An extract of this plant has been traditionally used to stimulate the healing of ulcers and skin
injuries, and to strengthen skin capillaries. Calcium, iron, selenium, magnesium, betulic acid, beta-
carotene, terpenes, saponins, and the antioxidant quercetin in gotu kola help maintain healthy
connective tissue development, speed up the healing process, and improve the barrier functions of the
top skin layer. Gotu kola is also a mild antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent. All of the above more
than justifies the use of Centella asiatica extract in natural skin care preparations.
Grape (Vitis vinifera)
This is one of the strongest players in green beauty formulations. The skin of muscadine and red
grapes is exceptionally rich in the antioxidant resveratrol, which has anticancer, antiviral,
neuroprotective, antiaging, anti-inflammatory, and life-prolonging effects. Fresh grape skin contains
about 50 to 100 micrograms of resveratrol per gram! It has been found that resveratrol may kill
cancer cells and acts as a cancer preventive agent (Marel et al. 2008). Other antioxidants contained in
grape skin include ellagic acid, myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol, all with excellent, health-
benefiting track records. Proanthocyanidins found in grape skin help preserve collagen and elastin in
skin, reduce facial swelling after cosmetic surgery, and can protect from many types of cancer,
including skin cancer, according to recent research (Nandakumar 2008; Katiyar 2008). Resveratrol
and proanthocyanidins are available in pure form and can be added to homemade cosmetic
preparations. I always add grape proanthocyanidins to my sunscreens. They may give the lotion a
purple tint, so use it sparingly. Grape seed oil and crushed grape seed are used in cosmetics, too, as
an emollient and an exfoliant, respectively.
Grapefruit
This juicy fruit is rich in sulfur-containing terpene, the antioxidant flavonoid naringin, and a
coumarin called begamottin, which is also found in bergamot. This substance is blamed for the
negative interaction of grapefruit juice with some drugs. The pink fruit contains lycopene, a potent
antioxidant. Grapefruit seed extract is commonly used as a natural preservative. But here’s a word of
caution: a cohort study conducted by scientists at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles
shows that eating grapefruit every day may increase the risk of developing breast cancer by almost a
third. Scientists suggest that the fruit boosts the levels of estrogen, which in turn increases the risk of
breast cancer among postmenopausal women (Monroe et al. 2007). Until science knows more, it may
be wise to refrain from frequent consumption of grapefruit in any form.
Green Tea (Camellia sinensis)
Infusions or extracts of green tea leaves have a plethora of health benefits. Green tea is rich in
antioxidants, particularly polyphenols and catechins, which have a wide array of anti-inflammatory,
adaptogenic, anticarcinogenic, and antiseptic properties. L-Theanine, a chemical found in green tea,
is known to soothe and calm the skin, while caffeine and epigallocatechin gallate, the most abundant
catechin in green tea, helps protect the skin from UV radiation-induced damage and skin cancer
formation by stimulating the production of interleukins that repair the skin’s DNA. In studies, when
green tea was ingested and applied topically, scientists noticed that it also helped diminish damage to
the immune system by UV radiation (Katiyar et al. 2007; Yusuf et al. 2007; Schwarz et al. 2008).
Pure green tea extract is available in many health food stores, and green tea is a key component in