Adaptogens in Beauty Products, Is It New?

An adaptogen is essentially a fancy way to describe medicinal herbs and botanical extracts used to restore balance in the body. Most of us are used to hearing about medicinal herbs being ingested for a variety of issues within the body.  Since most adaptogens are botanical extracts or molecules derived from botanical extracts they are clearly non-toxic. We, at SMD Cosmetics, have been one of the first players in Korea in the medicinal skin care market. So is this new?

Adaptogens are nothing new. This type of herbal medicine has deep roots in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, and the term ‘adaptogen’ was originally established by Russian pharmacist N. V. Lazarev in 1947.

Plenty of research shows the benefits of adaptogens within your whole body, so it should come as little surprise that they are beneficial on one of your biggest organs as well, your skin. You are absorbing whatever you put on your skin into your blood stream. Regarding the research in the US, there is a lack of it when it comes to skin care. In Korea we have clinical trials and documented research to show the effectiveness of medicinal skin care products on issues such as anti-aging, acne, hyper-pigmentation, etc. U.S. skin health experts agree that the effectiveness of adaptogens is still proven by years and years of apothecary use. That doesn't mean they're a cure-all, of course.

Some of the common skin issues adaptogens can help with are acne, eczema, rosacea, aging, skin immunity, and skin brightening. Most adaptogens are botanical extracts or molecules derived from botanical extracts. If you are curious where do start in trying out some of our medicinal products, reach out to support@smdcosmetics.com.