Five excellent reasons to love superfruits in skin care

1. Superfruits are packed with benefits for the skin

What is a superfruit? It's not exactly a specific type of fruit, but rather any fruit that's packed with a ton of nutrients. Nearly all fruits are packed with good-for-you nutrients, but superfruits do an especially good job at giving your body tons of vitamins and antioxidants.

Think of these fruits as vitamin and antioxidant powerhouses, as good for your body as they are for the skin. Superfruits provide nourishment to the skin and improve its wellbeing and radiance. Camu camu is a very good candidate for effective and natural skin care among fruits because of its extraordinarily high concentration of vitamin C - up to 60 times that of an orange. We therefore designed Cosme-phytami™ Camu Camu to deliver high ascordic acid content for skin revitalisation. Our botanical ingredient brings the benefits of the camu camu, which also contains phenolic compounds and amino acids, making it an outstanding asset to help with exhausted hair and skin.

Superfruits are also excellent ingredients for enhanced hydration. In fact, many superfruits contain natural fatty components that are effective at moisturising the skin, in addition to the essential vitamins mentioned above that nourish the skin. These two factors play a crucial role in repairing and rejuvenating the skin.

Driven by the idea to maximise this ability of superfruits to provide natural hydration, we created Avocadin™ HU25, a 98.9% natural-derived multifunctional plan complex combining avocado oil, olive oil and phytosterols.

• Rich in healthy fats and vitamins, avocado holds a great reputation at deeply moisturising the skin and helping maintain its elasticity, making it an excellent choice for hydration.
• Rich in antioxidants and fatty acids, olive oil is known to nourish and hydrate the skin while providing anti-aging benefits.

Additionally, olive oil and avocado oil are two basic products of traditional beauty care in the Mediterranean region and Central and South America respectively. Both were often used to moisturise the skin and enhance its barrier function. Formulating with Avocadin HU25 is therefore a great way to align with the Aura Beauty trend, and to provide the proven soothing, protective and repairing properties of our unique plant complex.

2. Superfruits align perfectly with the gastronomia concept in cosmetics

And they are even considered to be at the origin of a new rise of this much-loved concept.

Merging the worlds of nutrition and beauty has always been, and still is today, a major trend in the personal care industry, under the concept of gastronomia. This trend celebrates the link between nutrition and skin wellness, proposing that what we consume can enhance our appearance. This approach aligns with the holistic beauty philosophy, combining topical applications with nutritional elements to foster an “inside-out” wellness journey. Gastronomia is particularly relevant for brands seeking to meet consumer expectations for innovative, effective, and responsibly crafted products, offering a fresh approach to natural beauty that is as enriching as it is experiential.

Consumer demand for natural, ethically sourced ingredients further drives the appeal of gastronomia-inspired products. Sourcing plays a key role, as consumers are increasingly seeking ingredients that originate in traditional beauty practices across the world, particularly in the Blue Zones. These are regions of the world where people live significantly longer and healthier lives, often reaching age 100 or beyond, attributed to lifestyle habits like plant-based diets, regular physical activity, strong social connections, and low stress levels. One such place is Okinawa, Japan, where we sourced our inspiration for our extract of Callicarpa japonica, also knows as the Beautyberry or Candy Tree. This plant has long been used there for its soothing, venotonic, and antibacterial properties, thanks to its phenolic compounds. Quantified in verbascoside, Cosme-phytami™ Beautyberry provides an excellent fit for an anti-redness and soothing formulation, aiming to revive the complexion's radiance and combat skin imperfections.

This 100% naturally derived ingredient is also a great match for the importance of sensory experiences in cosmetics that is underlined by the gastronomia concept. In this trend, products offering enjoyable textures, fragrances, and colours akin to food, add another layer of appeal to beauty routines. Combined with a name that resonates with fun and playfulness, the bright colours of beautyberry can particularly appeal to teenagers.

3. They are particularly on trend with Gen Z and Millenials

Superfruits have emerged as a staple in the gastronomia-inspired beauty movement, and this is especially appealing to Gen Z and Millennial consumers who prioritise health, sustainability, and self-care in their skin care choices.

These consumers are health-conscious and they are increasingly fond of products with natural, food-derived ingredients, which they believe support overall wellness. This interest aligns with a preference for “clean beauty” and transparency, with superfruit-based products offering recognisable, safe ingredients that satisfy the demand for simplicity and efficacy.

Acai berries are a common feature on Millennial and Gen Z breakfast tables so they’ll likely love a skin care formulation containing Phytessence™ Wassai, our recently launched acai berry extract. Rich in polyphenols, this natural ingredient boosts the protection mechanism of skin cells and protects the elastin fibres. These two proven effects help to preserve the skin from the first signs of ageing, which fits perfectly with the prejuvenation goals of these generations.

Sustainability and ethics are also key motivators, as Gen Z and Millennials actively seek brands committed to sustainable sourcing and ethical practices. We made sure that our acai berries are sourced responsibly by selecting a partner in French Guiana who is involved in traditional, sustainable cultivation and harvesting practices. After harvest, the acai berries are dehydrated with our unique Zeodration process, to guarantee the quality of the extract, as well as to reduce the carbon footprint of exporting the raw material to France, where it is processed to produce Phytessence Wassai.

Younger consumers also appreciate the variety and customisation of superfruit-based formulas, which offer unique textures, colours and blends of ingredients. With their bright blue-purple colour, acai berries fit in perfectly with this trend.

4. Superfruits offer excellent upcycling opportunities

According to Future Market Insights, superfruits hold a significant place in the food market, with a processed superfruit market expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.1% in the coming 10 years, to reach an estimated US$ 202.3 billion by 2034. This growth is driven by the ever-increasing focus on healthy lifestyles and mindful consumption. A significant share (over 35%) of this market is held by beverages. This offers the beauty industry significant opportunities to recover co-products from the food industry and upcycle them into high value-added skincare ingredients.

And this is exactly what we do with pomegranates to produce Cytokalmine™ EC. The raw material for this ingredient is fruit pericarps from a family-sized organic farm in Southern France, recovered from their pomegranate juice production. In this farm, over 5000 trees grow inside an area recognised as a biodiversity hotspot, where many insects and birds thrive, and are managed using traditional and sustainable farming practices.

This local, ethical sourcing through a close, direct and fair partnership with a local producer is a perfect example of what Croda Beauty can do to provide full transparency with our natural ingredients, not forgetting product innovation and efficacy. Cytokalmine EC is a natural hyperactive concentrate for sensitive skin, thanks to its strong antioxidant properties provided by its high content in punicalagin. This organic plant-based active protects skin from against oxidative stress and regulates the release of IL8 to soothe the skin. Its gentle nature makes it ideal for sensitive skin.

5. Superfruits bring the realm of adaptogenic plants into cosmetics

Superfruits are proving to be an ideal option for introducing adaptogenic benefits into the cosmetics industry, valuing their potent bioactive compounds that help the skin adapt to various stressors.

Many superfruits such as acai, camu camu, and goji, are the fruits of adaptogenic and sometimes extremophile species. Their high content in antioxidants, vitamins, and essential nutrients help in the greatest ways to support the skin’s resilience. Their nutrient profiles align with the adaptogenic goal of helping the skin maintain balance and recover from environmental stressors like pollution and exposure to harsh climatic conditions.

A prime example of an adaptogenic superfruit is the cranberry: this naturally robust berry is known for thriving in the challenging, acidic soils of North America. This resilience translates into a rich composition of antioxidants, notably vitamin C and polyphenols, which help combat oxidative stress and environmental damage when applied to the skin. The natural AHAs of cranberries provide gentle exfoliation, promoting a brighter, smoother radiance.

The unique combination of protection, hydration, and gentle exfoliation positions our cranberry extract, Fruitliquid™ Cranberry B, as an ideal ingredient in adaptogen-driven beauty products designed to enhance the skin's natural radiance.

Key points to remember

As consumers become increasingly health-conscious and seek out natural ingredients for their skincare needs, superfruits are emerging as vibrant options that promise effective results.

1. By leveraging the properties of these fruits with multifunctional ingredients like Avocadin HU25 or vitamin-packed extracts such as Cosme-Phytami Camu Camu, cosmetic brands aim to create products that not only enhance beauty but also contribute to overall skin wellbeing through their rich nutrient profiles.
2. Ingredients such as Cosme-phytami Beautyberry align with the gastronomia approach and allow the beauty industry to meet evolving consumer demands for products that are not only high-performance but also rooted in natural wellness principles.
3. Natural actives like Phytessence Wassai provide an opportunity to meet evolving consumer expectations for clean, sustainable, and enjoyable beauty solutions that resonate with younger generations.
4. Upcycling offers a chance to highlight a brand’s environmental commitment, appealing to eco-conscious consumers looking for beauty products that support resource conservation and ethical production. As a result, upcycled superfruit ingredients such as Cytokalmine EC allow the beauty industry to combine high efficacy with environmental responsibility.
5. By tapping into the adaptogenic qualities of superfruits, for example with Fruitliquid Cranberry B, the cosmetics industry can meet consumer expectations for wellness-driven products that support dynamic skin needs.