Turmeric: The ingredient that will (literally) spice up your skin care routine

Long used in latte form as an alternative to coffee, harnessed as a flavour-enhancer within savoury dishes, and heralded as an overall health-boosting superfood, turmeric has served many purposes throughout its long, varied history.

The latest arena in which the spice is being celebrated, however, is the skincare one. Similarly to the other natural ingredients it keeps as company, turmeric offers impressive abilities when it comes to our complexions.

BEAUTYcrew spoke to Jemma McBride, educator for Kiehl's (one of the ingredient's early adopters), to find out more.

WHAT IS TURMERIC?

"Turmeric is part of the ginger family and has a very long history," shares McBride. "While turmeric is native to India and Southeast Asia, it has been used globally for centuries in traditional medicine to treat skin imperfections and various other conditions. It was even once used as a common treatment for swelling and sprains," she explains.

WHAT SKIN BENEFITS DOES TURMERIC OFFER?

"Turmeric is one of those ingredients that has a multitude of benefits. We use it in our formulas because it reduces inflammation and brightens the skin," McBride explains. "It is [also] a great source of antioxidants, and so can energise the look of dull and fatigued skin."

Naturally packed with curcumin (a bioactive component with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties), turmeric topicals are able to revive skin's natural glow, while also aiding with complexion concerns such as acne scarring and inflammation.

WHICH TURMERIC FORMULAS WILL OFFER OPTIMAL RESULTS?

Turmeric can be applied topically to the skin in forms ranging from serums to scrubs, though McBride names a turmeric mask as the option able to deliver immediately visible results. "It helps to give that instant facial effect we want," she shares.
She doesn't, however, recommend making your own. "As fun as mixing your own mask sounds, it's always best to leave the cosmetic chemistry to the experts, as for turmeric to be effective on the skin it need the right pH level," McBride explains.

THE BEST TURMERIC SKINCARE PRODUCTS TO SHOP