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Terminalia Chebula: Meet The Hot New Must-Know Skincare Ingredient
It’s been used in healing for millennia. Now, late to the party, the west is cottoning on.
No, it’s not a sauce for your steak. Rather, Chebula – or Terminalia Chebula to give it its full name – is an Ayurvedic plant, whose dried plum-like fruits are known in southern Asia as the ‘king of medicine’. Used for millennia in powdered form to treat a range of health concerns from skin complaints to digestive issues to cognitive function, it has now found its way into the ingredients list of a number of new western beauty launches. Just like turmeric, shatavari and ashwaganda before it, it’s the plant of the moment.
US beauty brand True Botanicals was one of the first to add this Ayurvedic powerhouse to its skincare line, claiming that ‘chebula is the most bioactive and powerful antioxidant the skincare world has ever seen’. Plus it has already garnered a loyal fan base from the likes of Brooke Shields and Olivia Wilde. Sold? Read on to hear from the clinical studies that confirm the array of benefits this tiny nutrient-rich fruit holds.
As a powerful antioxidant, Chebula defends skin against the free radicals that weaken its elasticity and structure, leading to wrinkles and sagging. Studies have shown that it has longer-last effects than other antioxidants.
Some studies report that Chebula offers a protective effect from sun exposure – specifically from UVB-induced skin damage. Whilst this doesn’t mean you can skip the SPF, it has been shown to prevent and also repair pigmentation and dark spots.
City-dwellers would do well to add a protective layer of Chebula serum to their skincare routine, as it has been shown to reverse visible signs of pollution-induced damage, such as skin-ageing, inflammation and blemishes.
It seems Chebula has more than just a protective power, but a hyper-hydrating one too, with one study concluding that it both slowed moisture loss through the skin, whilst also increasing the skin’s moisture content for dewy, plumper looking skin.
Finally, a 2016 study shows positive results when using Chebula to treat inflammatory skin disorders, such as psoriasis. It contains a polyphenolic compound with effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities.
By Lydia Mansi
March 2023
US beauty brand True Botanicals was one of the first to add this Ayurvedic powerhouse to its skincare line, claiming that ‘chebula is the most bioactive and powerful antioxidant the skincare world has ever seen’. Plus it has already garnered a loyal fan base from the likes of Brooke Shields and Olivia Wilde. Sold? Read on to hear from the clinical studies that confirm the array of benefits this tiny nutrient-rich fruit holds.
The Skincare Benefits Of Chebula
As a powerful antioxidant, Chebula defends skin against the free radicals that weaken its elasticity and structure, leading to wrinkles and sagging. Studies have shown that it has longer-last effects than other antioxidants.
Some studies report that Chebula offers a protective effect from sun exposure – specifically from UVB-induced skin damage. Whilst this doesn’t mean you can skip the SPF, it has been shown to prevent and also repair pigmentation and dark spots.
City-dwellers would do well to add a protective layer of Chebula serum to their skincare routine, as it has been shown to reverse visible signs of pollution-induced damage, such as skin-ageing, inflammation and blemishes.
It seems Chebula has more than just a protective power, but a hyper-hydrating one too, with one study concluding that it both slowed moisture loss through the skin, whilst also increasing the skin’s moisture content for dewy, plumper looking skin.
Finally, a 2016 study shows positive results when using Chebula to treat inflammatory skin disorders, such as psoriasis. It contains a polyphenolic compound with effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities.
By Lydia Mansi
March 2023
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Lydia Mansi
Lifestyle Editor
Lydia is an all-round lifestyle guru, tireless champion of women in business and our resident expert on beauty.
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