Chicory root is a great choice for DIY garden-based skincare because it has lots of properties that are important to healthy skin! It is also an ideal herb for this because it grows naturally & abundantly in my Asheville, North Carolina food forest, which makes it a fantastic hyper-local choice for pampering my skin.
“Thanks to its calming and collagen-stimulating powers, chicory root is an excellent addition to any moisturizer’s formula. It is high in antioxidants, which can not only improve immune health when taken orally but which also help fight off the effects of toxins and free-radicals when applied topically. The benefits of antioxidants for your complexion have been proven over and over again.”
https://www.naturalorganicskincare.com/chicory-root/
I prepare the chicory root by making a hydrosol which is a distilled extraction containing the essential oils from the roots. I then use the hydrosol as a toner and to mix into face masks!
Feeling inspired to make your own hydrosol? Here is a fantastic guide from The Holistic Health Herbalist to get started DIYing your skincare from your garden!! 💚⤵️
Hydrosol How-To