Most beauty products today have become so run-of-the-mill. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and even snail mucin, which were once the hottest things in skincare, are now regular in my routine. Where’s the excitement? Have we run out of ingredients to improve our skin?
First came Ayurvedic products. As much as I was grossed out about kitchen ingredients on my face, I still tried it. Now that Ayurveda seems dead, Japanese and Korean ingredients took the opportunity and waited at the wake. But what next?
Enter: ingredients that originate in specific parts of the world.
Himalayan Salt
One of the purest forms of salt in the world, this salt is known to be packed with extra minerals, making it a much healthier choice than regular table salt. It has detoxifying properties and promotes a healthy pH balance, making it a great ingredient for body scrubs, bath salts, and face masks.
How to use: Add a pinch or a teaspoon of salt to your warm bath water and douse yourself in nutrients.
Korean Mugwort
A herb native to primarily parts of Asia and Europe, the Koreans were among the first to understand and reap the benefits of this ingredient. It’s a great ingredient for sensitive skin as it helps protect it from free radical damage and is packed with antioxidants. It also treats psoriasis and dermatitis since it helps calm the skin.
How to use: Add a dash of it to your tea or green tea to help with anxiety, and digestion issues and start your journey to clear skin.
Chinese Pearl Powder
An ingredient that was initially only used by Chinese royalty since it was made from actual pearls, this ingredient is rich in calcium and is known to boost collagen production. It also helps treat breakouts.
How to use: It can be consumed as a supplement.
Boryeong Mud
While the town’s name is synonymous with the popular “Mud Festival,” the mud from this place has actual benefits. It has therapeutic properties—it revitalises, nourishes, and detoxifies the skin thanks to the presence of minerals like magnesium, calcium, potassium, etc. Today, this mud is a popular ingredient in skincare products, and there’s really no questioning the Koreans when it comes to ingredients!
How to use: It is the star ingredient of multiple South Korean skincare brands and can be used in the form of a sheet mask, face wash, face pack, etc.
The Cloudberry
Cloudberry, a berry found in the Arctic region, has become a valued skincare ingredient thanks to its marine collagen and omega-3 content. These antioxidant properties restore the skin, even the skin tone, and prevent collagen breakdown!
How to use: Infused in moisturisers.
Dead Sea Mud
Obtained from the Dead Sea, this mud does everything from detoxifies the skin, brightens and tones it, reduces the appearance of pores, helps get rid of dead skin, and draws out the excess oil. This is a holy-grail product if you have oily skin!
How to use: As a face mask.
Thankana Powder
Burmese women in Myanmar are often seen walking around with white powder on their faces, so if you’re planning a trip anytime soon, don’t be too alarmed. This powder, native to the region, when mixed with water, forms a paste that naturally removes hair, acts as a moisturiser, and shields the skin from the sun! Natural, hand-made sunscreen? Sign us up!
While most of these ingredients are sourced from their originating lands, thanks to how the world works, it’s not hard to find a product that includes them. Sure, I’ll continue using my snail mucin serums and matcha-infused moisturisers, but there’s something so exotic in using ingredients from only a particular place.
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