Move over kale, there’s a new breed of leafy-green superfoods in town packing some pretty promising beauty benefits.
Matcha
First off, matcha, the ground up powder formulated from green tea leaves. With over 100 times more antioxidant properties than your average cup of green tea, matcha delivers an abundance of internal benefits, from a boosted metabolism to increased immunity, but can your skin drink up the benefits too? Matcha powder is naturally detoxifying and anti-inflammatory, which means when utilised in skincare, it’s great for reducing redness, irritation and even helping calm conditions like acne and rosacea. It’s also been found to stimulate elastin production and protect against free radicals that cause premature ageing.
Matcha-infused products: The Body Shop Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask
Hemp Seed
It might seem like an unlikely ingredient in your moisturiser but there’s actually real merit in topical application. Lo and behold ‘cannabis beauty’, not to be mistaken for the illegal variety, is fast-becoming the next frontier in skincare. Last year, Food Standards Australia New Zealand authorised the sale of hemp seeds for consumption, making it all the more accessible in the pantry and our beauty cabinet. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins and amino acids, industrial hemp seed oil is renowned for its hydrating and antibacterial properties. It’s ideal for very dry and irritated skin, particularly those that have been exposed to extreme weather conditions or central heating. Expect to see more of this wonder leaf cropping up in the coming months!
Hemp-infused products: Dr Bronner’s Rose Bar Soap (contains organic hemp oil); Skin Republic Detox Charcoal +10 Superfood Formula Face Sheet Mask (contains hemp seed oil); The Body Shop Hemp Rescue Balm
Turmeric
Not of the green variety, but another superfood brimming with beauty benefits is turmeric. Typically used to add some spice to your dinner, it turns out this bright yellow herb can also pack a punch in your skincare routine. Again, known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it has been used historically to treat skin imperfections and improve skin luminosity.
Turmeric-infused products: Clarins Daily Energizer Cream-Gel; Goodness Superfood Skincare Clear-the-Way Multi-Masking Kit; CLINIQUE Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20
