Bullshit or beneficial: The truth about homeopathic beauty trends
Image Courtesy: Alpha Foodie
Every so often I go on an “au naturale” beauty kick during which I throw out my drugstore-brand skincare items and become one with nature. I queue up a few yoga videos to encourage good digestion, and I start googling the best homeopathic methods to solve all of my beauty and bowel-related problems.
Before going full yogi mode for the umpteenth time, I’m starting to wonder if those natural techniques, some of which my mom has passed down to me herself, some from the internet, actually work, and what’s the science behind them?
Rosewater
Roses are romantic and sensual, so it makes sense that rose water would be a natural remedy to all of my unromantic problems. For the past month, I’ve put it on a cotton ball and used it as a toner, but really, does it work? Let’s find out!
Healthline has a cute listicle with all of the benefits associated with rose water. Some of those include anti-inflammatory properties, a reduction of redness on the skin, and anti-aging properties. Sounds too good to be true if you ask me.
Every article I came across supported the numerous health and beauty benefits of rose water, which seems like a pretty good sign. According to a research paper published in 2011, most of the great properties of rose water stem from its high amounts of phenolic compounds. Phenolic compounds are chemicals found in many fruits and vegetables frequently used in the creation of pharmaceutical drugs and beauty products. Some awesome benefits include antioxidants, anticancer, anti-inflammatory properties, and even antidepressants!
Long story short, science backs it up.
Castor oil
Image Courtesy: Garibaldi Health Clinic
Besides acting as a natural laxative, I’ve always believed castor oil has numerous beauty proponents., I swipe it on my eyelashes every night in hopes that they’ll grow into a perfect set of falsies. (No luck so far).
The oil comes from the Ricinus communis plant which is grown in areas of Africa and Asia. It feels a lot like vegetable oil if you rub it between your fingers, although I wouldn’t recommend using it to cook unless you want to have an extended stay on the toilet.
According to Carolyn J. Williams, author of Heal the Body Holistically, most of castor oil’s benefits are derived from its high amounts of unsaturated fatty acids. According to WebMD, unsaturated fats play a big role in producing natural oils in the skin which keeps you hydrated and plump.
Besides promoting healthy, moisturized skin, does castor oil do anything for hair or am I wasting my time using it on my eyelashes?
According to Harper’s Bazaar, there aren’t many studies showing a direct correlation to hair growth or general improvement, but the oil contains ricinoleic acid which promotes blood flow and encourages better hair growth.
In conclusion? It isn’t harming my eyelashes, but I probably won’t invest in another bottle.
Cranberry juice
Image Courtesy: Southeast Urogyn
Cranberry juice, while not exactly beauty -related, still might offer an important cure to womanly problems. Does it cure yeast infections/UTIs as everyone says? Is a vodka-cran more than just a tasty and cheap drink?
According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, there are valid reasons behind why cranberry juice can help prevent UTIs. It keeps bacteria from attaching to the bladder and makes urine more acidic. While it might not cleanse someone of a UTI, it can be used as a preventative measure.
Yeast infections, on the other hand, don’t return the same results. There is little to no evidence that drinking cranberry juice cures or prevents yeast infections. Looks like a trip to the Gynecologist will have to suffice.
Green tea
Image Courtesy: Delish
I’ve heard so many health benefits attributed to green tea, and it looks like they’re scientifically valid. It might be time to buy a box of teabags and a cute mug to go with them. According to WedMD, it’s the catechin content in the tea that makes all the difference.
Catechins are a type of phenolic compound (throwback!) that contributes to green tea’s abundance of antioxidants that prevent cell damage. Green tea is great for your brain, blood flow, cholesterol, and even relaxation thanks to the chemical theanine.
The only green tea myth is that it helps weight loss. Most studies find no evidence that it helps melt off the fat, but its plethora of other positives certainly outweigh this single hoax.
Overall, these natural beauty finds are consistently accurate. Although results might be a little slow to appear at times, I don’t think I’ll be giving up on my path to becoming a homeopathic guru anytime soon.
Strike Out,
Writer: Olivia Wakim
Athens
