Do you like natural cosmetics that are free from synthetics? Are you big on plant-based skincare solutions? Now there’s a craze for eco-friendly products rich in exotic ingredients derived from plants growing in South America and Asia. Have you come across plant retinol or dragon’s blood in skincare treatments? Read about them in today’s post.

1. PLANT-DERIVED RETINOL

It turns out that there is a natural alternative for retinol (vitamin A). Some plant extracts have a similar effect on the skin. Fans of natural care will surely try it. Currently, you can either go for bakuchiol or Piaco Preto extract.

Such substances are infused into anti-wrinkle creams, but also products for younger skins because plant-derived retinol is slightly milder. This also means the effects take longer to come and are not as spectacular as after the “classic” retinol products. Nevertheless plant-based substitutes bring lots of benefits and are good to use when you can’t use retinol (for example during pregnancy). What do brilliant plant-derived retinol alternatives do? They stimulate collagen and elastin production, smooth the wrinkles, even out the skin tone, and renew the epidermis.

2. DRAGON’S BLOOD

It sounds like a name taken from the Game of Thrones! You probably picture a bleeding dragon, right? Don’t worry, though. This fantastic-sounding name stands for a resin from the Croton Lechleri tree found in the Andes and Amazonia.

It owes the name to blood red pigment looking just like blood. The resin is added to anti-wrinkle creams and treatments. Dragon’s blood has a face-lift effect, plumps skin up and boosts elasticity. It also abounds in antioxidants that protect skin against free radicals. The blood red resin is a perfect ingredient in antiaging eye creams, face serums and rich night creams. You will also find it in body-firming lotions.

3. PLANT-BASED BOTOX

Spilanthol, which is extracted from the electric daisy plant, is a natural alternative for botox. It’s been discovered in Peru recently and is growing in popularity. It is said to work like botulinum toxin because it inhibits the muscle spasms causing wrinkles. Cosmetologists claim that regular application of spilanthol-rich skincare products and a little patience are able to reduce expression lines and keep new lines from occurring. Serum is the most popular “carrier” for spilanthol, transporting the substance to the inner layers of skin.

Do you know any other exotic substances that have antiaging effect? Have you ever used a skincare product rich in dragon’s blood or other ingredient I wrote about? Did you get a chance to try bakuchiol or Piaco Preto plant-derived  retinol? Which one works better? It would be great to hear from you! 🙂