Marshmallow Extract Is The Newest Skincare Trend

Love marshmallows? You're in luck: it appears that marshmallow extract is the newest skincare trend to hit the market. While eating them won't do your skin any good — though it will benefit your soul, so go ahead and enjoy that s'more — InStyle reports that marshmallow extract, derived from the Althaea plant, is host to a bunch of properties that are good for your skin, especially during harsh winter months. I think it's time to make a toast to marshmallows.... with toasted marshmallows.

This isn't the first time marshmallows have shown up in skincare. In conversation with Huffington Post back in 2013, clinical dermatologist Carl Thornfeldt praised the plant for its soothing properties — though he claimed that marshmallow root had more potent skin protection effects than extract, which is derived from the plant's flowers. However, that hasn't kept beauty brands from finding a use for the extract.

Rene van Willigen, co-founder and director of Human + Kind, a natural skincare line that utilizes marshmallow root and extract in their products, praised the stuff in an interview with InStyle. In conjunction with other natural ingredients, he claims "[marshmallow extract] has the power to fight the aging process, heal, rejuvenate, moisturize, and treat some of the world’s most predominant skin ailments, such as eczema and rosacea." While I'm willing to bet that if marshmallow extract alone were that powerful it'd be selling for $300 a bottle, I'd be willing to try it, because nothing inspires the search for a miracle product like applying foundation over dry skin.

If you're in the skincare and product loop, you've likely noticed that skincare is subject to trends as much as fashion. But where plaid might be in one year and tartan the next, the trends that drive skincare tend to skew a little more, well, edible. Yep, the "if it's edible, it's good for your skin" logic has been around for a while now, and it's inspired plenty of food-skincare combinations, ranging from understandable to downright strange. Let's take a minute to appreciate the tasty skincare trends of yesteryear:

Avocados

Creamy Eye Treatment With Avocado, $47, kiehls.com

If the $47 price tag on this eye cream freaks you out, don't worry: avocados are a super popular ingredient in DIY skincare and hair care for their vitamin and fatty acid content.

Lemons

C.O. Bigelow Lemon Body Cream, $19.50, nordstrom.com

While lemons have a bunch of different uses in addition to smelling like summer, it's best known for brightening dry, dull skin.

Sea Salt

Lush Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub, $36.95, lush.com

My taste buds are dumb, so I love salt, but what I really love is that the beauty industry hasn't (yet) made salt more than what it is: grainy minerals that are good at removing dead skin. Oh, and giving you beach waves.

Honey

Sanitas Milk and Honey Body Butter, $29, dermstore.com

About as popular as avocados in the DIY world, honey has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.

Caviar

La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Sleep Mask, $315, bergdorfgoodman.com

For the truly indulgent, well, there's caviar. If you're willing to sit through three minutes of CGI closeups of caviar and string music, check out La Prairie's beautiful yet nonspecific ad for their caviar skincare line.

Snail Venom

Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Fast-Acting Serum, $120, sephora.com

OK, snail venom technically isn't a food, but snails are to some people, and this list wouldn't be worth reading if I didn't include an ingredient like snail venom. Supposedly it helps smooth out wrinkles, like, you know, botulism toxin.

Ginger

Origins Ginger Souffle Whipped Body Cream, $33, macys.com

Ginger not only tastes great in pad Thai — it's also packed full of antioxidants and has antiseptic properties.

Want more beauty tips? Check out the video below, and be sure to subscribe to Bustle’s YouTube page for more hacks and tricks!

Images: Giphy, Courtesy Brands (7)