8 Common Ingredients Found in Israeli Skin Care Products

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Walk around Tel Aviv, and you'll quickly realize that Israel is a bustling, fast-paced, savvy country full of creative people. Those on the prowl for beauty loot, specifically, may find themselves instantly enamored by streets lined with boutique spas, tiny skin care stores, fragrance counters, and high-quality, innovative products lining shelf after shelf.

"Israel is small, complex, and challenged," says Joanna Landau of Vibe Israel, a nonprofit that works to change the world's perception of the country. "Despite this, and to a certain degree, perhaps also as a result of this complexity, the culture breeds so much creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship."

Landau explains that Israel is the number one startup country in the world, with more startups per person than anywhere else. You can imagine, then, that there are some exciting and fascinating things happening everywhere, and that certainly extends into the beauty and skin care realm as well. To give you better insight into that innovation, we're focusing on some of the most commonly used ingredients in Israel skin care — such as pomegranate oil, dead sea salt, and calendula — that you might not have even considered using before. All the products included here today are made in Israel as well.

Pomegranate Seed Oil

Pomegranate Seed Oil

One of the most prevalent ingredients found in Israeli skin care is pomegranate oil. This makes sense since this bright red fruit grows abundantly there.

"Pomegranate oil can be very expensive at roughly 10 milliliters for $30," said Paula Rosenberg, a local beauty guru who has her own naturopathic skin care clinic and hosts an Israeli TV show called Healthy Morning. "It's very good for the skin, though, so it is worth the price."

It's a very lightweight, dry oil that absorbs quickly, leaving your skin plump and soft to the touch. It also contains potent antioxidants to help preserve and protect your epidermis. Try it yourself with Lavido's Gentle Exfoliator Cream ($36), which contains pomegranate seed oil, lemon, and macadamia.

Olives, Olive Oil, and Olive Leaves

Olives, Olive Oil, and Olive Leaves

If you thought olive oil was a popular ingredient in the States, just imagine how common it is in a place where the fruit thrives. There are numerous olive mills located throughout Israel, and many beauty and skin care companies take advantage of the fresh, local stuff on the regular. Along with the oil, you'll find crushed olives and even olive leaves in skin care products, as well.

For example, Olea Essence's Olive Wash & Exfoliate for Face & Body ($21) contains unfiltered extra virgin olive oil, as well as bits of crushed olives and pits to help exfoliate. Olea Essence sources their ingredients from Israel and, specifically, the Sea of Galilea.

Za'atar

Za'atar

When you think of Za'atar, food is probably the first thing that comes to mind. However, this spice is also a brilliant skin care ingredient, and is found in products and spas across Israel.

"Za'atar is amazing for the skin," said Lilach Ben Michael, owner of Lilka Wellness Boutique, a small spa located in the heart of Tel Aviv. "It's very good for acne, as it pulls excess sebum out of the skin."

She explains that za'atar is like clay in the way it works, but it's very gentle on the skin whereas some clays can be harsh. In her spa, she grinds za'atar up and then places it in oil for several days, then strains the oil out and uses it on her clients as a mask treatment. You can try this yourself, of course, but if you want to buy something already made, try Christina BioPhyto Za'atar Cream ($37).

Dead Sea Salt

Dead Sea Salt

The Dead Sea is located on the western side of Israel and is a popular destination not just for its impressive beauty, but because of its unique properties that benefit the skin. For example, Dead Sea salt contains over 20 minerals — including magnesium, bromide, sodium, zinc, and potassium — which soothe, relive tension, promote hydration, and soften skin.

Ahava is easily one of the most noted brands for its innovative work utilizing Dead Sea ingredients (sourced from the Israeli portion of the sea), and the brand has made their products available to a large portion of the world. Many of their products contain the Dead Sea salt, or you can buy their Natural Bath Salt ($22), which is 100 percent pure Dead Sea salt packaged in a pretty jar.

Dead Sea Mud

Dead Sea Mud

Like Dead Sea salt, the mud from this area is also rich in healing and soothing minerals. It's known to help improve circulation, and also cleanses and purifies. After applying it and letting the mud set, you'll notice improved texture, and softer, more radiant skin.

Ahava is also the place to shop if you're looking for a product that's straightforward in its ingredient list. Its Natural Dead Sea Mud ($16) is silky and smooth, making it easy to apply and comfortable to wear, and will make your skin feel so soft you can't stop touching it!

Calendula

Calendula

Walk around the markets throughout Israel and you'll see heaps of gorgeous, bright yellow calendula flowers. It's used frequently in DIY and boutique skin care, and larger brands utilize the local ingredient in their products as well.

"Calendula flowers calm and soothe the skin," says Rosenberg. "It's also really great for people with acne."

If you want to experience the soothing properties yourself, try Lavido's Ultra Daily Moisture Cream ($45), which contains organic calendula, evening primrose oil, and frankincense.

Rosemary

Rosemary

Rosemary is yet another plant that grows easily and abundantly in Israel, so it makes sense that it's utilized frequently across the board. Regarding skin care, it's used most commonly in essential oil form, and is good for both skin and spirit.

"Rosemary has qualities of rejuvenating the skin by removing old cells," says Rosenberg. "It is also really good for the cognitive abilities. There is one very interesting study about the smell of rosemary essential oil, where people with memory loss that smelled rosemary were better at remembering than those who didn't smell the rosemary in the study."

Sabon — which means "soap" in Hebrew — makes an olive oil and coconut oil soap ($8) that incorporates rosemary oil from the plant's seeds and flowers.

Lemongrass Oil

Lemongrass Oil

Though lemongrass technically isn't a local crop in Israel, it remains one of the most common ingredients found in skin care and beauty products throughout the country. Consumers literally buy it in bulk oil form like you would olive or coconut oil here, and use it either in its pure form or combine it with other ingredients when creating DIY treatments.

Rosenberg says that lemongrass oil — and fresh lemongrass leaves — is good for acne-prone skin. It's also used in hair products to strengthen the shaft, soften, and add shine. It may even stimulate hair growth.

Yarok Hair Feed Your Sunshine Hair Serum ($30) contains lemongrass oil, along with jojoba, black currant seed oil, aloe vera, and geranium.