Licorice Root (Gamcho) in K-Beauty

Licorice root, known in Korean as gamcho, is one of the most important herbs in traditional East Asian medicine and a widely used skincare botanical.

Cultural origin

Licorice root (gamcho, 감초) is one of the most frequently used herbs in traditional East Asian herbal medicine, so much so that a Korean saying notes its presence in nearly every herbal prescription. Used across the region including Korea, it has a strong, well-documented place in traditional herbal practice, lending it genuine heritage credibility as a beauty ingredient.

Traditional use

In traditional herbal medicine, licorice root was valued as a harmonizing herb included in many formulas. Its broad traditional use and reputation as a gentle, balancing ingredient carries into its modern cosmetic image as soothing and well-tolerated. The medicinal tradition is well documented, while cosmetic uses are a modern application of the same plant.

Modern skincare use

In modern cosmetics, licorice root extract and its derived compounds (such as glabridin) are popular for brightening and soothing. Licorice extract is widely used in products targeting dullness, uneven tone, and sensitive skin, and it is a common gentle brightening option in serums and creams. Brightening claims are cosmetic; nonetheless, licorice is a well-regarded, broadly used soothing botanical.

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Sources

• Liquorice (Wikipedia) ↗
• Glabridin (Wikipedia) ↗

✍️ Written & reviewed by the KoreaPlus Editorial team — dermatologist-informed, cosmetic-science researched & source-cited. Last reviewed 2026-06-21.

General educational information using cosmetic structure-function wording — not medical advice. Always patch-test new actives. © KoreaPlus.