The Peony: A Sumptuous Bloom for Strong Skin

Outside a temple in Kyoto, there is an enchanting “secret garden” filled with audaciously sized peonies, or shakuyaku as they are known in Japan. These massive blooms, which rival the size of American sunflowers, are sumptuous and fragrant — when sunlight streams through the trees and rays hit the peony petals, the sight fills you with a sense that these flowers hold their own magic. And peonies do possess their own special type of enchantment; the flower has been treasured for centuries for its skincare benefits, especially for the way it helps increase skin’s natural moisture-retaining abilities.