✕

15 Best Anti-Aging Herbs For Youthful Skin

Slow down the signs of aging and nourish your skin with these nutritious herbs.

Reviewed by Kate Driver, ND
By Ramona Sinha, Certified Skin Care Coach
15 Best Anti-Aging Herbs For Youthful Skin

If you were granted a wish to turn the skin clock back, wouldn’t you love to do that? I mean, who wouldn’t? But, unfortunately, none of us have the magic lamp. But worry not – nature has many anti-aging herbs in its lap. Wondering what they are? We are here to reveal some of nature’s best-kept anti-aging secrets that can slow down the signs of premature aging. Continue reading to know them in detail and make their best use.

15 Anti-Aging Herbs To Fight Skin Aging

  1. Basil
  2. Cinnamon
  3. Clove
  4. Ginger
  5. Guggula
  6. Gingko
  7. Ashwagandha
  8. Horsetail
  9. Oregano
  10. Rosemary
  11. Sage
  12. Thyme
  13. Gotu Kola
  14. Turmeric

1. Basil

1. Basil

Shutterstock

Holy basil or tulsi helps in preventing the signs of aging. Excessive UV exposure damages your skin and causes collagen depletion. Collagen is the compound that maintains the elasticity of your skin. In a study, researchers found that topical application of basil helped in retaining skin moisture levels, reduced skin roughness and scaliness, prevented wrinkles, and made the skin smooth (1).

How To Use Basil For Anti-Aging Benefits

You Will Need
  • 1 cup holy basil leaves
  • 1 tablespoon gram flour
  • 1 teaspoon honey
Method
  1. Soak the basil leaves in warm water to soften them and make a paste.
  2. Mix it with gram flour and honey.
  3. Apply it to your face and let it dry.
  4. Wash with lukewarm water.

2. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine for its healing properties. It is also said to have anti-aging benefits as it prevents collagen breakdown and prevents loss of skin elasticity. A study says that it also boosts collagen synthesis and prevents signs of aging (2).

How To Use Cinnamon For Anti-Aging Benefits

You Will Need
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
  • 1 tablespoon raw honey
Method
  1. Mix both the ingredients.
  2. Apply the face mask.
  3. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes.
  4. Wash with lukewarm water.

3. Clove

3. Clove

Shutterstoc

Clove has immense health benefits. Clove oil is widely used in Ayurveda for treating many ailments. A study has also found that clove has free radical scavenging properties and contains antioxidants that slow down signs of aging (3).

Note: Clove and its oil can be toxic at high doses. Therefore, only use it as directed.

How To Use Clove For Anti-Aging Benefits

You Will Need
Method
  1. Wash your face with warm water (you can even steam it a bit).
  2. Mix the coconut and clove oils.
  3. Massage on your face and let it stay for half an hour.
  4. Wash your face with cold water.

4. Ginger

This herb has been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for over thousands of years for treating multiple ailments. Ginger has high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that help in preventing the signs of aging. A study found that ginger could control the production of harmful free radicals that affect your metabolism and increase oxidative stress, which is harmful to your skin (4).

How To Use Ginger For Anti-Aging Benefits

You Will Need
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon grated ginger
Method
  1. Clean your skin with a mild cleanser.
  2. Mix all the ingredients.
  3. Scrub your face with the mixture for 10 minutes.
  4. Leave it on for another 5-10 minutes.
  5. Wash it off with lukewarm water.

5. Guggula

5. Guggula

Shutterstock

Guggula is a very powerful herb that is extracted from the Mukul Myrrh tree. A study found that Guggula could prevent wrinkles (5). It is also used for its anti-inflammatory properties that inhibit the effect of the harmful free radicals.

How To Use Guggula For Anti-Aging Benefits

You Will Need
  • 1 teaspoon Guggula powder
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil (or shea butter)
Method
  1. Mix the powder with the oil or butter.
  2. Massage the mixture on your face (use it as a night cream).
  3. Let it stay on overnight.
  4. Wash it off the next day.

6. Gingko

This is one herb that has been widely studied for its immense health benefits. Gingko biloba is revered for its memory boosting properties, but it is also known for its anti-aging benefits. A clinical study found that Gingko extracts, when applied on skin, could prevent wrinkles and improve the skin texture by boosting hydration and skin smoothness and reducing roughness (6).

How To Use Gingko For Anti-Aging Benefits

You Will Need
  • 1 teaspoon Gingko extract
  • 1 tablespoon bentonite clay
  • 1 tablespoon honey
Method
  1. Mix the clay and honey and make a paste.
  2. If the consistency is too thick, use distilled water.
  3. Mix the Gingko extracts with the pack.
  4. Apply it to your face. Let it dry.
  5. Wash with lukewarm water.

7. Ashwagandha

7. Ashwagandha

Shutterstock

Ashwagandha or Indian ginseng or winter cherry is an extremely popular herb used for its medicinal properties. It has antibacterial, antifungal, and cognitive boosting properties and is loaded with alkaloids that protect the cells (including skin cells) from oxidative stress and damage. This keeps your skin healthy and the signs of aging at bay (7).

How To Use Ashwagandha For Anti-Aging Benefits

You Will Need
  • ½ teaspoon ashwagandha powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried ginger powder
  • ½ teaspoon lemon juice (diluted)
Method
  1. Mix all the ingredients and make a paste.
  2. Add a bit of water if it is too thick.
  3. Apply it all over your face and let it dry.
  4. Wash it off with water.

8. Ginseng

This Chinese medicinal herb is popular worldwide for its anti-aging benefits. A study found that a mixture of ginseng and Chinese hawthorn protected the skin from the effects of aging. It improves procollagen synthesis and moisture levels of the skin and prevents wrinkle formation (8).

How To Use Ginseng For Anti-Aging Benefits

You Will Need
  • 1 teaspoon ginseng powder
  • 1 cup warm water
  • Cotton balls
Method
  1. Mix the ginseng powder in water.
  2. Let it cool.
  3. Soak the cotton ball in the toner and apply it all over your face and neck.
  4. Leave it on overnight.
  5. Wash off the next day with warm water.

9. Horsetail

9. Horsetail

Shutterstock

Also called shave grass or mare’s tail, this perennial herb contains natural silicon that can give you youthful and glowing skin. Horsetail contains flavonoids, vitamins E and C, carotenoids, and coenzyme Q10 that improve the collagen levels in your skin, neutralize the harmful free radicals, and enhance the skin firmness (9).

How To Use Horsetail For Anti-Aging Benefits 

You Will Need
  • 1 tablespoon chopped horsetail shoot
  • 3 tablespoons raw honey
Method
  1. Warm the honey and mix the horsetail shoot in it.
  2. Store it for 2-3 days and then strain the honey.
  3. Consume a tablespoon of the strain twice a day.

10. Oregano

This herb not just makes your food taste good, but it also helps in slowing down the aging of your skin. Oregano is a storehouse of antioxidants and flavonoids that prevent free radical damage and delay the signs of aging (10).

How To Use Oregano For Anti-Aging Benefits

You Will Need
  • 10-15 drops oregano essential oil
  • 2 tablespoons olive, coconut, or jojoba oil
Method
  1. Mix the essential oil with the carrier oil.
  2. Use the mixture for massaging your face and neck.
  3. Apply before bedtime and keep it on overnight.
  4. Wash off the next day.

11. Rosemary

11. Rosemary

Shutterstock

This herb protects your skin from photodamage. Excessive exposure to UV rays causes fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of UV-induced aging. Rosemary prevents photodamage while improving your skin’s elasticity and preventing wrinkles (11).

How To Use Rosemary For Anti-Aging Benefits 

You Will Need
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 fresh sprigs of rosemary
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Method
  1. Combine all the ingredients in a pot and boil it on medium heat.
  2. Simmer for a while (until the quantity is reduced to half) and let it cool.
  3. Strain the liquid and store in a spray bottle.
  4. Use it as a toner for your skin.

12. Sage

Sage is rich in antioxidants that help in reversing the signs of aging, such as age spots, wrinkles, and fine lines. Sage contains flavonoids, phenolic carboxylic acids, phenolic diterpenes, and other antioxidants that protect your skin from aging (12).

How To Use Sage For Anti-Aging Benefits

You Will Need
  • 1 ½ teaspoons sage leaves
  • 1 cup water
Method
  1. Boil sage leaves in a pan filled with water and steep it for 20-30 minutes.
  2. Strain the liquid and let it cool down.
  3. Transfer it to a glass bottle and use it as a toner.

13. Thyme

13. Thyme

Shutterstock

This is another herb with multiple benefits. It not only makes your food flavorful but also prevents skin damage and signs of aging. Thyme is a free radical scavenger and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that protect your skin from the signs of aging (13).

How To Use Thyme For Anti-Aging Benefits

You Will Need
  • 1 tablespoon dried thyme
  • ½ cup alcohol-free witch hazel
Method
  1. Take a glass jar and add the ingredients to it.
  2. Let the thyme soak in the witch hazel for a week.
  3. Strain it and then use as a toner.

14. Gotu Kola

In Ayurveda, Gotukola is considered a magic remedy for its Vayasthapana (meaning age-defying properties). The Ayurvedic texts say that it maintains a balance between all the doshas in your body and promotes collagen synthesis and cell renewal (14). It can also be taken internally.

How To Use Gotu Kola For Anti-Aging Benefits

You Will Need
  • A handful of dried Gotu kola
  • A handful of calendula flowers (optional)
  • Sesame oil (you can use coconut, olive, jojoba, or almond oil)
  • A glass jar
Method
  1. Put the herbs into the glass jar and pour oil into it.
  2. Make sure that the oil covers the herbs completely.
  3. Fasten the lid and shake the jar a bit.
  4. Let it infuse for 2-3 weeks.
  5. Leave the bottle under the sun for the duration.
  6. Use it as a massage oil all over your body and face.

15. Turmeric

15. Turmeric

Shutterstock

Whether it is for treating an infection, a cut, or a bruise or improving your immunity, turmeric is a magic solution for everything. But did you know that it has age-defying properties? Yes. That’s because of a compound called curcumin. This compound is a strong antioxidant that has free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties that protect your skin from UV-induced signs of aging (15).

How To Use Curcumin For Anti-Aging Benefits 

You Will Need
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 tablespoon raw honey
  • 1 drop lemon essential oil (optional)
Method
  1. Mix all the ingredients.
  2. Apply the face mask and massage for 10 minutes.
  3. Let it stay for another 10 minutes or until it dries.
  4. Wash off.

Sometimes, how fast our skin ages may also depend on our genes and stress levels. While some women look youthful even in their mid-40s, others may start noticing signs of aging in their 30s. We cannot always control our body’s mechanisms. While we cannot promise that these anti-aging herbs mentioned in the article will be your way to maintaining a lasting youthful look, they can surely help protect your skin and keep it healthy. Therefore, you may try the remedies discussed in the article, slow down aging signs, and let your skin look healthy, glowing, and youthful.

Was this article helpful?
thumbsupthumbsdown
The following two tabs change content below.
author

Ramona Sinha

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze. Prior to that, she authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She... more

Kate Driver

(ND )
Kate Driver is a Naturopath, Women's Health Coach, and Perimenopause Practitioner and has been consulting for over 22 years. She... more

LATEST ARTICLES