5 Traditional Chinese Medicine-Inspired Skin-Care Products
Healing formulae steeped in history.
Vo Beauty
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to diagnose and treat various illnesses for thousands of years, with texts on the subject dating back to 200 B.C. Grounded in the Taoist philosophy of balance—yin and yang—TCM has more recently entered the skin-care zeitgeist as a means for facial sculpting, toning, and brightening.
Charlotte Yau, founder of Muihood, believes this has contributed to consumers’ increasingly mindful approach to what they put on their skin. The U.K.-based entrepreneur seeks to demystify and broaden popular understanding of the commonly appropriated ancient practice. “Traditional Chinese medicine in skin care has a diluted narrative of jade rollers and gua sha,” she says. Applications of TCM range far beyond these popular tools.
After years of working as a skin-care expert for big-box retailers and luxury department stores, Diana Vo understood that she belonged in the holistic health space. Vo Beauty, a small-batch, Toronto-based brand, is the result of this epiphany. From her Leslieville studio, the facialist crafts products using TCM wisdom passed down to her by her grandmother.
Here, discover a wider variety of skin-care products rooted in Taoist philosophy.
Manuka Glow Mask, Vo Beauty
Vo Beauty’s decadent Manuka Glow Mask, made with local Ontario honey, pays homage to Diana Vo’s matriarchs. “Adzuki beans, commonly found in Asian desserts, bring back memories of my mom’s cooking,” she says. “Their earthy, slightly sweet scent always filled our home.”
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Essential Mist, Yina
This hydrating rosewater-and-white-tea mist by Yina purports to combat stress and fatigue. Ingredients include ginseng root and tremella mushroom, two herbs that are considered bedrock for TCM-inspired beauty brands. Spritz on before applying serum to create what Yina calls a micro-emulsion to allow for deeper skin absorption.
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Alpha-Paradise Cleansing Dew, 001 London
Ada Ooi is trusted by A-list clientele to holistically heal their skin—Rooney Mara has even touted 001’s Alpha-Paradise Cleansing Dew as a holy-grail product. The antioxidant-rich cleanser, like all Ooi products, is a vegan formulation, based on both traditional Chinese medicine and advanced cosmetology. With notes of jasmine, ylang-ylang, and sweet almond, the oil sweeps away makeup and helps unclog pores.
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Plant Root Remedy Balancing Facial Oil, Mount Lai
Mount Lai is all about heritage: the brand’s product recipes were passed down to aesthetician Stephanie Zheng, and its name pays homage to Mount Penglai, a mythological Chinese mountain on which fruits with healing powers grow. The Plant Root Remedy Balancing Facial Oil is a gorgeous purple potion made with time-tested ingredients such as ceramide-rich rice and oats.
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Good Chi Cleansing Balm, Muihood
Born in Oxfordshire, Charlotte Yau founded Muihood as a way of reconnecting with her Chinese roots. “My first introduction to TCM was at home, through herbal medicine remedies and body gua sha,” she explains. “I didn’t appreciate it fully at the time, but as I grew older and dealt with my own skin-care concerns, I realized how powerful these natural, holistic approaches could be.”
Muihood’s bestselling product is a gentle formulation for a wide range of skin types that claims to melt away sunscreen, makeup, and excess sebum. The cleansing balm’s hero ingredient is ginseng root, which helps boost hydration and even out skin tone and texture.
“I think our products resonate because we’re not just selling skin care—we’re sharing a story and a philosophy,” Yau says.
