Tsoji Ingredient Spotlight: Ginseng, Shou wu, Ginger, Mountain Green Tea & Moongrass

I grew up in Chongqing, a city of endless mountains surrounded by the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers. For over 18 years, my skin thrived in that naturally humid, misty environment.

When I moved to Los Angeles, everything changed. The extremely dry air year-round made my pores larger and more exposed to dust and pollutants. Over time, I began losing skin moisture, and my once-balanced complexion turned increasingly sensitive. Expensive skincare products only made things worse—clogging pores, triggering breakouts, and leaving my skin itchy and uncomfortable.

I realized that many commercial soaps and lotions are filled with synthetic colors, artificial fragrances, and harsh chemicals that strip away natural oils and disrupt the skin barrier.

Then I discovered the ancient cold process soap-making method—a traditional way of creating soap without chemicals or synthetic additives. This method allows the natural oils and herbal nutrients to remain intact, producing a gentle, non-toxic cleanser that truly nourishes the skin.

Rooted in my Asian heritage, I’ve always believed in the healing power of Eastern herbs—plants that help maintain inner balance and strengthen our resilience against environmental stress. By blending these herbs with olive oil and coconut oil through the cold process technique, I found a way to create soaps that gently cleanse, moisturize, and restore harmony to even the most dry or sensitive skin.

Today, I’m proud to share this simple, natural skincare ritual with my community—proof that sometimes, the best care comes from nature itself.

Crafting soap in small batches is both an art and a science. Every bar of Tsoji soap is handmade using a cold‑process method that preserves the botanical goodness of our ingredients and avoids harsh chemicals. When you lather up with a Tsoji bar, you’re not just cleansing – you’re nourishing your skin with herbs that have been treasured for centuries.

This week we’re spotlighting five herbal superstars in our zero‑additive formulas: ginseng, He Shou Wu, ginger, mountain green tea and Leonurus artemisia. These plants are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and soothing compounds, making them perfect for daily use and sensitive, dry skin. Read on to discover why Tsoji’s natural soap is a great choice for your skincare routine.

Ginseng – the anti‑aging powerhouse

Ginseng has long been a prized ingredient in Korean and Chinese medicine. Modern research explains why: Panax ginseng roots are rich in compounds that stimulate circulation and collagen production. A review of studies on ginseng and skin health notes that ginseng can reduce wrinkles, promote elasticity and help brighten the complexion (healthline.com). One study involving 21 women found that a mixture containing ginseng improved skin moisture and reduced the appearance of crow’s‑feet wrinkles. Ginseng’s ability to protect the skin from oxidative stress makes it ideal for combating premature aging.

In Tsoji’s handmade natural soap, finely ground ginseng root infuses each bar with these anti‑aging benefits. Because our soap is made in small batches, the delicate ginsenosides aren’t destroyed by heat. The result is a non‑toxic, cold‑process bar that leaves your skin supple and radiant.

He Shou Wu – nourishing herb for skin and hair

He Shou Wu (also called Fo‑ti or Polygonum multiflorum) is a climbing herb revered in Chinese medicine for its rejuvenating properties. According to MedicineNet’s review of the scientific literature, compounds in He Shou Wu – including anthraquinones, stilbene glucosides and chrysophanic acids – exhibit antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory activity (medicinenet.com). These phytochemicals help relieve skin conditions such as acne, sores and dermatitis by reducing inflammation and controlling bacterial growth (medicinenet.com). He Shou Wu is also known for promoting hair growth and reducing graying (medicinenet.com), making it a favourite for holistic beauty rituals.

At Tsoji we use responsibly sourced, processed He Shou Wu powder in our soap to provide gentle cleansing without stripping natural oils. This ingredient works together with nourishing oils like olive and coconut to produce a creamy lather that’s kind to dry or sensitive skin. Our zero additive formula means you get the benefits of this herb without any harsh detergents.

Ginger – antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory root

Beyond its culinary fame, ginger root (Zingiber officinale) has impressive skincare benefits. Dermatologists consulted by Byrdie note that ginger contains the active compound gingerol, which has strong anti‑inflammatory properties that reduce redness and swelling (byrdie.com). Ginger also has antioxidant and toning effects; it can fade hypopigmented scars (byrdie.com), brighten dull skin and inhibit enzymes that break down collagen (byrdie.com). These properties make ginger ideal for soothing conditions like eczema, psoriasis and acne (byrdie.com).

In our soaps, ginger is blended into the oils and allowed to cure for weeks – a technique that preserves its volatile compounds. The result is a bar with a light, invigorating aroma and a gently warming effect. Ginger’s natural antibacterial qualities also help keep pores clear, which is especially useful for those with oily or acne‑prone skin. Because Tsoji uses a cold‑process method, the root’s beneficial compounds remain intact.

Mountain green tea – antioxidant shield for your skin

Mountain green tea comes from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, a plant renowned for its high levels of catechins, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Healthline highlights that green tea extract has been used in cosmetics for its antioxidant properties, which help protect the skin from UV‑induced damage and premature aging (healthline.com). Research shows that applying green tea extract both topically and orally reduces scaling and increases skin elasticity, hydration and density (healthline.com). EGCG also helps regulate sebum production and may accelerate wound healing (healthline.com).

Tsoji’s mountain green tea soap incorporates freshly brewed tea and powdered leaves into the base oils. This infusion gives our soap its soft green hue and subtly earthy fragrance. When used daily, the antioxidants help protect against environmental stressors while the gentle lather moisturizes. Our non‑toxic formula is free of synthetic dyes or fragrances, so you can enjoy the goodness of green tea without irritation.

Leonurus artemisia (Motherwort) – antioxidant & soothing herb for skin

Leonurus artemisia, also known as motherwort or Siberian motherwort, is an aromatic plant in the mint family. Extracts from the flowers, leaves and stems are rich in antioxidants and anti‑inflammatory compounds. Ingredient research notes that Leonurus sibiricus (a related species used in cosmetics) offers antioxidant properties that help protect the skin from environmental stressors and anti‑inflammatory benefits that can soothe irritation and reduce redness (myrevea.com). It may also promote collagen production, supporting skin firmness and overall vitality (myrevea.com). Technical data from a cosmetic supplier reports that motherwort extract acts as an antimicrobial, antioxidant, astringent, healing, moisturizing, soothing and anti‑inflammatory agent, providing skin‑soothing, wound‑healing and anti‑itch effects (specialchem.com).

By incorporating Leonurus artemisia into our soap, Tsoji delivers a gentle, moisturizing cleanse that calms irritation and helps the skin retain moisture. The herb’s antioxidant and antimicrobial qualities help to keep the skin clear while its astringent effect lightly tightens pores. Combined with nourishing oils, this makes our soap ideal for dry or sensitive skin.

Why choose Tsoji’s handmade natural soap?

Tsoji believes that daily cleansing should be a ritual that nurtures your skin. Our soaps are:

• Handmade with care: Each batch is crafted by artisans using a cold‑process method, which preserves the integrity of botanical ingredients and produces glycerin – a natural humectant that keeps skin hydrated.
• Made in small batches: Limited production allows for meticulous quality control and ensures that every bar meets our standards for craftsmanship.
• Free from additives and chemicals: We avoid synthetic detergents, parabens, sulfates, artificial fragrances and other harsh chemicals. Instead, we rely on plant oils, clays and essential oils to create a non‑toxic, zero‑additive soap that truly contains no chemicals beyond those naturally derived.
• Suitable for dry & sensitive skin: Ingredients like ginseng, He Shou Wu, ginger, mountain green tea and Leonurus artemisia provide moisture, antioxidants and soothing properties for dry and sensitive skin types.
• Sustainable & ethical: Our herbs are sourced from trusted growers, and we use eco‑friendly packaging to minimize our environmental footprint.

Final thoughts

The herbs highlighted in this post are more than just buzzwords – they’re time‑honoured botanicals backed by emerging science. Ginseng stimulates collagen and diminishes wrinkles (healthline.com), He Shou Wu offers antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory support (medicinenet.com), ginger calms inflammation and brightens skin (byrdie.com), green tea shields against environmental damage and boosts hydration (healthline.com), and Leonurus artemisia provides antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and astringent properties and may promote collagen production, supporting skin firmness and soothing irritated skin (myrevea.comspecialchem.com).

Together these ingredients transform a humble bar of soap into a holistic skincare experience.

If you’re looking for a handmade natural soap that embodies craftsmanship, embraces cold‑process traditions, and is good for daily use on dry or sensitive skin, Tsoji’s herbal soaps are worth exploring. Our bars are made in small batches using a cold process soap making method to preserve nutrients, and they are formulated with no chemicals and zero additives so they’re suitable for sensitive skin and non toxic for the whole family. Treat your skin to the gentle power of nature and enjoy the ritual of cleansing with confidence.