Boswellia (Frankincense)
Also known as: frankincense, boswellic-acid, olibanum
The ancient resin Ayurveda and frankincense traditions have used for millennia โ a real anti-inflammatory that quiets reactive skin without the steroid trade-off.
What It Does
Deep Dive
Boswellia serrata (Indian frankincense) is the oleo-gum-resin extracted from the Boswellia tree, used in Ayurveda for over 3,000 years for inflammatory conditions. The active fraction is a family of pentacyclic triterpenes called boswellic acids โ particularly AKBA (acetyl-11-keto-ฮฒ-boswellic acid) โ which inhibit 5-lipoxygenase, the enzyme that produces inflammatory leukotrienes. In skincare, this translates to a measurable reduction in redness and reactivity without the long-term thinning of corticosteroids. K-beauty brands (By Wishtrend, Round Lab) and Indian brands (Forest Essentials, Kama Ayurveda) have leaned into boswellia in calming serums and barrier creams; Western dermocosmetics are catching up. Genuinely useful for rosacea-prone and reactive skin โ the evidence is solid for inflammatory pathway modulation, even if the consumer skincare studies are smaller than for centella.
Sources
- [1]Siddiqui boswellia anti-inflammatory review โ View source