Paracress Skin Benefits: What Does Spilanthes Do for Your Skin?

There are herbs we enjoy growing, herbs we appreciate for their history, and herbs we respect because of what researchers continue to discover about them.

Then there is Spilanthes.

Here at High Thyme FARMacy, we believe Spilanthes, also called paracress, toothache plant, buzz buttons, jambu, and Acmella oleracea, is one of the most promising and beneficial botanicals available for the visible signs of aging.

In fact, of all the herbs we have grown, studied, harvested, and formulated with, Spilanthes is the one we believe in most for fine lines and wrinkles.

That is a strong statement, and we do not make it simply because Spilanthes is the signature ingredient in our Fountain of Youth skincare. Spilanthes became the heart of Fountain of Youth because of what we saw in the research, what we learned from working with the living plant, and what Lynnette has personally experienced after using our Spilanthes skincare consistently for more than five years.

So, what can paracress potentially do for your skin?

Research involving specific Acmella oleracea extracts and finished cosmetic formulas suggests potential benefits for:

• The visible appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Facial-expression lines around the eyes and mouth
• Skin hydration
• Surface smoothness and texture
• Roughness and scaliness
• Firmer-looking skin
• A more refreshed, supple, and youthful appearance
• Antioxidant protection against oxidative stress
• Supporting skin that looks calmer and healthier

Not every benefit has been proven for every preparation, and an isolated commercial extract is not identical to a whole-flower oil infusion. We will explain those differences throughout this article.

But we are not going to be shy about what we believe:

Spilanthes deserves far more attention in mature skincare than it currently receives.

What Is Paracress?

Paracress is one of the many common names for Acmella oleracea, the plant we generally call Spilanthes here at High Thyme FARMacy.

It is a small flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers. Its rounded yellow and reddish flower heads may look innocent, but chewing even a small piece creates an unforgettable combination of buzzing, tingling, temporary numbness, and intense salivation.

The compound most closely associated with that sensation is spilanthol, one of several naturally occurring N-alkylamides found in the plant.

Spilanthol is the reason Spilanthes has attracted attention from herbalists, chefs, oral-care researchers, pharmacologists, and cosmetic formulators. Modern reviews describe Acmella oleracea as containing a wide variety of alkylamides, phenolic compounds, essential-oil constituents, and other secondary metabolites being studied for cosmetic and biological applications.

In skincare, Spilanthes is frequently called:

• Paracress extract
• Spilanthes extract
• Acmella oleracea flower extract
• Jambu extract
• The Botox plant
• Herbal Botox
• A natural Botox alternative

The last three names require context. Spilanthes is not Botox and does not contain botulinum toxin. However, there are legitimate reasons it gained that attention.

Why Has Paracress Become Associated With Fine Lines and Wrinkles?

Many visible facial lines are influenced by repeated expression.

We smile, squint, laugh, concentrate, frown, and raise our eyebrows thousands of times. Over the years, lines that once appeared only during movement may become visible even while the face is relaxed.

Spilanthol has drawn cosmetic interest because laboratory research has explored its effects on pathways related to neuromuscular activity. A 2023 paper concerning the extraction and stability of spilanthol described its commercial appeal as an anti-wrinkle ingredient and discussed its relationship to facial muscle contraction. However, those findings do not mean a topical Spilanthes cosmetic paralyzes facial muscles or operates in the same way as an injection.

What the research does support is continued interest in Spilanthes as an ingredient for formulas intended to soften the visible appearance of expression lines.

That may sound like a small distinction, but it matters:

• Botox is an injected prescription treatment.
• Paracress is a botanical cosmetic ingredient.
• Botox and paracress do not have identical mechanisms.
• A face oil should not be expected to produce the same result as a medical procedure.
• Botanical skincare can still provide worthwhile visible benefits without being identical to an injection.

Here at High Thyme, we do not think Spilanthes needs to be literally “Botox in a bottle” to be extraordinary.

Benefit No. 1: Paracress May Improve the Appearance of Fine Lines and Wrinkles

This is the benefit that has made Spilanthes famous in skincare, and it is not based solely on folklore or ingredient-supplier advertising.

A peer-reviewed 2021 study developed and evaluated a natural emulsion serum containing Acmella oleracea extract. Human volunteers applied the serum to areas around the eyes and mouth. After two weeks, skin-replica analysis found noticeable improvement in all measured wrinkle parameters in the tested areas.

The researchers concluded that the particular Acmella-containing serum showed promising potential as a natural, noninvasive anti-wrinkle product.

That was followed by a more detailed study published in 2025. Researchers evaluated another specific glycolipid-based serum containing Acmella oleracea extract in a randomized, controlled, half-face study.

After two weeks, the tested serum produced:

• A 10% to 40% increase in measured hydration
• An approximately 15% increase in smoothness
• A 20% to 30% decrease in roughness
• An approximately 30% decrease in scaliness
• An approximately 15% decrease in measured wrinkles

The improvements were observed in areas around both the eyes and mouth.

Those are meaningful findings.

They do not prove that every product bearing the word “paracress” will produce the same results. The researchers tested particular extracts in carefully formulated serums. They did not test High Thyme FARMacy’s Fountain of Youth Firming Face Oil.

Still, the results support what we have believed for years:

Acmella oleracea deserves to be taken seriously as a cosmetic botanical for fine lines, wrinkles, and mature skin.

Benefit No. 2: Spilanthes May Help Skin Look Smoother

Aging skin does not change only by developing individual lines.

The entire surface can begin to look different:

• Texture may become rougher.
• Dry patches can make lines appear deeper.
• Skin may reflect light less evenly.
• The area around the mouth and eyes may appear creased.
• Makeup may settle into dry or textured areas.
• Skin may no longer feel as supple as it once did.

This is why we look at more than wrinkles when we evaluate a skincare ingredient.

In the 2025 Acmella serum study, researchers reported improvements in smoothness, roughness, scaliness, skin microrelief, and overall visible skin condition, not merely one wrinkle measurement.

“Microrelief” refers to the tiny lines, grooves, peaks, and variations that create the skin’s visible surface pattern. When hydration and surface condition improve, the skin can appear softer, smoother, and more even.

Here at High Thyme FARMacy, that complete change in appearance interests us more than chasing one isolated wrinkle.

We want mature skin to look:

• Nourished
• Comfortable
• Supple
• Radiant
• Smooth
• Healthy
• Alive

Fine lines are part of the story, but they are not the entire face.

Benefit No. 3: Paracress Formulas May Improve Skin Hydration

Dryness can make nearly every visible sign of aging appear more pronounced.

When the outer layers of skin lack sufficient moisture, fine lines can look deeper, texture may appear rougher, and the complexion can lose some of its softness and glow.

The 2025 study reported a significant increase in measured hydration after two weeks of using its Acmella-containing serum. Depending on the measured area and conditions, hydration increased between 10% and 40%.

However, we need to be honest about what that means.

The serum contained more than paracress. It included an emulsion system and other ingredients that contributed to the finished formula’s moisturizing performance. We cannot assign every percentage of improvement to Acmella oleracea alone.

That is true of nearly all skincare.

A well-formulated product is a team. The featured botanical may be important, but the carrier oils, humectants, emollients, emulsifiers, butters, and supporting ingredients all influence how the finished product feels and performs.

Our Fountain of Youth Firming Face Oil combines our farm-grown Spilanthes infusion with oils selected to moisturize, soften, condition, and support healthy-looking mature skin.

The Spilanthes is the heart of the formula, but it does not work alone.

Benefit No. 4: Paracress May Support Firmer-Looking Skin

Firmness is another reason shoppers seek out paracress skincare.

A 2022 study evaluated a product containing both a specialized retinol ingredient and Acmella oleracea extract. Thirty-three women used the eye-area formula for six weeks. Researchers reported improvements in visible wrinkles, dark circles, and sagging, along with a statistically significant 13% increase in one instrumental measure associated with skin firmness.

Because the product contained retinol and other ingredients, the results cannot be credited to paracress alone.

Nevertheless, this study adds to a growing pattern: Acmella is repeatedly being selected for cosmetic formulas designed to address fine lines, wrinkles, texture, and the appearance of firmness.

Here at High Thyme, we use the cosmetic phrase firmer-looking skin deliberately.

It describes appearance without pretending that a face oil physically lifts tissue, restructures the face, or duplicates a medical treatment.

And in our experience, skin that is well moisturized, conditioned, softened, and consistently cared for often does look plumper, smoother, and more resilient.

Benefit No. 5: Spilanthes Contains Compounds Being Studied for Antioxidant Activity

Skin is exposed throughout life to environmental and lifestyle stressors.

That is one reason antioxidants have become so important in modern skincare research. Antioxidants can interact with unstable molecules and oxidative processes that contribute to visible changes in skin over time.

Reviews of Spilanthes research have documented antioxidant activity associated with several groups of plant constituents, including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and alkylamides. Much of this evidence comes from chemical, cellular, and animal models rather than long-term human facial studies.

A 2024 study specifically explored Acmella oleracea extracts for dermato-cosmetic applications related to skin oxidative stress. Researchers measured polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity in extracts made through several methods, then incorporated the botanical extract into experimental serums with hyaluronic acid. The work was preliminary, but it supported further development of Acmella-based cosmetic formulas.

This is an important part of why we value the whole plant.

Spilanthol gets most of the attention, but Spilanthes is more than one isolated compound. Its flowers and leaves contain a broader range of botanical constituents, and different extraction methods capture different portions of that chemistry.

We do not claim our infused oil provides a measurable level of antioxidant protection without formula-specific laboratory testing. We can say that Spilanthes contains compounds being studied for antioxidant activity and that we formulate it alongside botanical oils chosen for mature, dry, and weathered skin.

Benefit No. 6: Spilanthes Is Being Studied for Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Inflammation is another major area of Spilanthes research.

Laboratory and animal studies have examined Spilanthol and Spilanthes extracts in connection with several inflammatory pathways and mediators. Reviews discuss activity involving pathways such as NF-κB, COX-2, iNOS, MAPK, and inflammatory signaling molecules.

That does not mean a Spilanthes face oil treats eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, dermatitis, or another inflammatory medical condition.

Those would be treatment claims, and the FDA distinguishes cosmetics that beautify or alter appearance from products intended to treat disease or affect the body’s structure or function. Claims made on a company website or in promotional materials can help establish a product’s intended use.

What the research does tell us is that Spilanthes contains biologically interesting compounds relevant to how researchers study inflammation and oxidative stress.

For cosmetic purposes, we describe Fountain of Youth as helping skin look and feel:

• Comforted
• Conditioned
• Nourished
• Soft
• Smooth
• Healthy and refreshed

We believe the plant’s broader research makes it especially compelling, even when we keep our finished-product claims appropriately cosmetic.

What About Collagen and Elastin?

This is one of the most common areas of exaggeration in paracress marketing.

You may see claims that Spilanthes has been proven to increase collagen by a dramatic percentage, rebuild facial tissue, or restore lost elasticity.

The scientific picture is not quite that simple.

A 2025 study evaluated a topical composition containing eight active ingredients, one of which was Acmella oleracea extract. Laboratory experiments involving the complete composition reported effects related to fibroblasts, barrier-associated genes, collagen I, collagen III, elastic fibers, and reactive oxygen species. The study also evaluated spilanthol-related neuro-relaxing activity in a zebrafish model.

This is fascinating research, but it does not establish that Spilanthes alone has been clinically proven to increase collagen in human facial skin.

Because multiple ingredients were tested together, we cannot give all the credit to paracress. Because part of the work involved cells and zebrafish rather than human facial application, we cannot turn it into a finished-product promise.

We believe Spilanthes may eventually prove relevant to several pathways involved in visible skin aging. For now, the strongest human cosmetic evidence concerns:

• Wrinkle measurements
• Hydration
• Smoothness
• Roughness
• Scaliness
• Skin microrelief
• The appearance of firmness

Those benefits are already impressive.

Why Spilanthes Is Especially Exciting for Mature Skin

Skin over 40, 50, and beyond often needs something different from what worked at 20.

Many women find that their skin becomes:

• Drier
• Less supple
• More easily irritated
• More visibly textured
• More prone to showing dehydration lines
• Less tolerant of aggressive routines
• More affected by years of sun, stress, makeup, smoking, drinking, poor sleep, or inconsistent skincare

Here at High Thyme, we do not believe mature skin needs to be punished into looking younger.

We prefer a ritual that nourishes it.

That is one reason Spilanthes fits our philosophy so well. It offers fascinating potential for the appearance of wrinkles and expression lines, but it can also be formulated into a gentle, oil-rich ritual that leaves skin moisturized, conditioned, and radiant.

We are not interested in making a customer’s face peel, burn, or become painfully irritated so she can feel as though a product must be working.

We want skincare to feel like care.

A Personal Note From Lynnette

I have personally been using our Fountain of Youth Spilanthes skincare for more than five years.

I am now 50 years old, and people regularly tell me that I look approximately 20 years younger than I am. I hear it often enough that it no longer feels like someone simply trying to be polite.

More importantly, I believe my skin looks healthier now than it ever has.

I wish I could tell you that I spent my entire adult life doing everything right for my face.

I did not.

For most of my life, I did not have a real skincare routine. I did not consistently use sunscreen. I drank. I smoked. I slept in my makeup. I skipped washing my face. I did nearly everything women are warned not to do if they want to protect their skin.

I cannot go back and create an alternate version of myself who never used Spilanthes so we can compare our faces side by side. I cannot scientifically prove how my skin would look today without Fountain of Youth.

But I know my own skin.

I know how it looked and felt before I began using these products consistently. I know how it looks now. I have watched it become softer, smoother, healthier-looking, better moisturized, and more radiant.

I genuinely believe Spilanthes has helped rejuvenate the appearance of my skin and has helped soften the visible damage and signs of aging that might otherwise be much more noticeable after years of not treating my skin particularly well.

That is my personal experience. It is not a guarantee that every customer will receive the same results.

But it is a major reason we believe so strongly in this plant.

And no, this is not permission to sleep in your makeup, smoke, ignore sun protection, or repeat all my mistakes. I would make different choices if I could go back.

The remarkable part is that, despite those choices, my skin now looks healthier than I remember it looking when I was younger.

Whole Paracress Flowers Versus Commercial Paracress Extract

Many cosmetic formulas use a standardized commercial Acmella oleracea extract.

There is nothing automatically wrong with that. Standardized extracts can provide consistency, and most of the human cosmetic research discussed in this article involved specific commercial-style extracts incorporated into serums.

Our approach is different.

Unlike formulas that add an isolated or standardized paracress extract to a premade base, our Fountain of Youth Firming Face Oil begins with whole, farm-grown Spilanthes flowers—also known as paracress flowers.

Here at High Thyme FARMacy, we carefully harvest and dehydrate the plant before double-infusing the flowers into a nourishing blend of:

• Sunflower Oil
• Apricot Kernel Oil
• Jojoba Oil

Spilanthol belongs to a group of alkylamides with lipophilic, or fat-loving, structural characteristics. Researchers have recovered Spilanthol through several extraction methods, including nonpolar and lipophilic systems.

That provides a sound reason for using an oil-based infusion to draw oil-compatible constituents from the actual flowers into our carrier oils.

We do not claim that our infusion captures every compound within the plant. Some botanical constituents are more water-soluble, some are better recovered with alcohol, and others respond differently to heat, time, or specialized extraction equipment.

We also do not claim our infusion has been standardized to a particular laboratory-measured percentage of spilanthol.

What we can say is that we are working with the actual plant.

We know:

• Which species we grow
• Where it was grown
• How it was cared for
• When it was harvested
• How it was dried
• How it was stored
• How the flowers were infused
• What oils received that infusion
• What entered the finished bottle

That traceability matters to us.

Buyer Beware: Not Every “Spilanthol Extract” Is What It Claims to Be

Just as with any skincare ingredient, you have to do your research before deciding which product or supplier to trust. We learned that lesson firsthand. At one point, we ordered something being sold as “spilanthol extract” because we wanted to see whether it might complement, strengthen, or improve one of our existing formulas.

We cannot tell you exactly what arrived in that bottle because we did not send it to a laboratory for identification. Tea tree oil was our best guess based on the smell. What we can say with complete confidence is that it did not smell, feel, tingle, or behave anything like the Spilanthes and spilanthol-rich plant material we have spent years growing, harvesting, tasting, drying, and formulating with here at High Thyme FARMacy.

That experience made us even more cautious about vague ingredient names and suppliers making impressive claims without meaningful documentation.

When evaluating a Spilanthes ingredient or skincare product, look for as much information as possible about:

• The full ingredient list
• The botanical name
• The part of the plant used
• The extraction method
• The concentration or recommended usage rate
• The country of origin
• Supplier testing or documentation
• Whether the company can answer reasonable questions about the ingredient

We are not suggesting that every purchased extract is questionable. Reputable cosmetic-ingredient suppliers do produce properly identified and standardized materials.

But our experience taught us that transparency matters, and that sometimes the only way to truly know your plant is to grow it yourself.

Our Spilanthes Does Not Work Alone

Although Spilanthes is our star botanical, Fountain of Youth Firming Face Oil is not a single-ingredient product.

Our infusion also includes complementary herbs such as:

• Gotu Kola
• Calendula
• Rosemary

The completed oil contains additional skin-conditioning ingredients, including Rosehip Oil and Vitamin E, along with carefully selected aromatic components.

Each ingredient has a job.

The result is not simply a bottle of carrier oil with a drop of purchased paracress extract added so we can place the name on the front label.

It is a complete botanical facial oil created around the plant we believe offers the greatest potential for visible fine lines, wrinkles, and healthy-looking mature skin.

How Quickly Can You Expect to See a Difference?

Some benefits of a facial oil may be noticeable almost immediately.

After application, skin may feel:

• Softer
• More comfortable
• Better conditioned
• Less dry
• Smoother to the touch
• More radiant

Visible changes in fine lines, texture, and overall skin condition generally require consistency.

The human Acmella serum studies discussed earlier observed measurable improvements after two weeks, while the retinol-and-Acmella eye study evaluated results over six weeks. Those timelines belong to the specific formulas studied, not to every paracress product.

Here at High Thyme, we recommend treating skincare as a ritual rather than a one-night experiment.

Take a clear photograph before you begin. Use the same lighting, distance, camera, and facial expression when you take comparison photos. Pay attention not only to deep wrinkles but also to:

• Dryness
• Texture
• Softness
• The look of the eye area
• The lines around the mouth
• How makeup applies
• How your face looks when you wake up
• Whether your skin appears more rested and nourished

Natural skincare is not about staring into the mirror every six hours looking for a miracle.

It is about giving your skin consistent care and watching the cumulative difference over time.

Does Paracress Face Oil Have Side Effects?

Most people are interested in whether paracress is safe for regular facial use.

The 2021 serum study reported satisfactory preliminary skin tolerability, while the 2025 study found good tolerability for its specific Acmella-containing serum. That later study also reported no spilanthol permeation through the tested pig-ear skin into the receptor medium under its experimental conditions.

Those findings apply to the formulas tested and cannot guarantee that every person will tolerate every paracress product.

As with any botanical cosmetic:

• Patch-test before regular use.
• Review the complete ingredient list.
• Consider sensitivities to essential oils or plants in the Asteraceae family.
• Avoid applying ordinary cosmetics to broken or severely irritated skin.
• Stop using a product if persistent burning, swelling, rash, or significant irritation develops.

A mild sensation is possible with Spilanthes products, but stronger tingling does not automatically mean a formula is better or more effective.

We will explore this subject more fully in a separate article: Paracress Face Oil Side Effects: Is Spilanthes Safe for Your Skin?

Is Spilanthes the Best Herb for Fine Lines and Wrinkles?

There has not been a giant head-to-head clinical trial comparing every skincare herb and declaring one universal winner.

So no, we cannot present “the best” as an established scientific ranking.

But here is what we can say:

Of all the botanicals we have personally grown, researched, formulated with, and used, we believe Spilanthes is the most exciting and beneficial herb for the visible appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

We believe that because it brings together an unusual combination of qualities:

• A distinctive compound, spilanthol
• Research involving expression lines
• Human studies showing improvements in wrinkle measurements
• Measured improvements in hydration and skin texture
• Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory research
• Potential applications for mature skin
• A long history of traditional use
• The versatility of a whole plant
• Lynnette’s experience after more than five years of consistent use
• Our ability to grow and process it ourselves

We did not build Fountain of Youth around Spilanthes because it was trendy.

When we first began talking publicly about this plant, most American shoppers had never heard the word “paracress.”

We built Fountain of Youth around it because we believed we had found something exceptional.

We still do.

The Bottom Line: What Does Paracress Do for Your Skin?

Based on available cosmetic research, paracress is a promising botanical ingredient for formulas intended to improve:

• The visible appearance of fine lines
• Expression lines around the eyes and mouth
• Wrinkle measurements
• Hydration
• Surface smoothness
• Roughness
• Scaliness
• Skin texture and microrelief
• The appearance of firmness
• The overall look of mature skin

Research also continues into Spilanthes compounds for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other biological activities that may help explain the plant’s wider potential.

No herb can stop time.

No face oil can erase every year, undo every decision, or duplicate an injectable procedure.

But we believe good skincare can change how skin looks, feels, and ages visibly, and we believe Spilanthes is one of the most extraordinary plants available for that purpose.

Here at High Thyme FARMacy, Spilanthes is not a token extract, a fashionable name, or a marketing trend.

We grow it.

We harvest it.

We dry it.

We double-infuse the actual flowers.

We formulate with it.

We use it ourselves.

And after more than five years of seeing what it has done for Lynnette’s skin, we believe in it more strongly than ever.

For us, Spilanthes is not simply another beneficial skincare herb...

It is the herb.

Important Educational Notice

This article is intended for cosmetic education and does not provide medical advice. Research discussed may involve specific standardized extracts, isolated compounds, laboratory models, animal models, or finished cosmetic formulas that differ from High Thyme FARMacy products.

High Thyme FARMacy’s Fountain of Youth products are cosmetics formulated to cleanse, moisturize, condition, soften, and improve the appearance and feel of the skin. Individual experiences vary, and Lynnette’s personal experience should not be interpreted as a guarantee of identical results for every customer.