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When I think of mugwort, the name conjures up dark, lush forests filled with all kinds of mushrooms and herbs. I can picture a little cottage in the forest, where someone lives completely in tune with nature, constantly making healing brews with the various plant life they find. The colorful imagery that the name evokes is not actually far from the truth, as mugwort has a storied history of being used medicinally (as well as a flavoring for beer!) Its uses include, but are not limited to, menstrual regulation, digestive aid, epilepsy treatment, and depression/anxiety relief. (If you want to learn more about mugwort, check out this informative article!)
In recent years, we’ve seen mugwort start to show up in K-beauty products. Mugwort is native to Europe and Eastern Asia, and it’s been used in those areas for centuries. Since Koreans are entirely familiar with mugwort and its many uses, it’s only natural that it would be formulated into skincare! (The Klog has a great article about its historical uses in Korea.) My first encounter with mugwort skincare was the I’m From Mugwort Essence. Given the fact that I’m already a huge fan of I’m From, I was curious to try this new product. Read on to discover the magic of this delightful essence!
Ingredients
The sole ingredient in this essence is Artemisia princeps extract. I love how simple and straightforward this is! Mugwort is the perfect ingredient for those of us that deal with sensitivity, redness, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, and acne. It is a source of antioxidants, and it has antibacterial properties as well. It’s these antibacterial properties that make it useful in treating acne. Mugwort is anti-inflammatory, and it effectively heals dry, irritated skin. And if all of this wasn’t enough reason to love it, mugwort has moisturizing capabilities too! It contains vitamin E, which aids in maintaining the skin’s moisture level. It is truly a jack-of-all-trades ingredient!
Usage
One of the first things I noticed about the essence was its signature herb-y scent. It’s not overwhelming, and it quickly dissipates upon application. This stands in contrast to the I’m From Mugwort Mask, which smells woody/herb-y the entire time you have it on. (I didn’t like that mask as much mainly because of the texture, but it was super calming!)
There is a nice, smooth slip to the essence, and it’s not too watery. I could easily apply several layers of this, but because I’m trying to conserve it I have to hold myself back!
Results
Since the I’m From Mugwort Essence was touted for its calming capabilities, I bought this with the hope it could soothe my often reddened skin. As someone with sensitive skin and rosacea, I’m constantly making an effort to tone down the redness that is present. At this particular time, I was also trying to help my skin recover from some unfortunate over-exfoliation. To do this, I cut out retinol, vitamin C, acids, and anything with added fragrance.
I started using the mugwort essence both morning and night with my pared-down routine. After using this regularly for two weeks, my skin looked significantly less red, and it seemed much healthier overall. I was happy with the immediate redness calming effect that I saw after applying the essence!
Honestly, the I’m From Mugwort Essence has been everything that I wanted. It helped my skin heal after I compromised the barrier, and since then it has continued to give it this lovely glow. After a month of using it I have less redness around my nose, forehead, and cheeks.
The mugwort essence does, however, push the boundaries of my skincare budget. I typically prefer not to spend over $40 on one product, and as it is priced at $40 even, this essence is toeing the line for me. I originally got it during the YesStyle Black Friday sale, so I felt a little better buying it at a discount. Would I buy it again at the full price? Absolutely, yes. I trust I’m From, and since I’m trying to limit myself to only cruelty-free brands, that makes the mugwort essence even more attractive to me. (To read a review of my favorite toner that also happens to be by I’m From, click here!)
If you are looking for a calming, redness-reducing product, this could be a helpful one for you! As for me, I’m going to be adding all the mugwort to my skincare routine now!
To shop the I’m From Mugwort Toner at YesStyle, you can use my affiliate link. You can also use my code INTROVERT6 at checkout to get 2-5% off your purchase!
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