What is Liquorice Root and Why is it the Best Natural Brightener? | Dream Glow Rituals
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What is Liquorice Root —
and Why is it the Best
Natural Brightener?
The ancient root that outperforms most modern brightening ingredients.
Dream Glow Rituals · Melbourne, Australia · 8 min read
It is not the most famous ingredient in skincare. It does not have the marketing budget of Vitamin C or the cultural moment of turmeric. But liquorice root has been quietly brightening skin for thousands of years — and the science behind why it works is more impressive than almost anything the modern cosmetics industry has produced.
This is everything you need to know about liquorice root — what it is, how it works on skin at a biological level, why it genuinely outperforms most synthetic brightening alternatives, and why it sits at the heart of every Dream Glow Rituals product we make.
What exactly is liquorice root?
Liquorice root comes from Glycyrrhiza glabra — a flowering plant native to Western Asia and Southern Europe. The name comes from the Greek words for "sweet root" — glykys (sweet) and rhiza (root) — and the plant has been cultivated and used medicinally for over 4,000 years across China, Egypt, Greece and India.
Glycyrrhiza glabra — what makes it special
The root of the liquorice plant contains over 300 identified compounds including glycyrrhizin (which gives it its characteristic sweetness), flavonoids, triterpenoids and — most importantly for skin — a compound called glabridin. It is glabridin that is responsible for most of liquorice root's remarkable effects on skin tone, inflammation and barrier function. And it is glabridin that makes liquorice root genuinely different from every other brightening ingredient available.
How liquorice root actually works on skin — the science
To understand why liquorice root is so effective at brightening skin, you first need to understand what causes uneven skin tone in the first place. The answer is melanin — the pigment produced by cells called melanocytes that gives skin its colour. When melanocytes overproduce melanin in certain areas, you get hyperpigmentation — dark spots, uneven tone and post-inflammatory marks.
The enzyme responsible for converting the amino acid tyrosine into melanin is called tyrosinase. Most brightening treatments — chemical and natural — work by targeting this enzyme. The question is how they do it, and what else they affect in the process.
Glabridin inhibits tyrosinase activity by binding directly to the enzyme and preventing it from converting tyrosine to melanin. Crucially, it does this selectively — reducing excess melanin production without completely shutting it down. Your skin keeps producing the melanin it needs for healthy pigmentation. Only the excess is reduced. This is what makes liquorice root different from aggressive brightening agents that bleach indiscriminately.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — the dark marks left behind by acne, irritation or injury — is caused by an inflammatory response that triggers excess melanin production. Liquorice root's powerful anti-inflammatory compounds, particularly glycyrrhizin, reduce the inflammation that triggers excess pigmentation in the first place. It does not just address the symptom. It addresses the cause.
Liquorice root is rich in flavonoids — plant compounds with strong antioxidant activity. These neutralise free radicals from UV exposure and environmental pollution that contribute to uneven skin tone and premature ageing. Liquorice root does not just reverse existing pigmentation — it actively protects against new damage forming.
Beyond inhibiting new melanin production, research suggests glabridin also helps disperse melanin that has already accumulated in the skin. This dual action — reducing new production and addressing existing pigmentation — is one of the reasons liquorice root produces more comprehensive brightening results than ingredients that only target one mechanism.
Liquorice root vs chemical brighteners — the honest comparison
There is a reason many skincare brands have moved away from harsh chemical brighteners like hydroquinone towards plant-based alternatives. Here is how liquorice root compares.
Bleaches skin by suppressing melanin production aggressively. Fast results but associated with irritation, rebound hyperpigmentation when stopped, and banned in several countries including Australia for over-the-counter use above certain concentrations.
Gently inhibits excess melanin production while preserving healthy pigmentation. Slower results that are gradual and lasting. No rebound effect. Safe for long-term daily use on all skin types including sensitive skin.
Derived from fungi, inhibits tyrosinase but known to cause contact dermatitis and skin sensitisation in many users. Not suitable for sensitive skin and can cause irritation with regular use.
Multiple studies have shown glabridin to be as effective as kojic acid at inhibiting tyrosinase — with significantly better tolerability and no known sensitisation issues. Suitable for sensitive and intimate skin.
Effective for pigmentation but can cause stinging, burning and redness — particularly on sensitive skin. Not appropriate for intimate care areas or reactive skin types.
Anti-inflammatory rather than irritating — actively soothes skin while brightening it. One of the few brightening ingredients genuinely suitable for intimate skin, sensitive skin and daily use without building sensitivity over time.
"The best brightening ingredient is not the fastest one. It is the one that works with your skin long enough to actually change it."
Dream Glow Rituals · Melbourne4,000 years of liquorice root in skincare
Common questions about liquorice root — answered
✕ "Is liquorice root just for dark skin tones?"
✓ Not at all. Liquorice root addresses excess melanin production in all skin tones. Anyone experiencing uneven skin tone, post-inflammatory marks, sun spots or general dullness can benefit — regardless of their natural skin tone or complexion.
✕ "Will I see results immediately?"
✓ Liquorice root works gradually — most people notice skin feeling calmer and looking more even within 3–4 weeks of consistent daily use. Significant changes in pigmentation take 6–8 weeks. This is because it is restoring balance rather than forcing a result — the changes are real and they last.
✕ "Can I use it on intimate skin?"
✓ Yes — liquorice root is one of the very few brightening ingredients genuinely suitable for intimate skin. Its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties make it ideal for this sensitive area. This is one of the reasons it features so prominently in the Sacred Blossom collection.
✕ "Does it smell like the confectionary?"
✓ Liquorice root extract in skincare is processed differently from liquorice flavouring and has a very subtle, almost neutral scent. You will not smell anything resembling the confectionery. The active compounds are extracted without the strong anise-like aroma.
How to get the best results from liquorice root
Use it daily without exception. Liquorice root works cumulatively. Missing days slows the process. Daily use over 6–8 weeks produces results that occasional use cannot replicate.
Combine with rosehip oil. Rosehip oil's natural Vitamin C content works synergistically with liquorice root's glabridin — the combination produces noticeably faster brightening results than either ingredient alone. Both feature in every Dream Glow Rituals formula.
Apply to clean skin. Liquorice root extract absorbs most effectively on skin that is clean and free from product buildup. Apply after cleansing for maximum penetration.
Protect from the sun. While liquorice root actively protects against UV damage, wearing SPF daily prevents new hyperpigmentation forming and lets the brightening effect build uninterrupted.
Be patient. Four thousand years of consistent use across multiple cultures is not accidental. But liquorice root works on the skin's natural renewal cycle — give it a full 8 weeks to show you what it can do.
Why liquorice root is in every Dream Glow Rituals product
When we were formulating the Dream Glow Rituals range, we knew we needed a brightening ingredient that was powerful enough to produce real results — but gentle enough to use daily on the most sensitive skin. An ingredient with a track record longer than any clinical trial could replicate. An ingredient that worked with skin biology rather than against it.
Liquorice root was the obvious answer. And once we understood the science of glabridin — the tyrosinase inhibition, the anti-inflammatory action, the antioxidant protection, the ability to disperse existing melanin — it was clear this was not just a good brightening ingredient. It was the best one.
It appears in every formula we make. Not as a trace ingredient listed near the bottom for marketing purposes — as a meaningful, bioavailable component doing exactly what it has always done. Quietly. Consistently. Beautifully. ✦
Dream Glow Rituals — Founder
Handcrafting natural ayurvedic skincare in Melbourne. Liquorice root is in every single product we make — at a meaningful concentration, working alongside 11 other hero botanicals, because your skin deserves ingredients that actually do something.
Experience liquorice root in your ritual ✦
Every Dream Glow Rituals product contains liquorice root extract alongside 11 other ancient ayurvedic botanicals. Natural, handmade in Melbourne, free from SLS, parabens and synthetic fragrance.
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