Skin-care products have always thrived on the cutting edge of fashion, and the biggest international names in cosmetics are celebrated in elegant ads worthy of a Paris runway.

But instead of seeking the latest thing, many shoppers for beauty products in China are now looking to their cultural past for traditional Chinese medicine and its natural ability to enhance skin.

Zhang Xuan has been using different cosmetic products for a long time, but nothing seemed to soothe her dry skin during winter until she switched to Herborist, a TCM-based cosmetic brand.