Ginger: The Skin Care Ingredient We’re Rooting For

Here are five of the best benefits of ginger for skin.

1. Reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines

Free radicals are a natural byproduct of your body’s normal metabolic process. They can also form from external factors like cig smoke, air pollutants, or industrial chemicals. These highly reactive and unstable molecules can lead to oxidative stress which can show up as wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, or fine lines.

Since ginger is a great source of antioxidants — compounds that protect against oxidative stress — it may help reduce your risk of these common skin concerns.

2. Fade scars

Ginger’s antioxidant content may also promote healthy blood flow throughout the body. Some suggest this can help scars blend back into the regular color of your skin. However, there’s limited evidence to prove this.

Additionally, some say ginger can pump up the volume on collagen production. Collagen fibers are what the body uses to knit itself back together, resulting in a scar. But again, most of the research is anecdotal and we def need more science to show if this is legit.

3. Keep your hair and scalp healthy

Ginger is widely thought to be great for your hair. It’s been used in hair treatments for a long, long time. Reported benefits include:

• thicker hair
• fewer split ends
• increased hair growth

Ginger’s antiseptic and antimicrobial properties are also fab for your scalp. This root is particularly effective at treating dandruff. So, maybe consider a home remedy before you go splashing big dolla dolla bills on high end brands.

4. Make cellulite less noticeable

There’s no shame in the cellulite game. After all, up to 80 percent of women experience cellulite to some extent. But if cellulite isn’t your vibe, ginger might come in clutch.

Remedies containing ginger may help your body flush toxins and keep the blood pumping. This stops the buildup of fat deposits beneath your skin. However, we def need more research to prove these perks.

5. Improve acne symptoms

Ginger is packed with a phytochemical called gingerol which is full of anti-inflammatory goodness. That means it’s great for treating and preventing certain types of acne.

But wait, there’s more! Ginger has also been shown to help reduce the amount of excess oil (aka sebum) your skin produces. Of course, ginger isn’t an acne cure-all. But since it tends to be gentle on most skin types, it’s def worth a shot.

If you like, you can simply cut a thin slice of ginger from the root and apply it direct to your skin. Be careful to avoid your eyes (it’ll sting!) and leave it on for 15 minutes or so before rinsing. Alternatively, there are all kinds of ginger skin treatments you can make at home in minutes.

We rounded up six easy DIY ginger skin treatments you can whip up at home.

1. Ginger toner

To make a DIY toner, you’ll need:

• 1 cup fresh ginger juice
• 1 tablespoon Manuka honey

How to:

1. Mix the fresh ginger juice and honey together.
2. Apply the toner to your skin with a cotton pad.
3. Let it sit for up to 30 minutes.
4. Rinse well with lukewarm water.

2. Ginger face mask

If you want to make a ginger face mask at home, grab:

• 1 tablespoon ginger juice
• 2 tablespoons rosewater
• 1/2 tablespoon honey

How to:

1. Mix the ingredients in a bowel.
2. Hold a warm, wet towel over your face for up to 1 minute. This will help open up your pores to receive maximum ginger goodness.
3. Evenly spread the mask across your face.
4. Let it sit for 20 minutes.
5. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.

3. Ginger scrub

This is one scrub that even TLC would want. Making it calls for:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger

How to:

1. Throw everything together and mix.
2. Apply the scrub to wet skin.
3. Gently rub the scrub into your skin in soft circular motions.
4. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.

4. Ginger bath salts

A DIY ginger bath salt treatment isn’t simply kind to your skin, it also smells amazing! You’ll need:

• 1/2 cup Epsom salt
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger

How to:

1. Combine your ingredients and pour them into a warm (but not too hot) bath.
2. Sit back, relax, and let the ginger work its wonders.

5. Ginger massage oil

Ginger naturally warms the body when you apply it to your skin. So, it’s no surprise that it makes a magical massage oil. You’ll need:

• 1 inch chunk of peeled ginger, thinly sliced
• 1 cup of almond oil
• 12 dried rose petals (or rose oil)

How to:

1. Stir your ingredients together and pour the mixture into a bottle.
2. Let it sit for a week but be sure to give it a good shake once a day.
3. Enjoy!

PSA: Don’t get any on your private parts.

6. Ginger shampoo

Turbocharge your regular shampoo with a touch of ginger to pack in extra benefits for your scalp and hair. You’ll need:

• 1/2 cup ginger juice
• 1 1/2 cups shampoo

How to:

1. Add the ginger juice to your normal liquid shampoo.
2. Apply as you normally would.

Ginger allergies are rare but not unheard of. Be sure to do a spot test before your rub it all over your skin to make sure you’re not allergic.

To do a patch test, simply rub a slice of ginger on the inside of your wrist. If you don’t experience any irritation after 24 hours, congrats! You should be good to go.

Not all of ginger’s reported health benefits have been backed by science. But it does have enough proven upsides to be a powerful tool in your skin care regimen. Considering how cheap it is, it could be a great idea to experiment with ginger home remedies and see if you can get better results than with store-bought products.