Among the types of herbal moisturizer that commonly are available are commercially manufactured and homemade personal care products that contain herbal formulations or a single herb that has moisturizing properties, and these products are used to cleanse, hydrate, soothe, whiten or condition the skin or hair. A hydrating moisturizer is the type that is probably most widely used and is for the alleviation of dry skin that might become a problem for some people who are older, have naturally dry skin or are suffering from sunburn. Acne moisturizer usually is used by teenagers and people who experience pimples and breakouts on their face. Aloe moisturizer also is very popular in many nations for its soothing properties and versatility; it can be used to hydrate the skin and hair, can be used to treat sunburns, has a mild bleaching effect on skin and hair and generally is considered a very effective lightweight moisturizer.
An herb is a seed plant that does not have woody parts or any plant or part of a plant that has medicinal qualities. Herbs that often are used in personal care products formulated to hydrate the skin or hair include chamomile, burdock, dandelion, sage, gotu kola, red clover and chickweed. They usually are in the form of extracts when included in formulations, but they can be used in their bulk state singly to make an infusion or decoction that can be applied directly to the skin as an herbal moisturizer. Essential oil is another common form in which herbs might appear in the ingredients list of personal care products.
Any of the aforementioned herbs can be added to a gentle soap or natural grain alcohol to make a cleansing moisturizer for sensitive skin. Chamomile extract, essential oil or an infusion also can be added to a gentle, natural soap as one of the ingredients needed to create a whitening moisturizer. An herbal moisturizer containing burdock, dandelion, chickweed and red clover might prove helpful in combating acne, eczema and other skin problems. It should be remembered that an herbal moisturizer also can be any of a variety of natural infusions or decoctions that moisturize, hydrate and condition the skin internally. For example, the herbs burdock, gotu kola and dandelion have proven to be very effective for many people in the all-natural, internal treatment of skin problems.
The advantages of using an herbal moisturizer internally to treat problematic skin conditions include the avoidance of many of the dangerous side effects associated with prescription-strength medications as well as the beneficial effects on other organs that ingesting the herb produces. When using an herbal moisturizer internally, it is very important to choose one that is known to be very mild and virtually non-toxic even in high amounts taken over prolonged periods of time. Such herbs include dandelion, burdock and red clover.
