In early spring, sakura flowers, i.e. Japanese cherry trees, are stunning with their color and fragrance. Some time ago they were found only in Japan, today, in Poland, rows of pink trees decorate the streets of many cities. However, sakura is not only a beautiful sight or a wonderful smell. Its flowers contain many important substances. Sakura flower extracts are an increasingly common ingredient in cosmetics, offering a number of benefits for all skin types. See how much you can gain from such care and learn simple recipes for home-made cosmetics with sakura flowers.
What good can sakura do for the skin? Care properties of cherry blossoms
Sakura is one of the most popular symbols of Japan – the land of the Rising Sun. Every spring, during the cherry blossom season, hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world come to the Hanami festival to see with their own eyes the gardens and streets full of stunning pink flowers.
And according to many of them, a walk among sakura along the world-famous Nakaragi path through a tunnel of pink petals is an experience that is difficult to compare with anything else. The fruits of the Japanese cherry, also called weeping cherry or ball cherry, are inedible and sometimes even harmful (which depends on the variety). However, the flowers of this tree have a number of valuable care properties.
In Japan, cherry blossoms are one of the most valued cosmetic ingredients. This is due to their properties.
Sakura extract (Japanese cherry blossom extract):
- it is rich in antioxidants and has anti-wrinkle properties. Thanks to it, Japanese women have beautiful skin even in old age.
- contains a lot of unsaturated fatty acids – smoothes and elasticizes the skin
- moisturizes and rebuilds the hydrolipid layer
- prevents protein glycation processes, when excess sugar binds to protein and destroys collagen and elastin. Cosmetics with sakura extract reduce the signs of skin aging, such as sagging and loss of elasticity.
- controls the process of melanin production and prevents its uneven distribution in the skin, preventing discoloration.
- stimulates collagen synthesis, reducing fine wrinkles
- improves skin tone
- reduces the visibility of pores
- has anti-inflammatory properties and reduces irritation.
Simple cosmetics with sakura petals. You can make them at home
Cosmetics with Japanese cherry blossoms can be purchased without any problems today. And it’s worth it, because sakura is a natural and safe ingredient. Using cosmetics with their content is an excellent way to improve the condition of your skin, giving it radiance and a youthful appearance.
During the season, you can also use cherry blossom petals for home care. There are recipes available online for homemade body lotions and face creams with sakura extract and dried flowers of this tree. However, their preparation is not easy due to the poor availability of ingredients. However, you can make a homemade tonic or mask from sakura flowers.
A simple recipe for homemade sakura petal tonic
Ingredients:
- 1 handful of fresh or dried sakura petals
- 250 ml of distilled water
- Juice of 1/2 lemon (optional)
Preparation:
Pour boiling water over the sakura petals and leave to cool, then filter the infusion through gauze or a cotton handkerchief. If you want a brightening effect, add lemon juice. Store the tonic in a tightly closed jar in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Use:
Apply sakura petal tonic in the morning and evening to cleansed face and neck skin. You can apply it with a cotton pad or directly from your hand. The tonic moisturizes, soothes and refreshes the skin, and helps even out the skin tone.
Mask with sakura petals, yogurt and honey:
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of fresh or dried sakura petals
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1 teaspoon of natural yogurt
Preparation:
Mix the sakura petals with honey and yogurt until smooth. Apply the mask to cleansed face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes and then wash it off with warm water.
Use:
Use a mask of sakura petals and honey 1-2 times a week. The mask moisturizes, nourishes and regenerates the skin, and gives it a radiant and youthful appearance.
You can add other natural ingredients to the tonic and mask, such as jojoba oil, rose oil or aloe. Before using sakura petal cosmetics, perform an allergy test on a small part of the skin.
