Turmeric Has Been Used for Centuries To Brighten Skin and Calm Inflammation—Here Are 11 Ways To Add It to Your Routine

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Turmeric can give your skin a gorgeous glow thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It's often lauded as a DIY beauty ingredient and it's great in those formulas... as long as you get it just right. Improper mixing of the vibrant spice can leave you with an orangey hue that looks like a bad spray tan, which likely isn't the look you're going for. Instead, Farah Bashir, founder of Sachi Skin and beauty industry veteran, says to look for pro-grade turmeric skin-care products that are more cosmetically elegant than anything you can attempt to whip up at home.

"DIY turmeric products and cosmetics with turmeric are very different," says Bashir. "Growing up I have always used turmeric in our kitchen with honey, milk, or yogurt as a great face mask for a quick glow. However, for cosmetics, serums, and creams it’s essential to look for reputable raw material suppliers and manufacturers, paying attention to quality, source, and cosmetic use suitability." Plus, she says you don't have to worry about leaving them on too long and staining your skin.


Experts In This Article

With turmeric skin-care products, you can get the benefits without the work. And the benefits are amazing—which is why turmeric has been a staple in Ayurveda for centuries.

"Turmeric has long been a staple and important spice in Ayurveda because of its healing properties—it has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties," says Bashir. "Turmeric is regarded as a key ingredient to fight inflammation and many other inflammatory-related conditions, which is one of the reasons it has stood the test of time as a supplement in the East."

Turmeric supplements are actually what got Marta Cros, founder of APTO Skincare, into the powerful ingredient.

"I first started using it as a supplement in 2017," says Cros. "When I saw firsthand its effects when taken orally, I started doing research on the potential benefits of a topical application. There are several scientific studies showing evidence that turmeric provides therapeutic benefits for skin health—specifically skin conditions such as acne, atopic dermatitis, and facial photoaging."

To experience what turmeric skin care can do firsthand, shop the turmeric products from Bashir and Cros' brands—and many more—below.

Sachi States of Skin Resilience Serum — $78.00

This resilience serum heroes a proprietary Ayurvedic Bioflavonoid Complex that’s packed with antioxidants that protect skin against environmental damage and hydrators to flood skin with moisture. “This powerful ingredient combines the fantastic healing properties of Ayurvedic botanicals such as turmeric with advanced liposomal peptides and hydrators to target signs of aging, fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage,” says Bashir. It also has soothing and calming properties for easily irritated and reddened skin—really working as a fantastic a.m. or p.m. skin-repair serum.”

 

 

APTO Skincare Turmeric & Rosemary Face Oil — $10.00

After her daughter was born, Cros dealt with melasma, and the medicine her doctor prescribed to address the discoloration left her with dry and scaly skin. “I started experimenting with oil formulations with our chemist at the factory, and after trying multiple versions we came up with what today is APTO’s Turmeric Oil with Rosemary,” says Cros. It hydrates and soothes skin while preventing and addressing hyperpigmentation, and smoothing out fine lines.

Live Tinted Superhue Brightening Eye Cream — $28.00

This lightweight brightening eye cream uses a blend of niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and THD vitamin C to the illuminate skin, even tone, and smooth texture. Plus, it has caffeine to boost circulation and reduce pugginess whole turmeric reduces inflammation and under-eye swelling. It feels amazing on the skin and is made with light-reflecting pigments that instantly make the undereye appear brighter.

Juara Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask — $44.00

Inspired by the “Lulur Ritual” Indonesian spa treatment, this mask will give you a radiant glow in just 15 minutes. That’s because a blend of turmeric, kaolin clay, and candlenut oil brightens, purifies, and refines dull and stressed skin without drying out the skin. The kaolin clay purifies and strengthens while turmeric brightens and candlenut oil hydrates.

Ranavat Brightening Saffron Serum — $135.00

Three key ingredients make this Ayurvedic serum shine—saffron, turmeric, and licorice root. Saffron has antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties to brighten and firm skin. Turmeric soothes stressed skin thus reducing redness. And licorice root reduces hyperpigmentation.

Topicals Like Butter Mask for Dry, Sensitive & Eczema-Prone Skin — $34.00

This cream may be marketed as a face mask for dry, sensitive, or eczema-prone skin, but rest assured, it can be used anywhere on your body. I used it on the dry spots inside my elbows and behind my knees for a few nights and can attest to it being a true member of #hydrationnation. In addition to turmeric, the mask also contains a “who’s who” of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ingredients including colloidal oatmeal, green tea extract, and ginseng.

Sundat Riley C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C and Turmeric Face Oil — $40.00 to $80.00

With vitamin C and turmeric, this hydrating oil is the perfect antioxidant boost that also leaves behind a perfect dewy glow. And compared to other face oils, it doesn’t feel too oily, which is the best part. It’s rich in antioxidants to protect against environmental damage that can lead to premature signs of aging while plumping and firming fine lines and wrinkles, brightening dark spots, and soothing redness.

Mary Louise Cosmetics Turmeric Facial Serum — $35.00

This oil uses cold-pressed turmeric oil to calm acne while diminishing and preventing acne scars and hyperpigmentation. It also includes sunflower oil to strengthen skin and promote ceramide production, jojoba oil to moisturize, and vitamin C to brighten and protect skin from environmental damage.

 

Andalou Naturals Brightening Turmeric and C Enlighten Serum — $17.00

This brightening serum blends vitamin C with turmeric to protect over-exposed surface cells, while reversing signs of sun damage and hyperpigmentation. And the first ingredient is aloe leaf juice, so it’s super hydrating and will leave your skin feeling soothed and cared for.

Aavrani Glow Activating Exfoliator — $39.00

This kaolin and bentonite clay mask gently exfoliates while purifying anti-inflammatory ingredients like neem, organic turmeric, jojoba, and raw manuka honey to soothe your skin. It’s made without silicones, mineral oil, parabens, microplastics, petrolatum, formaldehyde donors, or animal-derived ingredients.

 

Ambari Beauty Gold Profection22 Mask — $22.00

This peel uses a concentrated blend of three exfoliating alpha-hydroxy acids (glycolic, lactic, malic, and tartaric acids) to exfoliate and resurface while glycerin vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid provide intense moisturization and hydration. It also includes Reishi mushroom and vitamin B5 to detoxify skin while protecting against environmental damage.

Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.

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