My Name is Michelle, and if you have never read or followed my journey and blog posts, let me just say "Hello! Welcome! Here is where I share all things plant-related, I mean seriously, I garden, sprout, hike, forage, scuba dive, camp, spelunk, and just about anything outdoors- I am kind of a nature nut. In a good way. Nature brings me great peace and joy both physically and spiritually. I Also make natural plant-based skincare & herbal products for people
with sensitive skin and those who are looking for alternatives to a healthier way of life that will support hormone and cellular health - (basically longevity). If you like to learn, explore, read, escape, or even try some of the fun things I do-then come along for the journey! This post will show the plant I foraged this month and other posts will show what I spot on my hikes and today I'll be telling you why I love carrot seed oil for the skin so much.
As some of you who have been following me for over a decade know- I love carrot seed oil also known as Queen Anne's Lace. She is quite a Queen of the woods I must say! I use her in two of my face care products (Bright Eyes & Face Line Defense & Michelle's Miracle Carrot & Tamanu Elixir) and I swear by the simple yet powerfully healing little girl she is, and so do many of my clients and friends.
The Queen is a winner when it comes to anti-aging effects. Combining skin-mending vitamin A, collagen-boosting vitamin C, and moisturizing vitamin E, carrot seed oil helps awaken tired, slaggy skin. It also helps to smooth fine lines and repair sun damage, shrink the appearance of scars, and aids with many other skin issues. She's a great little secret weapon for fighting against premature aging. If you struggle with imbalanced skin while desiring smooth, flawless skin and dream of a more even skin tone, then keep reading about why you should consider this potent little plant oil in your repertoire of well-balanced skin creams for your daily skin routine. In my opinion, carrot seed oil (wild carrot) works best in tandem with other natural plants botanicals. The careful gentle scents of other delicate plants and their synergistic compliment of flowers to the oil helps it to work even better and more effectively.
Carrot seed oil comes from the plant called Daucus carota subsp. sativus. The common name is called Queen Anne's Lace. You may have even seen it yourself when strolling along outdoors in the summertime. It's a lovely little lacey white flower with a hairy stem that tells us that Summer is in full swing! It's also the original carrot from which we get our cultivated orange carrots. It has these beautiful umbels (like an umbrella) and usually a little red dot in the middle of the flower. You have to be careful if you aren't an experienced forager because there is a very poisonous look-alike called Poison Hemlock (and a few others) but one can tell the difference by wild carrot's "hairy legs." We like to say in foraging circles that "The Queen has hairy legs!" It's funny and easy to remember and keeps one more safe. If you spot a white flower with a red dot and hairy stem, don't pick it (unless you are sure you know what it is) but admire it for its beauty and health benefits- that's wild carrot!
I come across many flowers, and Wild Carrot (Queen Anne's Lace) is abundant this time of the year (it's Summer as I am writing this article)! I took the pictures of The Queen (Wild Carrot) above and below yesterday on my outing so you could see the flower and seeds up close. The entire plant is edible. But the seeds and topical use are the focus of this article.
Carrot seeds have carotol, geranyl acetate, and α-pinene as just a few of the main natural chemical constituents that are thought in part to be responsible for its helpful effects. The recent chemical findings are only a fraction of what scientists have studied, as many, many, more mysterious natural chemicals reside inside the plant. Science is only able to study a few at a time as it is an extensive research on each constituent (and it has more than 50 known at this time). Many other additional unstudied chemical constituents inside this little flower and seed have yet to be researched. Science can only say that she does fight and destroy harmful things on our skin, but can't say for certain how or why- The Queen remains partially a mystery at how she works so well.
Carrot seed oil is a winner for skincare because it has inhibitory factors. It is both an anti-fungal and antibacterial, as well as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. That's a lot of punch for a tiny little seed! You can probably use your imagination and think of why it might be good and beneficial in a face cream product. Think about taming red skin issues, or even tampering down a mild to moderate skin infection. It's helping your cells work better! It's really incredibly sophisticated- just like a Queen...
Carrot seed oil helps plump up your skin too. Free radical damage is continually working to break down our cells. Carrot seed oil stops the process of cellular breakdown by fighting off the things that contribute to it- oxidation (oxidative stress). When you have something that aids your own body and its recovery process, you have something safe and natural worth talking about! It's beautiful and powerful and it's right here at your fingertips thanks to nature and all her glory!
Studies have shown carrot seed oil's power against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and yeasts. This benefit helps preserve the creams along with other supportive natural preservatives. I enjoy using carrot seed oil in the products I create because I work with clients that have pretty severe issues, like rosacea, eczema, age pots, acne, and bacterial overgrowths. Carrot seed oil along with some of the other things I combine in my line can help your own body come back into balance (homeostasis) naturally and without destroying your own skin unlike some of the retinol and heavy chemicals that are often prescribed.
Another benefit of the oil is that it fortifies the skin before UV damage can set in (and after), while also helping lighten the appearance of dark spots on the skin when caught early enough, which can be the beginning of melanin spots that make one look aged. I have a few that come out with the sun and am so grateful for the two creams I make because they have helped me (and others) greatly.
This humble little Queen Anne's Lace flower will likely keep science guessing for eternity at all she is good for- after all we chose to cultivate her for foot - and make carrots! Carrot seed oil is safe and it works, and all one has to do is use it daily for beautiful and healthy skin. If you want to learn more about our products and carrot seed oil, you can visit www.meandatree.com, search in the little search bar, and have fun learning all you can. If you'd like to get your own face cream and serum with carrot seed, evening primrose, tamanu, and other beneficial botanical ingredients - you can visit these two links here and here and add them to your shopping bag.
Thanks for reading.
Stay happy, healthy, and curious!
Nature is amazing, and let's face it, so are you!
*See what I did there?* :)
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