An Apple A Day Keeps Skin Concerns at Bay: All About Apple Extract

So many skincare ingredients promise to erase wrinkles, smooth skin and give you a youthful, dewy glow. And more often than not, these powerhouse ingredients stem from plants and botanicals.

According to the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, botanical extracts are the largest category of additives found in skincare products. Apples have long been praised for their amazing health benefits. But beyond that, apples, specifically their extract, have some serious skincare benefits. Read on for everything you need to know about our spotlight ingredient- apple extract.

What exactly is an extract?

An extract, in this case, a fruit extract, is made by extracting a part of a raw plant, using a solvent like water. Fruit extracts have powerful anti-aging and rejuvenating properties.

Fruits contain naturally occurring Alpha Hydroxy Acids. When applied to the skin, these AHAs dissolve dead skin cells from the surface. Fruit extracts are rich in the vitamins and minerals needed for healthy skin.

Why apple extract?

Apple extract is rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids. These antioxidants protect the skin from wrinkle-inducing free radicals and environmental aggressors. These aggressors include things like UV rays, pollution, and stress.

Extract from apples also contains AHAs to slough off the top layer of dead skin cells. This results in a higher skin-cell turnover rate. In addition, apple seed oil contains essential fatty acids that hydrate and plump the skin, for a fuller, tighter, younger-looking complexion.

Apples are also an excellent source of vitamin C. This helps protect the skin cells from free radical damage, as well as decreases the risk of skin cancer.

What skin types can benefit from apple extract?

Apple extract is beneficial for most skin types. But those with oily, dull, or mature skin can benefit the most from adding the fruit into their skincare routine. Apple extract can also help with minimizing the appearance of large pores.

Five apple extract benefits for the skin

1. Apple extract fights acne.

Apples are full of water. This is important in the fight against acne because hydration is one of the key components to clear skin. Apples are also a source of dietary fiber, when you eat them. This aids in healthy digestion, which also plays a role in healthy skin.

In addition, apples have malic acid which has also been shown to reduce the signs of acne and prevent acne formation. If you’re in the middle of an acne flare-up try this breakout-busting DIY apple mask.

Acne-Fighting Apple Honey Mask

This apple and honey mask will clear your pores and get rid of pimples without drying out your skin.

Ingredients

• 1 Apple
• 4 Tbsp of honey

Instructions 

1. Place the apple in a blender until it's smooth and creamy. 
2. Add the honey to the apple puree in the blender and mix thoroughly until it looks like    a thick creamy mixture. 
3. Slather the apple honey mask over your face and leave it on for up to 30 minutes.
4. Wash the mask off your face with warm water. 
5. Finish off by applying a daily face moisturizer to your face.

2. Apple extract hydrates the skin.

We just told you that apples have high water content and contain malic acid, but they also contain vitamin E. This makes a powerful hydrating trio of ingredients. Malic acid functions as a humectant, promoting moisture retention. Vitamin E strengthens the skin barrier function.

Hydrate your skin with apples in the form of an antioxidant-rich night cream with apple extract, or by having them in a smoothie for breakfast. Try this apple smoothie recipe.

Apple Breakfast Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 Large apple
• ½ Cup Almond milk
• ⅓ Cup vanilla or plain greek yogurt
• 1 Tsp. honey or sugar

Instructions

1. Peel and cut the apple into halves. 
2. Remove the core and cut the apple up into smaller pieces.
3. Put the apple pieces in the blender.
4. Add the almond milk, yogurt, and honey.
5. Blend until smooth and there are no chunks of apple left.
6. Pour and enjoy it!

3. Apple extract exfoliates the skin.

Malic acid is the star of the apple extract game once again. Malic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid found in several different fruits and vegetables. AHAs like malic acid exfoliate by removing the top layer of dead skin cells.

This promotes cell turnover, improving overall skin texture. Use a firming gel mask 2-3 times a week. The goal is to gently exfoliate the top layer of skin, in order to allow vitamins, moisturizers, and age-defying ingredients like apple to penetrate deeply into your skin.

How to Properly Apply a Face Mask

1. Cleanse and exfoliate your skin.
2. Rinse well and pat your skin dry.
3. Apply a thin, even layer to your face and neck (be sure your skin is dry).
4. Leave on anywhere from 15 minutes to overnight, depending on the type of mask.
5. Rinse it off thoroughly with warm water.
6. Follow with your favorite serum or moisturizer. 

*Use 2-3 times per week or as needed.

4. Apple extract brightens the skin.

If a goddess glow is what you seek, look no further than apples. The skin-loving fruit contains high levels of collagen and elastin. These two ingredients are essential for fighting the signs of aging.

Because the skin under your eyes is so much thinner than it is everywhere else, this area is more susceptible to these signs. Try brightening up dark under-eye circles with an apple extract eye mask.

How to Use an Eye Mask

1. Start with clean, dry skin.
2. Pat a generous amount of mask into the skin around your eye area.
3. Repeat on the other side.
4. Leave it on for at least three minutes.
5. Remove gently with a damp cloth. 
6. Follow with a brightening eye cream.

5. Apple extract tones the skin.

Healthy skin lies on the acidic end of the pH scale. Some people have elevated skin pH, compromising the skin barrier. This can show up as dull, lackluster skin.

Apple extract stimulates blood flow, helping to restore the skin’s natural pH. Get your apple extract skincare game on with an apple cider vinegar rinse. Apple cider vinegar, or ACV, is an astringent, which can function as a toner when applied to the skin.

Make sure the ACV is raw, unfiltered and still contains the mother. The Mother forms naturally as vinegar ferments, producing a murky, brownish vinegar. It’s rich in health-boosting protein, healthy bacteria, and acetic acid. If your skin needs a boost, try this apple cider vinegar rinse.

Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

• 1 part apple cider vinegar
• 2 parts purified water (dilute the mixture with more water if you have sensitive skin)
• Apply the ACV rinse to clean skin using a cotton ball or use a spray bottle to spritz your skin evenly.

6. Apple extract fights the signs of aging.

Acidic apple extract helps to protect the skin from free radical damage. This helps to slow the signs of aging. In addition, apple seed oil contains essential fatty acids that hydrate and plump skin. This reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Give yourself a weekly facial massage using an apple extract moisturizer to keep your complexion radiant and youthful. 

How to Give Yourself a Facial Massage

1. Start with clean skin.
2. Apply a light layer of moisturizer. 
3. Using the tips of your fingers, massage from under your ears, down toward your throat, and up along your jawline, using circular motions.
4. Massage along the sides of your jaw, past the corners of your mouth, and over your cheekbones. Push your skin upward and out; never down, as this can cause sagging to occur. 
5. Massage your forehead. Start at your temples, moving toward the middle, and then back    out to the sides
6. Massage your eye area. Sweep your fingers around the outside corners of your eyes. Move 7. them under your eyes, and finish with your fingers at the inside corners of your eyes. 
7. Continue along up the sides of your nose and along your brow lines. 
8. Finish by going back over each area once more. 

7. Apple extract helps protect against UV damage.

Research shows that certain compounds in apple skin, called triterpenoids, can block UV damage and even certain cancer cells. Try this baked apple skin recipe.

Baked Apple Skins

These baked apple skins are perfect on top of yogurt, in a salad, or just to snack on like chips.

Ingredients

• Apple skins from 4-6 apples
• 1 Tbsp sugar (brown sugar or coconut sugar)
• 1 Tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 Tsp nutmeg
• A pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 225 degrees.  
2. Peel your apples.
3. Lay the skins out evenly on a greased baking sheet.
4. Mix up the remaining ingredients and sprinkle over the apple skins.
5. Bake for 1 and a half to 2 hours, until the skins are dried and crispy.  

An apple a day keeps the wrinkles away! Stock up on skincare with awesome apple extract and bring nourishing vitamins and antioxidants to your daily routine.