Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1544125
42 ASCP Skin Deep Spring 2026 Myrrh also delivers antioxidant support. Compounds such as curzerene, along with trace minerals including selenium, help neutralize free radicals and protect against oxidative stress and photoaging. For clients concerned with environmental exposure (and even aging), this adds another functional benefi t. Research also shows that myrrh can help the skin repair itself more effi ciently. A methanolic extract of myrrh has been shown to support faster surface healing while keeping infl ammation balanced, allowing the skin to close and recover without prolonged redness or irritation. Scientists believe this happens because myrrh helps guide the skin's immune cells to "clean up" and rebuild more eff ectively. Basically, this gives the body's natural repair process a boost. MYRRH IN THE MODERN TREATMENT ROOM In modern formulations, myrrh may appear under several INCI names, which all depend on how the resin was processed: • Commiphora myrrha resin extract is typically produced through solvent extraction, capturing many of the resin's heavier, skin-conditioning compounds and making it ideal for reparative and age-supportive formulations. • Commiphora myrrha oil refers to the steam-distilled essential oil, which contains lighter volatile compounds responsible for myrrh's distinctive aroma and antimicrobial activity. • Commiphora myrrha gum extract comes from the water-soluble part of the resin and is often used because it helps soothe the skin, creates a light protective layer, and supports hydration. Although each form off ers slightly diff erent functional benefi ts, they all come from the same protective resin produced by the Commiphora tree. BRIDGING ANCIENT WISDOM AND EVIDENCE- BASED PRACTICE Myrrh is one of those rare ingredients that sits comfortably at the intersection of tradition and science. It reminds us that the roots of our profession stretch back millennia and that the instincts of early healers were often spot on and remarkably sound. As estheticians, we have the privilege of working with ingredients that carry this depth of history and the responsibility to understand the evidence behind them. The next time you see myrrh on an ingredient label, know that it's so much more than an ancient reference. It's a clinically relevant, multifunctional botanical with a long legacy of skin support that has earned its place in the modern treatment room. Resources Biblehub.com. "Myrrh and Frankincense." Accessed February 2026. biblehub.com/topical/m/myrrh_and_frankincense.htm. Nomicos, E. Y. H. "Myrrh: Medical Marvel or Myth of the Magi? " Holistic Nursing Practice 21, no. 6 (November–December 2007): 308–23. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17978635. Suliman, R. S., et al. "The Role of Myrrh Metabolites in Cancer, Infl ammation, and Wound Healing: Prospects for a Multi-Targeted Drug Therapy." Pharmaceuticals 15, no. 8 (July 2022): 944. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36015092. Vidhate, S. Askayurveda.com. "Commiphora Molmol— Mahisaksa." Accessed February 2026. ask-ayurveda.com/ wiki/article/4113-commiphora-molmol--mahisaksa. GETTY IMAGES INGREDIENT DECK