There’s nothing more restorative than using berries for skincare to wash away the day, exfoliate and soften your skin. The refreshing scents help you reconnect with nature as you relax into well-deserved ‘me-time.’ As you massage in a cranberry exfoliator or dreamy raspberry moisturizer, you reveal a silky, soft glow. But what is it about berries that transform your skin?
In this article, I’m sharing a brief overview of the power of berries; the best berries for skin; and the perfect berry skincare routine.
The powerful benefits of berries for your skin
According to berry researcher Mary Ann Lila at North Carolina State University, Native Americans and Alaskan Natives traditionally used berries to speed up wound healing because of their anti-microbial properties. But what is it about berries that makes them so unique for skincare?
Enriched with zinc for a healthy glow
Berries are high in zinc, which is an excellent anti-inflammatory. When your skin is inflamed, you may experience acne, redness, and a dry, flakey complexion. Zinc soothes skin cells, promoting a healthy glow from the inside out.
Bursting with antioxidants to minimize premature aging
Berries are high vitamin C, anthocyanins, and flavonoids known for their antioxidant effects, which protect the body from free radicals. Free radicals are unstable atoms that attack and damage skin cells, including collagen. As collagen degrades, your skin loses its structure, creating enhanced fine lines and wrinkles. Consuming vitamin C and E-rich berries with antioxidants shields your skin from damage for a youthful bounce. Vitamin C is a vital component in collagen synthesis to keep your complexion firm and supple.
Abundant in ellagic acid for UV protection
When UV rays hit your skin it deregulates the production of enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). A healthy amount of MMPs help with wound healing, but too much degrades the collagen in skin cells. This can cause lacklustre skin, deepened facial creases, and some types of skin cancer.
Berries are bursting with a compound called ellagic acid. It naturally protects skin cells from harmful UV rays by blocking matrix metalloproteinases synthesis resulting in protected and vibrant skin.
The best berries for skin care
- Raspberries for skin – Raspberry extract benefits for skin include a powerful dose of vitamin C for collagen production.
- Blueberries for skin health – The benefits of blueberry for skin care is its potent antioxidant properties to protect cells from damage and reduce premature ageing.
- Cranberry extract for skin – Cranberry extract and cranberry powder skin benefits sleuth away dead skin cells. Cranberry also calms inflamed skin for even texture. Cranberry oil has the perfect ratio of omega 3,6 & 9 fatty acids helping to moisturize and soften skin.
How to use berries in your daily skincare routine + product recommendations
Below is a step-by-step guide on incorporating berries’ skin benefits into your skincare ritual and the best berry skincare products.
Step 1. Exfoliate with a luxurious Cranberry Scrub
Makeup, sunscreen, sweat, and grime collect on your face over the day. If you don’t remove the buildup, it can lead to clogged pores, causing breakouts, irritation, and a dry, dull complexion.
The Pink House Cranberry Scrub is formulated with dried cranberry fibres to buff away dead skin cells and reveal a dewy glow. The fibres are powerful enough to draw out impurities but have a soft texture to protect your derma barrier for silky smooth skin.
The deluxe scrub is made with 100% pure cranberry powder for skin, giving it a gorgeous natural pink colour. No nasty chemicals, just you and the beautifying properties of nature. Cranberries are also abundant in vitamin C to promote collagen production and taut skin.
How to use
The Cranberry Srcub is designed to mix seamlessly into your daily face wash for a simple skincare routine. Shake a dime-sized amount into your palm and swirl the powder together with your regular face wash. Massage the exfoliator in smooth circles on your face and neck, then rinse off. You can use the Cranberry Scrub anywhere from once a week to every day.
Step 2. Soften your skin with Raspberry Face Lotion
Once you’ve sleuthed away impurities, it’s time to moisturize your refreshed skin. Pink House’s stunning Raspberry Face Lotion is a cloud-light blend of dreamy raspberry and hibiscus tea, abundant in antioxidants and vitamin C for a boost in collagen.
It’s laced with the properties of rosemary, cucumber peel, and decadent blackberry. Their uplifting scents not only smell good but revitalize hydration and shield skin from radical damage.
The blissful raspberry skincare combines plumping coconut and meadowfoam oil with mango butter, melting seamlessly into your skin. It conditions the derma barrier, smoothes facial creases and minimizes signs of premature aging for sumptuous skin. The lightweight, buttery formula is perfect for a dry, sensitive, and mature complexion.
How to use
This small but mighty bottle goes a long way. Place 1-2 pumps onto your fingertips and gently work into your cleansed face and neck. The luscious berry moisturizer can be used as a day or night cream.
Step 3. Brighten your under eyes with Berry Rich Face and Eye Cream
An area of the face people often forget to nurture is under the eyes. The skin beneath your eyes is extremely delicate. It’s the first place to show shadows from a lack of sleep. It also dries out easily making it susceptible to fine lines and creases.
Graydon Skincare Berry Rich Face and Eye Cream is a probiotic formula that encourages healthy flora to reinforce your derma barrier and help your skin flourish.
The velvety cream is enriched with cocoa butter, which is abundant in fatty acids. The moisturizing fats reduce inflammation and plump up the under-eye area for a smooth and even texture. The face and eye cream contains mineral-rich blue-green algae, providing your skin with amino acids to super-boost collagen synthesis.
Graydon Skincare also harnesses blueberry facial benefits to boost your skin’s radiance. They finish the formula with a blend of antioxidant-rich blueberry seed oil that defends your cells from blue light to retain a luminous complexion.
How to use
Pat a pea-sized amount onto your under-eye area until the product has been absorbed. You don’t just have to use the cream under your eyes! This berry-licious formula is also fantastic to ultra-hydrate your skin. Apply a small amount onto your face, neck and decollette area. The thick texture is ideal for dry and mature skin or as a nighttime face cream.
Step 4. Lock in moisture with a berry-infused face oil
The final berry on top of your skincare routine is sealing in moisture with a moisturizing oil, like this one which contains upcycled cranberry oil. An oil helps protect your lipid barrier and keep your skin moisturized and protected longer. Berry Beautiful, a US company I love, has a stunning collection of organic berry-seed oils, including raspberry and cranberry. Get 10% off your berry oil using this link.
How to use
After your moisturizer has soaked in, take a few drops of berry-infused oil (you don’t need a lot) and gently massage it into your skin. Ensure you apply the oil after you moisturize, otherwise, your moisturizer will not be able to absorb properly. Remember to get your 10% discount when you purchase a Berry Beautiful oil.
Beautify your skin with berries
To sum it up, berries enrich your skin with antioxidants, promote collagen production, and soothe inflammation with the best berries. Harness the power of berries for skin care and revitalize your natural glow with Green Beauty Curator.
If you need a customized skincare ritual, please book a skincare consultation with me, so I can assess your skincare routine and make recommendations specific to your skin’s needs. You can also check out my other blog posts and skincare videos here.