Your Guide to Adaptogens & Skincare

Known for their powerful and efficacious properties, adaptogenic herbs have long been used in traditional medicine. Found in teas, tinctures and supplements, adaptogens are used in many areas of wellness. Beyond the benefits of using them in foods and aromatherapy, adaptogens can also provide significant benefits for your skin.

What are Adaptogens?

Adaptogenic herbs and plants like Schisandra Berry, Holy Basil and Red Ginseng are traditionally used to fight stress and fatigue. While the term “adaptogen” was officially coined as recently as 1947, these roots and herbs have been used in traditional medicine practices in various cultures around the world for centuries.

How Do Adaptogens Help with Stress?

Adaptogens come into play by helping the body “adapt” or adjust to what it needs to help protect against these stressors. When the body is unchallenged by stress, adaptogens are largely inactive, but when it is triggered by stress, adaptogens work to neutralize the stressor and help return the body to balance.

How Does Stress Affect Your Skin?

Every day, skin comes into contact with stressors—both internally and externally. Everything from running late to work to coming into contact with pollution during your commute to lack of sleep can have an impact on your skin. Especially if you live in a high-stress, urban environment, your skin will be exposed to a wide range of stressors. Some common stressors that can affect your skin and even contribute to early signs of aging include:

Sun radiation
Tobacco smoke
Extreme hot or cold temperatures
Pollution
Psychological stress
Fatigue
Poor nutrition

What are the Benefits of Adaptogens for Your Skin?

When the body becomes stressed it releases cortisol, a stress molecule, and triggers signals that can lead to inflammation. Skin has its own cortisol release system which can leave it vulnerable to free radical damage and contribute to the breakdown of collagen and elastin which can cause lines, wrinkles and lack of firmness. Adaptogens help to neutralize free radicals which alleviates stress on skin, helping to defend against early signs of aging.

Why Should You Use Adaptogens in Skincare?

In the same way that sunscreen is an essential step in helping to defend skin from UV damage, using adaptogens in skincare help defend from free radical damage and internal and external stressors. When skin becomes inflamed and collagen and elastin break down due to stressors, skin can develop a compromised skin barrier, loss of resilience, dull skin, uneven skin tone and changes in oil production which may result in either excess oil or dry skin. Using topical adaptogens in your skincare routine helps maintain skin’s balance and can help counteract early signs of aging.

Kiehl’s & Adaptogens

In traditional medicine, adaptogens are often prescribed in combination with one another. Rather than being treated with one herb at a time, these combinations of two to four herbs are meant to take a holistic approach to ailments rather than treating a single condition. Certain combinations of adaptogenic herbs are thought to amplify one another’s efficacy when they are used together. Inspired by this synergistic power, Kiehl’s infused three adaptogens in the propriety Adaptogenic Herbal Complex in our Vital Skin-Strengthening Super Serum.

Schisandra Berry
Traditionally used in Chinese medicine, Schisandra Berry has been used in teas and tonics designed to help resist stress and boost energy and endurance. Our formula with Schisandra Berry is known to help improve skin’s elasticity and firmness.

Holy Basil
Holy Basil, or Tulsi, is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine and is commonly taken as a tonic intended to help improve overall health and well-being while managing stress and anxiety. Known to have soothing properties, it has also traditionally been used for skin conditions. Our formula with Holy Basil is known to provide antioxidant protection to help alleviate skin stress.

Red Ginseng
Historically used in Korean culture and medicine, this adaptogen is derived from the root of the ginseng plant and undergoes an extensive steaming and drying process to create Red Ginseng. Traditionally, Red Ginseng has been known to help promote longevity and restore balance. Our formula with Red Ginseng is known to help boost radiance and improve skin’s elasticity.

Vital Skin-Strengthening Super Serum

Our skin-strengthening serum is infused with our proprietary Adaptogenic Herbal Complex of Schisandra Berry, Holy Basil and Red Ginseng. This powerful serum is also formulated with 11kDa Hyaluronic Acid our smallest form of Hyaluronic Acid, and deeply penetrates skin’s surface layers* while helping to hydrate and fortify skin. Together in our formula, these ingredients help strengthen skin’s barrier, making it better able to resist aggressors, while also helping defend skin from free radical damage and skin-aging stressors. Beyond defending against early signs of aging, our efficacious formula also helps visibly correct signs of aging including fine lines, and dull skin.

*Stratum corneum layers.

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