Glow With Intention: Ancestral Ingredients Making a Modern Skincare Comeback

Photo Credit: Fiona Bulia

As a licensed esthetician and beauty educator, I’ve always believed that skincare should be both intentional and ancestral. Lately, I’ve noticed a powerful resurgence of age-old ingredients—things our grandmothers and great-grandmothers used without the fancy labels or price tags. And let’s be clear: they were glowing before it was a trend.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

From African black soap and shea butter to rose water, turmeric, and neem, these ingredients carry not only healing properties, but the spirit of tradition. These weren’t just remedies—they were rituals. Passed down, repurposed, and rooted in wisdom that honored both skin and spirit.

Today, we’re seeing these ancestral elements find their way into high-end beauty lines and boutique spa treatments. But for me, this comeback isn’t about marketing—it’s about reconnection. As I teach my students and clients, modern skincare should be intentional, not just trendy. That means honoring the original source of these ingredients, understanding their cultural significance, and respecting the hands that used them long before we did.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Glow isn’t just a result—it’s a practice. It’s what happens when we merge ancestral knowledge with modern technique. When we slow down and apply products with purpose, rooted in ritual, not rush. Whether you’re applying a clay mask or infusing your cleanser with tea tree oil, let it be sacred. Let it be slow. Let it be yours.

This glow we’re chasing? Our ancestors already had it. We’re just catching up.