There's a whole library of great natural ingredients from Indonesia (and beyond) that can be added to your skin treatment to help you get rid of those signs of aging like acne, fine lines, and wrinkles in favor of that healthy natural glow. And the medically reviewed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and health benefits of Turmeric and turmeric powder have been hot in the news (finally!). But today, I want to focus on the related benefits of turmeric when combined in a special Indonesian mix, teaching you how to use turmeric to boost your own health and beauty - both inside and out! The beauty of Jamu, our natural herbal health tradition, is that we focus not on one ingredient like turmeric curcuma alone, but on how several different kinds of spice, including turmeric, can be blended together to have special benefits as a whole rather than if the parts were taken separately.
Turmeric: Turmeric powder and turmeric oil are used widely in Indian curries around the world and are a staple of Indonesian and Indian health tonics for their many benefits, as well as their iconic natural dark yellow hue. The golden spice of turmeric contains curcumin which has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. When turmeric is used to treat the skin, turmeric and curcumin can provide a number of benefits. Even just a teaspoon of the yellow spice and powder we call turmeric can provide relief from skin conditions like psoriasis, protect the skin from free radicals, treat acne-causing bacteria that can create dark marks on the skin, and sluff off dry skin and dead skin cells easily with any wash. When ingested, turmeric powder and curcumin powder can help to detoxify the liver and bloodstream since turmeric contains strong antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing powers. You can even use Turmeric root and curcumin to treat illnesses from cancer to Alzheimer's. The benefits and effects of turmeric and curcumin are also said to be improved when you mix them with the spice black pepper (or pineapple works too.) In Indonesia, turmeric powder and curcumin spice are some of the key ingredients used in board-certified health tonics, a natural topical skin turmeric healing paste, and hair and face spa treatments that purify the skin from acne and get rid of any excess oil in the hair or face to give you that natural and healthy glow.
Tamarind: Tamarind can be both eaten and used topically while delivering natural beneficial side effects such as relieving inflammation from acne, treating sun damage and psoriasis, and strengthening hair when used as a paste. When eaten, tamarind can help with digestive problems, lower cholesterol, and serve as a mild laxative. Even just a teaspoon of this yellow spice contains fiber, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C, among other benefits. It’s shaped like a giant pea pod with a hard shell and has a soft, sticky, chewy fruit inside with hard seeds. When applied to the skin, tamarind seeds have strong hydrating and antioxidant properties, while the fruit has antiseptic and astringent properties that can treat acne or be used in body milk. It tastes tangy and sweet, is commonly made into a candy, or used in soups and other savory dishes with milk that one can easily forget all its additional health benefits.
Drink turmeric!
Kunyit Asem: One of many popular daily health tonics and turmeric supplements (called Jamu) in Indonesia, Kunyit Asem is a solid, go-to beverage for women to improve overall their well-being and energy levels through the power of turmeric powder. Made of a combination of Turmeric, tamarind, flavored with sugar (or honey) with a pinch of salt, this turmeric delight should be drunk fresh. Pour this turmeric drink over ice, even combine the turmeric with milk and a little coconut oil, and it’s a refreshing, turmeric-filled afternoon. There are prepackaged versions of this healthy turmeric drink and mix that you can buy at the store. But some add the betel leaf, commonly included in Indonesian beauty products and beverages, in their own DIY concoctions of this turmeric drink to refresh the breath and improve overall body odor. I have also made some DIY turmeric drinks from scratch, read the article of Jamu I made in Bali on Well & Good NYC here.
Now add turmeric to your skin!
JUARA’s Turmeric and Tamarind Skin Boosting Duo. Use this turmeric and tamarind skin mix to supercharge your skin and fight acne. After you wash your skin and face, use the Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask twice a week. This turmeric face mask is similar to a paste and will deliver the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powers of turmeric to your skin to strengthen and detoxify skin cells from acne and other irritants; plus, for dull skin, turmeric can help refine your skin and complexion, giving your face a brightening glow. Just apply the paste to your skin and leave the turmeric on your face for 15 minutes. Then, watch your acne or any other dark marks disappear from your skin while reveling in the power of turmeric. This turmeric face mask uses a non-drying mud mask as its base that purifies the skin from acne, dark marks, dry skin, free radical damage, other skin conditions, and more. This turmeric mask, and turmeric in general, is a great skin recharger and beauty treatment – like hitting reset on your skin and face.
Follow up with the Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner (which should be used daily on your skin, even if not using the turmeric mask.) This cotton ball-free toner-serum is a skin-quenching step that takes just a few seconds after any face wash. Tamarind and hyaluronic acid work together to deeply hydrate skin while fighting acne and replenishing lost moisture to give skin an instantly soft and supple feel. The tea's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties help to reduce redness in the skin as the rice bran extract amplifies this toner's skin-calming benefits. Follow with your favorite skin moisturizer, (or we recommend the Kombucha infused Sweet Black Tea & Rice Moisturizer), and see the difference!
You can see the turmeric JUARA products here.
