Some of the best ingredients are old school. Think neem is ancient history? Well, it is, but it’s also a gold mine for skin and hair today. Find out what neem oil benefits you are missing out on, plus product picks.

Neem has long been used in Ayurveda for its medicinal and therapeutic attributes, and was traced to ancient Indian texts as far back as 2000-4000 BC. You may not be downing neem fruit smoothies, but neem oil benefits skin, hair, and teeth. And that’s just for starters.

Neem oil has many uses and benefits, from softening skin to repelling insects. It is rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, making it a suitable ingredient for dry and mature skin types. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory components help to control acne and lessen the severity of skin conditions like eczema and rosacea. The oil contains antifungal and anti-viral properties which treat ringworm, cold sores, warts, and athlete’s foot. Dandruff, head lice, cuts, burns, you name it, it seems neem is good for it.

Before you go out and buy yourself a big bottle of neem oil, there are a few things you should know about this natural ingredient. The oil is both very potent and strongly scented on its own. Most cosmetic products contain neem oil that has been mixed with another natural oil to make it more skin friendly and pleasant to use.

Neem Oil Benefits and Product Picks

Multi Use

Pratima Skincare Neem Healing Oil

Ayurvedic skincare line, Pratima Skincare, carries several neem products. Healing Neem Oil is a versatile oil that can be used as skincare or to treat a variety of ailments. A good one to stock in your beauty cabinet.

For Acne

Vered Organic Botanicals Clarifying Detox Mask

Acne skin type can benefit from the detoxifying and antibacterial effects of neem oil. This mask gently exfoliates and clears skin.

Pratima Skincare Neem Purifying Cream

Clear congestion, banish breakouts, and lightly hydrate upset skin with this healing herb combo.

YULI Pure Treatment Mask

Use to balance oils and clear pores, while zapping zits and blackheads.

For Sensitive/Rosacea

Pratima Skincare Very Sensitive Herbal Cleanser

Irritated or inflamed skin can benefit from a dose of neem. Try this super mild cleanser built to address the most delicate skin types.

SKIN Healing Calendula Salve

A soothing salve that works on rosacea, burns, even cracked lips. A must-have.

For Dry/Mature

Mahalo Balm

Mahalo Balm marries neem with cocoa butter and other rich oils to deliver moisture and anti-aging benefits to dry and mature skin.

Pratima Skincare Neem Rose Face Sunscreen SPF 30

Ward off damage with zinc protection and skin supportive ingredients.

For Hair

Pratima Skincare Neem Mint Botanical Shampoo

A gentle herbal shampoo ideal for all hair types.

Alaffia Neem & Shea Scalp Recovery Conditioner

Tend to dry, flaky scalp with this moisturizing hair treatment.

Yarok Feed Your Do Styling Whip

An invigorating lemon mint styling product to sculpt and protect hair.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

Related on EcoSalon:

Are Your pH Levels Causing Acne or Wrinkles?

How to Get Rid of Acne Scars with Natural Remedies

Embrace Your Face: How to Love the Skin You Have

Image of happy woman touching temples via Shutterstock

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Got a Rash? These five common skin complaints have five natural solutions easily found in any health food market.

It goes like this: Somehow, you’re covered in an itchy, red rash and you’re racking your brain to remember which soap, lotion, medication, supplement or cosmetic you might be allergic to. A week later, it’s still there, so you take yourself off to the dermatologist who sends you home with a prescription for Western medicine’s skin cure-all, the topical corticosteroid – but you’re still trying to remember what it was that might have caused it.

Rashes come in all shapes and sizes, and most of us will experience one at some point during our lives. Much like the over-prescribed antibiotic, steroid creams may bring about rapid improvement, but they don’t actually cure the condition. Not to mention (and your dermatologist certainly won’t) that prolonged use of topical corticosteroids are thought to increase the risk of skin damage, most commonly, making skin thin and fragile.

You’re right to be wary. Its worthwhile spending a bit of extra time to consider your health and to go ahead and ask further questions before applying that prescribed cream. Have you been under stress recently? Eaten anything in excess? Stress can really take its toll on the skin, and dairy and wheat are notoriously inflammatory to the system. Adding anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids into your diet like flaxseeds and chia seeds are a great way to reduce oxidative stress. Taking a supplement high in Gama-linolenic acid (GLA) such as evening primrose oil, black currant oil and borage oil helps to nourish the skin from the inside out.

The good news is there are similarly natural topical solutions for those who want to skip the steroids, mineral oil and chemical-laden dermatologist creams. Here are five common skin complaints and five natural solutions that are easily found in any health market:

1. Keratosis Pilaris – Known not-so-flatteringly, as chicken skin, this condition tends to run in families and is characterized by red, bumpy skin mostly found on the back of arms and thighs. Moisturizing is key to treating it–most dermatologists will recommend heavy-duty creams and petroleum-based salves. One alternative that many help is Sea-buckthorn oil. It’s high in the beneficial fatty-oil, omega-7, which helps keep both the bumpiness down and helps fade the redness.

2. Schamberg’s disease – You may not have heard of Schamberg’s disease, most doctors are also unfamiliar with the relatively common rash. Completely benign, the little “cayenne pepper” shape discolorations, spreads slowly most often affecting the legs. No one knows what causes it and there is no known cure, however recent research indicates that taking 500mg of vitamin C twice a day, and 50mg twice a day of the powerful antioxidant, rutin, has therapeutic benefits.

3. Eczema – Methylsulfonylmethane or MSM is an organic source of sulfur, a mineral critical to the health of our skin and nails. Many have reported stubborn causes of eczema having cleared up after using MSM cream. Its ability to promote protective antioxidant activity within the skin means it soothes irritated skin and seems to promote healthier, more resistant new skin.

4. Acne Vulgaris – Treasured in India for its healthy skin benefits, neem oil is particularly effective as a treatment for acne prone skin. Studies have shown that neem contains anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory benefit, which help to remove bacteria from the surface of the skin, clearing up spots and reducing redness and scarring. We recommended you utilize neem oil for nighttime treatments only; this powerful natural dynamo is considerably pungent.

5. Aging – As far as most dermatologists are concerned, the vitamin A derivative, retinol is the best thing you can do to treat photo aging caused by sun exposure, and to prevent the formation of new wrinkles. While the heavy duty exfoliating effect does encourage the formation of fresher, better-looking skin cells, many cannot tolerate the harsh and drying effects of prescription strength formulas. A gentler, more natural alternative is rosehip seed oil. Widely studied, the oil beloved by the Andean Indians of Chile has been proven to keep skin youthful by encouraging skin turnover, fade sun spots and preventing fine lines in the same manner of retinol.

Image: Dermatology.com

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