The cherry blossom tree is not just a thing of immense beauty. Its pale-pink blooms have proven to be a reliable ally when it comes to tackling a number of skin concerns. So while the delicate cherry blossom may bloom only between mid-March and May, you can continue to reap its benefits all year round with products infused with extracts of the exquisite flower.
In fact, many beauty brands in India and across the world have entire collections of skincare and fragrances dedicated to cherry blossom. We’ll get into that, but first, let’s get to know the dainty flower a bit better, shall we?
Chasing Cherry Blossoms
Travellers the world over often add cherry-blossom viewing to their bucket list, visiting destinations such as Japan and France to catch a glimpse of these breathtaking, but short-lived, blooms.
Representing the fleeting nature of life and beauty, cherry blossoms – or sakura as they are known in Japanese – are highly revered, with the Japanese even celebrating Hanami, a traditional flower-viewing custom of enjoying the beauty of these transient cherry blossoms. It includes picnics in public gardens where tourists and locals with their friends and families sit together under the mesmerising flower-laden trees, taking in their beauty and their light, refreshing scent, all while enjoying food, drinks and conversations. How perfect is that?
Sakura In Skincare
Cherry blossoms are also packed with some amazing skin-healing properties. It’s no wonder then that it is one of the most sought-after botanicals across the world and many beauty brands in India offer specific product ranges. Here’s how it can help…
Anti-inflammatory: Sakura flowers have been found to have anti-inflammatory properties and help reduce nitric oxide in the skin, which tends to cause irritation, inflammation and redness.
Helps repair dull, tired skin: Cherry blossoms are rich in fatty acids and antioxidants that have the ability to strengthen your skin’s natural barrier, giving you a smooth, even-toned and well-hydrated complexion.
Skin brightening: By inhibiting the production of melanin, cherry blossom extracts can help lessen hyperpigmentation and visibly brighten the skin.
Tackles signs of ageing: Cherry blossom extract has been proven as an anti-glycation agent that helps generate collagen and elastin which leads to plumper, younger-looking skin.
We let you in on some of our picks of cherry blossom-infused skincare and fragrances from beauty brands in India:
1. Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Gel Cream
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If you enjoy lightweight gel-based creams for the summer, you’ll love this refreshing gel moisturiser. This cream corrects and pre-emptively targets the causes of dark spots and discoloration. With its Sakura-Bright Complex consisting of Yoshino cherry extract among others, it brightens the skin, leaving it vibrant and dewy. It also works on reversing the signs of ageing.
2. Bath & Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom Fine Fragrance Mist
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Tackle the summer heat with this fresh-floral body mist that is a blend of cherry blossom, Asian pear, fresh mimosa petals, white jasmine and sandalwood. Easily among one of the brand’s bestselling fragrances, it is a feminine and refreshing scent, one that’ll keep you spritzing.
3. Innisfree Jeju Cherry Blossom Skin Toner
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A lightweight, watery toner, this can be used as a wipe-off one or a layering toner as well. Delivering hydration to dry and dull skin, it revitalises and clears the skin. Its skin-loving properties help heal irritated skin, even out skin tone, and lighten dark spots.
4. L’Occitane Cherry Blossom Shimmering Lotion
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This luxurious shimmering body lotion promises to envelop your skin with the delicate, fresh scent of springtime in Provence. Its light formula is quickly absorbed by the skin, leaving an iridescent finish. Enriched with shea butter and cherry extract from the Luberon region of Provence, it moisturizes the skin while leaving it lightly perfumed.
5. The Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossom Strawberry Kiss Shower Gel
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For all those who enjoyed the Japanese Cherry Blossom collection from this beauty brand, time to try out this variant. Infused with the extract of hand-harvested, cold-pressed Japanese cherry blossoms and juicy notes of strawberries, pink peony and amber, this soap-free formula leaves you feeling instantly refreshed with a fruity and floral fragrance that lasts well after your shower. The answer to our summer woes maybe?
6. Quench Botanics Mon Cherry Range Brightening Pink Clay Mask
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This pore-refining pink clay mask deeply exfoliates, brightens and detoxifies the skin in just a few minutes. The gentle kaolin and bentonite clays purify the skin and unclog pores, removing excess sebum and impurities. It contains soothing natural ingredients like cherry blossom, pearl and grapefruit extracts that hydrate and give the skin a lovely glow. Can we just say, its thick, earthy pink texture looks good enough to eat! So, Quench definitely makes it to our list of beauty brands in India to try cherry-blossom product ranges.
7. Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Flora Cherrysia EDT
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Light floral scents are perfect for the summer and Flora Cherrysia fits the bill. Launched in 2019, it is a mild, fresh floral fragrance with heart notes of cherry blossom and nashi pear along with a splash of fruity notes. It is meant to “evoke an escape along the sakura river shaded by blossoming cherry trees. A nap on the banks of a stream strewn with pink petals.” Now who doesn’t love the sound of that?
