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Black is the new green – black superfoods that do your skin justice

Green. What was once just a color now represents a whole lifestyle movement. As many people are now on the prowl for the next best vegan restaurant and cold pressed juice, the cosmetic industry is also moving to borrow from the power of nature.

If we think about it, there had to be an answer to the skin care concerns of our ancestors who didn’t have any access to the mostly chemically-processed cosmetics that have taken over the market today.

Our answer comes in the form of another color: black.

Black is the new green when it comes to superfoods, and the same goes for the nutritional impact it has in our skincare. Asian skincare especially takes interest in exploring the power of ingredients found in nature so much so that the saying  “먹지마세요. 피부에 양보하세요.” (directly translated to “Don’t eat it, give it to your skin.”) is common in South Korea.

Give your skin something sweet with black sugar

We all have a love-hate relationship with sugar. It’s addicting sweetness is a source of so much pleasure while we’re eating it, but once we look back at the damage that’s been done, there’s no denying that we face the possibility of toothaches and a queasy stomach.

On the flip side, sugar is a a great player to have in your skincare team. But, we’re not taking about any sugar, we’re talking about raw, black sugar.

The reason it  gets its dark color is because of the higher content of molasses it carries – this makes it softer and increases it’s properties as a natural humectant (which is a fancy way of saying it retains moisture).

Here’s a comparison using cookies to make it easier to understand: some bakeries state brown sugar as their secret to moist cookies, and is actually comparable to cookies make with white sugar.

So, enough about cookies, how is sugar actually good for your skin? On top of retaining the moisture on your skin, sugar is also a natural source of glycolic acid, a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). This is why black sugar scrubs like the Klairs Gentle Black Sugar Scrub is a perfect way to penetrate deep into the skin to encourage cell turnover and help achieve rejuvenated, younger-looking skin. It smooths the texture of the skin, and add this on top of the fact that the natural, crystalline structure of black sugar is a physical exfoliant and you have the perfect recipe for glowing skin.

 Spice up your skincare with black sesame oil

Chances are, if you’re familiar with K-beauty, you’ll also know that a popular flavoring ingredient is sesame oil. While it’s delicious, black sesame oil has also been used for years as a skincare treatment.

Also dubbed, the “Queen of Oils”, black sesame oil has also been used as a healing oil in India and also by physicians in Holland as a part of the treatment of several chronic disease processes, including hepatitis, diabetes and migraines.

In short, sesame oil is great for the following:

  • is a potent antioxidant
  • moisturizing
  • repairs damaged skin cells
  • prevents bacterial infections

When massaged into the skin, it works to slows down aging and decreases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, with the help of the natural antioxidant, sesamol. Not to mention, it helps to keep skin supple and hydrated as it is an oil. But this is where the most surprising benefit black sesame oil carries for your skin.

Massaging sesame oil into the skin allows it to effectively repair damaged cells and improve blood circulation. Adding this ingredient to your daily routine, with products like the Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil, strengthens the body tissues and helps to improve the appearance of skin over time.

Exposing your face to all these new ingredients might be a source of concern for those with sensitive and/or acne-prone skin, but no worries as sesame oil is also effective in treating inflamed and wounded areas like pimples and acne.

new green
cr: imagetoday

The underdogs of skincare: black bean and currant

The western view on black beans will limit the bean strictly to dietary purposes – a common side dish to meals we have throughout the day. However, similar to black sesame, black bean oil works wonders for our skin.

Naturally rich in antioxidants, black bean oil also helps brighten up and freshen the complexion and aids in the production of red blood cells.

Quick tidbit: black beans are dubbed the beauty bean in some Asian countries.

Now while black sesame and black bean provided some savory benefits to the skin, let’s not forget some of the sweet benefits black currant can give our skin.

Chock full of antioxidants as most berries are, black currant is also a superstar for a healthy body and healthy skin. The oil produced from black currants are a great source of nourishment to dry and damaged skin and helps to get it soft moisturized, for a more youthful glow. It also has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-oxidative properties which helps the skin healing eczema, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and a number of other skin disorders.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LURh7KtlU24

While the latest technologies and the flashy formulas are eye-catching, good skincare is something we can rely on for years and years, just as our ancestors did.

Beauty shines from a happy, healthy person, and the same goes for the things we put into and on our bodies. For some great recommendations on plant-based skincare, take a look at the full selection of Klairs skincare on Wishtrend.com