Bay leaves are commonly used in cooking, but they have also become popular in homemade skincare recipes. Online posts sometimes claim that bay leaf is “100,000 times stronger than Botox” and can completely erase wrinkles, even at age 70. There is no good clinical evidence supporting that claim.
Botulinum toxin products such as Botox work through injections that temporarily reduce muscle activity responsible for certain facial lines. Bay leaf does not work through the same mechanism.
That said, bay leaves contain plant compounds with antioxidant properties, and research is being conducted on Laurus nobilis preparations for cosmetic applications. A 2026 study, for example, investigated a bay-leaf hydrosol formulation as a potential antioxidant-rich cosmetic ingredient—but this does not establish that ordinary bay-leaf water removes wrinkles.
A Simple Bay Leaf Facial Water Recipe
If you want to try a gentle homemade preparation, keep it simple.
Ingredients
- 4–5 dried bay leaves
- 1 cup of filtered water
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil.
- Add the bay leaves.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5–10 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool completely.
- Strain out the leaves.
- Store the cooled liquid in a clean, covered container in the refrigerator.
How to Use It
Apply a small amount to clean skin with a cotton pad. Do not apply it around the eyes or to irritated or damaged skin.
Before using any homemade botanical preparation on your face, test a small amount on another area of skin first. Botanical products can sometimes cause skin reactions, and evidence regarding their safety is limited.
Can Bay Leaf Really Erase Wrinkles?
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