The Secrets of Traditional Asian Beauty

We take a look at ancient natural beauty remedies that Asian women have been using for centuries.

AsianScientist (Jun. 12, 2015) – Did you know that many beauty products have their basis in science? We take a look at ancient natural beauty remedies that Asian women have been using for centuries.

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#1 SKIN WHITENING

Although Chinese notions of beauty have changed over its long history, one thing that has stayed constant is the desire for fair skin. Today, skin whitening products represent a multi-million dollar growth industry not only in China but all across Asia.

In 2011, Taiwanese scientists found that compounds isolated from an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine could also be used to lighten skin. They showed that linderanolide B and subamolide A from the Cinnamomum subavenium plant could inhibit the production of melanin, the dark pigment that gives skin its color.

When they tested the compounds on zebrafish embryos, which normally contain a highly visible band of black pigment, they found that exposure to a low dose of the compounds was sufficient to turn the embryos white.


Photo: Shutterstock.
Photo: Shutterstock.

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Cover photo: Shutterstock.

Rebecca did her PhD at the National University of Singapore where she studied how macrophages integrate multiple signals from the toll-like receptor system. She was formerly the editor-in-chief of Asian Scientist Magazine.

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