This time of year, I spend quite a bit of time in my garden, watering, pulling weeds, fertilizing, and watching the plants grow. One day, I hope to have a large space in my backyard solely dedicated to growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs, but today, I’m content with a few varieties. And so far, everything is thriving and lush, and my first zucchini harvest was delicious. 

My small corner of herbs is filled with parsley, thyme, rosemary, sage, basil, and cilantro. There’s nothing like stepping outside to clip a few sprigs of fresh parsley for dinner. Did you know that you can also use fresh herbs in homemade bath and body products? You can use them fresh or dry them out to experiment with making different concoctions. Below are my favorite herbs to grow and utilize in homemade skin-care recipes.   

Herbs for Skin Care:

Parsley: improves inflammation, balances oil production, promotes skin regeneration  

Thyme: restores dry skin, improves inflammation, relieves burns

Rosemary: soothes eczema, reduces puffiness, tones skin

Sage: improves dry skin, relieves athlete’s food, increases blood circulation   

Mint: brightens complexion, hydrates skin, reduces dark circles

Basil: prevents acne, removes impurities, eliminates free radicals

Cilantro: improves skin texture, fights breakouts, stimulates hair growth

Peppermint: reduces oil secretion, soothes sunburns, repels insects 

Danielle Williams is the assistant senior managing editor for Stampington & Company. She lives in Orange County, California, with her husband, Casey, and opinionated cat, Holly Golighty.