My biggest success story so far is my Rooibos face cream. It my favourite formulation I have created. Samples went out to family & friends, and requests have come in for a bigger batch.
Rooibos translates to “red bush” in the Afrikaans language. It is such a special indigenous plant, that only grows in the Cederberg mountain range in South Africa. The leaves have been used to brew ‘tea’ for centuries.
My family actually has quite an impressive history with this now world famous tea. In 1930, Dr Pieter Le Fras Nortier, a botanist and medical doctor, discovered the secret of germinating Rooibos seeds, and began research on the medicinal value of the plant. He was my Ouma’s (my Grandmother’s) Uncle.
Rooibos is stacked full of antioxidants, it can actually have up to 50% more than in green tea!
Antioxidants help to fight free radicals in the skin and repair damage brought on by the elements. Creams that use rooibos act as anti-ageing agents on the skin. It is amazing for soothing the skin, and can also be very helpful if you suffer from eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis or acne.
Rooibos is caffeine-free and low in tannins. Babies in South African commonly grow up with it given to them in their baby bottles, including me! And I still drink it daily, although I’ve ditched the bottle!
As well as all the antioxidants, rooibos is also super-rich in minerals – including zinc, magnesium, calcium, copper, iron, potassium, and manganese. Plus the skincare loving AHAs (natural alpha hydroxy acid).
One of the antioxidants it contains is Quercetin, with its powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Like all antioxidants, Quercetin patrols your body looking for free radicals (the damaging molecules that lead to wrinkles and dark spots). Once found, it goes on the attack and neutralises them before they can cause age damage! It is able to reduce redness, itching, and inflammation of damaged skin; another of the main causes of premature aging. It may also help restore skin barrier function, increasing hydration, and reducing water loss.
It is no surprise that it is a hit in skincare, as well as in the teacup!