Mugwort

What is mugwort?

Mugwort – ssuk in Korean – is a plant of the genus Artemisia. In Korea it has been used for centuries in cooking and traditional medicine, for example in tea, rice cakes or steam baths. Cosmetics mainly use Korean mugwort, Artemisia princeps, often from Ganghwa Island. On the INCI list it appears as Artemisia Princeps Extract or Artemisia Vulgaris Extract.

How does mugwort work on the skin?

• Soothing: mugwort contains flavonoids and other plant compounds that can calm irritation and redness.
• Antioxidant: its compounds protect against oxidative stress.
• Balancing: on blemish-prone skin, mugwort calms inflamed areas and supports repair.

Which skin types is mugwort suitable for?

• sensitive, red skin – see Redness
• blemish-prone skin that is irritated at the same time
• stressed skin after sun, cold or strong actives

Important: mugwort belongs to the daisy family. If you’re allergic to plants in this family such as chamomile or arnica, patch test mugwort products on a small area first.

How to use mugwort

1. Pat in a mugwort toner or essence after cleansing.
2. Apply an ampoule or cream with mugwort to red areas.
3. Finish with sunscreen in the morning.

Mugwort is gentle and can be used morning and evening – also to balance out exfoliants or retinol.

What can you combine mugwort with?

• Centella Asiatica – Korea’s other big soothing ingredient
• Panthenol strengthens the skin barrier
• Tea tree oil for blemishes
• Green tea as an extra antioxidant

Mugwort in Korean skincare

In Korea, mugwort is almost as popular as centella. From our range: the Mugwort Calming Ampoule and Mugwort Calming Cream from Isntree, the Mugwort Calming Cream from ROUND LAB, the Mugwort Cream from I’m From, the Mugwort Zero Film Cleansing Oil and Mugwort Zero Film Cleansing Foam from Orien, and the Matte Sun Stick: Mugwort + Camelia from Beauty of Joseon.

What does the research say?

In a lab and animal study, an extract of mugwort leaves reduced signs of inflammation in contact dermatitis (Yun et al., Mediators of Inflammation, 2016). Human studies on mugwort in cosmetics are still rare – its soothing reputation rests mainly on experience and lab results.