Adaptogens — The wellness ingredient that helps your skin and body deal with stress

Stress has the ability to disrupt a lot of balances in our body. Adaptogens are herbs and plants that help us deal with—or adapt to—stress, and its effects on the mind and body. Used in ancient Indian and Chinese medicine for generations, these potent herbs have the power to improve our physical and mental state when it is affected by stress, and hold a lot of significance in Ayurveda.

The Physical & Mental Effects of Stress
When we’re stressed, our body releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, switching on our body’s fight or flight mode to deal with the stressful situation. But when we’re constantly stressed, there is an increased production of cortisol, much more than required, which can trigger many negative effects like extra blood sugar, increased blood pressure, weakening of the immune system, digestion problems, inflammation and more. It also shows on the face—when you’re bogged down with a task that is completely stressing you out, your sleep is affected, your skin looks dull, and you feel fatigued. Increased cortisol can breakdown collagen of the skin, and can lead to dry patches, irritation, fine lines and breakouts.

Nature’s Remedy for Stress
Ayurveda, or the science of life, is rooted in harnessing the healing power of nature to grow and glow from within. Ingredients like ashwagandha, turmeric and saffron have long been used in concoctions to heal everything from insomnia and the flu to skin conditions and mental stability. These medicinal herbs are termed adaptogens because of their ability to help regulate the body’s response to stress as well as contribute to overall wellbeing.
Consumed orally, adaptogens help with many issues like fatigue and mental exhaustion. In beauty and wellness products, they help repair signs of  stress of the skin, hair, mind and body.
The list of adaptogenic herbs touted as medicinal and therapeutic is countless, and we love working towards discovering and adding stress-relieving ingredients to our blends. At Saanté, all our products are infused with rare adaptogenics that are picked with the expertise, knowledge and experience of our creator Malini Ohri, an Ayurvedic practitioner, Aromatherapist and Reiki master. Holy basil (Tulsi), Ashwagandha, Moringa, Turmeric, Saffron, Bergamot, Clary Sage, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Rose, Wild Orange are only few of the precious adaptogens that make up some of Saanté’s best-selling products like the Eye Rescue Serum, Baby Butter, Crowning Glory Hair Oil, Crowning Glory Hair Tonic, Strengthening and Nourishing HAir Oil and our candles. In our ‘heal from within’ philosophy, adaptogens truly play a key role. 

Below, four of our favourite adaptogens and how they work:

Holy basil: Also known as Tulsi, holy basil in Ayurveda is considered the ‘queen of herbs’ or the ‘mother medicine of nature’. From the leaves to the seeds, every part of the herb is adaptogenic. It is known to relieve everything from eczema and bronchitis to sleep issues and anxiety. Find this medicinal, uplifting herb in our small batch calming candle along with pure essential oils of vanilla, clary sage and ylang ylang. 

Moringa: The skin and hair superfood, moringa is also our founder Malini’s go-to green to alleviate stress damage. Infused in our ultra-nourishing Time Rewind Face Cream, not only is it a powerhouse of vitamin C that helps boost collagen and reduce premature signs of ageing like fine lines, but it also helps combat facial stress to reveal a youthful, healthy glow. 

Ashwagandha: The herb might be well-known to the world today, but it has been used in ancient Ayurvedic scriptures in Inida for its healing properties for centuries. From chronic fatigue to sleep disorders, this therapeutic herb has the power to change the state of your mind and body. Find it in our soon-to-launch face wash! 

Saffron: A powerful antioxidant, saffron in Ayurveda holds much significance. The wonder spice has many uses besides being used in cooking for its vivid colour and floral notes. Saffron is a natural ingredient for mental balance. In skincare, from fighting acne and blemishes to balancing pH and boosting the skin cell's recovery rate, this precious spice will help in achieving an even, healthy complexion and reverse environmental damage on skin. Find it on our iconic Inara Face Elixir.