Pomegranate (Punica granatum) has been in the news lately for good reason. It is no longer merely a delicious fruit to delight your palate. It is one of the top super-foods of our time. On top of that, in less than a decade it has been the subject of more than 600 research studies related to its health benefits. Many of these relate to skin health.
The fruit can help you attain youthful skin in several ways. After all, it is loaded with a variety of antioxidants, especially of a type classified as polyphenolics. These are the kinds of molecules that act in several different ways for boost your skin health.
Hydrates Dry Skin
Pomegranate is a great complement to green tea in natural skin care products that replenish dull, dry skin. Oil from pomegranate rinds contains an omega-5 fatty acid called punicic acid, which penetrates skin and helps lock in moisture. It also contains vitamin C, which has been shown to decrease skin roughness. Whole extracts even promote cell regeneration, which is just a fancy way of saying that it enhances the formation of new skin.
The key for cell regeneration is building new cells called keratinocytes. These are the main cell types that make up the outer layer of skin.
Fights Inflammation from Acne
The oil also has a general antibacterial effect, which synergizes with the anti-inflammatory benefits of antioxidants. The net result of these two activities is to stop skin infections that cause pimples and to reduce any redness and swelling caused by inflammation.
Protects Against Skin Damage
The sun and pollution are often major contributors to oxidative damage that leads to wrinkles, age spots, sunburn, and even cancer. Antioxidants in pomegranate not only help screen out dangerous UV rays, they also play a vital role in repairing DNA that may have become damaged from prior exposures to them.
Stimulates Collagen Production
Collagen is a crucial building block for healthy skin. Maintaining collagen keeps skin supple and wrinkle-free. Keeping your skin looking youthful depends on reducing collagen breakdown and stimulating cells called fibroblasts, which are important collagen-producing cells. Pomegranate helps plump up skin by maintaining healthy collagen.
Slows Down Melanin Formation
Melanin is an important pigment that occurs naturally in skin. We produce more of it upon exposure to sunlight – it makes us tan. However, too much melanin, distributed unevenly, forms unsightly spots. Certain of the polyphenolics in pomegranate directly inhibit the synthesis of melanin.
This is just one more reason why the best skin care products now include pomegranate as a key ingredient for promoting healthy and beautiful skin.
Combining Pomegranate with Other Herbs
The best herbal skin care products provide a wide variety of ingredients from different herbs. Dozens of herbs are well-known for their benefits on skin health. The top herbs for combining with pomegranate include green tea, goji berry, and white peony. All of them offer different antioxidants that complement and synergize with those of pomegranate to help you keep your skin as healthy and youthful-looking as can be.
By the way, natural skin care products often list a bewildering array of ingredients. When evaluating any product, just look for the key herbs that you know are going to be important for you. For example, take a look at the Hydrating Gel Mask with Green Tea by Jadience Herbal Formulas at NaturalSkinRX.com.
This formula contains the top herbs mentioned here, including pomegranate, plus ginseng, astragalus, aloe vera, and many more natural ingredients that promote beautiful, healthy skin. We also feature several other high quality products that utilize the many benefits of the amazing Pomegranate, such as our Hyrdanourish Body Lotion.
