Amazing Benefits of Licorice in Skincare
In the western world, Licorice is most commonly associated as a sweetener and flavoring agent. What many people don’t realize is that in other countries licorice is a highly prized herb that has a wide breadth of applications both internally and externally.
Licorice root comes from the licorice plant, Glycyrrhiza glabra, a member of the Fabaceae family. It is Native to southern Europe, central Russia, India, and parts of Asia. It is widely used topically and internally for its medicinal properties in various healing traditions, especially in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda.
What makes licorice special is the chemical compounds within the roots, especially glycyrrhizic acid and Isoangustone A.
Glycyrrhizic acid is the most abundant chemical compound in licorice root. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and powerful antioxidant properties. This makes licorice an effective herb to use when dealing with inflammatory conditions like rosacea, eczema, and acne. The antioxidant properties contribute to licorice root’s anti-aging effects. Glycyrrhizic acid also acts as a brightening agent, making it helpful for people who deal with hyperpigmentation.
Isoangustone A is a flavonoid derived from licorice root. Flavonoids are chemical compounds that are potent antioxidants, antimicrobial, and act as a UV protectant in plants. Isoangustone A is currently being researched for potential anti-cancer benefits, especially with melanoma. The studies are very promising!
Because of licorice root’s Amazing benefits, it is one of the main ingredients in many of Ora’s Amazing Herbal products!
Our Magic Face Potion Face Oil Serum and Licorice Love Powder Cleanser are a great combination to use for those seeking help with inflammatory skin conditions such as rosacea, acne, and eczema. The brightening effects of the glycyrrhizic acid in licorice also help prevent skin blemishes and spots. Check out our Face Love Magic Set with both Magic Face Potion and Licorice Love (and save a smidge when you buy them as a set!).
To spot treat acne blemishes, you can mix about ½ a teaspoon of Licorice Love with a few drops of water and mix until it forms a thick paste. Apply the paste to the blemish and let it dry (approximately 5-10 minutes). Once it is dry, simply rinse it off. Ora’s Amazing customers leave reviews about it helping their skin clear up much faster!
Another way Licorice Love can be used is as a poultice on skin that is red and itchy. We like to mix ½-1 teaspoon of Licorice Love with a few drops of water. For this type of application, you want the product to be the consistency of a very thin paste, not quite runny, but not thick and cakey. Rub the product over the desired skin area and let it sit for a few minutes (anywhere from 1-5 minutes is fine). Then rinse off while massaging skin in a forward circular motion. This same process can be used to use Licorice Love as a face mask. Once you are finished you can apply one of our other Amazing products mentioned below.
Licorice Love, Calendula Salve, Touchy Skin Salve, Baby Salve, Newborn Salve, and Calendula Body Oil all contain licorice. This is just one of the reasons why our Amazing customers find them helpful for their eczema! Newborn and Baby Salve are both very effective for diaper rash!
The next time you eat licorice candy, remember the amazing health benefits that are contained in licorice root! And the next time you are shopping for skincare products, remember to check out the products mentioned in this post. Licorice root is only one ingredient of many powerful herbs and oils used in Ora’s Amazing Herbal products.
About Ora’s Amazing Herbal
Ora’s Amazing Herbal creates natural, herbal infused skincare for the whole family. We strive to empower women through self care, one minute at a time (because let’s be honest, as moms- often a minute is all we have)! Our current line includes salves, powders, body oils, body butters, face oil serums, powder facial cleansers, beard & hair oils, lip balms, and herbal steams. We also have a natural baby care line which includes gentle newborn and baby salves, powders, and baby oil. We use high quality, non-gmo, fair trade oils and organic herbs to create skin care that is both pure and effective. Our products are crafted in small batches in New Jersey and are free from talc, grain, lanolin,chemical preservatives, synthetic dyes & fragrances, parabens, and animal testing. We also have a huge focus on sustainability, eco-friendly packaging, and kindness to the world around us. If you’d like to learn more, please check out our website- OrasAmazingHerbal.com.
