Hanbang Skincare: Embracing Tradition for Ageless Beauty

 

If you've dug a little deeper into the world of K-beauty, or have come across well-known brands like Sulwhasoo or Beauty of Joseon, then you might be familiar with the word Hanbang. And if you've never heard of it, you might want to read on.

Hanbang, or traditional Korean medicine, goes back thousands of years. It is based on herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, vacuum therapy and dietary and lifestyle recommendations. Hangang is similar in many ways to traditional Chinese medicine, but also has its own Korean elements.

Let's take a closer look at what this system consists of.

1.Yin-Yang balance and the theory of the 5 elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water).

2.Herbs: these are used in various combinations to both treat illnesses and maintain health. Of the many herbs, ginseng is the best known, and has conquered not only Korea but the world.

3.Acupuncture and moxibustion: acupuncture is the practice of inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to restore energy flow. Moxibustion, although its name may make it seem like a complicated procedure, is in fact nothing more than placing burnt herbs (usually wormwood) on points on the body to promote healing.

4.Vacuum: vacuuming involves placing small glass bells on the skin and creating a vacuum to help blood flow and remove toxins.

5.Lifestyle: one of the most important elements of any medicine is a proper diet and lifestyle. Many Koreans pay attention to a healthy diet and the Hangang influence is certainly reflected in their eating habits. Various fermented foods such as kimchi are a staple of Korean cuisine. They are also good for the digestive and immune systems. And during meals, you can choose from a selection of so-called banchan to accompany the main course. These are mostly pickled vegetables, seaweed, kimchi and various pickles.

After a brief cultural and culinary excursion, it's time to move on to Hanbang skincare, which balances natural ingredients with modern technology. Not surprisingly, Hanbang skincare is based on the use of natural ingredients that have been used in Korean medicine for centuries. It takes a holistic approach, treating not only the symptoms but also improving the health of the skin as a whole. Its basic ingredients are ginseng, green tea, liquorice root, rehmannia root and angelica root. Hanbang skincare places a strong emphasis on deep cleansing and moisturising.There is also a strong emphasis on anti-inflammation and anti-ageing.

Although there are certain brands that focus on this, if you look hard enough you will notice that in one way or another all Korean brands are based on Hanbang.

Almost every brand offers a product based on ginseng, rice or green tea, and most of the brands promote naturalness and purity, which can be traced back to the Joseon-era ideal of beauty.