Bamboo is one of the most versatile plants in the world. It has been used for thousands of years, both as a building material, food and medicine. In many ways, bamboo reminds us of Asia, and you often see bamboo in Korean cosmetics as well. What are the benefits of bamboo in skincare and for whom is bamboo a good ingredient?
Brief science of bamboo
- Belongs to the family of grasses, Poaceae
- Consists mostly of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin
- One of the most important renewable building materials obtained from nature
- Different species approx. 1200-1600 (depending on the source)
- Growth areas: China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, India and Brazil, to name a few
- Bamboo contains a lot of phenolic compounds and flavonoids and therefore it is a very antioxidant rich plant
- The properties of bamboo, like other substances obtained from nature, depend on the variety, the part of the plant used and the extraction method
The benefits of bamboo in skincare
Bamboo is used in cosmetics due to its skin-soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its antioxidant and anti-aging properties. Bamboo has been studied to have significant antimicrobial properties, depending on which part of the bamboo is used. In addition, bamboo has also been found to have properties that affect melanin production, which may make it a potential ingredient for treating hyperpigmentation. Considering the wide availability of bamboo and its many different varieties, it has excellent benefits for skin and beauty care.
Bamboo is a suitable ingredient for everyone, (unless there's an allergy). Due to its many properties, it is suitable for both young and mature skin and is suitable for all skin types. Bamboo is an excellent choice, especially for skin that is irritated and in need of brightening.
Products that contain bamboo
Purito's cult product B5 Re-Barrier Cream replaced its familiar centella with bamboo, but as we found out above, bamboo has many of the same effects as centella in skin care. Purito's Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream contains bamboo from the abundant bamboo forest of Damyang, where there gorws hundreds of different bamboo varieties.
Bamboo is also used in many sheet masks, for example many of Mediheal's sheet masks are made of 100 % ecological bamboo cellulose.
Bamboo extract is also found in Some By Mi's Galactomyces Pure Vita C Glow Toner and their V10 Hyal Air Fit sunscreen.
Sources:
Medicinal Properties of Bamboo. 5 November 2018. Referred on 24.09.2024. https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/64288
Tanaka A, Zhu Q, Tan H, Horiba H, Ohnuki K, Mori Y, Yamauchi R, Ishikawa H, Iwamoto A, Kawahara H, et al. Biological Activities and Phytochemical Profiles of Extracts from Different Parts of Bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens). 2014; 19(6):8238-8260. Referred 24.9.2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules19068238
Wang J, Yue Y-D, Tang F, Sun J. TLC Screening for Antioxidant Activity of Extracts from Fifteen Bamboo Species and Identification of Antioxidant Flavone Glycosides from Leaves of Bambusa. textilis McClure. Molecules. 2012; 17(10):12297-12311. Referred 24.9.2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules171012297
