Oranges In Skincare

Oranges make a delicious snack, a classic juice and, due to their Vitamin C, a fabulous skincare ingredient. Oil derived from orange peels retains all of the skin-benefiting nutrients and antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that oranges boast, plus the bright, fruity scent. And ingredients derived from oranges can contain vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant and wrinkle fighter.

Whether you bite into its juicy flesh or use its peel, oil or juice as an ingredient in your skincare routine, oranges are awesome. Keep your eyes peeled (pun very much intended) for orange and its derivative ingredients in your skincare and you could see a positive difference in your skin’s condition.

Antibacterial And Antimicrobial

It’s no secret that oil pulled from oranges smells delicious, but what many don’t know is that oil from oranges and other citrus fruits can have antibacterial and antimicrobial qualities. A study published in Food Science pitted orange oil, lemon oil and two antibiotics, tylosin and nisin, against each other in a fight against bacteria and fungi. Orange oil bested lemon oil in antibacterial qualities and, in a much larger dose, performed as well as tylosin in beating back bacteria. Orange oil was the only one of the four that showed inhibition of gram-negative bacterial cultures. Fungal yeasts were more sensitive to the orange oil than any of the other agents.

Anti-Inflammatory

Ingredients derived from oranges can have anti-inflammatory properties too. Orange peel extract in particular has demonstrated anti-inflammatory qualities. A study published in Food Science & Human Wellness tested orange peel extracts to see just how well they perform against inflammation. Orange peels contain polymethoxyflavones and hydroxylated polymethoxyflavones, potential bioactives against inflammation. When the orange peel extracts were tested, the results showed strong anti-inflammatory effects. Oral intake of the orange peel extract brought down edema, the medical term for swelling, in mouse paws and reduced swelling so much it was comparable to ibuprofen. What’s more, a preliminary clinical study indicated that orange peel extract showed no adverse side effects. If oranges can do that much to reduce swelling in little mice, think of the effect they could have on inflammation of your skin.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is the skincare golden child of the citrus family. It’s one of the most common antioxidants found in skincare products and it can be pulled from citrus fruits like oranges. Vitamin C can do great things for skin. It scavenges free radicals, tones down hyperpigmentation, triggers collagen production and can even make your sunscreen work better. A study in the British Journal of Dermatology showed that the topical application of vitamin C to porcine skin correlated with protection from UVB damage as measured by erythema and cell death known as sunburn cell formation. It also protected porcine skin from UVA-mediated phototoxic reactions, showing promise as a broad spectrum protectant from the impact of the sun’s UV rays.

Vitamin C has also been linked to the improvement of the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. According to the textbook Cosmetic Dermatology, one study found that a treatment of 10 percent L-ascorbic acid, a form of vitamin C, decreased wrinkles. The author of the text speculates that the wrinkles may have been reduced due to the increased collagen production that vitamin C can spark, or by inflammation some patients experienced when using the treatment.

How To Work It Into Your Skincare

The simplest way to work the benefits of oranges into your skincare routine it to seek products that contain orange oil extract or forms of vitamin C. Fulom Face & Body Cleanser contains orange oil that brings with it all of the antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory benefits of oranges, plus their intoxicatingly sweet citrus scent. Serums containing doses of vitamin C are another great option for inserting some oranges into your routine.

If you really want to up the ante on your orange benefits, look for products that pair vitamin C with vitamin E. This duo can boost each other’s efficacy and work synergistically to make your skin look and feel even better. According to Cosmetic Dermatology, they can essentially borrow electrons from one another to renew themselves as needed.