Ingredient Breakdown: Passionflower
Native to the Amazon and known for its fragrant, gorgeous, uniquely designed flowers, passionflower provides the world with an array of aesthetic beauties. Aesthetic beauty that is admired both on the vine and on your skin. For centuries, passionflower has been used for many medicinal purposes, and those benefits have been noted scientifically. Passionflower produces gorgeous flowers and a very nourishing fruit on a wooded vine that extends to about 160 feet. While there are several species of passionflower--about 400-- passiflora incanata, also known as maracuja, is an oil light in texture and easily absorbed.
Benefits
Passionflower has many properties that benefit our health. Passionflower is an:
- Emollient
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-insomnia
- Antioxidant
- Anti-itch
- Anti-anxiety
- Anti-spasmodic
Ultimately, passionflower is a great source for calming our tissues and cells.
For Your Skin
Passionflower is considered one of the best products for making skin smooth and soft. It is an excellent emollient and skin moisturizer and it is very easily absorbed into your skin, so it will not leave your skin oily. Rich in fatty acids and antioxidants, passionflower contains vitamin C, calcium, and phosphorus. Vitamin C is key in the production of collagen, which assists in the production of cells and blood vessels, giving skin its firmness, strength, and elasticity. Vitamin C also helps skin repair itself from damage caused by the environment.
For mature, aging skin, passionflower can help to reverse the signs of aging because of its oxidation properties and the skin’s need for rehydration, replenishment, and reparation. This 3-way process is essential for keeping skin youthful and glowing. Protecting the skin from the sun is crucial for keeping skin healthy looking; the antioxidants in passionflower (carotenoids and phenols) reverse the signs of aging by protecting cells against free radicals, which lead to fine lines and wrinkles. Passionflower also regulates sebum (oil), so your skin does not become too oily or too dry. For people with dry or cracked skin, or for people with over oily skin, passionflower regulates the sebum to balance and relieve these skin conditions. Balancing sebum production also minimizes acne.
Hair
Passionflower is added to an array of other hygiene care products, including hair care. For hair that is damaged, passionflower encourages healthy growth with vitality, as well as scalp nourishment.
Calming Properties
Passionflower can also be used to sooth burns, as it has many calming properties that it is well known for. Passionflower is found in many massage products because it is a natural anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory, which relieves swelling and achy muscles. Most commonly, passionflower is used as an anti-anxiety, sedative, and relaxant. Historically, many people use passionflower for sleep.
Uses
Passionflower is most often used topically and aromatically. Apply a few drops of passionflower to your face and massage it around for radiant, glowing, young looking skin. Add a few drops to a small amount of a carrier oil, such as coconut or olive, to relieve skin from burns, bug bites, or dryness. You can also do this to relieve sore muscles. Diffuse a few drops of passionflower or add a few drops to a bath for soaking, to benefit from its calming properties.
Also in Geneva Naturals
What Is A Retinoid Oil? Retinoid Oil Benefits, Uses, Effects & More
DIY Clay Mask Recipes for Clear Skin
