Did you know that skin is the body’s largest organ and plays a major role in detoxification? When you think about skincare and plants, your mind may immediately go to the aloe plant (which is indeed a great skin soother,) but there are several other plants that you can grow for beautiful skin as well.
Houseplants reduce the toxin burden
Many houseplants can pull toxins from the air, which lessens the burden on our skin and body. A famous study conducted by NASA confirmed the ability of many houseplants to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from some household items. In the study, 50 houseplants that remove pollutants and gases were identified. The two-year study involved help from the Associated Landscape Contractors of America and led by Dr. B.C. Wolverton, an environmental engineer and research scientist for NASA for 20 plus years.
Study leaders found that houseplants placed in sealed chambers with specific chemicals removed the toxins from the contained area. With this, they concluded that plants could clean pollutants from homes, factories, retail outlets, and offices.
Additionally, Wolverton assigned plants a score from one to 10 based on their ability to remove indoor toxins, their ease of growth, maintenance, resistance to insects, and how fast water evaporates from their leaves. His research was summarized in his book, “How to Grow Fresh Air – 50 Houseplants that Purify Your Home or Office.”
Houseplants help keep skin hydrated
Move over humidifiers! Houseplants can keep your skin hydrated, which is necessary for its health and appearance. According to the Royal Horticultural Society, houseplants can reduce dry-skin symptoms through evapotranspiration, where water is lost through the soil and leaves. This makes plants an effortless, affordable, and attractive way to reduce indoor dryness while providing additional mental and physical benefits. According to study leaders, “thirstier” plants with large canopies and high rates of transpiration provide humidity benefits. Amazingly, plants can lose as much as several hundred milliliters of water per square meter of leaf depending on the type, size, and condition of the room.
Best houseplants for your skin
Here are the top houseplants for beautiful skin:
- Snake plant – Snake plants are beautiful and easy to care for. They tolerate low light well and release oxygen at night while removing many chemicals from the air including benzene, formaldehyde, and toluene.
- Peace lily – Peace lilies have exceptionally high transpiration rates and can increase the relative humidity of any room, bringing moisture to parched skin. Also, Peace lilies are exceptional air purifiers, removing a number of toxins from indoor air including formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene.
- Boston fern – Boston ferns have an extremely high rate of transpiration and are excellent air cleaners, removing formaldehyde and benzene from the air.
Other plants that do a great job adding moisture to the air and removing toxins include English ivy, rubber plants, spider plant, and areca palm.
The more, the better
Dr. Tijana Blanusa, principal horticultural scientist at the Royal Horticultural Society, says this,
“Usually, multiple plants in a room are required to have an effect. Studies have found that a mix of shapes, sizes, and colors influences positively parameters like self-reported productivity and wellbeing, and even some physical parameters such as pulse rate.”
-Susan Patterson
