Common mallow, scientific name Malva sylvestris, is a precious ally for our beauty. As we will see, in fact, common mallow can be the basic ingredient for treatments that are aimed at both young acne-prone skin and sensitive skin as well as mature skin with wrinkles. So, let's try to better understand the properties of mallow and how to exploit them to take care of our skin.
Common mallow, beauty properties
Common mallow is characterized by important anti-inflammatory and healing properties, useful for treating irritations, skin redness, dermatitis and psoriasis (Prudente et al, Biomed Pharmacother, 2017 - Meysami et al, Endocr Metab Immune Disorder Drug Targets, 2021). Not only that, mallow stimulates the healing of skin tissues, it also counteracts the formation of scars and is antiseptic, thus proving to be useful in case of acne (Afshar et al, Iran J Basic Med Sci, 2015). But common mallow is also an ally against wrinkles, since studies have demonstrated its anti-aging action, also capable of protecting the skin from photoaging caused by excessive exposure to UV rays (Talbourdet et al, J Drugs Dermatol, 2007). Finally, common mallow can also be used for applications in the area around the eyes thanks to its action capable of counteracting swelling (Mousavi et al, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2021).
Common mallow as a powerful cosmetic, uses and applications
Mallow owes its emollient, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties to the mucilage it contains. To preserve these substances, prepare a cold infusion. Pour a liter of cold water into a saucepan. Add a generous handful of common mallow, flowers and leaves, which you can find in herbalist's or chemist's shops, and leave it overnight with the lid closed. Then filter and pour into a resealable glass jar with a cap. You can keep the infusion in the refrigerator for no more than a week. The mallow infusion lends itself to multiple uses, here are some. You can immerse cotton pads in the infusion and then apply them to the eyes with lowered eyelids, to counteract wrinkles, expression lines, eye bags and dark circles. You can also use the mallow infusion as a tonic for the face, to be applied after cleansing and before the cream, both as an anti-aging treatment and as an aid in case of irritation or acne and blackheads. You can also use the infusion as a base for making a face mask. In a small bowl, mix 3 tablespoons of oat flour or ground oat flakes together with the mallow infusion, as much as needed to obtain a smooth and homogeneous mixture, but not too fluid. Oats are anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and also help counteract the damage of UV rays (Pazyar et al, Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol, 2012). If you have just prepared the infusion you can also add mallow flowers and leaves. If your skin is dehydrated, you can add a teaspoon of argan oil. Apply to clean face and leave on for ten minutes, then rinse and continue with your treatment.
