Aloe vera (Liliaceae)

Related species are grown in several parts of the world for the purgative juice and the mucilaginous gel their leaves contain. The mucilage from the leaves is collected after it has been drained of the aloetic juice.

Cosmetic use

The gel popularly called Aloe vera gel is extensively used as an external application for skin irritations, burns, sunburn, wounds, eczema, psoriasis, acne and dermatitis. Due to its astringent qualities it is used in massage therapy. One of the most extensively and popularly used cosmetic ingredient, when used with other ingredients it soothes the skin and stimulates cell regeneration.

Calendula officinalis officinalis (Asteraceae)

Called calendula or pot marigold, this is probably native to southern Europe. It is a short-lived aromatic herbaceous perennial. Flowers were used in ancient Greek, Roman, Middle Eastern and Indian cultures as a medicinal herb as well as a dye for fabrics, foods and cosmetics.

Cosmetic use

A number of ingredients used in cosmetics and personal care products are made from Calendula officinalis, such as, extract of the whole plant, flower extract, flower oil and seed oil.

Of the calendula-derived ingredients, the flower extracts are the most commonly used in cosmetics and personal care products. They may be used in the formulation of a variety of products, including skin and eye products, hair products and bath products. Flower and seed oil function as skin conditioning agents. C. officinalis has been used orally and on the skin in traditional herbal medicine, often because of its reported anti-inflammatory activity.

Important components of C. officinalis include triterpene saponins, flavonoids, and carotenoids, which give the flower the orange and yellow colours. The petals and pollen of C. officinalis contain triterpenoid esters and carotenoids flavoxanthin and auroxanthin (antioxidants, and the source of the yellow-orange colouration). The leaves and stems contain other carotenoids, mostly lutein (80%) and zeaxanthin (5%) and beta-carotene.