Paracress Flower Extract: The Plant Behind “Natural Botox” Skincare

Paracress Flower Extract: The Little Golden Flower Taking on Expression Lines

If you’ve ever chewed a paracress flower, you’d remember it. Within seconds your mouth tingles, buzzes and goes slightly numb. That tiny golden bloom has been used for generations to calm toothaches. Today it’s one of the most talked-about botanicals in anti-aging skincare.

Here’s what paracress is, why skincare chemists are excited about it, and how we use it in Morganna’s Elixir.

Meet paracress (Acmella oleracea)

Paracress is a small flowering herb in the daisy family (Asteraceae). It’s native to tropical South America, especially Brazil and Peru. It now grows in Madagascar, India, Indonesia and other warm regions.

It goes by many names. Gardeners call it the toothache plant, electric daisy or buzz buttons. In the Amazon it’s jambu, a pantry staple that gives Brazilian dishes their famous tingle. In Madagascar and Réunion it’s brède mafane.

Those nicknames all point to the same thing: a natural compound called spilanthol.

What is spilanthol?

Spilanthol is an alkylamide, a type of plant molecule concentrated in paracress flowers and leaves. It’s responsible for the plant’s tingling, numbing effect. That’s why folk healers pressed the flowers against sore gums.

Researchers noticed that the same “calming” action might matter for the face. And that’s where it gets interesting for your skin.

How paracress works on expression lines

Every day your face makes thousands of tiny movements: squinting at a screen, frowning in concentration, laughing with friends. Over the years, those repeated micro-contractions fold the skin in the same places. Think of creasing a sheet of paper again and again. Eventually the crease stays.

Those are expression lines: crow’s feet, forehead lines, the “11s” between the brows.

Applied to the skin, spilanthol is thought to gently ease those micro-contractions. It doesn’t freeze your face. Your expressions stay fully yours. The muscle activity that etches lines just softens a little, and the skin above looks smoother.

That’s why paracress is often nicknamed “natural Botox” or “plant Botox.” We use that phrase carefully. A cream is not an injection, and it won’t deliver the same results. Instead, think of it as a daily teammate. It’s an option for people who want a needle-free way to care for expression lines, and a supportive step for people who already get injectables and want to keep skin looking smooth between appointments.

What does the research say?

Paracress is one of the better-studied botanicals in its category. Some highlights:

• Fast visible smoothing. Ingredient makers who supply paracress extracts report crow’s feet looking smoother within a day of first use in their volunteer tests. In one, most participants using a 5% extract saw a reduction in crow’s feet.
• Results within two weeks. A 2021 study in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science found that a serum made with Acmella oleracea extract visibly reduced wrinkles around the eyes and mouth in two weeks, with good skin tolerance.
• Firming support. Lab studies on a concentrated paracress flower extract suggest it supports the cells that build skin’s collagen network. Volunteer tests on the same extract showed firmer-feeling skin and a less crepey neck and décolleté.

Antioxidant and calming. Paracress is rich in antioxidant polyphenols and has shown anti-inflammatory activity in lab research

The benefits of paracress for your skin

• Softens the look of expression lines, especially crow’s feet, forehead lines and lines around the mouth
• Smoother-looking skin that can show up within days
• Firmer feel on the face, neck and décolleté with continued use
• Antioxidant protection against everyday stressors like sun and pollution
• Needle-free and plant-derived, for a gentler, gradual approach
• Natural expressions preserved, because nothing is “frozen”

Introducing Morganna’s Elixir with Paracress Extract

Morganna’s Alchemy began 20 years ago with this one formula. Our founder created it for her aunt, who loved her Botox results but wanted them to last longer between appointments. The goal was never to replace her treatments. It was to give her skin daily support in the weeks in between.

That thinking still shapes the Elixir. It had to be gentle enough for every day, light enough for oily and combination skin, and strong enough to make a visible difference. Two decades later, it’s still the heart of our line, for people who love their injectables and for people who’d rather skip the needle.

What’s inside:

• Paracress (Acmella oleracea) extract, high on the ingredient list. Over the years we’ve increased its strength for extra power.
• Walnut seed extract (Juglans regia), rich in antioxidant polyphenols to help defend skin against environmental stress
• Beech bud extract (Fagus sylvatica), a botanical known for boosting moisture and smoothing skin texture
• Glycerin, for lasting hydration that keeps skin plump

The texture is a light lotion that sinks in fast, leaves no greasy film and sits beautifully under makeup or sunscreen. It works for dry to oily skin, and for men and women.

In our 28-day test, 56 women used the Elixir twice daily and saw a [X%] decrease in wrinkle depth. Our reviewers say it best. One customer in her 40s with dry skin says it still feels freshly applied hours later. Another, using it alongside a retinoid, saw a big difference in her forehead lines in about three weeks.

We also care where our paracress comes from. Our spilanthol is sourced from South Africa in partnership with the Black Economic Empowerment program.

How to use Morganna’s Elixir

1. Cleanse, then apply any serums.
2. Pump a small amount and smooth over face, neck and décolleté.
3. Use twice daily for mature skin. Under 40? Once a day, morning or night, may be all you need.
4. Follow with sunscreen in the morning.

A gentle tingle is normal. That’s spilanthol at work, and it fades quickly.

Patch test first if you’re sensitive or allergic to daisy-family plants like chamomile, arnica, ragweed or calendula. Apply a little to your inner arm for 24 to 48 hours before using it on your face.

Paracress FAQs

Is paracress the same as Botox? No. Botox is an injected treatment that temporarily blocks muscle movement. Paracress is a topical plant extract that gently softens the look of expression lines without injections, and your face stays fully expressive.

Can I use it if I get Botox or other injectables? Yes. That’s exactly who the Elixir was first made for. Many customers use it daily to care for their skin between appointments. Right after a treatment, wait until your provider says it’s fine to apply skincare.

How soon will I see results? Many people notice smoother-looking skin in the first days. Like any anti-aging routine, the best results come with consistent twice-daily use over several weeks.

Can I use it with retinol or vitamin C? Yes. Paracress plays well with most routines. Apply serums first, then the Elixir.

Is it safe for sensitive skin? Paracress is generally well tolerated. Because it’s in the daisy family, patch test first if you react to related plants.

At what age should I start? Expression lines typically start showing between 25 and 30, so that’s a great time to begin. It’s never too late.

Ready to meet the flower?

Paracress proves that some of the most effective skincare grows quietly in a garden. If you’d like a plant-powered way to soften expression lines without a heavy cream, Morganna’s Elixir was made for you.

Shop Morganna’s Elixir with Paracress Extract →

These statements describe cosmetic benefits and are not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease. Individual results vary