Ingredients: herbs and botanicals in depth
Deep dives into the herbs and botanicals behind natural care, each with its tradition and its evidence.
Every Kart Naturals product starts with its key ingredients. These guides go deeper than the ingredient glossary: where each plant comes from, how it has been used and what published studies report.
- Carrot seed oil: what it is, and why it is not a sunscreenThe difference between carrot seed oil and carrot oil, what is in it, what the evidence supports and the risky myth of natural SPF.1 min read
- Nariyal tel: coconut oil for skin and hairWhy coconut oil is India's favourite hair oil, what trials show for dry skin and childhood eczema, and when it is not the right choice.1 min read
- Henna and indigo: how plant hair colour worksThe chemistry of henna and indigo, how they combine to give brown and black shades, and why "black henna" is a warning sign.2 min read
- Jojoba: the desert wax that behaves like skin oilWhy jojoba is technically a liquid wax, how that makes it light and stable, what dermatology reviews say and where it fits in hair and skin care.1 min read
- Katha: catechu in herbal hair colourWhat katha is, why this tannin-rich heartwood extract appears in plant hair colour blends and what reviews report about it.1 min read
- Lodhra: the astringent bark of Ayurvedic face packsWhat lodhra bark is, how it has been used in lepas, what pharmacology reviews report and why it suits oil-balancing face packs.1 min read
- Manjistha: Indian madder in Ayurvedic skin careThe red root behind many Ayurvedic lepas and oils: its history as a dye, its chemistry, what reviews report and how it is used.1 min read
- Mulethi: licorice root in skin careLicorice root's long history, the compounds cosmetic science studies, what reviews say about soothing and uneven tone, and safety notes.1 min read
- Nagarmotha: the fragrant root of Ayurvedic ubtansNagarmotha (Cyperus rotundus) in ubtans and attars, what pharmacology reviews report and how it is used in skin care.1 min read
- Chandan: sandalwood in skin care, tradition and evidenceWhy sandalwood is central to Indian beauty rituals, what dermatology reviews report about Santalum album oil and how to use it safely.1 min read
- Badam tel: sweet almond oil for skin and hairWhy sweet almond oil is a classic Indian massage and baby oil, what reviews and trials say about dry skin and barrier support, and the nut-allergy caution.1 min read
- Vitamin E and wheat germ oil in skin and hair careWhy wheat germ oil is valued as a natural source of vitamin E, what dermatology reviews say topical vitamin E can and cannot do, and allergy notes.1 min read