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One of the break out (no pun intended) stars in the natural beauty movement is tamarind. Tamarind benefits for skin come from its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components that can tighten, clear, and smooth. Tamarind may also revive your skin by bringing out its natural glow.
Tamarind is a hardwood tree known scientifically as Tamarindus indica. It’s native to Africa but also grows in India, Pakistan, and many other tropical regions.
The tree produces bean-like pods filled with seeds surrounded by a fibrous pulp. This humble fruit can be used to tackle skin trouble, treat uneven skin tone, and reduce the signs of aging.
Acne is one of the most common skin conditions in the world, affecting an estimated 85% of people at some point in their lives. Tamarind benefits for skin in the form of high antioxidants levels help slow down cell damage and reduce breakouts (1).
Splotchy, dull, and lifeless are three words you probably hope never describe your skin. But when hormones, dry weather, or sun damage come knocking at your door, this less than stellar vocabulary may be far too accurate.
Tamarind is a great ingredient to be used in home-made face packs that can be used to cure a number of skin problems.
Tamarind Benefits For Skin
1. Anti-Aging Benefits
Tamarind has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and antioxidant effects, which can benefit the skin in many ways. Similar to using the herb Star Anise, these antioxidants protect the skin cells from free radical damage and can even slow down the signs of aging like dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Tamarind supplies the skin with precious Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a naturally occurring polysaccharide in the body. Often referred to as ‘The Fountain of Youth,’ HA is the substance that fills the gap between cells.
Combine Tamarind with a DIY seaweed wrap to create a natural lubricant that secures moisture and creates fullness, keeping skin soft, smooth, and plump.
2. Helps Skin Ailments
The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities of tamarind may help your psoriasis, eczema, and other skin conditions by controlling flares and other symptoms. The anti-inflammatory properties of tamarind work on your pores and calm the skin almost as well as using Neem soap daily.
Tamarind is a powerhouse of antioxidant substances. Packed with Vitamins C, A, E, B1, B3, and k. It is also rich in skin-friendly minerals such as iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, potassium, selenium, and zinc.
3. Contributes to a Natural Glow
Tamarind is rich in alpha hydroxy acids or AHAs, which are naturally-occurring acids present in certain fruits. Alpha hydroxy acids are excellent for skin health, mainly because it helps in sloughing off dead cells, revealing clear, bright skin underneath.
4. Prevents Stretch Marks
Stretch marks occur due to sudden weight gain or weight loss. There is no denying the fact that stretch marks can turn out to be quite annoying. The AHA in Tamarind benefits for skin can be used to prevent stretch marks.
It works on a cellular level and increases collagen production, making the skin more elastic.
5. Exfoliates Skin
When you’re exfoliating your skin, you’re effectively unclogging your pores. Traditionally, the acid from Tamarind pulp derived from the fruit of the Tamarind tree has been used for its exfoliating properties.
Exfoliating that dead and dry skin, along with all the other surface debris that might remain on your skin after cleansing, stops it from making its way into your pores and causing stubborn stoppages in the form of whiteheads and blackheads.
6. Reduces Dry Skin
We can’t stress enough the importance of moisturizing your skin every day. As we age, our skin’s natural ability to shed dead skin cells slows down. This can lead to more clogging, more blemishes, more dark spots, and uneven texture. These built-up dead cells can actually make it difficult for the skin to become hydrated or moisturized.
Tamarind benefits for skin remove dead skin cells and rejuvenate new ones, it can make your skin appear smoother and improve its texture. If you have dry or dehydrated skin, exfoliation is one of the best ways to treat your flakes without heavy, caked-on moisturizers.
Other Notable Tamarind Benefits For Skin
7. Lightens pigmentation
8. Heals Wounds
9. Reduces Acne Scarring
10. Keeps Skin Smooth, Firm, and Taut
11. Natural toner and astringent
12. Removes dark rings around the neck
13. Restores radiance
How To Use Tamarind Benefits For Skin
NOTE: Tamarind is acidic in nature and may not suit certain sensitive skin types. So avoid putting the concentrated tamarind pulp on your face if you can’t tolerate it. Always dilute and try a patch test on a small area first before you try tamarind benefits for skin on your entire face. If you feel a burning sensation, wash off immediately.
Tamarind Based Skin & Beauty Products
There are several products in the market that can help reduce your risk when using tamarind on your skin.
Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Tamarind ($23.98)
Non-drying, purifying facial cleanser—with gentle Tamarind Fruit Acids and purifying micro-pearls—water-activates into a silky foam that rinses away impurities, trapped make-up, excess oils and dead surface cells, promoting a clean, shine-free complexion.
Organic Extract of Tamarind Facial Serum ($6.99)
This brightening Serum is made with natural ingredients. It is formulated to fade brown spots, while working to even skin tone, improving clarity and radiance.
Asantee Tamarind and Goat Milk Brightening Soap ($8.97)
Tamarind, Goat Milk, Honey and various natural herbal extracts gently exfoliate excess skin with this soap. They stimulate circulation and invigorate to create a healthy glow.
DIY Tamarind Products For Skin
More into DIY’ing? Use the video below and these tamarind recipes to clear, brighten, and improve your skin tone. It is an affordable and easy-to-use ingredient to possess velvety smooth, youthful skin.
Tamarind As an exfoliating face scrub
You can use tamarind benefits for skin to remove impurities and deep-seated dirt from your skin as it is rich in AFA (alpha hydroxyl acids). The vitamin C and B in tamarind will remove dead skin cells effectively to unleash a cleaner, fresher, more radiant skin underneath.
- 1 tablespoon tamarind pulp (soak it in water, extract the pulp, and discard the skin and seeds)
- 1 teaspoon of sea salt
- 1 teaspoon milk cream
- Mix one spoonful each of tamarind pulp and sea salt.
- Add a spoonful of curd or milk cream to this paste. People with oily skin should opt for curd and those with dry skin should opt for milk cream.
- Scrub your face with this mixture, moving your fingertips in a circular motion.
Tamarind As A Face Wash
Tamarind and yogurt work together in this recipe to keep your skin hydrated, clean, and bacteria-free.
- 1 tablespoon tamarind pulp (soak it in water, extract the pulp, and discard the skin and seeds)
- 1 teaspoon yogurt
- 1 teaspoon rosewater
- Take a clean glass bowl and add all the ingredients. Mix them well.
- Apply the mask on your face and wait for at least 15-20 minutes.
- Wash it off.
As a Glow Mask
Do you have a date in the evening but no time for a facial or cleanup? Don’t sweat because all you need is 20 minutes and some tamarind for a “just-had-a-facial” clear skin.
- 1 tablespoon tamarind pulp (soak it in water, extract the pulp, and discard the skin and seeds)
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 2 teaspoon gram flour
- Add one spoonful each of tamarind pulp and honey to two spoonfuls of gram flour.
- Mix and apply all over the face.
- Let the face pack set for 20 minutes and wash with cold water thereafter.
Knowing how to use tamarind is a great asset to anyone who is after gorgeous skin.
The peel of the tamarind fruit is also used in the commercial production of leather, which tells you that it’s capable of treating tough dry skin.
Additionally, tamarind extract has antioxidant and astringent properties that help to ward off free radicals and protect the skin against damage caused by pollution.
Tamarind Skin Care History
The tamarind tree is widely cultivated, especially in the tropical regions of India, Southeast Asia and Africa. It has been used for its medicinal properties for centuries.
As an Ayurvedic tonic, it has been traditionally prescribed to promote digestion, increase appetite, treat diarrhea, and also as a mouthwash for oral hygiene purposes. In India, the bark, leaves, and roots are used as a poultice to relieve rheumatic pain, toothache, and aches from bruises. The juice is given in cases of sexual debility.
It has also been used as a skincare product for centuries. The fruit pulp has an amazing moisturizing effect on the skin, making it wonderfully soft and supple. Masks are made from ground tamarind seeds, which contain humectant properties that keep the skin looking young and vibrant.
Tamarind extract is known to be rich in vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that fights free radicals and prevents the formation of wrinkles. It is a great skincare ingredient for sensitive skin too, as it soothes irritation and heals wounds.
In fact, its ability to protect from sun damage makes it an ideal ingredient in sunscreen preparations. In herbal medicine, tamarind is prescribed for hot flushes and other menopausal discomforts.
Tamarind has been used for centuries as a beauty aid. The ancient Greek doctor Hippocrates, known as the father of medicine, used tamarind seed and bark for his patients.
In India, where it’s called “imlee”, tamarind is used for everything from treating stomach ailments to sunburn, bug bites and even cancer. Indian women swear by it for beautifully soft skin that glows.
Nowadays, many of the items in your local chemist’s will have tamarind seed extract listed among their ingredients. It has also become popular in some beauty products where it doubles as a natural skin brightener.
Tamarind fruit is rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants, so it makes an excellent addition to any anti-aging regimen. It also contains several vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus and iron, making it effective for treating tired and dry skin.