Ginger is a great addition to most skin care routines thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It can be used as a toner, mask, scrub, and more.
Gingerdeserves its skin care street cred. This spicy root may help:
Here’s the dope deets, plus six super easy ginger skin care treatments you may DIY at home.
5 best ginger skin benefits
Here are five of the best benefits ofgingerfor skin.
1. Reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines
Free radicalsare a natural byproduct of your body’s normal metabolic process. They can also form from external factors like cig smoke, air pollutants, or industrial chemicals. These highly reactive and unstable molecules can lead to oxidative stress which can show up aswrinkles,hyperpigmentation, orfine lines.
Since ginger is a greatsourceof antioxidants —compoundsthat protect against oxidative stress — it may help reduce your risk of these common skin concerns.
2. Fade scars
Ginger’santioxidantcontent may also promote healthy blood flow throughout the body. Some suggest this can help scars blend back into the regular color of your skin. However, there’s limited evidence to prove this.
Additionally, some say ginger can pump up the volume on collagen production. Collagen fibers are what the body uses to knit itself back together, resulting in a scar. But again, most of the research is anecdotal and we def need more science to show if this is legit.
3. Keep your hair and scalp healthy
Ginger is widely thought to begreat for your hair. It’s been used in hair treatments for a long, long time. Reported benefits include:
Ginger’s antiseptic and antimicrobial properties are alsofab for your scalp. This root is particularly effective at treating dandruff. So, maybe consider a home remedy before you go splashing big dolla dolla bills on high end brands.
4. Make cellulite less noticeable
There’s no shame in thecellulitegame. After all, up to80 percent of womenexperience cellulite to some extent. But ifcelluliteisn’t your vibe, ginger might come in clutch.
Remedies containing ginger may help your body flush toxins and keep the blood pumping. This stops the buildup offat depositsbeneath your skin. However, we def need more research to prove these perks.
5. Improve acne symptoms
Ginger is packed with a phytochemical called gingerol which is full ofanti-inflammatorygoodness. That means it’s great for treating and preventing certain types ofacne.
But wait, there’s more! Ginger has also beenshownto help reduce the amount of excess oil (akasebum) your skin produces. Of course, ginger isn’t an acne cure-all. But since it tends to be gentle on mostskin types, it’s def worth a shot.
6 DIY recipes for ginger skin treatments
If you like, you can simply cut a thin slice of ginger from the root and apply it direct to your skin. Be careful to avoid your eyes (it’ll sting!) and leave it on for 15 minutes or so before rinsing. Alternatively, there are all kinds of gingerskin treatmentsyou can make at home in minutes.
We rounded up six easy DIY ginger skin treatments you can whip up at home.
1. Ginger toner
To make a DIYtoner, you’ll need:
2. Ginger face mask
If you want to make a ginger face mask at home, grab:
3. Ginger scrub
This is one scrub that even TLC would want. Making it calls for:
4. Ginger bath salts
A DIY ginger bath salt treatment isn’t simply kind to your skin, it also smells amazing! You’ll need:
5. Ginger massage oil
Ginger naturally warms the body when you apply it to your skin. So, it’s no surprise that it makes a magical massage oil. You’ll need:
PSA: Don’t get any on your private parts.
6. Ginger shampoo
Turbocharge your regularshampoowith a touch of ginger to pack in extra benefits for your scalp and hair. You’ll need:
Are there any side effects of using ginger on your skin?
Ginger allergies arerarebut not unheard of. Be sure to do a spot test before your rub it all over your skin to make sure you’re not allergic.
To do a patch test, simply rub a slice of ginger on the inside of your wrist. If you don’t experience any irritation after 24 hours, congrats! You should be good to go.
Not all of ginger’s reported health benefits have been backed by science. But it does have enough proven upsides to be a powerful tool in your skin care regimen. Considering how cheap it is, it could be a great idea to experiment with ginger home remedies and see if you’re able to get better results than with store-bought products.
