It’s been a major bucket list item: visiting Japan during cherry blossom season, or sakura, as the flowers are known in local parlance. It’s not like you can’t see cherry blossoms elsewhere — but floating under the frothy, candy-floss clouds on the Lake Biwa Canal or walking the famous Nakaragi no Michi path is an experience like no other.
However, in Japan, cherry blossoms go far beyond merely pretty blooms that mark the beginning of spring. Cherry blossoms, or “sakura” in Japanese, hold a profoundly symbolic place in the country’s culture and are also one of the country’s most prized beauty ingredients!
A fact that I was reminded of recently while going through the label for the Shiseido Brightening Gel Cream, where cherry blossom extract for the skin is one of the main ingredients.
This led me to wonder: Is cherry blossom a skincare treasure as well as being one of the prettiest flowers known to humankind? The answer is a resounding YES, and it’s all backed by science.
So, let’s take a walk down cherry blossom skincare lane (pun intended!).
Cherry Blossom Skin Benefits (Backed by Science!)
It turns out that cherry blossoms are not the national flower of the world’s most skincare-conscious country for nothing. The pretty blooms, which appear in everything from Estée Lauder Micro Essence Skin Activating Treatment Lotion with Sakura Ferment to Shu Uemura Sakura Refreshing Cleansing Oil, are skincare saviors par extraordinaire (scroll right down for the best skincare products with this rare ingredient).
How? Let me count the numerous skincare benefits of these beautiful blooms, which may be Japan’s best-kept beauty secrets!
1. According to several research studies, cherry blossoms are incredibly high in antioxidants that help mop up free radical damage. And since these free radicals are one of the prime causes of premature aging, you can understand why Japanese women have such flawless skin long into their 70s and 80s.
2. These pretty petals are also a storehouse of essential fatty acids that help repair the skin’s natural barrier and promote a smooth, supple complexion.
3. According to the research journal Science Direct, cherry blossom extract counters the effects of glycation on the skin. Glycation is a process where excess sugars bind to the body’s proteins and destroy collagen and elastin (skin’s building blocks), thereby leading to signs of skin aging, such as wrinkles and sagging.
4. Cherry blossom extract for skin can lighten hyperpigmentation and clarify an uneven complexion by inhibiting melanin production. Melanin is the compound that gives skin its color — so when it becomes imbalanced, you get those dark spots and other patches of hyperpigmentation!
5. According to The International Journal of Cosmetic Science, cherry blossoms have potent anti-inflammatory benefits that help heal and soothe irritated skin.
6. Looking for more cherry blossom skin benefits? Cherry blossom skin care products boost collagen synthesis to increase skin elasticity, improve smoothness, and reduce the appearance of pores.
Come to think of it, I should not have been so surprised to learn about cherry blossom’s skin benefits, considering it is part of the rose family — and we know that roses are some of the most powerful botanicals in the world!
So, here I am: Sipping on a cup of pale pink, slightly salty cherry blossom tea, which is basically spring in a cup. Join me?
11 Beauty Products Based on Cherry Blossoms
Cherry blossoms (often listed by their scientific moniker: prunus serrulata or prunus yedoensis) are notoriously difficult to source because of their short seasons and laborious extraction process. That’s why they don’t appear in many beauty products.
When they do, there is a good chance that they are just listed to talk up the product and don’t actually have much of the actual ingredient themselves. So, be careful about what you are buying.
Instead, try one of these very carefully curated (and tested!) cherry blossom beauty products, which contain cherry blossom extracts in enough quantities to actually make a difference to your skin — and well-being.
Shiseido Brightening Gel Cream: This innovative gel-cream formula, enriched with the benefits of cherry blossom extract, targets the appearance of dark spots and uneven skin tone, promoting a brighter, more even complexion. Its lightweight texture absorbs quickly, making it a perfect addition to any skincare routine to achieve luminous, healthy-looking skin.
Garnier Sakura Glow Sheet Mask: Infused with Japanese Sakura flower extract, Garnier’s Sakura Glow Sheet Mask offers a quick, effective way to hydrate and brighten your skin in just 15 minutes. It is ideal for anyone seeking an instant boost of hydration, radiance, and a calming effect for sensitive skin!
Shu Uemura POREfinist2 Sakura Refreshing Cleansing Oil: This lightweight cleansing oil from Shu Uemura contains sakura extract from petals harvested by hand in Iwate Prefecture, along with sakura sake extract, for a double whammy of skincare goodness. Perfect for oilier skin types with a tendency to clogged pores.
Estée Lauder Micro Essence Skin Activating Treatment Lotion Fresh with Sakura Ferment: This limited edition version of Estée Lauder’s Micro Essence is infused with double-flowered cherry blossom flowers ferment to strengthen the skin’s barrier, reduce visible redness, and hydrate the skin all day, revealing a radiant complexion.
L’Occitane Cherry Blossom Shimmering Lotion: Infused with cherry blossom extracts from the heart of the Luberon region of Provence in France, this lightweight lotion not only moisturizes but leaves your skin delicately fragranced and with a subtle shimmer. Perfect for those who love their skin to feel silky smooth and radiate a subtle glow.
Aveda Cherry Almond Body Lotion: This body lotion uses cherry blossoms’ essential fatty acids to keep skin smooth, moisturized, and protected.
Innisfree Cherry Blossom Glow Jelly Cream with Jeju Cherry Blossom: Infused with Jeju Cherry Blossom leaf extracts, this gel cream has a unique jelly texture that melts effortlessly onto your skin, providing hydration without leaving a sticky residue. The Jeju Cherry Blossom, known for its brightening properties, enhances the skin’s natural glow, leaving it soft, smooth, and luminous.
Snow Fox Skincare Japanese Cherry Blossom and White Tea Smooth Mask: With cherry blossom extract listed as one of the top ingredients, this mask promises (and delivers) the “glass skin” effect that’s so highly prized in Asia.
Bath and Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom Body Wash: This gorgeous body wash’s rich, bubbly lather is infused with nourishing Vitamin E and shea butter to be gentle and non-drying. It’s a perfect way to indulge in cherry blossom skin benefits!
Guerlain Rouge G Cherry Blossom Case and Lipstick: Is makeup more your thing? This lipstick case is easily the most gorgeous purchase I have made this year! It was created by the Japanese artist Ryo Shinagawa, who drew inspiration from traditional Japanese gold leaf paintings with a delicate floral motif on a metallic golden plate. Added on top is a delicate floral print of pink cherry blossom petals paired with a luxurious, highly pigmented cherry blossom-hued lip color (No. 69 Cherry Bloom). It will sell out very fast, so get it while you can (scroll up for the photo!).
Have you ever tried cherry blossom skincare products? Share a favorite so we can all join in the gorgeousness!
Anubha Charan is a powerhouse in the luxury beauty industry, with over 15 years of expertise shaping the global beauty narrative. As the former Beauty Director at Marie Claire, she worked with the magazine's French headquarters to craft cutting-edge beauty content for international audiences.
Anubha's bylines have appeared in some of the world’s most prestigious publications, including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Travel + Leisure, WebMD, and Architectural Digest. She is also the co-author of Paris Bath & Beauty, a Simon & Schuster book on French beauty rituals.
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