Ashwagandha can have plenty of benefits when it comes to health and even skincare — and it is rising in popularity as a skincare ingredient. But what exactly is ashwagandha, and what benefits does it have?
For people interested in pursuing the skin health benefits of ashwagandha, consider this your guide to the clean beauty favorite.
What Is Ashwagandha?
Withania somnifera, most commonly known as ashwagandha, is an evergreen shrub native to India, the Middle East, and northern parts of Africa. Characterized by its yellow-green leaves and red bulbs, the plant is sometimes called the “Indian Winter Cherry” or “Indian Ginseng.”
Ashwagandha is one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda, a system of traditional medicine that draws on the power of nature for healing. Ayurveda is named for the Sanskrit words Ayur (meaning “life”) and Veda (meaning “science” or “knowledge”), which together make Ayurveda the “knowledge of life.”
Much like Ashwagandha, Ayurvedic medicine is native to India.
While Ayurveda has thousands of years of history and lessons that influence its modern teachings, one of its oldest and most valued practices includes Rasayana. In Sanskrit, the word means “the path of the essence,” and as a medical term, it refers to techniques for increasing life both in length and quality. Some might consider Rasayana the Sanskrit equivalent of rejuvenation, though the Western comparison is a loose one at best.
How Can I Use Ashwagandha for Skin Health?
There are many ways to incorporate ashwagandha supplements into your life. To reap the greatest skin benefits, look for skincare products that incorporate ashwagandha extract into their ingredients for targeted support.
Our Nightly Renewal Cream harnesses the adaptogenic powers of ashwagandha to gently support your skin’s equilibrium. Working in tandem with your body’s natural circadian rhythm, this luxury cream repairs and regenerates your skin without harsh synthetic chemicals or parabens. It is also clinically tested to improve skin hydration, which is an added bonus.
For twice the hydration, try our Daily Renewal Cream and make your moisturization a set.
Can Ashwagandha Benefit All Skin Types?
Ashwagandha is not exclusive in its adaptogenic properties: no matter your skin type or tone, ashwagandha benefits are as many as they are mighty.
- For Dry Skin: Ashwagandha is a great choice in supplement for people with dry skin, as it is known to help provide hydration. Skin in need of more natural lubrication may see significant improvements from this hydrating Ayurvedic herb.
- For Oily Skin: People who experience overly oily skin and chronic stress might find the effects of ashwagandha to solve two problems at once. In lowering cortisol levels when taken orally, ashwagandha may help naturally manage oil secretion in your skin, supporting a healthy skin barrier that protects from outside irritants without causing buildup. With lowered stress and clearer skin, who could ask for more?
What Are Some Other Benefits of Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is a beautiful bush, but its value is far greater than its potential for table decoration. Clinical studies have shown that ashwagandha root extracts and powders pulled from the potent plant have the power to support health across your body when compared to placebo groups. From soothing your skin to supporting your immune system, ashwagandha, when taken orally, holds many benefits
Hormonal Support
If you’ve lived one day as a woman, you’ve probably experienced the unwanted effects of hormone imbalances. With various cycles in process at once, it is easy for the body to fall out of balance. But getting things back on track is easier than ever.
Ashwagandha supplements are great regulators. Especially when it comes to your menstrual cycle, this plant works wonders for managing all the different thyroid hormones your body secretes every month while also supporting healthy testosterone levels — which are key for cognitive function and nervous system health.
Hormone imbalances such as high testosterone are known to cause breakouts and oily skin in women. Because ashwagandha is so good at promoting balanced hormones, it can also help with some hormone-related skin issues.
When your hormones are happy and balanced, your skin is likely to be happy and balanced, too.
Tension Relief
Known for its naturally calming effects when taken orally, ashwagandha supplements may naturally help relieve tension throughout your body. This Ayurvedic herb can help support a healthy stress response, which in turn can benefit your skin. Times of stress can manifest in the form of surprise blemishes and imperfections, and ashwagandha may help you ward off these woes by supporting your body through stress.
Support for Sleep Quality
But the health benefits of ashwagandha supplements don’t stop there. If you experience drowsiness throughout the day but can’t seem to seize sleep at night, ashwagandha might be the next best supplement for you.
Lack of sleep can be caused by many conditions and situations, but it in turn can have some less-than-desirable effects on your skin. In particular, lack of sleep can lead to oily, breakout-prone skin, under eye bags, and puffiness.
With natural sleep-inducing potential, ashwagandha can lead to significant improvements in your quality of sleep when taken regularly and can help your skin by default. So give the plant a try and add ashwagandha powder to your afternoon smoothie.
Supports Skin Health
Perhaps a favorite ashwagandha benefit, the root is a natural antioxidant, meaning it holds great power to support your skin. With health benefits you can feel, ashwagandha's antioxidant properties promote clear, healthy, and hydrated skin in people of all ages. Powered by nature itself, this anti-inflammatory supplement can reduce surface impurities and make your skin glow.
Adaptogenic Properties
More than just an antioxidant or aphrodisiac, ashwagandha is also a powerful adaptogen. And while the plant may be praised for its other numerous health benefits, the ashwagandha root is best known for its adaptogenic properties.
What Does Adaptogenic Mean?
Adaptogens are herbal remedies designed to support your body during hormone imbalances and can relieve feelings of stress. They can take a number of different oral delivery methods, such as capsules, liquid tinctures, and powders.
Like many other Ayurvedic plants, ashwagandha is a type of adaptogen. Known for its calming properties, ashwagandha supplements target stress hormones in the body and work to lower cortisol levels. For many, this can drastically reduce how much stress you experience on a daily basis.
Why Are Adaptogens Important for Skin?
Reducing stress is important for more than just promoting better mental health. High cortisol levels can sabotage the rest of your endocrine system, which may prompt your skin to release more oil. If cortisol levels remain high for too long, this excess oil can build up on your skin and cause many unwanted side effects, including breakouts. You may also notice puffiness and lack of color in your skin since stress can lead to fluid retention and digestive issues.
To maintain clear, healthy skin, it’s essential to manage chronic stress. Oral adaptogens like ashwagandha are a great way to support healthy cortisol levels.
The Bottom Line
Ashwagandha is a powerful plant known to support skin health and appearance. As an adaptogen, it also offers many healthcare benefits, including hormone maintenance and nervous system support. Clean beauty lovers should take a hint from Ayurvedic medicine and supplement their routines with ashwagandha products.
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