Once Treated as a Weed, Now a Mysterious Herb... Artemisia Argyi Instantly Eliminates Acne Toxicity [Cosmetics Review]

Tried 'Gaeddongssuk Soothing Essence'

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The saying "Even weeds have their uses" comes to mind when looking at this plant.

Gaeddongssuk (Artemisia annua) has been commonly found in mountains and fields across Korea since ancient times, named because it was as common as dog feces. It was treated as a common weed. Gaeddongssuk gained instant recognition as a "miraculous herb" when, in 2008, the University of Washington in the United States announced research results showing that it contains a large amount of flavonoids, an anticancer component, with anticancer effects 1,200 times higher than existing anticancer drugs.

Belonging to the Asteraceae family, Gaeddongssuk is an annual plant that grows 1 to 1.5 meters tall between June and August each year. There is also a theory that the name originated because the leaves emit a dog feces-like smell when rubbed by hand.

The Donguibogam records the efficacy of Gaeddongssuk as "promoting digestion and boosting energy," and the World Health Organization has designated it as a medicinal herb. Particularly in traditional Korean medicine, Gaeddongssuk is known to have a cooling property that helps reduce heat in the skin. Thanks to this, the cosmetics industry has shown great interest in Gaeddongssuk extract when developing products for acne and skin trouble improvement.

Among major domestic cosmetics companies, Missha of Able C&C is currently developing and selling Gaeddongssuk extract products as flagship items. Missha first launched the Gaeddongssuk essence in 2019 (then named "Time Revolution Artemisia Treatment Essence") and experienced high popularity, selling 1 million units within a month of release. Later, an upgraded version including the word "soothing" in the product name was also released.

After using the product, I experienced the effect of red, inflamed acne calming down overnight, just as the name suggests. The somewhat watery Gaeddongssuk essence can be used as the first step in skincare after cleansing. On days when special soothing is needed, it is also good to soak an appropriate amount on a cotton pad and apply it as a pack on the needed area for 5 to 10 minutes. The subtly mugwort-scented Gaeddongssuk soothing essence is characterized by a moist and soft viscosity. It is not heavy at all and absorbs quickly into the skin, making it refreshing and light to use regardless of the season.

According to Missha’s explanation, the Gaeddongssuk used in the product is harvested in September from Ganghwado. Ganghwado is famous as a production area of high-quality mugwort thanks to its warm maritime climate and fertile soil. Gaeddongssuk bears fruit in September, which is known to be the time when it is most nutrient-rich.