Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) grows abundantly in my neck of the woods. The common (Danish) name for this plant translates directly to ‘Cat’s tails’. Don’t ask me why the Danes refer to this plant as cats tails. I’ve never seen a purple cat or a cat tail that looks anything like these lovely flowers, so I’ll just leave you with that fun fact.

The plant has a history of medical use – among other things, for treating gastrointestinal issues.

But as it turns out, this plant also shows great promise for skincare and is being explored as a possible new ingredient in the dermo-cosmetic field.

Some Components of Purple Loosestrife

Ellagitannins
Polyphenols
Heteropolysaccharides

Some Properties of Purple Loosestrife

Astringent
Anti-aging
Antioxidant

All Because They Burst Onto the Scene

This is the kind of thing that happens when you get curious about what you see growing around you. I had never given these plants a second thought as skincare ingredients until they quite literally exploded onto the scene in all their purple colored glory last year.

I picked just enough to make a single small batch of distillate - just to try them out. The plants I used were just past their prime (note the beginning spots on the leaves in the top picture), but still fresh enough to provide a lovely hydrosol.

The fragrance (I am speaking from memory as I used it up quite quickly) is neither floral nor herby, but a titch on the ‘sour’ side. I realize that doesn’t sound very appealing, but unexpectedly, my Loosestrife hydrosol ended up being one of the distillates I used up fastest. It was my go to facial skin mist as long as I had a supply.

This year, I’ll be picking a bit earlier and trying another distillate. It will be interesting to see if the fragrance will be the same with younger plants. Pictured below: a blast of purple in an otherwise very green field from last summer.

Click the button below to download a study from 2017 where Purple loosestrife is examined as a skincare ingredient.

Do Tell

Do you ever discover new and exciting ingredients that just happen to be growing all around you?

The book below shows you how to make your own collection of skincare products without preservatives. If you prefer reading in Spanish, click the bottom picture.