Per the ancient texts, turmeric’s skincare benefits date back thousands of years, used across cultures as a healing spice, topical remedy, and part of beauty rituals. Modern skincare has only recently brought turmeric into the spotlight, as wellness-driven and Ayurvedic-inspired brands embrace its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory powers. Celebrity esthetician Sadaf Jaffari notes that clinical and lab studies show turmeric offers anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial benefits, with promising effects on acne, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and even photoaging.
Today, the best turmeric skincare products marry these time-honored benefits with science-backed formulas and complementary botanicals to deliver clear, radiant skin—without the yellow staining raw powder can leave behind. Below, leading experts share what to know about turmeric skincare, how to use it, and the 12 best turmeric products worth trying across cleansers, creams, masks, serums, and oils.
Vogue’s Favorite Turmeric Skincare:
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Sunday Riley C.E.O Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil
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Kora Organics Turmeric Glow Brightening Moisturizer
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Tula The Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser
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Ranavat Brightening Dark Spot and Anti-Aging Facial Oil
- Why We Love It: Let the record show I’m on my fourth bottle of this facial oil, and it’s firmly in my holy grail lineup for glowy skin. A little goes a long way, and I love pairing it with a gua sha session to Michelangelo my cheekbones. It might err on the pricier side, but board-certified dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp says that it contains over 150 bioactive compounds to help fade dark spots and fine lines. “The star ingredient is pure saffron, which helps brighten and even out the complexion. It’s lightweight enough to layer under SPF or moisturizer, and gentle enough for twice-daily use,” he says.
- Key Ingredients: Saffron, lotus flower, turmeric
- Best For: Dullness, uneven texture, acne-prone skin
- Size: 5 mL, 30 mL
Sunday Riley C.E.O Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil
- Why We Love It: Touted by Jaffari as a “clever combo,” this face oil pairs vitamin C for brightening and tackling pigmentation with turmeric for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support. “The lightweight oil texture nourishes without feeling greasy, making it ideal for layering under makeup or using as the last step in a nighttime routine.” Think of it as a modern take of a traditional approach, pairing natural brighteners into a silky, stable formula that reveals its results over time. The only downside is that there isn’t enough oil to slather all over our bodies.
- Key Ingredients: THD ascorbate, turmeric, ginger root extract, bisabolol
- Best For: Dark spots, dullness, uneven texture, dryness
- Size: 15 mL, 35 mL
Medicube Kojic Acid Turmeric Brightening Gold Jelly Gel Mask
- Why We Love It: Medicube has been making the rounds on TikTok lately, and not just because the products are oddly satisfying to use—the Korean formulations deliver real results. “I love the combination of kojic acid and turmeric,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Nazanin Saedi. “They work well together to reduce the appearance of dark spots and brighten your skin. Turmeric adds anti-inflammatory effects to the mask to help calm the skin.” And because it’s a sheet format, it’s easy to throw on while you’re watching TV or slip into your carry-on for a long-haul flight.
- Key Ingredients: Kojic Acid, turmeric, niacinamide
- Best For: Dull, dry skin
- Size: 4 masks
Kora Organics Turmeric Glow Brightening Refillable Moisturizer
- Why We Love It: You might associate Kora Organics with its signature noni fruit oil, which here is paired turmeric and other nutrient-rich oils to help minimize the appearance of dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. Dr. Camp says it’s particularly great for those with dry skin, noting that it not only brightens but also deeply hydrates and plumps, leaving the complexion firmer and smoother.
- Key Ingredients: Turmeric, licorice, noni fruit, marine microalgae, desert date oil
- Best For: Dry skin, mature skin
- Size: 15 mL, 50 mL
True Botanicals Ginger Turmeric Hydraglow Cream
- Why We Love It: Jaffari describes this gel-cream as having a rich texture that sinks in quickly, making it ideal for skin that’s easily stressed or prone to redness. Instead of aggressively targeting pigmentation, she says it focuses on restoring balance, reducing flare-ups, and giving skin that just-had-a-good-night’s-sleep look. “Think calm skin and subtle radiance, not heavy-duty pigment correction.” As far as ingredients go, turmeric extract is paired with ginger, green tea, aloe, rosemary, and nourishing plant oils like jojoba, apricot, and cucumber seed for a soothing, anti-inflammatory blend.
- Key Ingredients: Ginger extract, turmeric extracts
- Best For: Dry skin, inflamed skin
- Size: 1.7 oz.
Eminence Organic Skin Care Turmeric Energizing Treatment
- Why We Love It: Often found in top spas around the globe, Jaffari describes this turmeric treatment as a warming, exfoliating mask with turmeric, papain, and zeolite. “The self-heating effect is invigorating, helping to open pores so the actives can work more effectively. Papain gently dissolves dull, dead cells while turmeric soothes any potential irritation, leaving skin soft and more even-toned.” However, since it’s a rinse-off formula, she notes the benefits are more in-the-moment—perfect for a pre-event glow or post-exfoliation comfort—rather than a long-term pigmentation solution.
- Key Ingredients: Turmeric, citrine gemstones, paprika, zeolite, kaolin clay
- Best For: Dull skin, mature skin
- Size: 2 oz.
Juara Anti-Aging Serum
- Why We Love It: Formulated with turmeric, clove flower, goji berry, sea algae, watermelon, amla, pea extract, golden bamboo, and a palm-derived peptide, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Pooja Rambhia says this rich botanical blend supports “anti-inflammatory action, brightening, collagen production, and structural elasticity.” Safe for all skin types, you only need a pump or two to cover the face and décolleté.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, palm peptides, clove flower, turmeric
- Best For: Mature skin
- Size: 30 mL
Aavrani Glow Activating Exfoliator
- Why We Love It: The thing about turmeric is that it can easily stain both skin and nails, which is why we love this clay mask from Aavrani, which Dr. Rambhia promises is “stain-free.” In addition to organic turmeric, it contains neem, jojoba, raw Manuka honey, and aloe. “It gently exfoliates, brightens, calms inflammation, and clarifies skin tone while avoiding synthetic fragrances and harsh irritants.”
- Key Ingredients: Honey, turmeric, neem
- Best For: Hyperpigmentation, dark spots
- Size: 50 mL
Herbivore Nova 15% Vitamin C + Turmeric Brightening Serum
- Why We Love It: Many may not realize that Herbivore began as a small Etsy shop before evolving into the brand it is today. Along the way, they perfected their botanical formulas, including this brightening turmeric serum, which Dr. Camp says is suitable for all skin types and tackles concerns like dark spots and uneven texture. “The vitamin C and turmeric combination nourishes the skin and visibly improves hyperpigmentation,” he explains. “It also contains arbutin, which helps minimize the appearance of pores.”
- Key Ingredients: THD Vitamin C, turmeric, arbutin
- Best For: Dark spots, dullness, uneven texture
- Size: 30 mL
Kiehls Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Mask
- Why We Love It: Jaffari describes this mask as a “texture and radiance boost in one,” and we have to agree. She explains that cranberry seeds provide physical exfoliation, gently buffing away roughness, while turmeric helps to calm and subtly brighten. “The creamy base ensures skin feels conditioned, not stripped, after rinsing. The result is skin that looks fresher, smoother, and more awake,” she says, noting that it’s not a deep pigment corrector so much as a weekend pick-me-up treatment. For more significant changes in pigmentation, she suggests looking for turmeric higher on the ingredient list or in a concentrated serum.
- Key Ingredients: Cranberry, turmeric
- Best For: Dry, dull skin
- Size: 28 mL, 100 mL
Tula Skincare The Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser
- Why We Love It: If you want to incorporate turmeric into your daily cleanser, this probiotic gel formula from Tula contains turmeric root extract, green tea, yogurt ferment, and retinyl palmitate. “It deeply cleanses while offering antioxidant protection, brightening, and skin-soothing benefits without over-drying,” says Dr. Rambhia.
- Key Ingredients: Probiotic extract, chicory root, turmeric, white tea, blueberry
- Best For: Oily skin, dull skin
- Size: 50 mL, 120 mL, 200 mL
Seoul Ceuticals Ultra Glow Korean Turmeric Face Cream
- Why We Love It: It’d be a crime not to include at least one affordable K-beauty pick, especially for those devoted to a ten-step routine. At under $20, this turmeric-infused face cream combines hyaluronic acid, shea butter, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid. “This product nourishes and soothes the skin while also offering anti-aging benefits like reducing fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone,” says Dr. Camp.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid
- Best For: Dull, dry skin
- Size: 60 mL
Everything You Need to Know
Does turmeric skincare really work?
Yes! Dr. Rambhia shares that turmeric, particularly its active compound curcumin, has been clinically shown to deliver meaningful benefits for skin health. In many cultures, including Jaffari’s Iranian background, turmeric isn’t just a cooking spice—it’s a trusted skin savior. “We’ve been using it for centuries in teas, masks, and remedies for its calming and brightening powers. The only catch? In its raw form, it can leave you looking like you’ve been fake-tanned with a highlighter pen. That’s why modern formulas use turmeric extracts or curcumin derivatives—you get all the glow, none of the yellow.”
What are the benefits of turmeric for skin?
Jaffari explains that turmeric extract is rich in curcumin, a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. In skincare, it can help calm redness, even out skin tone, fade pigmentation, and bring dull skin back to life. She notes that the magic really depends on the concentration, the quality of the extract, and what it’s paired with.
Dr. Rambhia adds that turmeric offers a wide range of skin benefits, from reducing inflammation in conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and acne, to providing antioxidant protection that helps neutralize free radicals, combat photoaging, and promote skin renewal. She points out that topical use can also help brighten and even skin tone by reducing hyperpigmentation, while supporting wound healing, boosting collagen production, and increasing hyaluronic acid levels for better hydration and elasticity.
- Dr. Brendan Camp is a double board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist who sees patients in New York and Long Island.
- Dr. Pooja Rambhia is a board-certified dermatologist with specialized fellowship training in cosmetic dermatology and laser surgery.
- Dr. Nazanin Saedi is a board-certified dermatologist and clinical associate professor at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
- Sadaf Jaffari is a celebrity esthetician based in London whose clients include Olivia Attwood and Gemma Chan.
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