Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract

You might recognise licorice root (or liquorice) from the candy with the same name. Licorice is a pea-like perennial plant with a long root that is brown on the outside and bright yellow on the inside. It is a powerful medicinal plant with many beneficial effects on human and skin health.

It is used in skincare products for its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and its ability to help treat pigmentation issues.

Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract is the source of the active compounds, the most researched of which is glycyrrhizin.

Glycyrrhizin is responsible for the sweet taste of the licorice root and for the majority of its anti-inflammatory activity. The chemical structure and activities of glycyrrhizin are very similar to glucocorticoids. When applied to the skin, they reduce inflammation and help with chronic skin conditions such as eczema, atopic dermatitis, or psoriasis. There have been some clinical studies in this matter, with mostly good results.

Another active compound called glabridin has been shown to inhibit melanin production in the skin cells. Although there is some evidence to support this and numerous patents for skincare products containing glabridin, there have been no studies on human skin as of yet.

As with many herbal remedies, there is some level of caution advised when using licorice derived products. It is not advised for you to overindulge yourself on licorice candy every day, and, similarly, it is not advised for you to use licorice extract on your skin every single day for the rest of your life. The results would be similar to using corticoids for no reason. It is a wonderful remedy, but try to use it sparingly.