In this regular series, Tracey Ryan, the master formulator behind Bia, enlightens us with her expert knowledge of the plant kingdom and how botanicals can benefit our skin.
Ingredient:
Elderflower
Latin name:
Sambucus nigra
Native to:
While elderflowers can be found in Europe and most of North America, they commonly grow in the hedgerows of northern Europe.
Key nutrients:
Quercetin and isoquercitrin, both of which are flavonoids with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties; anthocyanins, another flavonoid that also gives the berries of elderflower their dark purple color.
Essential benefits:
Reducing inflammation and calming skin with antiviral benefits. Elderflower is also lightly astringent with gentle toning properties.
Little known details:
In Ogham, an early medieval alphabet that formed the basis for the Old Irish language, trees figured largely in the naming of the letters. The sacred elder tree is Ruis, and it symbolizes the letter R.
Where to find it:
Bia Exfoliating Wash has a lovely elderflower hydrosol, which softens skin and protects it from environmental aggressors with a potent dose of antioxidants.
