Growing Plants for Healthy Skin
Part of having healthy skin is keeping your skin both hydrated and free of toxins. Growing houseplants can achieve both of these. Our skin is the largest organ of our body. Not only that, it is also a major detoxification organ. Many houseplants have been proven to detoxify the air, thus lessening the burden on our skin and body in detoxifying. A famous NASA study has documented the ability of various plants in being able to remove many VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that many materials inside of our homes emit. Houseplants also add moisture to the air, helping to keep our skin hydrated which is very important for healthy skin. By the process of transpiration, plants release moisture into the air and help to increase the relative humidity of our indoor air. This is especially important in the winter when air tends to be very dry.
Plants That are Good for the Skin
What are some of the best houseplants for your skin?
Snake plant – Snake plants are wonderful houseplants all around. They tolerate low light very well, release oxygen at night (and thus make good bedroom plants), and also remove a variety of chemicals from the air including benzene, formaldehyde and toluene.
Peace lily – Peace lilies have a high transpiration rate and, therefore, help to increase the relative humidity of your room and benefiting your skin. It’s also highly rated as an air purifier because it removes a variety of toxins from indoor air including benzene, formaldehyde, toluene and xylene.
Boston fern – Boston ferns have a high transpiration rate and are wonderful for removing formaldehyde and benzene from the air.
Other plants with a high transpiration rate, which have the added bonus of being highly rated as air purifiers, include English ivy, areca palm, rubber plant, and spider plant. In order to capitalize on houseplants’ ability to transpire moisture into the air, try grouping numerous plants together. This will most effectively increase the humidity in your air, and thus benefit your skin. It will also clear toxins out of the indoor air that you breathe.
