K-Beauty

Famous Korean Skincare Ingredients – Mugwort

Dull and irritated skin? Mugwort might just be the perfect one for you. This ingredient is present in a lot of essences, serums, and creams. Promised to deliver not just hydration but also soothing and calming benefits. This plant is a member of the daisy family scientifically known as Artemesia vulgaris which is a native to Asia and Europe.

Mugwort or Artemesia vulgaris (Photo from Pexels)

Medicinal value

Mugwort is used to treat stomach and intestinal problems such as: colic, gas, diarrhea, and constipation. It is also used to ease headaches, nosebleeds, chills, fever, nerve problems, and insomnia (Rebecca Morris, 2016).

Actives

This ingredient is rich in antioxidative compounds which help or skin fight off free radicals caused by the sun’s UV rays. Moreover, mugwort also possess antimicrobial properties that help prevent bacterial growth on the skin which may lead to skin problems like acne. These antimicrobial properties allow wound healing in our skin to progress faster since the spread of bacteria is inhibited helping new skin cells to regenerate.

Mugwort primarily regulates the activation of immune cells in inflamed tissues. Treatment with mugwort extracts lessens the production levels of specific pro-inflammatory cytokines which is responsible for activating skin cell growth, thus making the inflammation under control. That is why this ingredient is sought for with people who wants to tone down that redness and irritation because of its soothing and calming properties.

Mugwort leaves (Photo from Shutterstock)

Personal Experience

The only mugwort product I have tried is the Mugwort Cream from I’m From. This particular product has a buttery gel-cream type of consistency. Because of the high concentration of mugwort in its formulation – 73.55%, it does have a strong “herby” scent. However it did not bother me since it adds to the healthy luxurious feel of applying the cream. It feels refreshing and hydrating when applied but without the stickiness and tackiness. Overtime, I have observed that it has helped calm my skin and restore its moisture specially on days that I lacked sleep and my skin would normally be dry and stressed.