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Bamboo in Cosmetics

 

Clinical courses

Bamboo in Cosmetics

Vinay KumarVinay Kumar Singh.  
Head-Formulation
Kumar Organic Products Research Centre Pvt. Ltd.,
Bengaluru
Email : formulation_krc@kopresearchcentre.net

Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family.

In bamboo, as in other grasses, the internodal regions of the stem are usually hollow and the vascular bundles in the cross-section are scattered throughout the stem instead of in a cylindrical arrangement. The dicotyledonous woody xylem is also absent. The absence of secondary growth wood causes the stems of monocots, including the palms and large bamboos, to be columnar rather than tapering.
Bamboos include some of the fastest-growing plants in the world, due to a unique rhizome-dependent system. Certain species of bamboo can grow 91 centimetres (36 inches) within a 24-hour period, at a rate of almost 40 millimetres (1 plus 1/2 in) an hour (equivalent to 1 mm every 90 seconds). This rapid growth and tolerance for marginal land, make bamboo a good candidate for afforestation, carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation.

Bamboo is versatile and has notable economic and cultural significance in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia, being used for building materials, as a food source, and as a raw product, and depicted often in arts, such as in bamboo paintings and bamboo working. Bamboo, like wood, is a natural composite material with a high strength-to-weight ratio useful for structures. Bamboo's strength-to-weight ratio is similar to timber, and its strength is generally similar to a strong softwood or hardwood timber.


The bamboo plant is known for its hardiness and versatility. It can grow up to 30 feet tall.
While bamboo is known to produce things like clothes, bags, crockery and even furniture,Biodegradable Packaging material, it is also used in many medicinal and healthcare items. In fact, bamboo has been proven to be a wonder ingredient for our skin & hair.
It has the highest amount of vegetative silica as compared to any other plant! Silica is a trace mineral that slowly diminishes with time. And, lack of it not only affects the health of your hair but also your skin, nails and other body organs.

Bamboo is used in both Skin & Hair Care products world over, Korea being the leading country. Bamboo can be used in products in various formats like Powder, Extract & Water etc.


Bamboo powder is made from the stem of the bamboo plant and is rich in nutrients, including silica. Silica is a trace mineral that is essential for healthy skin, hair, and nails. Bamboo extract also contains other minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium. These minerals are important for the health of your skin.

It's fine white powder that has a slightly sweet taste. Not to mention, it's incredibly versatile—use it in skin care products or take it orally!The bamboo powder works for your skin as a natural exfoliant, gently clearing away dead skin cells and opening pores. The benefits of bamboo don’t end with it being a great exfoliant. Bamboo is also naturally rich in silica. Silica can boost collagen production, the protein that gives your skin fullness but naturally reduces as you age.

As a plant fiber, bamboo powder is excellent for people with sensitive skin. It is less likely to irritate the skin as plastic-based scrubs can. It’s also better for the environment than plastic microbeads used in some scrubs, as bamboo biodegrades 500 times faster than plastic.
- Hydration: Bamboo powder is a great source of hydration for the skin. It helps to lock in moisture and keep the skin feeling plump and hydrated. It also aids in collagen production, which is important for the skin's elasticity.
- Acne Prevention: Alongside anti-inflammatory properties & antibacterial properties, bamboo extract is also anti acne. It strengthens the skin's barrier and keeps impurities and bacteria out. But, it isn't so intense that it'll irritate sensitive skin.
- UV Protection: Bamboo powder can help to protect the skin from damage caused by UV rays
Bamboo extract is not only an excellent hair, skin, and nail nutrient, but it is also a nourishing skincare ingredient. Bamboo water is commonly included in many toners and hydrating products in Korea. Bamboo water is essentially diluted bamboo extract combined with other nourishing ingredients to create an ultra-nourishing formula.

Benefits of bamboo in skincare
Bamboo is becoming a key ingredient in skincare products, especially in the K-beauty range. The following are the skin benefits that bamboo provides:

Makes skin radiant and supple
This ingredient is said to be high in silica, which gives your skin a healthy glow. It is also claimed to offer hydration benefits. Furthermore, silica generates collagen, which results in firmer skin and a youthful bounce. When used on a regular basis, a product containing bamboo can make the skin smoother and suppler.

Clears impurities from the skin
It has purifying and detoxifying powers. As a result, it aids in the removal of impurities from the skin.
Protects from free radicals
Bamboo extract is a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from free radical damage. It also reduces fine lines and keeps the skin smooth and moisturised. Think of your skin as a sliced apple that oxidizes (getting brown)! These are the damaging effects of free radicals, day in and day out! Packed with natural flavonoids, Bamboo extract and bamboo water act as powerful antioxidants to fight skin damaging free radicals generated from the environment, pollution, stress and many other factors.
Bamboo can help your skin stay healthy and young and help fight the effect of premature aging.
It’s super hydrating
Mineral-rich bamboo sap is known for being very hydrating, which makes it a great addition to any skincare routine.
Rich in many essential compounds
This is also rich in many essential compounds, like amino acids and flavonoids, which are packed with antioxidants that protect skin from oxidative stress. This is an important component of the ingredient because it shields skin from damaging UV rays that will not only prematurely age skin but also irritate acne-prone skin, making it look worse.
• Improve Skin Firmness
Bamboo contains up to 70% of natural silica. Collagen, which prevents skin from sagging is predominantly made up of silica. As we age, collagen gets damaged, so replenishing skin with natural silica helps build collagen and maintain skin firmness.
• Antibacterial Properties:
In an era where we all feel that sanitizing is part of the new normal, Bamboo tree contains anti-bacterial substances to protect itself from insects and fungus, these ingredients can be found in Bamboo extract which gives our products antibacterial and anti-fungus properties.
• Advanced skin hydration and re-plumping:
Bamboo extract and Bamboo water contain Glycosaminoglycans, known as GAGs. They are very large molecules that exist naturally in the dermis of the skin and act as natural moisture agents that bind nearly 1000 times their weight in water. The most commonly known GAG is hyaluronic acid. Think about skin moisture from the inside out! As they are part of skin’s extracellular matrix GAGs also help re-plump skin and maintain its supple and firm structure.

Benefits of bamboo in Hair care
The benefits of bamboo for hair is undeniable, much so since it’s a natural solution. Bamboo products for your tresses, will help in following:
1. It’s filled with silica; an average of 70% all-natural silica concentration. “This mineral helps to strengthen your blood vessels and improve circulation, which can stimulate the blood flow to your scalp and encourage growth. It also is a necessary component of your skin’s connective tissues and helps to strengthen your bones, nails and hair.”  
2. It’s excellent at cleansing scalp and hair.Bamboo silica does to our hair is cleansing it of toxins and foreign substances.  When used in shampoos, Bamboo puts in work, clearing pollutants, dead skin cells and product build-up.  This leads to a natural ‘pop’ in your locks.
3. Bamboo is supportive of the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans,a process on which glycosaminoglycan (a form of sugar) attracts water. Through this, our scalp and hair will retain its moisture, making it healthier and fresh looking. Also, this will help prevent the drying of the scalp. Moisturized strands are more elastic and less likely to break.  
4. It has anti-irritant and anti-oxidant properties.  

Bamboo is a self-generating natural resource that provides considerable environmental benefits. This famous plant is used for ecological purposes and as an extremely important forestry plant, but it is a natural gold mine for skin & hair too.