Five-a-day: The fruit and veg-packed skincare your routine needs now
From Vitamin C to antioxidants, don’t underestimate the potency of plant power when it comes to your complexion
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Step into any beauty department and you’ll be surrounded by fruit-fragranced lotions and potions. Fine for the nose, but when it comes to luxury skincare, the scent of the product is usually the least interesting thing about it. Packed with vitamins, antioxidants and fatty acids (particularly in their seeds), when it comes to beauty, fruit and vegetables are powerhouses of nutrition that can benefit us not only on the inside, but the outside as well.
Thanks to advances in biotechnology, experts are able to isolate specific nutrients and compounds in fruit and vegetables that can be found in, or utilised by, our skin, transforming them into topical products that can repair, replenish and reverse multitudes of concerns. Though the extracts are powerful, fruit and vegetable-derived ingredients are less likely to be ‘rejected’ by the body, cause less irritation, and are more readily absorbed, making the products far more effective.
Whether you’re looking to boost collagen, soothe problem skin, hydrate or awaken your glow, these are the luxury fruit and veg skincare heroes taking five-a-day to a whole new level.
Carrots: Dr. David Jack All Day Long Moisturiser SPF50+
Unfortunately, eating carrots doesn’t help you see in the dark – but renowned aesthetic doctor Dr. David Jack, whose flagship clinic resides on Harley Street, has far better uses for them. His daily moisturiser incorporates carrot seed oil and carrot root extract, both rich in alpha-carotene and beta-carotene, to reduce the oxidative stress caused by UV radiation, a leading cause of premature skin aging, and rejuvenate the skin.
Aiming to create a product ‘that pushes the boundaries of skin protection’, he formulated a patented blue light filter derived from the botanical actives in carrots, resulting in an impenetrable shield against UV rays, blue light, pollution and cellular damage designed to be worn every day.
Cress: Dr. Barbara Sturm Brightening Serum
While many know (and love) Dr. Sturm’s high-performance products, you might not know the humble garden vegetable that informs her pigmentation-fighting Brightening Serum: cress. The sprouts are rich in sulforaphane, a powerful antioxidant compound known to inhibit melanin production, which plays a central role in the formation of dark spots.
It also supports the skin’s detoxification processes, working to neutralise free radicals and protect against environmental stressors like UV exposure and pollution, which cause new dark spots to develop. Not only does the serum act as a long-term preventative measure, it also gently illuminates the complexion for an instant lift.
Broccoli: Reome Three Suns Balm Cleanser
Reome founder Joanna Ellner sees the skin’s nutritional needs as being akin to the body’s, so you’ll find links to food across her entire range. Designed to remove makeup, cleanse and deeply hydrate, the first surprise in the cleansing balm is broccoli leaf extract, chosen for its ability to stimulate the skin’s detoxifying enzymes, thus encouraging it to ‘almost wash itself’.
The second is fermented radish root, which has ‘exceptional’ anti-inflammatory properties and works as a kind-to-skin preservative for the other active ingredients, amplifying their bioavailability and efficacy. Put simply, you’ll continue to feel the benefits long after rinsing.
Reishi mushroom: Olverum Procellular Defence Day Cream
Earlier this year, Olverum launched its first dedicated skincare range, combining responsibly sourced ingredients with scientific formulations, and built on its ethos of sensory luxury. Each product taps into the power of reishi mushrooms; known as the ‘queen of mushrooms’, reishi extract helps to protect the skin from epigenetic stress – ‘marks’ on the cells caused by UV radiation, pollution, temperature fluctuations and microbes interacting with the skin.
It also helps to balance the skin’s pH and calm irritation, strengthening the barrier and contributing to its overall health. Combined with algae-derived astaxanthin (an antioxidant 6000x more powerful than the basic form of Vitamin C), and scented with cardamom, bergamot and lavender, it hydrates the skin, builds its natural resilience and provides ‘moments of emotional grounding’, says founder Dominic Hawskley.
Chaga mushroom: Perricone MD Hypoallergenic Clean Correction Barrier Repair Moisturiser
Perricone MD goes wild for mushrooms – literally. Its chaga mushrooms are sustainably sourced from birch trees in northern Canada, using extraction processes that reap high concentrations of its biologically active compounds (the good stuff your skin will readily absorb). Rich in anti-oxidative polyphenols, chaga is another adaptogen that neutralises free radicals while soothing and conditioning the skin, acting to repair and strengthen the barrier’s defences.
It has also shown skin-brightening benefits in clinical testing. Perricone MD combines it with beetroot extract, high in the humectant betaine which helps to optimise hydration, and cucumber, for its water content, soothing properties and natural quantities of Vitamin C. The result is a cream that instantly hydrates, reduces redness, and protects the natural moisture barrier – kind even to sensitive skin.
Apricot: Dr. Hauschka Apricot Day Cream
Dr. Hauschka relies on the natural powers of nature for her skincare formulations, utilising selective properties of pure and precious raw materials for the most effective results. Here, apricot is star of the show. The pulp is high in carotenoids, antioxidants which help protect the skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation. It also uses the kernel oil, which is packed with vitamins and fatty acids that are easily absorbed by the skin, providing deep nourishment to dry complexions and restoring your natural glow. Your skin will be left velvety and bright, just like the fruit itself.
Vanilla: Chanel Sublimage L’Extrait de Nuit Serum
Chanel’s new night serum is extraordinary – and you can thank vanilla fruit for that. Vanilla contains compounds that act as a natural barrier against free radicals, while its oils are touted for their anti-inflammatory, moisturising properties. Chanel grows its exclusive vanilla planifolia in an open-sky laboratory in Madagascar, ensuring the plant (and its extracts) can reach optimal potency.
A process called ‘PolyFraction’ combines the extracts into a complex that has a 40x higher concentration of active molecules than the fruit alone, giving it the potential to restore collagen structure by up to 49 per cent and increase cell regeneration threefold. Capturing the rejuvenating power of eight hours sleep in a bottle, the soft-as-silk serum will ensure radiance and youth is restored.
The whole salad: Elemis Superfood Vital Veggie Mask
With prebiotics (which protect the skin’s microbiome), fermented actives and plenty of vitamins, the Elemis Superfood collection is a recipe for glowing skin. The mask is formulated with avocado oil for its omega 6 and 9, which nourish the skin barrier, broccoli seed oil for its fatty acids and antioxidants to soften the skin, pineapple extract for its bromelain, a natural exfoliating enzyme to remove dead skin cells, carrot extract to moisturise and reduce fine lines, and passion fruit extract to brighten the complexion. It’s basically a salad. While 10 minutes is enough to see a difference, use it overnight once a week, and your skin will thank you each and every morning.
