Science-backed beauty: The most clinically studied ashwagandha in personal care

As the beauty industry shifts toward evidence-based, holistic solutions, clinical validation has become the gold standard.

Today’s consumers and the brands that serve them demand quantifiable results supported by clinically studied and published data, not just tradition. Within this landscape, KSM-66 Ashwagandha stands as the most clinically studied Ashwagandha extract in personal care, with more than 10 human studies dedicated to skin, hair, and overall appearance, and over 70 trials in total confirming its broad safety and efficacy.

Beauty from outside: Clinically proven topical benefits

Skin health studies

Two independent clinical trials have confirmed KSM-66’s ability to rejuvenate and protect the skin when applied topically. In the first 60-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Cureus, 53 participants using a KSM-66 Ashwagandha infused lotion experienced significant improvement.^¹

At the end of the study, wrinkles reduced by 55.9%, pores by 66.5%, while skin hydration and elasticity increased by 20.6% and 16.4% respectively. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) decreased by 15% and melanin index reduced by 2.8%. These measurable outcomes indicated stronger barrier integrity and visible radiance.^¹

The second 90-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study further validated these findings, showing consistent improvement in hydration, firmness and elasticity while confirming excellent skin tolerance and safety. This study also reported a 15.25% reduction in skin stress, confirming KSM-66’s adaptogenic potential in topical form.^²

Together, these trials establish KSM-66 as a clinically validated botanical for visible skin rejuvenation, barrier repair, and stress protection.

Hair health studies

KSM-66 Ashwagandha’s benefits extend well beyond the skin to the scalp and hair. In a 75-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, participants applying a KSM-66 Ashwagandha-based hair serum experienced a 69% reduction in hair fall, along with a 4.64% increase in hair density, 7.28% improvement in hair growth, and 3.55% increase in hair thickness.^³

A second 90-day clinical study replicated these findings, demonstrating not only reduced hair loss but also a visible increase in anagen-phase hair growth and improved scalp hydration. With replicated, peer-reviewed data in two independent clinical trials, KSM-66 Ashwagandha emerges as one of the very few natural actives with scientifically validated efficacy for topical hair rejuvenation.^⁴

Beauty from within: Oral studies on skin and hair

While topical applications rejuvenate the surface, oral supplementation with KSM-66 Ashwagandha targets the biological roots of beauty, reducing stress, improving circulation, and enhancing nutrient delivery to skin and scalp.

In the first 75-day study involving 100 participants, supplementation with 300mg KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract twice a day led to significant improvements in both skin and hair metrics. Participants exhibited an 11.8% reduction in transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and a 11.73% decrease in Dermatology Quality of Life Index scores.^⁵

The study also demonstrated significant improvements of 3.47% in hair density, 4.62% hair growth, and 3.86% improvement in anagen percentage. These findings provide robust support for Ashwagandha’s role in reinforcing the skin barrier and revitalizing hair follicles through internal biological balance.^⁵

A second 90-day clinical trial in 92 adults further reinforced these outcomes. Oral administration of KSM-66 Ashwagandha (300mg twice a day) resulted in a 22.2% decrease in TEWL, a 28.07% improvement in the Dermatology Life Quality Index scores, and significant improvements of 7.19% in hair density, 6.92% hair growth, and 9.04% improvement in anagen percentage, indicating healthier, more active hair follicles.^⁶

Collectively, these results highlight that KSM-66 Ashwagandha doesn’t merely beautify from within but reprograms skin and scalp physiology to enhance resilience and vitality over time.

Preclinical insights: Anti-aging potential

Beyond its extensive human data, preclinical research further reinforces KSM-66 Ashwagandha’s anti-aging potential at the cellular and organismal levels. In a C. elegans model, KSM-66 Ashwagandha supplementation was shown to extend lifespan by approximately 20%, highlighting its ability to modulate stress response pathways and promote longevity.^⁷

Complementary in-vitro studies on HeLa cells demonstrated enhanced telomerase activity, suggesting a role in cellular rejuvenation and the maintenance of chromosomal integrity, both critical mechanisms associated with delaying biological aging.^⁸

A benchmark for clinically proven beauty

The consistency of results across six human trials, four topical and two oral, combined with strong preclinical data, positions KSM-66 as the most scientifically substantiated Ashwagandha in personal care. Each study reinforces its multi-pathway benefits, from cortisol regulation and antioxidant defense to improved skin structure and follicular health.

Additionally, with 47 third-party certifications, including COSMOS certified and approved, KSM-66 Ashwagandha also meets the growing demand for purity, traceability, and sustainability.

In a category often crowded with claims, KSM-66 Ashwagandha delivers measurable science. Its proven ability to enhance skin hydration, elasticity, and hair density, and hair growth, validated by peer-reviewed research, makes it the gold standard for brands and consumers seeking evidence-based beauty from within and without.

References

1. Narra, K.; et al. A Study of Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Lotion on Facial Skin in Photoaged Healthy Adults. Cureus. 2023:15(3): e36168.
2. A Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomized, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha Lotion in Photo-Aged Healthy Subjects. (Under Peer Review).
3. Yerram, C.; et al. Effects of Withania somnifera root extract serum application on hair health in healthy adults: A prospective, double-blind, randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled study. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 2023; 14(6), 100817.
4. A Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomized, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha Serum Application on the Hair Health in Healthy Adults. (Under Peer Review).
5.  A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study of Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract Capsule on Skin and Hair Health in Healthy Adults. (Under Peer Review).
6. A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study to Evaluate the Effects of KSM-66 Ashwagandha® on Skin and Hair Health in Healthy Men and Women. (Under Peer Review).
7. Kumar, R.; et al. Withania somnifera root extract extends lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans. Annals of neurosciences. 2013; 20(1), 13–16
8. Raguraman, V.; et al. Withania somnifera Root Extract Enhances Telomerase Activity in the Human HeLa Cell Line. Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology. 2016; 7, 199-204