Liquorice Extract for Body Care

Liquorice extract is a multi-active botanical from the Glycyrrhiza glabra root, delivering glabridin, licochalcone A, and glycyrrhizin to fade pigmentation, calm redness, and protect against UV-triggered darkening. In body care, it pairs elegantly with stronger brighteners like kojic and alpha arbutin, offering anti-inflammatory backup that is especially relevant for reactive, melanin-rich Indian skin.

What is Liquorice Extract?

Liquorice has been in Ayurveda (as mulethi) and traditional Chinese medicine for millennia. In cosmetic chemistry, the root is standardised for three actives: glabridin (a tyrosinase inhibitor more potent than kojic on an equal-concentration basis), licochalcone A (an anti-inflammatory that calms UV-triggered redness), and glycyrrhizin (which supports wound healing and barrier repair).

That multi-active profile is why liquorice is often called a brightener that does not just fade pigment, but prevents its formation in the first place.

Why it matters for Indian body care

Indian skin has a double problem. High baseline melanin means pigment gets laid down fast. High inflammatory reactivity means any insult (waxing rash, sun, acne, friction from sarees or kurtas) triggers post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Liquorice addresses both arms of the problem simultaneously. It calms the inflammation that triggers pigment and blocks the tyrosinase that produces it. In the Indian context, where mulethi has been used for skin for generations, it also carries the trust of a familiar Ayurvedic name rather than a foreign import.

How TLC uses Liquorice Extract

TLC formulates liquorice at 1 to 3 percent standardised for glabridin content, stacked with alpha arbutin, niacinamide, and centella asiatica for a complete pigment-plus-calm protocol. It works beautifully in daytime body lotions where the UV-protective angle matters, and in overnight serums for underarms and inner thighs. Explore it in our brightening soothing body care.

How to use / best practices

• Use daily, morning and night. Liquorice has no photosensitivity risk, so daytime use is safe and recommended.
• Layer under SPF 30 or higher for the full UV-pigment protection stack.
• Pair with kojic or mandelic acid for faster pigment fading on stubborn zones.
• Use on underarms post-shaving to prevent the darkening waxing and shaving cause.
• Give it 6-8 weeks for visible results. Liquorice works slower than hydroquinone but without the rebound.
• Apply generously across knees, elbows, inner thighs, and the back of the neck.

Who should use (and who should skip)

• Use if: You have pigmentation, melasma, post-acne marks, or sensitive skin that cannot tolerate stronger brighteners.
• Use if: You are pregnant or breastfeeding and want a safer pigment option.
• Use if: You want daytime UV-pigment protection layered under sunscreen.
• Patch-test if: You have known sensitivity to leguminous plants or mulethi.

Frequently asked questions

Is liquorice extract the same as mulethi?

Yes. Mulethi (the Ayurvedic name) and liquorice root both come from Glycyrrhiza glabra. Cosmetic-grade extract is standardised for actives, unlike raw mulethi powder.

Can I use it with vitamin C?

Yes, this is a strong daytime brightening pair. Vitamin C addresses free-radical damage while liquorice blocks tyrosinase.

Is it safe during pregnancy?

Topical liquorice is considered safe in pregnancy and is often recommended as a hydroquinone alternative. Consult your obstetrician if uncertain.

How fast does it work compared to kojic acid?

Liquorice is slower, typically 6-8 weeks versus 4-6 for kojic, but gentler. Stacking both gives the best of both. See our Indian fragrance body care guide for layering logic.