Licorice Extract in Skincare: What Does It Do?
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Za Pharma Team - Posted on
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Licorice is one of those ingredients many of us associate with sweets, tea or old home remedies. So it can be a surprise to see “licorice extract” on the back of a face wash. Yet it has a place in modern skincare, and you will find it in more products than you might think.
Here is a plain-language look at what licorice extract is, why brands add it, and how to use it sensibly.
What is licorice extract?
It comes from the root of the licorice plant. In skincare, the root is processed into an extract that can be mixed into cleansers, serums and creams. The extract is a plant ingredient, so what is in each product can vary depending on how it is made.
People have used licorice root for a very long time in traditional remedies, but what matters for skincare is how it is used in a modern formula, and how your own skin responds.
Why do brands use it?
Licorice extract is commonly used in products made for dull-looking skin and uneven tone. Brands like it because it is a plant-based ingredient that works well with others, including niacinamide. It is also used in formulas meant to feel soothing.
As with any ingredient, treat these as common reasons for using it, not promises. How a product works depends on the full formula, how often you use it, and your own skin.
Is it right for everyone?
Many people use products with licorice extract without any trouble, but skin is individual. If you have very sensitive skin, a skin condition, or you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please speak to a dermatologist before adding new products. And if you know you react to certain plant extracts, read labels carefully.
Always patch test
This is the single best habit in skincare. Put a small amount of the product on the inside of your arm or just below your ear. Wait a day. If you notice redness, itching or burning, do not use it on your face.
How to use products with licorice extract
- Start with a cleanser. A face wash is a gentle way to try an ingredient, since it only stays on your skin for a short time.
- Wet your face with lukewarm water and massage a small amount in for about 30 seconds.
- Rinse well and pat dry.
- Follow with a light moisturiser, and sunscreen in the morning.
If you want the full technique, our guide on how to wash your face the right way goes through each step.
Be patient
Skin renews over several weeks, so a month or two of steady use is a fair test. Taking a photo in the same light at the start and after four weeks helps, because memory is not a reliable judge.
Licorice and niacinamide together
The two often appear together in brightening formulas. If you want to read more about one of them, we explain it in our simple niacinamide guide.
Reading the label
Ingredients are listed from the highest amount to the lowest. If licorice extract is near the top, there is more of it than if it is at the very end. A shorter, simpler ingredient list is also easier to judge if your skin reacts.
Mistakes to avoid
- Starting several new products at once.
- Expecting results in a few days.
- Skipping sunscreen, which matters for tone more than any other step.
- Using too many active products together.
Where you will find it in our range
Our Zen Skin Brightening Face Wash contains licorice extract along with niacinamide and aloe vera. It is made as a gentle daily cleanser. If you are unsure whether it suits your skin, message us on WhatsApp and we will help.
What to expect, realistically
It is easy to get excited when you read about an ingredient, so here is a sensible expectation: licorice extract is one part of a formula, not a stand-alone fix. A single ingredient will not change your skin overnight, and no product can promise a specific result. What a good routine can do is keep your skin clean, comfortable and protected, which is the foundation for looking your best.
Why sun protection still matters most
If your goal is a more even-looking tone, sunscreen is the most important step, no matter which brightening ingredient you use. Strong sun can undo the effort of a whole routine, especially in a country like ours. Apply it every morning and reapply when outdoors.
Plant ingredients and your skin
Plant-based does not automatically mean mild. Some people react to plant extracts, and that is why we keep repeating the patch test. Do not be put off by this. It takes two minutes and saves a lot of trouble later.
How to build a simple routine around it
Keep it simple: a gentle cleanser, a light moisturiser and sunscreen. Add one thing at a time. If you introduce a new product, wait a couple of weeks before adding another. This way, if your skin reacts, you will know which product was the cause.
Questions to ask before buying
Before you pick up any product with licorice extract, ask yourself three things. Does the brand list its ingredients clearly? Does the formula suit your skin type, whether oily, dry or combination? And is it a product you will actually use every day? The best product is the one you use consistently, not the one with the longest ingredient list.
Quick answers
Is licorice extract natural? It comes from a plant, but natural does not automatically mean gentle, so patch test.
Can I use it daily? Many people do with a cleanser. Start once a day and see how your skin feels.
Can I use it with sunscreen? Yes, and you should be using sunscreen anyway.
This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have persistent or painful skin problems, please see a dermatologist.
