7 Floral Ingredients for 7 Common Skin Concerns

With spring in full bloom, add some flower power to your current regimen and watch your skin blossom. Addressing everything from dryness to sensitivity, specific floral ingredients treat common skin concerns for radiant, petal-soft results. Here are 7 flower-derived oils to incorporate into your daily skincare lineup during spring months and every day after.

Chamomile for calming redness and sensitivity

The word chamomile instantly conjures feelings of relaxation and maybe a little sleepiness (chamomile tea before bed anyone?) This herb is part of the asteraceae plant family, which are daisy-like flowers known for treating insomnia, aiding digestion, healing wounds, and more. In skincare, chamomile calms visible signs of redness and sensitivity, reduces puffiness, and evens skin tone. If you’re familiar with azulene, note that this irritation-quelling ingredient is typically extracted from chamomile flowers! Incorporate chamomile into your nighttime routine with a soothing facial oil that works while you rest for calmed skin come morning.

Try : Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil

Sunflower for dry skin

Did you know that your favorite summer flower provides exactly what’s needed for hydrated skin? Sunflowers are packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, which helps protect and moisturize dehydrated complexions. Typically named “helianthus annuus seed oil” on ingredient lists, this emollient contains a high concentration of fatty acids, including linoleic acid. This omega-6 fatty acid helps naturally generate ceramides (lipids in the outer layer of skin) to rebuild and maintain the skin barrier. Look for an eye cream with sunflower oil to hydrate and repair the delicate eye contour.

Try : Omorovicza Reviving Eye Cream

Marigolds for antibacterial cleansing

While you may not see “marigold flowers” on ingredient lists, maybe you’ve noticed “calendula oil.” Extracted from these yellow-orange plants, calendula oil is known for having antifungal, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties—it’s basically liquid gold from marigolds. It’s great for cleaning, treating, and relieving various skin ailments ranging from mild rashes to wounds. I recommend incorporating this oil into your shower routine by finding a calendula-infused body wash.

Try : Indie Lee Energize Body Wash

Rose for anti-aging

Supercharged with antioxidants and anti-aging vitamins, roses make more sense in skincare versus in a vase as a centerpiece. Infused with vitamin C and A, rose water and rose oils dramatically smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with regular use. Derived from rose bush seeds, rosehip oil is chock-full of nourishing fatty acids and anti-inflammatory vitamins to hydrate, treat signs of aging and pigmentation, and provide a protective boost of antioxidants. I recommend targeting rose-extracted ingredients on the lips in the form of a gentle scrub to plump and smooth skin.

Try : BY TERRY Baume de Rose Lip Scrub

Hibiscus for radiant skin

It is no surprise that ingredients derived from hibiscus flowers make you glow—after all, these tropical petals are the brightest of any bunch. Harnessing the power of antioxidants, AHAs, and elastin (protein that keeps skin in position), Hibiscus oil has gentle exfoliating and anti-aging properties. With regular use, skin looks more firm, even-toned, and glowing. Seek out face and body oils with high concentrations of this natural remedy to combat dull and tired skin.

Try : Caudalie Divine Oil

Lavender for acne-prone skin

Sweet smelling lavender isn’t just for lulling oneself into deep restful sleep, it also helps combat acne. Multi-tasking lavender oil cleans, calms, and heals active blockages with antibacterial and skin-calming properties. This non-comedogenic oil also gently moisturizes to keep skin balanced and free of pimples that arise from overly dry skin. Be on the lookout for an exfoliating facial gel that contains lavender oil to completely cleanse pores with comfortable and fresh results.

Try : Sisley-Paris Buff & Wash Facial Gel

Water Lily for skin regeneration

Water lilies are pretty—pretty powerful, that is. Known as nymphaea alba this aquatic flower grows in the ponds and lakes of tropical regions, and they were often used in early medicine as a painkilling and healing remedy. Nymphaea alba is commonly found in skincare to moisturize, regenerate, and protect skin from free radical damage. Water lily extract contains a high concentration of isoflavones (antioxidant compounds with a similar structure to estrogen), making this ingredient a staple in anti-aging regimens. Find a serum backed by nymphaea alba flower extract for plump, revitalized skin.

Try : Embryolisse Hydra-Serum

Illustrations by Christina Fung