In recent years, TikTok has become a governing authority in our society, dictating many of our purchases and daily decisions – especially when it comes to beauty. The app is even host to #beautytok, a place where you can get the latest hacks, products, and trends within 10 minutes of scrolling. One of the latest to grab our attention? Turmeric soap.
Turmeric is a flowering plant often used as a spice in Indian, Southeast Asian, and Middle Eastern cooking. The yellow-orange herb has a warm, bitter flavor and a strong, earthy aroma that you can easily spot, depending on its form. Turmeric is also known for its health benefits, from fighting illnesses to easing digestion. It makes sense, then, that it has recently become a hot commodity in skin-care, with many people claiming antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. As for what it does, many TikTok users note turmeric soap can help with everything from hyperpigmentation and dark spots to acne. But is there any scientific evidence to support this claim, and does it really work for everyone?
While many people have reported positive results with their skin, there have also been people warning against using turmeric soap, claiming an increase in breakouts. Given the mixed reviews, we decided to ask the experts to see if the orange-hued spice is worth adding to your skin-care regimen. Keep scrolling to learn more.
Experts Featured in This Article
Joshua Zeichner, MD, is a dermatologist and associate professor of dermatology and the director of cosmetic & clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
Corey L. Hartman, MD, is the founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham and the assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Alabama School of Medicine.
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Turmeric Soap’s Skin-Care Benefits
According to experts, turmeric decreases microbial growth and sebum production, which can be useful when treating skin conditions like acne, along with its anti-inflammatory properties. “By reducing skin inflammation, turmeric may help prevent pores from becoming blocked, which leads to pimples,” dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, tells PS. “By allowing the skin to function optimally, cells can rev up healthy collagen to maintain a strong skin foundation, and with turmeric’s active ingredient being curcumin, it can lighten hyperpigmentation by blocking one of the key enzymes needed to produce melanin in the skin.”
While the herb has its benefits, the one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t apply to this spice. “Homemade turmeric soap is not held to the same rules and regulations as store-bought soap, whether the soap has turmeric within or not,” dermatologist Corey L. Hartman says. “Soaps sold in the store must meet government requirements for cleansing products sold in the US that apply to ingredients, manufacturing, and overall safety and efficacy of the product; I recommend purchasing from highly reviewed, reputable soap makers who often list all ingredients in their homemade soaps.”
It’s also important to pay attention to the percentage of turmeric in whatever soap you’re purchasing. “A range of 5 to 15 percent is most effective, and most people typically don’t need to go higher in the active percentage of the ingredient to see results,” Dr. Hartman says. He recommends the Aspen Kay Naturals Turmeric Complete Soap ($10) as a natural option that uses organic turmeric and Dove’s Turmeric Milk & Lemon Drop Soap ($6) as a drugstore option.
Risks of Using Turmeric On the Skin
While turmeric might help with some people’s hyperpigmentation or acne, not all skin is created equal, so it’s important to proceed with caution when trying the trend, and those with sensitive skin should ease their way into it. For the latter skin types, you’ll want to be wary of using soap with too high of a concentration, as it can lead to irritation. You can tell this by the color: “If a soap has a ruddy, red, almost clay color, it likely has a higher concentration of turmeric,” Dr. Hartman says.
He also suggests wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays after using tumeric soap, as it can increase sensitivity to the sun because of its active ingredient, curcumin. “It has photosensitizing properties that make skin more susceptible to UV rays when using products with that ingredient,” Dr. Hartman says.
So there you have it: experts agree there are some benefits to using turmeric soap, as TikTok claims, but probably in moderation – and, as always, discontinue use if you notice any adverse reactions.
Naomi Parris is a New York-based fashion and beauty writer with over seven years of experience. She served as an editorial operations associate at PS, specializing in all things fashion. Her work has also been seen in Elle, Essence Girls United, Bustle, and Elite Daily. Obsessed with telling stories that merge fashion and Black culture, her areas of expertise include Fashion Week coverage, high-profile interviews, shopping roundups, op-eds, and beauty stories.
