Plants

Houseplants that are Good for Your Skin

Houseplants have an abundance of benefits, including promoting sleep, cleaning the air around us, and injecting colour and fragrance into our homes. They can also benefit our skin and there is a growing number of houseplants used for skincare purposes.

It’s only logical that if plants remove harmful chemicals from the air, then they should benefit our skin too. They certainly help to alleviate the dry indoor air that heating systems cause, especially in the winter months.

This dry, chemical-filled air can often cause our skin to look a little lackluster and dry, which is when a skincare houseplant comes into its own.

Are some houseplants better than others?

The best houseplants for helping to add humidity to indoor air are usually the extremely thirsty ones that boast larger leaf surface areas and higher transpiration rates.

These houseplants boost skincare as a result, with studies carried out to date suggesting that the best performing houseplants are English Ivy and the Peace Lily. For example, a Peace Lily measuring 11 inches by 20 inches can release the equivalent of a small teacup of water into the air every day.

English Ivy is not only great indoors, but it also makes for a lovely potted plant outdoors too. It’s both easy to propagate and to grow, making it a popular choice. If you wish to add a trailing element to your potted arrangements, it’s certainly a plant to consider – and even more given this houseplant’s skincare benefits.

Peace Lily

This plant is a good choice for those new to the gardening world as they’re extremely hard to over water. This is one of the most common mistakes among those who don’t regularly grow houseplants, but fortunately, the peace lily is the opposite.

These plants not only love a great deal of water; they can thrive in water only. They are also at the top of the list for adding humidity to an array of indoor areas, so provide a perfect companion for those wishing to give tired skin a quick and much appreciated pick me up.

Areca Palm

This plant thrives in homes that boast bright indoor light, so it is important to ensure your apartment or house is able to offer this necessity if you plan to get this specific skincare plant. They can be a little on the costly side if purchased as larger plants, however, a smaller plant is less expensive and can still grow between 6 and 10 inches per year.

This is especially the case when placed in the correct conditions. The Areca Palm boasts one of the highest transpiration rates of any houseplant and is the perfect plant companion for those wishing to inject a tropical vibe to their decor.

Spider Plant

Spider plants are ideal for hanging from shelves and window sills and they love humidity. This makes them the perfect choice for those looking to add a plant to their bathroom. The hanging plantlets are easy to root and act as air scrubbers, boosting your skin in the process.

Philodendrons

Philodendron houseplants are often mistaken for pothos plants. This is mainly down to the fact the leaves of these two plants are similar in size and shape. However, pothos is a much slighter plant and is usually sold for use in hanging baskets. The leaves of the philodendron, on the other hand, are generally slightly thicker and tougher than that of those found on the pothos.

Pothos

Pothos are one of the easiest houseplants to grow. They are able to withstand an array of adverse conditions, and even if neglected, they tend to just keep on growing. They’re very easy to propagate, which makes them a popular option for those looking for a low maintenance plant.

This shrub is the perfect companion to the busy individual, especially those who often travel for work or work long hours. You can add several of these trailing plants to your home to promote clean air and to take advantage of an array of skin benefits.

Rubber Plant

The Rubber Plant has recently come back into demand, despite having gone off the radar for some years. One of the reasons it was pushed aside was because its cousin, the now popular but finicky Fiddle Leaf Fig, took centre stage.  Fiddle leaf fig plants are renowned for being hard to maintain though, which makes them a less popular choice with newbie gardeners.

However, they’re still prevalent with seasoned gardeners. The Rubber Plant boasts very largely, glossy leaves in a rich green shade and it is easy to care for, which makes it a great option for the busy gardener.

It’s also a good choice for those who work away on a regular basis as the rubber plant is handy in that it only necessitates a little water and can be pretty much left to its own devices, providing you place it in a shady part of your home.

The kitchen, hallway, the corner of the living room or the study are all good locations to opt for. Asides from being low maintenance, this species of plant will add both colour and ambiance to your home while being a houseplant that can also enhance your skin.

If you’re looking to clean the air in your home, add an injection of hue and give your skin a little pick me up, adding a plant or several to your bedroom, study, bathroom, dining room or entranceway is a great idea and one that doesn’t have to cost the earth.

You can even order plants from an online garden center or florist and have them delivered directly to your door, often on the same or next day.

This is provided that you order by a certain cut off time. The only thing you need to do is pick a place for your new plants to live in, and when cared for correctly, you should find they can bring joy to the household for many years to come.

Source: owerpatchfarmhouse.com

Lily Calyx is our in-house flower whisperer, an expert on all things botanical and an enthusiastic orchids collector. She loves discussing the insights of the secret world of flowers, shares her gardening tips and hacks and moons over the latest additions to Serenata Flowers flower range. Ask Lily anything about flowers and we can guarantee she will have the answer.

Comments are closed.

  • Pin It