The benefits of Marshmallow on the skin

When you hear marshmallow, you think candy? Indeed, these soft and sweet candies were originally made from the root of a plant: the Marshmallow. Although it no longer delights gourmets, Marshmallow extract remains a real treat… for our skin.

The marshmallow weed alicament

First good point: ecology. No need to bring it from the other side of the world, the Marshmallow or Althaea officinalis is downright common in Europe. A perennial herbaceous plant, it grows naturally in salt marshes, coastal meadows, along rivers and streams… It could almost be mistaken for a weed. But a damn interesting weed!

Rather decorative, with this silky down on thick serrated leaves, delicate flowers (white: ” mistletoe ” comes from the old french wit, white), the marshmallow is a super alicament.

It has long been part of the vegetable garden : its roots were eaten fried or in paste form in ancient times, in the Middle Ages or later in Syria. And closer to us in the delicacies that took its name.

Its root is also known to naturally relieve babies’ te ething: peeled, it looks like a big marshmallow to chew on. Placebo effect? No! Marshmallow extracts have been used in phytotherapy for a very long time, and are even recognised by the European Medicines Agency. Against all kinds of irritations and inflammations: cystitis, diarrhoea, small haemorrhages, eye and mouth infections, dental pain, ulcers and digestive problems, sore throat, cough… And of course for the skin: Marshmallow extract can treat irritations, itching, light burns, skin diseases, insect bites, boils, abscesses…

With Marshmallow extract: mucilage, vitamin C and antioxidants on the menu

 

And in the marshmallow, everything is good: all its parts are edible and usable in phytotherapy. But especially its roots and leaves from which the marshmallow extract used in cosmetics is derived: Althaea Officinalis Root/Leaf extract.

The leaves and roots (which are harvested after the plants have wilted) are dried and finely crushed. A decoction in water and hop, one obtains a particularly interesting substance, the main secret of Marshmallow extract: mucilage. More precisely Arabinogalactans and Galacturonorhamnanes. These sticky substances swell on contact with water and give a semi-transparent gel that is very emollient and softening. The top for restoring comfort, reinforcing hydration or revitalizing dry, dehydrated, stressed skin.

And that’s not all! Marshmallow extract from the leaves is rich in polyphenols and vitamin C: a great antioxidant cocktail against free radicals and to repair their damage.

Protective + repairing + soothing + anti-inflammatory. Mmmh… Say, isn’t that just what the skin on our hands needs, especially in winter? Bingo! The marshmallow extract logically has a place of choice in the composition of our cream natural hands Happy hands ?.

Marshmallow extract in our Happy Hands: a cocoon for your hands

It is notably thanks to Marshmallow extract that our Happy Hands is so emollient, protective and softening: a real velvet skin effect. Its mucilages form a gel that protects the epidermis without a greasy feel. Exactly the right texture for hand care! Combined with vegetable glycerin, oils and vegetable butters rich in squalene, emollients and moisturizers (Sweet Almond, Argan, Olive, Baobab …), this is enough to knock out conventional creams: with Marshmallow extract we do without their petrochemical petroleum jelly or paraffin 100% synthetic and hyper-polluting and we nourish the skin deep down.

Even hands that suffer from eczema, psoriasis, dryness or severe irritation: Marshmallow extract acts on skin cell renewal and both acute and chronic inflammation. Soothing, it promotes healing. We don’t ask you to take our word for it: the WHO lists Marshmallow extract for the care of dry skin and wounds. With Shea, inparticular, it forms in our Happy Hands a duo of shock to relieve the most damaged hands.

Finally, Marshmallow extract swells the ranks of the super antioxidant team at Happy Hands, alongside Olive, Blackcurrant, Carrot, Watercress or Physalis: essential for the hands, generally the first to be affected by the brown and ageing marks spots

or us it’s all seen: Marshmallow is one of the best friends of our winters. And not only for our hands: bronchitis, sore throat? A marshmallow herbal tea offers you polysaccharides with an action close to that of codeine with the added bonus of a delicately sweet taste. Small suggestion of regressive and greedy comfort: accompany it with a sweet treat. Make your own marshmallow the old-fashioned way – a great idea for a fun activity for those long winter days!

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