Ingredient Spotlight: Rosemary

Native to the Mediterranean region, rosemary is good in tomato sauce, but even better in skin care formulations!

Rich in antioxidant compounds like rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid, rosemary has become a valuable skin care ingredient thanks to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, and anti-bacterial properties. Here's why dermatologists and formulators continue to include rosemary in skin care for healthy, balanced, blemish-free skin.

While it is often used in essential oil form (which can be sensitizing), we use it in in the form of leaf extract (Rosemarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract), making it safe for all skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone. Rosemary Leaf Extract is generally better suited to skin care because it provides antioxidant benefits without the higher concentration of volatile aromatic compounds found in essential oil.

Benefits of Rosemary for Skin

1. Rosemary is a potent antioxidant. This means it helps prevent damage from environmental and UV stressors, and helps neutralize free radicals. In addition to being anti-aging, rosemary provides a slew of additional therapeutic benefits.
2. It has disinfectant and antiseptic properties. This makes it a powerful ingredient for acne-prone, or blemish-prone skin, as it helps not only calm the inflammation that comes with acne, but also helps fight the bacteria that cause acne.
3. It also has anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties thanks to the carnosic acid it contains. Again, a great benefit to skin types suffering from breakouts.
4. It helps to balance the skin’s natural oils, making it the friend of oilier skin types.
5. It has anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce the look of redness, thanks to rosmarinic acid, the biggest component of rosemary. Despite the word “acid”, this makes rosemary highly calming.
6. In its leaf extract form, this ingredient is safe for all skin types, including sensitive skin, and safe for daily use.

Look for rosemary in our Kantic Light Clarifying Cream, our Gentle Refining Scrub, our Skin Repair Gel, our Firming Gel For Neck And Bust, and our Soothing Body Lotion.