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Glowing with ‘jamu’: Skincare brands rely on traditional recipes
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Affordable and natural: Akuna is popular with Indonesian women who are also concerned about health requirements in their beauty products. (Courtesy of Akuna Indonesia) (Personal collection/Courtesy of Akuna Indonesia)
Companies like Juara Skincare and Akuna Indonesia have brought the traditional medicine jamu to modern skin treatments.
Indonesians have long scrubbed their skins with natural jamu concoctions in the pursuit of beauty and vigor. Still, modern-day skincare enthusiasts tend to dismiss it due to its strong herbal smell, which may be unpleasant to those unaccustomed to it.
However, jamu doesn't have to smell that way, a fact that has inspired companies like Juara and Akuna Indonesia to repackage the ancient medicine with all-new scents and standardization.
Inspired by the multipurpose ingredients in jamu, Juara was established 15 years ago in New York by three friends: Metta Murdaya, Yoshiko Roth-Hidalgo and Jill Sung. It was, however, only in 2006 that Juara evolved into the award-winning, full-fledged brand it is known as today.
Some of its best-known products today are the Candlenut Body Creme as well as the Clove Flower and Turmeric Anti-Aging Serum.
"Candlenut oil — used extensively in Indonesia and Southeast Asia in cooking, traditional medicine and beauty treatments — is particularly high in Omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids, which is vital for beautiful skin inside and out," said Fani Kunarinta, manager of marketing and sales at PT Juara Beauty Indonesia.
