Curious about bamboo skincare? Me too.
When you say bamboo, I think of cute pandas lazily munching on their leaves up in the Chinese mountains. So cute!
But bamboo isn’t just food for pandas. If you’re into Korean skincare, you’ve probably noticed bamboo has found its way into your skincare stash, too.
Bamboo water has pretty much replaced boring old water in Korea. Bamboo extract is everywhere. Every part of the plant is used (the Korean don’t waste anything).
But what made bamboo so popular all of a sudden? Is this just a temporary fad or is there a good reason to look for bamboo in your lotions and potions?
Let’s see what science says about bamboo skincare and its benefits:
What Is Bamboo?
Bamboos are a group of woody plants that belong to the grass family Poaceae. They’re technically grasses, but they’re so big and large, they look more like trees.
Fun fact: bamboo are the fastest growing woody plants in the world. In the right environment, they can grow 1 metre in just 24 hours! How cool is that?
Like most plants, bamboos are a rich source of antioxidants. They’re also high in silica, a mineral that helps reduce excess oil. It’s what gets bamboo extract into so many acne products.
Bamboo Skincare Benefits: What Does It Do For Skin?
Turns out, bamboo is quite the skincare multitasker. Bamboo skincare benefits skin in several different ways. Let’s take a closer look at each of them:
1. Bamboo Has Antioxidant Properties
Hardly a surprise there. Pretty much any plant has antioxidant properties, so why should bamboo be the odd one out?
When you put bamboo on the skin, it goes to find and fight the free radicals that cause premature wrinkles. Problem is, it doesn’t do this all that well.
Yes, bamboo has antioxidant properties, but they’re weak. It doesn’t even compare to green tea in this department.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying bamboo is a crappy antioxidant and you shouldn’t use it. I’m just saying don’t use it alone. When it comes to antioxidants, the more the merrier.
Related: The Best Antioxidants Used In Skincare Products
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that minimises wrinkles, prevents premature aging, and gives your complexion a youthful glow? Download your FREE “Best Anti-Aging Skincare Routine” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):
2. Bamboo Has Skin-Healing Properties
If you cut your skin and put bamboo on it, it’ll heal faster.
The Chinese have known this for centuries (they’ve always used it to make infections heal faster), but now science has confirmed it too.
It works thanks to methanol, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory properties that works just as well as standard drugs.
Who said that natural medicine is all bogus?
3. Other Bamboo Benefits
While I was doing my research, I stumbled on this 2011 study on bamboo extract in skincare. Apparently, bamboo is quite the multitasker:
- It has excellent moisturing properties: It makes skin softer and smoother and helps it better withstand environmental attacks. The more moisturised your skin is, the better it looks and behaves.
- It has some good sun-screening abilities: Bamboo extract is good enough to enhance your sunscreen, not good enough to replace it! All antioxidants do this, by the way. Even the best sunscreens let between 1% and 5% of UV rays through. Antioxidants neutralise them, enhancing sun protection.
- It can reduce melanin production: This helps to brighten the complexion and fade away dark spots faster.
Impressive, isn’t it?
There’s a catch: there must be enough bamboo extract in the cream or serum to get the job done. Just a sprinkle won’t do. Sadly, a lot of products only contain a sprinkle of it. Enough to moisturise skin and fight the odd free radical. Not enough to fade away dark spots.
Bamboo extract is so popular in Korean skincare partly for its ability to treat acne. But is this true? Can it really do this?
A 2022 study put this claim to the test. Sort of. Scientists recruited a group of 60 women aged 19-23 with mild and moderate facial acne and divided them into two groups. Group A underwent procedure “using ultrasound and ultrasound gel combined with a green tea, bamboo extract ampule, and 5% lactic acid.” Group B was the placebo group. Each group had 5 procedures at one-week intervals.
The results? “The study results demonstrated that the combined use of plant preparations, lactic acid, and ultrasound had a positive effect on the skin of people suffering from acne vulgaris, including reduction of skin eruptions and sebum levels on the surface of the skin.”
Here’s the catch: as bamboo wasn’t tested alone, we don’t know how well it works on its own. Did people see results from lactic acid? From ultrasound? From bamboo? From all of these things together? Could you remove one of them and get the same results? These questions are still unanswered…
Bamboo Skincare Side Effects
Bamboo extract is generally considered to be gentle and safe even for sensitive skin. But do a patch test first – just to be on the safe side.
How To Use Bamboo Skincare
It really depends on the product. Are you using a moisturiser, a serum, a face mask? Just follow the instructions on the packaging for best results.
Who Should Use Bamboo Skincare?
Anyone can use bamboo skincare. Bamboo has some anti-aging, anti-acne, and skin-lightening properties. But none is so remarkable, you absolutely need to. If a product contains bamboo, enjoy its benefits. But don’t go out of your way to include bamboo in your skincare routine just yet. Know what I’m saying?
What Are The Best Skincare Products With Bamboo?
- Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Anti Wrinkle Serum ($32.00): This oil-based formula uses hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate skin and antioxidants, including an extract from bamboo shoots, to prevent wrinkles. Available at Soko Glam, Stylevana, Superdrug, and Yes Style
- Dr Oracle A-Thera Cream ($37.30): A lightweight hydrating cream for acne-prone skin. It has a big dollop of bamboo extract to help absorb excess oil. Available at iHerb, Soko Glam and Yes Style
- Eminence Bamboo Firming Fluid ($69.00): An oil-based serum loaded with antioxidants to prevent wrinkles. Available at Dermstore
The Bottom Line
So, there you have it. There are plenty of good reasons why Korean skincare is obsessed with bamboo. It hydrates skin, fights wrinkles and even speeds up healing. But it’s not remarkable at any of them.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
