Cool, Calm, Cottongrass
What words come to mind when you see a plant thriving in freezing, arctic climates? Resilient. Adaptable. Impressive – oh, stop, you're making me blush. I imagine that's what Cottongrass would say if you laid it on so thick with the compliments! But it really is all those things. Let's dive into this native wonder!
What is Cottongrass?
Not cotton. Not grass. This member of the sedge family, a flowering plant, develops brown and green flowers that bloom fluffy, white heads that look like cotton, which leads to its name. Alternatively called bog cotton, the plant grows in open wetland environments, which if packed densely can hide large, watery areas and create a potentially dangerous situation for people traveling through open spaces. Oops, didn't see you there!
Native Americans saw the versatility and potential uses for cottongrass in its abundant presence across northern areas of the continent. From the root, stem, seeds, and leaves, this multifunctional plant made its way through the home, woven into mattresses or ingested as a cure-all drug for good health. Utilizing all parts of the plant was an important factor for ancient native communities to ensure less waste.
Cottongrass in Modern Skin Care
Medicinal and dermatological uses of natural flora is a common theme from around the world when it comes to identifying and hand-selecting ingredients that go into our skin care. Generations of women pass on the beauty wisdom of local plants, and we keep the tradition going by infusing this knowledge with modern science.
These regional plants can share some skin benefits with other plant species but are unique in where they're grown and their potency. Here comes cottongrass! Researchers have shown that natural polyphenols in cottongrass have demonstrated protective qualities in high stress events.
In case you didn't know, polyphenols work as antioxidants in your body. Oxidative stress and free radicals can have lasting damaging effects on skin, especially when left untreated. Antioxidants are vital to ensure that doesn't happen.
Sensitive Skin Solutions Powered by Nuria
Free radical damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) can hurt the integrity of your skin's barrier, making it easy for irritants and allergens to make their way into your body. Sensitive skin conditions arise when your skin barrier is compromised – think itchy, red, inflamed and all the other feelings that make your skin so uncomfortable!
Nuria's Calm collection was designed for exactly this! Sensitive skin sufferers need to feel confident using skin care that won't make their skin irritation worse. Our Daily Moisturizer and Facial Mist moisturize and refresh without added fragrance or added worry of disrupting your skin barrier.
Infused with Cottongrass, the lightweight Daily Moisturizer provides soothing, skin healing properties to help treat skin damage and provide relief to the skin barrier. It helps turn back the clock on skin damage from environmental stressors while simultaneously providing relief and balancing moisture of the natural skin barrier. Emollient-rich botanicals and essential fatty acids combine in this formula for skin that is soft, supple, and calm.
Pop quiz! What do you get when you add Cottongrass and Damask Rose Water? A calming floral mist that refreshes your face and keeps makeup in place. Sounds like a dream, right? Our antioxidant-packed Facial Mist relieves the appearance of redness, and boosts moisture for skin that is hydrated and glowing. We love Cottongrass because it is so versatile and makes the perfect pairing for many botanical ingredients in clean beauty.
Versatility, indeed! Cottongrass is quite the natural and continues to grow in popularity. Calming skincare is just the beginning for this native plant.
About the author, Naomi Furgiuele
Naomi is the founder of Nuria and a self-professed nerd with a love for all things science and skin care. She’s had a hand in product development for some of the biggest global beauty brands in the business, gets some of her best ideas while out on a run, and loves her exfoliator almost as much as her awesome family.