Connoisseurs may know the ingredient under the name “chebulic myrobalan”, the fruit of the “Terminalia chebula”, or “Haritaki”. In the United States, where it is beginning to make a name for itself in the cosmetic sector, you will find it more simply under the name “chebula” in creams, serums, and other facial treatments.
Known for thousands of years, chebula is considered a miracle ingredient in some countries and regions, including India and Tibet, owing to its countless benefits. Anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, regenerating, it is even reputed to help relieve digestive disorders, and has been claimed to help improve memory and liver health.
It could easily be described as a multifunctional ingredient, and is something of an understatement to say it is also beneficial for the skin.
Indeed, in Ayurvedic practices, its anti-inflammatory virtues are equally beneficial for the body and for resolving potential skin issues that just about everyone may encounter at different stages of life. But that’s not all: rich in antioxidants, the fruit of the chebula also constitutes a great ally in the fight against ageing of the skin.
These benefits elevate the ingredient to being serious competition for vitamin C, which is also known for its antioxidant power and which, as a result, has become a go-to in skincare routines in recent years.
But chebula has more than one trick up its sleeve: beyond its contribution to smoothing and firming skin and making it more elastic, it helps provide deep nourishment of this layer – even more so when paired with other moisturising ingredients – and can help protect skin against external aggressions.
These make it a highly coveted plant in the skincare realm, and which are set to make it a must-have for beauty fans in 2023.
In fact, chebula is starting to appear in many beauty players’ trend predictions for the coming year. According to the latest report from cosmetics platform Beauty Pie, it is making its way into the top 10 skincare trends of 2023, with a dramatic 922% increase in search volume on Google over the course of a year.
The beauty specialist even expects a boom of some cosmetics based on the miracle ingredient within a few months, including creams and serums.