Lady’s Mantle (INCI: Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract) isn’t just a pretty face in the hedgerows. It’s one of those underrated herbs that’s stood the test of time, and it’s well worth a place in your home skincare kit. If you’re keen on making your own products, you’ll want to know why this humble plant crops up in so many traditional remedies, and how it can make a difference to your skin.
Table of Contents
What is Lady’s Mantle?
Lady’s Mantle is a perennial herb, easy to spot with its frilly leaves and tiny yellow-green flowers. You’ll find it growing in Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. The name goes back to medieval times when folks thought the leaf looked like the Virgin Mary’s cloak. For centuries, it’s been a staple in folk medicine for everything from soothing skin to supporting women’s health.
Botanical Profile
Habitat: Likes cool, damp meadows and woodland clearings.
Family: Rosaceae
Height: Usually 30–45 cm
Leaves: Round, scalloped, and always seem to catch the dew (which gave it a mystical reputation).
Flowers: Tiny, yellow-green, in clusters from June to August.
Traditional and Historical Uses
Ancient healers, including Greek physicians like Dioscorides, used Lady’s Mantle for its astringent properties which were handy for wound healing and stopping bleeding. By the mediaeval period, it was a regular in monastery gardens, used for everything from digestion to easing menstrual problems. Famous herbalists like Hildegard von Bingen swore by it for women’s health.
Modern Herbalism and Science
Fast-forward to now, and Lady’s Mantle is still respected in the herbal world. Modern research backs up many of the old claims. Scientists have found it’s packed with tannins, salicylic acid, flavonoids, and ellagic acid. These all help explain why it’s good for calming skin, fighting inflammation, and speeding up repair.
Why Lady’s Mantle is Great for Skin
Tannins: Tighten skin, reduce large pores, and calm irritation. Brilliant in toners and serums, especially if your skin’s a bit mature or temperamental.
Salicylic Acid: Gently exfoliates, helps balance oil, and keeps pores clear – so it’s handy for anyone with acne or congested skin.
Flavonoids: Powerful antioxidants that shield your skin from pollution and sun damage, and help keep everything firm and bouncy.
Ellagic Acid: Adds more antioxidant and anti-inflammatory punch, helping skin recover from damage and looking its best.
How I Use Lady’s Mantle in Skincare
I use Lady’s Mantle in all sorts: facial toners, moisturisers, anti-ageing creams, and wound repair balms. Here’s why:
- Facial Toners: A Lady’s Mantle infusion in a spray bottle makes a cracking toner, tightening pores and giving skin a fresh feel. The herb complements the actions of DL-Panthenol for keeping your skin well hydrated.
- Moisturisers: Adds a soothing and antioxidant boost, great for calming redness and helping with sensitive or maturing skin.
- Skin Repair: The tannins and salicylic acid help speed up healing, so it’s ideal in creams for dry, rough, or damaged skin.
If you’ve got eczema, psoriasis, or just want skin that feels firmer and more comfortable, this herb’s well worth a go. You can read more about the 8 Best Herbs for Treating Eczema Naturally
Blending Lady’s Mantle with CBD
If you want to really up the soothing benefits, combine Lady’s Mantle with CBD (cannabidiol). Both are known for calming skin and fighting inflammation, and using a water-soluble CBD means your toner or spray will actually deliver the goods. The two together are a powerhouse for reducing redness, calming sensitive patches, and helping skin bounce back after a tough day.
Lady’s Mantle and CBD Toner:
Stage 1: (preparation of the herbal infusion – room temperature)
3g Lady’s Mantle dried herb
120g Boiling distilled water
Stage 2: (room temperature)
92g Herbal infusion from Stage 1 above
5g Niacinamide Powder
2g Saliguard® PCG
1g Water-soluble CBD Isolate
100g Total
Method:
- Make the Stage 1 herbal infusion in a French press or a jug and leave to stand for 10 minutes.
- Strain and weigh out 92g into a clean container and leave it to cool to room temperature.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir until the powders are dissolved.
- Bottle into a spray bottle and label with the date.
The Niacinamide Powder is also known as Vitamin B3, which also has a wide array of skin benefits. Use this spray as often as you like all over your body.
You can read more about the tools and equipment used in this blog.
Ingredients Spotlight
Lady’s Mantle
Lady’s Mantle is an old-school botanical that’s earned its place in modern skincare. It’s rich in natural tannins and antioxidants, which help tighten pores, reduce excess oil, and soothe irritation. Thanks to its astringent and anti-inflammatory nature, Lady’s Mantle calms down redness and brings relief to sensitive or reactive skin. Think of it as a gentle herbal tonic that leaves your skin feeling fresh and comfortable.
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Niacinamide
Niacinamide, also known as Vitamin B3, is a multitasker loved by skin professionals for good reason. It helps boost your skin’s barrier function, locking in moisture and keeping out the daily grime. Niacinamide brightens uneven skin tone, fades the look of dark spots, and reduces inflammation, which is handy if you’re prone to breakouts or redness. It also helps regulate oil production and tightens up enlarged pores, making your skin look smoother and more refined.
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Saliguard® PCG
Saliguard® PCG is a modern, skin-friendly preservative system designed to protect your formula from microbes like bacteria, mould, and yeast. It’s particularly good for sensitive skin, as it’s mild and non-irritating compared to many older preservatives. Saliguard® PCG works behind the scenes to ensure your toner stays fresh, safe, and effective for daily use, without altering the scent or feel of the product.
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Water-soluble CBD Isolate
Water-soluble CBD Isolate brings the full calming power of cannabidiol into a toner format, so it mixes evenly and actually delivers results. This form of CBD is known for its potent anti-inflammatory properties, helping to calm sensitive, stressed, or blemish-prone skin. It supports recovery from redness and irritation and can help the skin bounce back from environmental stressors. Perfect for anyone seeking an extra soothing step in their daily routine.
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Safety Profile and Potential Side Effects
In my experience, Lady’s Mantle is pretty safe when used in skincare. Most people get on with it just fine, but as with anything new, a patch test is always worth doing. If your skin starts to itch or go red, just stop using it and have a word with your healthcare professional.
I only use Lady’s Mantle on the outside and stick to skincare. Most of the scary warnings you’ll see are about drinking it or taking it as a supplement, and that’s not my area at all. If you’re planning to take it internally, or you’re on medication, best to check with your doctor first.
Conclusion
Lady’s Mantle is a time-tested remedy that fits right into modern skincare, especially for those wanting gentle, plant-based solutions. It tightens, soothes, protects, and helps skin heal, making it perfect for sensitive, mature, or stressed skin. I’ve used it in all sorts of blends, and it’s always earned its keep.
FAQ
What is Lady’s Mantle?
A traditional medicinal herb in the rose family, known for calming, astringent, and antioxidant effects.
How is Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract prepared?
It’s made from the dried aerial parts of Lady’s Mantle with hot water to make a tea. However, I make this infusion for external use only.
What are the main medicinal uses?
Traditionally, it’s been used for skin repair, wound healing, reducing inflammation, and as an antioxidant.
Does Lady’s Mantle really help wounds and skin repair?
Yes, studies show it supports wound healing, protects the skin barrier, and scavenges free radicals, which helps prevent premature ageing.
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