Many people want to look younger, especially women. They will do anything to prevent the wrinkle appearance or remove the existing ones. Many cosmetic products are introduced to meet this demand. They are ranged in various brands, sizes and prices. Although the advertisement sounds and looks convincing, the real results are not always the same. It is because of the different characteristics of skin that each person has. The chemical ingredients on those cosmetic products even potentially raise the unwanted side effects. Fortunately, there are many natural solutions to be used as the safer alternative.
Pachyrhizus erosus or Bengkoang or Jicama is beneficial as an anti-aging. It is a native Mexican vine. Jicama then spread to Asia with the involvement of Spaniards who cultivated this tuber plant from Mexico to Philippines. It then went to China and other parts of Southeast Asia. The benefits of Jicama or bengkoang for skin care, especially to prevent aging, are taken from the rich content of minerals and vitamins. We can find antioxidants, vitamin C, flavonoids and saponins that work to prevent the skin damages because of free radicals. It can also be used as the bleach. The phenolic substances inhibit the melanin (pigmentation) formation caused by sun’s UV rays, cosmetic side effects and acne scars. It is no wonder then if regular usage of Jicama can make the skin face look brighter and younger. In Indonesia, this tuber plant is commonly used as masks, scrubs, facial cleaner and moisturizer.
Many people, especially Indonesian women, take the advantage of jicama because they want to have brighter and whiter skin. They usually make it into a mask or simply use the cosmetic products with jicama extracts. It is quite easy however to make the home made mask from bengkoang. Peel and grate one tuber of jicama and it is well blended. Apply it to the face or body, leave it for 40 minutes to dry and then wash it with clean water. By doing this way regularly, the skin will look brighter and younger. The antioxidant content will protect the skin from free radicals and will prevent the aging naturally.
