SKIN SCIENCE
4 Kiwi skin benefits that can enhance your appearance
You've probably enjoyed kiwi in a delicious tropical smoothie or as part of a fresh fruit tart, but did you know that the kiwi fruit is also just plain good for your skin?
The fuzzy brown exterior might not look that exciting — but the bright green flesh and black seeds on the inside deliver some pretty amazing perks. In addition to helping you maintain hydrated, dewy skin all over your body, kiwi's active properties can reduce signs of aging!
It tastes great and helps keep skin healthy — what's not to love? Here are four kiwi skin benefits you can enjoy by incorporating this fruit into your diet and skincare routines.
Diana Kelly Levey December, 30, 2019
Runner, dancer, baker, adopted dog mom, wisecracker (or jokester)
1. Locks in moisture
One of the biggest advantages kiwi offers is its uncanny ability to keep skin hydrated. This is due in large part to the fruit's high concentration of vitamin C, which enhances barrier lipids in the skin. Having a healthy barrier and skin microbiome can prevent water loss as well as invasions from microorganisms, according to a report published in the journal Nutrients.
When your skin is properly hydrated, it radiates with a dewy, youthful glow.
2. Helps prevent early aging
If you wear sunscreen every day and apply body moisturizer at night to keep your skin looking healthy, youthful and wrinkle-free, you're on the right track — but there's more you could be doing to reduce signs of aging! Environmental factors like pollution, sunlight and smoking can cause oxidative stress, which accelerates skin damage. Fortunately, vitamins C and E are potent antioxidants that neutralize oxidative stress and protect against this kind of damage.
Using skincare products with vitamin C-rich ingredients — like kiwi — can improve your skin's resistance to UV exposure and actually help it produce collagen.
3. Reduces appearance of wrinkles
Every time you eat vitamin C-rich foods like kiwi and strawberries, you're giving your skin the tools it needs to fight signs of aging. After all, having a diet that's high in vitamin C improves the skin's elasticity, antioxidant capacity and moisture, according to the aforementioned research published in Nutrients. In a 90-day study, 60 healthy participants with signs of skin aging took an oral supplement that was high in vitamin C — researchers concluded that participants showed improved skin health and fewer wrinkles.
To reap these benefits, try adding more kiwi to your diet. Consuming a serving or two is a surefire way to take advantage of its active properties! You can also get in on the goodness by topically applying a kiwi-infused moisturizer to the skin all over your body.
4. Firms skin for a more youthful appearance
Who doesn't want firmer skin? Using skincare products that contain folate — a nutrient found in kiwi that's critical to the formation of new cells — can help improve the firmness of mature skin, according to a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. Researchers found that applying a topical product with folic acid improved collagen fiber density and collagen metabolism, firming and tightening skin in the process.
Looking to add a folate-rich product to your skincare routines? Seek out a body cream that contains kiwi for skin-firming results. With kiwi skin benefits like this, it won't be long before you ask yourself how you ever got this far without incorporating the fruit into your regimen!
