More than 20 cosmetic items available on the market incorporate orchid extracts as part of their ingredients. These orchids, including Bletilla striata, Brassocattleya Marcella, Calanthe discolor, Cattleya, Cymbidium goeringii, Cymbidium Great Flower Marie, Cymbidium kanran, Cycnoches cooperi, Cypripedium pubescens, Dendrobium bigibbum (also known as Dendrobium phalaenopsis), Dendrobium chrysotoxum, Dendrobium moniliforme, Dendrobium nobile, Gastrodia elata, Orchis maculata, Orchis mascula, Orchis morio, Paphiopedilum Maudiae, Phalaenopsis amabilis, Phalaenopsis javanica, Phalaenopsis lobbii, Vanda coerulea, Vanda falcata (syn. Neofinetia falcata), and Vanda tessellata, are utilized. These orchid extracts serve various purposes in skincare, including skin conditioning (for cleansers, face masks, moisturizers, and emollients), offering UV protection, skin whitening, and supporting hair care. Additionally, one product even claims to stimulate hair growth. Notably, during the Tokugawa Period (1603–1867), Japanese nobility would hang blooming Vanda falcata orchids in their palanquins to enjoy the delightful fragrance during their travels.
Vanda coerulea Griff. Ex Lindl. New compounds isolated from this beautiful orchid that protect skin fibroblast cells from ultraviolet light damage would have a place in cosmetic preparations
Anacamptis coriophora R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W. Chase
Common name: Bug orchid
In the cosmetic indus- try, tyrosine inhibitors are regularly used in the preparation of skin whiteners. On Skin Pigmentation
Korean, Chinese and other Asian scientists are screening medicinal plants for tyrosinase and DOPA auto-oxidation inhibitory activities to possibly employ them as skin whiteners in the cosmetic industry. Tyrosinase is the catalysing enzyme in the initial stages of melanin (the skin pigment) formation.
Papilionanthe teres (Roxb.) Lindl.
Vanda teres Roxb.
Chinese names: Banghua Lan (stick flower orchid), Jianyewandai Lan (sharp leaved ten-thousand-generation/Vanda orchid, Bangyewandai Lan (terete leaf Vanda orchid); Bangyeyu Lan (terete leaf jade orchid), Fengdie lan
Indian names: Chaitek Lei in Manipuri, cylindri- cal Vanda
The usage of the two Papilionanthe species in Malaysian and Nepalese traditional medicine appears to be an unconscious application of the Doctrine of Signatures. The discovery of potential antiskin ageing agents in P. teres is likely to lead to its incorporation in cosmetic preparations.
Vanilla is the orchid with which the world is
most familiar because of its usage in food,
beverages and cosmetics, albeit many people are
unaware of its orchidaceous identity.