortune for skin care when you have it right there in your garden? Here are 5 healthiest leaves for skin care.

Banana leaves

Banana leaves

There is a reason why people down South enjoy their daily meals on a sheet of pure banana leaf and that is to imbibe and absorb multiple nutrients that it is dense with. As for the skin, banana lead acts as a medicine to cure or relieve poisonous bee stings, insect bites, rashes, spider bites, general skin irritation. In fact, it is popularly known as a natural eraser. If you check the labels of several creams and lotions you would find the presence of an expensive and active ingredient called Allatoin, which is present in these leaves. Rolling few ice cubes in banana leaf and dabbing it on the skin can make it brighter and appear less stressed or dull.

Basil Leaves

Basil Leaves

Basil leaves are an essential part of every household not just because they are an important part of religious ceremonies, but also because they benefit the skin in many ways. Rubbing basil leaves on the skin relieves one from stings and bites. It will not only heal the pain but also take the venom out. Besides, for those who have severe acne or pimples, drinking a glass of juice made out of basil can bring relief as it purifies the blood and has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

Peppermint Leaves

Peppermint Leaves

Peppermint is another member in the mint family. The nutrients that are present in peppermint help one to tone the skin, reduce swelling and minimise pores as much as possible. It also keeps ageing away or restores the elasticity of the skin that had been lost as a result of ageing. Vitamin A and C in peppermint leaves fight inflammation of the skin.

Moringa Leaves

Moringa Leaves

Each part of this miracle tree such as leaves, fruits, pod, seeds, sap, flowers, oil, bark and roots has medicinal properties of its own. In fact, according to several researches, the leaves of this miracle tree can fight or cure as many as 300 different diseases. Moringa leaves are rich sources of vitamin A, B, C, D and E. Anti-inflammatory property of moringa leaves cures minor injuries such as cuts, burns and bruises. Skin-purifying and therapeutic properties of moringa leaves remove all the impurities present in the skin and rejuvenate it.

Neem Leaves

Neem Leaves

Neem leaves have antiseptic properties that keep allergies away. Rubbing them on the skin or applying a paste made out of neem leaves on acne or pimples, brings relief to them. If you don't know already, lots of medicinal creams for acne are made out of neem leaves. Besides the skin, neem leaves are powerful enough to keep the bodily functions working fine and preventing several kinds of diseases.


Story first published: Saturday, January 25, 2014, 16:42 [IST]
Read more about: skin care