You know the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”? Well I’m here to tell you that the same applies to your skin. Adding fruit to your skin care products is currently all the rage as consumers continue to stock up on products with natural ingredients. Whether you find fruits in the form of oils, extracts, purees or tinctures, they have never been more front and center in skin loving products.
Due to the vast amounts of fruit options available out there, I will be writing a two part article covering a portion of the fruits we grow here in North America while part two will consist of some tropical fruit options. The only thing left for you to consider is which fruit is right for your skin? So here’s where we come in….to save the day!
Before we dive into the fruit punch, let me introduce you to the way companies label the ingredients in their skin care products. It’s referred to as the INCI, short for "International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient.” This legislation was put into place so that customers can easily discern what is actually in their cosmetic products. That being said you won’t see APPLE on any labels but instead Pyrus Malus.
If you see that apple (pyrus malus) fruit extract has been added to your skin care product, you can be sure it’s loaded with a rich composition of antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the skin from free radical damage caused by over exposure to the sun, pollution, toxic chemicals and a myriad of other things our skin is exposed to daily.
Apple fruit extract also contains pectin. Pectin has been found to promote epidermal growth and improve the skin barrier function. If your skin is showing signs of premature aging, unwanted changes in pigmentation, unevenness in skin tone or you have a dry dull lackluster complexion, looking for pyrus malus in your skin care product is going to be right up your alley.
It is BANANAS what bananas can do (see what I did there?). When used in cosmetic formulations, Banana (musa sapientum) is often applied for its soothing and moisturizing benefits. Bananas are rich in vitamins A, B, C and E, and are a good source of potassium, manganese, iron and zinc. The ideal use for bananas is on dry, dehydrated, cracked, peeling or sensitive skin, but bananas also contain antioxidant properties that can be used on aging and damaged skin. Bananas don’t just stop there. Although it can be used on dry damaged skin, it can also be used on oily and acne prone skin in order to control oil production and prevent break outs.
So, if your skin is in need of a little TLC, use a daily body lotion with banana fruit extract to reduce irritation and promote moisture retention. If your skin is just tore up from the floor up, puree the dang banana and spread it on! Bananas contain no known ingredient to irritate the skin when used in its raw form and direct application of the fruit will nourish and revitalize dry skin to smooth out rough and aging skin. Bananas are also used in hair masks to add moisture and a silky texture to dry brittle hair.
Bilberry fruit extract (vaccinium myrtillus) is similar to blueberry (vaccinium angustifolium) and in the same family as the cranberry (vaccinium macrocarpon) (berry interesting stuff right?). It is used for its high concentration of anthocyanins known to be powerful antioxidants. As we now know, antioxidants prevent premature signs of aging and other indications of free radical damage to our skin cells. But bilberries don’t stop there. They have been used for thousands of years in internal medicine but now bilberry fruit extract added to cosmetics or in skin care products are found to protect against collagen depletion.
Extracts obtained from bilberries, blueberries & cranberries containing anthocyanosides have been shown to promote the skins ability to produce collagen, prevent thinning skin and promote brighter, conditioned skin. So, if your skin is thinning due to age or medication, look for these ‘berry’ helpful ingredients in your skin care.
Orange fruit extract is a bit of a chameleon. You may see it listed as citrus aurantium dulcis, citrus aurantium amara or citrus sinensis. The first is sweet orange, the second is bitter and the third can refer to the fruit you eat or orange fruit peel. Orange fruit extract is a beneficial ingredient in skin care products and therefore at least one of the products in your bathroom cupboard is likely to contain orange fruit extract in either zest, juice, essential oils or powdered forms.
As with many other citrus fruits, orange provides a substantial amount of vitamin C which is another potent antioxidant. It also contains beta-carotene, lutein and naturally occurring alpha hydroxyl acid. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) increase the rate of cell turnover which promotes smoother brighter skin. It also detoxifies and purifies the skin with its astringent properties.
So what does this mean for your skin? If you have excess sebum (oily skin), dry dull skin, an uneven complexion or acne prone skin, bring on the oranges! Plus it doesn’t hurt that the fragrance from this wonderful fruit is uplifting and sunny. (orange you glad you asked? LOL)
If you feel like we haven’t even scratched the surface of this very fruitful discussion, it’s because we haven’t. But a “lime” must be drawn somewhere right? (Ok…Ok I’m done now!) Stay tuned for part two where I dive into some of the tropical fruit extracts that have amazing skin loving benefits. Until then, Let Your Skin’s Beauty Bloom!
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