Turmeric, and Why Freshness Matters

Turmeric needs little introduction in an Indian home. The golden rhizome has been part of cooking, ceremony and skincare for centuries, from haldi ceremonies before weddings to grandmothers' face packs.

What makes turmeric interesting

Much of turmeric's reputation rests on curcumin and related compounds called curcuminoids. They have been widely studied for their antioxidant properties and for their role in calming the look of redness. Turmeric is also traditionally associated with brightness and clarity of skin.

The problem: freshness

Curcumin is fragile. It is sensitive to light, air and changes in pH, and it degrades over time once exposed. Anyone who has left a turmeric paste out knows how quickly it changes. In a bottle of cleanser that is opened and closed every day for weeks, that fragility matters.

Why we encapsulate it

In our Hydrating Face Cleanser, turmeric is held inside small encapsulated beads. The beads protect it inside the bottle and break open only as you work the cleanser between your palms. The idea is simple: the turmeric should be at its freshest at the moment it meets your skin, rather than slowly degrading in the bottle.

Encapsulation also helps with something every turmeric user knows: its tendency to stain.

The most active part of an ingredient should be fresh when it meets your skin.

What we do not claim

Turmeric is not a cure for acne or any other condition, and we will not describe it as one. It is a well-loved botanical, delivered thoughtfully, within a cleanser designed to cleanse without stripping the skin.

Within the Endo Neutral framework

The cleanser, like every Himalyan Naturals product, is developed using the Endo Neutral framework. It is free from sulphates, parabens and silicones, and where the formulation needs a function, that function is met with ingredients chosen with hormone safety in mind. Alongside turmeric sit hibiscus and kaffir lime extracts, with coconut and aloe vera to keep skin comfortable after washing.