We have a long history of skincare ingredients, and Haritaki is one of them. This superfruit has been used for thousands of years and has quickly become one of Procoal’s all-time favorites. We wanted to tell you why we fell in love with this powerful ingredient and the benefits it can bring to some of your favorite skincare products.
What is Haritaki?
Haritaki is a fruit that has a lot of benefits, from hair to skin to health. Native to South Asia, Haritaki is used in all areas of daily life, from nutritional supplements to skin care to cooking. Haritaki is used in parts of India, China, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. The cultivation process for this hero ingredient is slow and manageable, as the seeds are sown in the spring in areas with abundant clay and sandy soils. Once the trees start growing, they cannot tolerate cold temperatures below 16°C, making the entire process tedious and requiring full commitment.
It’s called the “King of Medicine” for good reason, as it can help:
Helps prevent skin allergy flare-ups
Can reduce and eliminate acne and ulcers
Prevents hair loss and dandruff
May help relieve constipation
Helps relieve coughs and colds
Prevents diabetes
Helps improve the overall condition of the heart
May help boost immunity
Many also believe that Haritaki has a ton of spiritual benefits and helps with the awakening of the third eye, which means it’s often used in spiritual practices and medicines.
Haritaki comes in 7 varieties, ranging from green to black, and they vary in appearance and can taste sweet, sour, or bitter, depending on which variety you buy. The varieties of Haritaki are: Vijaya, Rohini, Putane, Amruta, Abhaya, Jivanti, and Chetak. All of these varieties have the same beneficial properties: antibacterial, antioxidant, and rich in vitamin C, essential minerals, and phytochemicals like tannins. You can see why this hero ingredient is becoming increasingly popular and making its way into more and more skincare product formulations, from cleansers to masks.
What are the benefits of Haritaki?
As you can see, we’ve already told you about the main benefits of haritaki, including those related to your overall health, but we’ll now focus primarily on the skincare benefits of this clever ingredient.
Benefits of Haritaki for Skin Allergies
In traditional medicine used for centuries in the Nepal region, Haritaki powder is made into a paste and applied topically to any area of the skin that has any form of allergies, from rashes to redness. With this traditional recipe in mind, you can find Haritaki powder in anti-pollution skincare products like the Procoal Night Mask. With its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, Haritaki fights any environmental aggressors your skin may be exposed to, such as exposure to harmful UV rays and other harmful free radicals, such as pollution, climate, and everyday dirt. Thanks to the benefits of this superfruit, the skin’s natural protective barrier is restored and skin damage is visibly reduced. For more information on the Night Mask and its skin benefits, visit the Beauty Insider Blog.
Benefits of Haritaki for Acne
The light green paste made from the above-mentioned Haritaki powder extract can also relieve acne and other skin blemishes. The antimicrobial action clears the skin of bacteria and dirt deposits that often enter the pores and clog them. Pimples and blackheads are common results, but there is also the risk of congestion and uneven skin structure, which unfortunately makes any form of rash more noticeable. Dark spots and acne scars are also significantly reduced and less noticeable due to Haritaki’s high vitamin C content.
Benefits of Haritaki for Hair
When Haritaki extract is mixed with coconut oil, an effective, rich herbal hair oil is created. When you apply it to the roots of your hair and massage it vigorously, you can expect to see a significant improvement in the health of your hair. Prevents dandruff, head lice infestations, and hair loss.
Benefits of Haritaki for Overall Skin Health
Haritaki contains many beneficial ingredients such as vitamin C, magnesium, iron, copper, and potassium. This ingredient can help with many skin and hair issues. It is able to naturally draw out all the toxins in your skin, leaving your entire complexion smoother, more even, softer, and more soothed.
How long does it take for Haritaki to work?
After 4-6 weeks, you will see noticeable changes in your skin. This depends on which skin care products you use that are enriched with this skin-repairing fruit. What I mean by this is that choosing products that stay on the skin longer will allow the effects to work and be absorbed into the skin. Products like serums, moisturizers, face oils, and nighttime masks allow ingredients to penetrate deeper, alleviating skin issues like acne or improving the overall appearance of the skin.
It’s also a good idea to combine these products with other products that contain ingredients that exfoliate the skin, such as AHAs and BHAs, because these products remove the top layer of dead skin cells, which creates a barrier skin for other products that can’t penetrate. By removing the cells, you allow the potent Haritaki to reach the areas of the skin where it can benefit quickly and effectively. For more information, see our blog post on the benefits of AHAs and BHAs for the skin.
Haritaki is a very effective ingredient to incorporate into your skincare routine. You’ll be truly amazed at the results you see. To make sure you’re using the product correctly and that it’s right for your skin type, you should do a 24-hour patch test on your arm. If there are no signs of irritation or redness, you’re good to go. However, if you still have questions, consult your doctor or dermatologist for further advice.
