When you say bamboo, I think of cute pandas lazily munching on their leaves up in the Chinese mountains. So cute!
But bamboo isn’t just food for pandas. If you’re into Korean skincare, you’ve probably noticed bamboo has found its way into your skincare stash, too.
Bamboo water has pretty much replaced boring old water in Korea. Bamboo extract is everywhere. Every part of the plant is used (the Korean don’t waste anything).
But what made bamboo so popular all of a sudden? Is this just a temporary fad or is there a good reason to look for bamboo in your lotions and potions?
Let’s see what the science says:
Bamboo Benefits For Skin: What Does It Do?
Turns out, bamboo is quite the skincare multitasker:
Bamboo Has Antioxidant Properties
Hardly a surprise there. Pretty much any plant has antioxidant properties, so why should bamboo be the odd one out?
When you put bamboo on the skin, it goes to find and fight the free radicals that cause premature wrinkles.
Problem is, it doesn’t do this all that well.
Yes, bamboo has antioxidant properties, but they’re weak. It doesn’t even compare to green tea in this department.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying bamboo is a crappy antioxidant and you shouldn’t use it. I’m just saying don’t use it alone. When it comes to antioxidants, the more the merrier.
Related: The Best Antioxidants Used In Skincare Products
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that minimises wrinkles, prevents premature aging, and gives your complexion a youthful glow? Download your FREE “Best Anti-Aging Skincare Routine” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):
Bamboo Has Skin-Healing Properties
If you cut your skin and put bamboo on it, it’ll heal faster.
The Chinese have known this for centuries (they’ve always used it to make infections heal faster), but now science has confirmed it too.
It works thanks to methanol, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory properties that works just as well as standard drugs.
Who said that natural medicine is all bogus?
Bamboo Has Moisturising, Sun-Protective, And Skin-Lightening Properties
While I was doing my research, I stumbled on this 2011 study on bamboo extract in skincare. Apparently, bamboo is quite the multitasker:
- It has excellent moisturing properties
- It has some good sun screening abilities (good enough to enhance your sunscreen, not good enough to replace it!)
- It can reduce melanin production, helping dark spots fade away.
Impressive, isn’t it?
Of course, there must be enough bamboo extract in the cream (or whatever) to get the job done. Just a sprinkle won’t do.
What Are The Best Skincare Products With Bamboo?
- Dr Oracle A-Thera Sunblock SPF 50 ($30.00): available at Soko Glam and Yes Style
- Eminence Bamboo Firming Fluid ($58.00): available at Dermstore
The Bottom Line
So, there you have it. There are plenty of good reasons why Korean skincare is obsessed with bamboo. It hydrates skin, fights wrinkles and even speeds up healing.
Cool! So I’m assuming that it’ll help your popped pimples and just acne in general heal faster! And since inflammation is a main source of aging,it reduces that! So would it help my mom with her mild rosacea?
For a second I thought that this was a post about bamboo vinegar. I believe that it’s the Japanese that put it on their skin,if I remember correctly. Despite the word “vinegar” , I have heard it’s supposed to be gentle. I haven’t really looked into it,though.
Speaking about Korean skincare, have you heard about the rice water in skincare trend?
Hannah, I haven’t found any specific studies about bamboo for rosacea, but its anti-inflammatory properties could help her indeed. I think it’s worth a try.
I hadn’t heard of bamboo vinegar. That’s intriguing. Will do some research and let you know what I found out.
Yeah, rice water is very popular. I don’t thunk it’s the miracle worker they say it is, but it can be hydrating and soothing,
im doing a literature research on bamboo extract. is it really bamboo has antimicrobial effect for acne.skin lightening and anti-aging. i havent found much article abt bamboo extract on both antimicrobe and skin lightening.can you help me?
Syera, if you click on the links in this article, they will take you to scientific studies that back up the claims made in it. Hope this helps. 🙂