Why Turmeric Belongs In Your Skincare Routine
The ancient spice has some serious beauty benefits.
We are all for the latest and greatest scientific advances in skincare, but sometimes it makes sense to go back to the basics. Make that way back. Turmeric, the yellow-hued spice that's a mainstay in Indian cooking, has been around for thousands of years. And for just as long, people have been using the ancient root powder for a multitude of medical and skin concerns. Why? The stuff is a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powerhouse, meaning it helps brighten, strengthen, smooth, glow-ify and all-around boost the health of your dermis.
No surprise then, that modern beauty brands can't get enough of turmeric extract, adding it to everything from sunscreen to lip balm to facial scrubs.
"Turmeric is wonderful for anyone who has super-sensitive skin," celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas tells us, "But even for normal skin it really makes the skin look flawless." (And when Julianne Moore and Naomi Watts' facialist tells us anything, we listen.)
Interested in adding the spice to your skincare routine? You can always try the age-old DIY route and mix up a simple homemade face mask based on one of the gazillion great recipes on the internet. Or you can opt for one of these high-powered products that caught our eyes.
DDF Advanced Micro-Exfoliation Cleanser, $47, at ddfskincare.com
This scrub's potent dose of turmeric root extract helps prevent damage from surface free radicals and leaves skin firmer, fresher and smooth.
Juara Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask, $35 at dermstore.com
Allow this turmeric-spiked mask to sink in for fifteen minutes, and you'll flood your face with heavy-hitting antioxidants that neutralize environmental toxins, strengthen skin and brighten dark spots and acne scars.
Ole Henriksen Visual Truth Eye Creme, $35 at olehenriksen.com
A cocktail of anti-aging, wrinkle-reducing ingredients (including nourishing, repairing turmeric root extract and African Red Tea) make this eye creme an all-star.
