Skin Care

Birch Sap Is the Korean Beauty Ingredient That Will Give You Glowy Skin

Birch sap is incredibly lightweight, wears well under makeup, has major moisture-boosting abilities, can be worn by all skin types and is set to become the next big K-beauty trend.

by Shammara Lawrence | COMMENT

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Sometimes the best substances that work wonders on skin come from unexpected places. Enter birch sap, otherwise known as birch juice and birch water. A common component of many Korean beauty products (and now in the West), it's derived from birch trees and "has an abundance of amino acids, enzymes, antioxidants and minerals that help your skin retain moisture and protect the skin barrier function," according to Charlotte Cho, founder of popular K-beauty site Soko Glam. It's also said to provide more hydration to skin than hyaluronic acid, which has long been lauded for its moisture-boosting abilities.

"Birch juice (betula platyphylla japonica juice) was one of the top trending K-beauty ingredients in the last two years because of its gentle yet effective hydrating properties. It continues to be a prominent addition to skin care products from Korea as it is often used to replace water in skin care formulations," Cho adds. Birch sap is incredibly lightweight, wears well under makeup and can be worn by all skin types — on a daily basis, too.

And beyond the world of skin care, it has a plethora of medicinal uses and has been used to treat lung, stomach and kidney problems. Pretty impressive, right? On the beauty front, we've compiled our favorite products — moisturizers, essences and more — with the skin-loving ingredient. Consider it your cheat sheet to a luminous complexion.

Image via Imaxtree

This article originally appeared on TheFashionSpot.com

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