8 Turmeric benefits for skin: The key to spice your skincare routine up

Once you learn about the powerful turmeric benefits for skin, you will not be able to leave it out of your skincare routine.

Turmeric is a root plant from the ginger family that’s commonly used as a spice around the world, especially in South and Southeast Asia. You may recognize it by its bright yellow color, which comes as a result of the main component of turmeric called curcumin. But is turmeric good for your skin?

This natural ingredient has been the perfect secret ingredient in every spice cabinet, but it has also been used as a beauty product for centuries, since its out-of-this-world health benefits have made it the best natural skin ally. In fact, you could call turmeric for skin the superhero of skincare. This golden yellow spice gives any complexion an extra boost of power to help fight off any skin-damaging pollutants, all while giving your complexion a burst of strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits

So, if you’re ready to add a little flavor to your routine and want to discover how to use turmeric for skin, keep reading because today we will tell you everything you need to know about this spice so you can take it from your kitchen to your beauty vanity!

What does turmeric do for your skin?

Turmeric, a time-honored ingredient in Ayurveda and traditional medicine, is akin to sprinkling sunshine on your face! Not only is it incredibly tasty and versatile, but turmeric also boasts a long list of beauty benefits when incorporated into your skincare routine. Recent studies have demonstrated that curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, not only exhibits significant anti-inflammatory properties but also enhances skin hydration and elasticity (Smith et al., 2021).

Curcumin has been praised for its healing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects that can reduce acne, improve skin tone, eliminate dark spots, and protect your complexion from environmental damage. Historically, it has been celebrated in various cultures for its beautifying properties.

Curious about more turmeric benefits for your skin? Let’s explore them one by one—warning: don’t keep reading if you don’t want turmeric to become your next skincare obsession!

8 turmeric skin benefits you didn’t know

As stated earlier, this spice is a do-it-all remedy for all skin types. Here are the main 8 benefits of turmeric for your skin:

1. Treats acne

If you've ever struggled with acne breakouts, you understand how difficult and embarrassing they can be. The great news is that turmeric can provide relief. Curcumin is recognized as an excellent antiseptic and antimicrobial, which helps curb the growth of acne-causing bacteria, preventing new breakouts while healing existing ones.

Additionally, its anti-inflammatory properties alleviate the irritation and redness often associated with acne. A turmeric face mask can significantly improve acne scars while also reducing oil production from sebaceous glands.

2. Lightening and depigmentation superhero

So, does turmeric lighten the skin? Absolutely! This golden spice acts as a natural skin-lightening agent to diminish dark spots, dark circles, and uneven skin tone by inhibiting melanin production and addressing existing discolorations. Its use can improve overall skin texture, leaving you vibrant and healthy without harsh chemicals.

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3. Contains antioxidant properties

We've highlighted turmeric’s antioxidant properties, but why are they crucial? Antioxidants are vital for protecting your skin against oxidative damage caused by pollutants and free radicals, which can lead to premature aging and dull skin.

Curcumin works to neutralize these free radicals and reduce damage, acting as a shield for your skin. The antioxidants in curcumin also promote collagen production and elastin, rejuvenating your complexion and reducing the appearance of fine lines and loss of firmness.

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4. Soothes dry skin

While turmeric doesn’t moisturize directly, it revives the complexion by accelerating cell turnover to eliminate dry skin patches and cracked areas. Its anti-inflammatory properties also help relieve the discomfort associated with dryness.

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5. Helps treat psoriasis and eczema

Turmeric is recognized as an effective treatment for various irritating skin conditions. Its robust anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties are beneficial in managing psoriasis and eczema by reducing inflammation, dryness, and cracking.

For individuals suffering from atopic dermatitis, incorporating turmeric into your routine might be crucial for relief. Its antifungal effects can improve overall skin health and bolster skin barrier function—providing valuable support for those with sensitive skin.

6. It’s ideal for unwanted hair

While turmeric won’t replace your wax or laser treatments, it features a glue-like substance that can help remove unwanted hair from the root. With consistent use, you may notice that regrowth is finer and less visible, particularly in areas like the upper lip and eyebrows.

7. A healing angel

Turmeric is renowned for its potent anti-inflammatory properties and remarkable healing abilities, which can accelerate the formation of new skin tissue while reducing wound irritation.

Curcumin has been extensively studied for its bio-functional properties that support wound healing by stimulating growth factors and accelerating restoration processes.

8. Fights oily skin

Among turmeric's many benefits, its ability to regulate excessive sebum production is crucial for oily skin types. Curcumin's antiseptic and antibacterial properties ensure a balanced and cleaner complexion, helping to shrink pores and refine skin texture.

Though turmeric is generally safe for most skin types, some individuals may experience irritation or allergic reactions. Always perform a patch test on a small area of skin before applying it extensively. When incorporating turmeric with other active ingredients, such as retinoids or vitamin C, consult with a skincare professional to avoid any potential skin irritation.

Overall, turmeric not only enhances external skin health by addressing common skin concerns but may also contribute to overall wellness by reducing systemic inflammation, leading to a more vibrant complexion.

Which skin type is turmeric best for?

Turmeric can be used on any skin type, but it's particularly great for dull, itchy, and sensitive skin. 

Keep in mind that it’s possible to have a turmeric allergy and it’s very important and highly recommended if you want to know how turmeric acts on your skin, to patch test a small area before applying it to a major one. You can do the test behind your ear or a little area on your forearm, and if there’s no redness or itchiness, then you can go ahead and use turmeric in your daily skincare.

How to use turmeric for skin?

Despite the fact that natural ingredients are the best, this doesn’t mean that we are going to apply raw ingredients directly to our skin because we could cause damage, especially if you have sensitive skin. This means that it is not recommended to apply raw turmeric on skin in the form of a DIY mask.

Beauty specialists say that the better way to take advantage of turmeric benefits for skin is to use skincare products that contain these compounds since they have the necessary percentages of each active ingredient to give you optimal results. 

Does consuming turmeric help my skin?

Though applying turmeric skincare products is the best way to get all its amazing benefits for your skin, there are many other ways of incorporating turmeric, for example through supplements and tea, that still can inject the skin with all its perks. 

• It can be consumed in tablets or supplements as purified curcumin
• You can include it in your recipes when you cook as turmeric powder.
• Drinking turmeric tea. 

Of course, this doesn’t mean that consuming turmeric is the same as applying turmeric skincare products. This is because skincare products are specially formulated with the right amount of active turmeric to inject the skin with all its benefits. However, edible turmeric supplements, ingredients, and teas still have antioxidants, soothing, and healing properties that could help you nourish your skin from the inside. 

Where to find the best turmeric-based skincare products?

Turmeric brightens skin naturally, heals the complexion, prevents dryness, and protects and treats many skin concerns, so it’s the go-to spice if you want your skin to look radiant, glowing and hydrated. 

Now that you know all the benefits of turmeric for skin and you want to include it in your skincare routine, you’ve come to the right place! In Asian Beauty Essentials we have turmeric-packed skincare goodies  that harness all its perks and will give you the skin of your dreams, 

So take a minute and explore all our products featuring turmeric! And most importantly, remember that turmeric aids in so many wonderful ways!

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